Newspaper Article 1995 – Car-club leader, farmer dies, 69

Car-club leader, farmer dies, 69

Hawke’s Bay Car Club patron and member for more than 40 years, Audree Clarice Lorraine Curtis, died on Monday. She was 69.

Mrs Curtis and her husband Lloyd joined the club a few years after it was formed and were keen competitors as well as administering and marshalling at many events.

Their Pukahu farm, earlier a dairy unit and later converted to an orchard and cropping property, was the venue for many events and club gatherings.

Mrs Curtis was born and educated at Hastings and met her husband on the family farm at Pakipaki, where they settled and built a small cottage after they married in 1949.

Several years later, they bought their own property and remained on it at Pukahu.

Mrs Curtis was a keen animal lover and had many cats, dogs and horses.

The couple had no family and the car club was her forte.

Club archivist Lil Baker said Mrs Curtis received a Queen’s Service Medal in 1979 for her services to motor sport and the community.

She and her husband were life members who both worked with the club until recently.

Mrs Curtis joined the club in 1951 and served four years as president, being elected the first woman president in 1972.

Included in her work was the monthly club magazine which she wrote from 1960.

She was a keen publicist who regularly and rapidly produced competition results for newspaper publication.

She and Mr Curtis competed in sporty cars, with some events run on their own property.

She served on the committee which developed the club grounds and club house at Bridge Pa and was keen to encourage young and new members.