Newspaper Article 2017 – Community farewells true gentleman

OBITUARY

Community farewells true gentleman

By Nicki Harper

Charles Henry Anderton
February 15, 1920 to January 14, 2017

FRIENDS and family farewelled a kind, generous, sharp-witted, fun-filled man at the funeral of Charlie Anderton in Waipukurau on Thursday.

Aged 96, Charlie was just one month shy of 97 and will be remembered by many in the Central Hawke’s Bay community where he lived for most of his life.

He was born in Hastings, and his family lived in Kereru where his father worked with bullock teams in the early 1900s.

When Charlie was 3, the family shifted to a block of land in Otane, which his father farmed for a number of years until he retired, whereupon Charlie and his brother Dick took over.

After attending Otane Primary School and then Waipawa High School, he worked on farms before joining the Army in 1942.

A year later he met his wife to be, Isa, at Raukawa, when he saw her walking with her sisters while riding his horse one day, and decided on the spot that he would marry her.

He got his wish in June 1943, and, after another year with the Army, he headed overseas as a corporal to join the war effort.

During the war he distinguished himself and earned the Military Medal for his actions with the 20 Battalion and Armoured regiment, posted to the 28 Assault Squadron as a Sherman-dozer operator, helping make crossings for the tanks.

When involved in the operation from the Senio to the Piave, Italy, during the first night of an attack he was blown up by a tier of mines.

Although suffering from the blast and shock he calmly carried on his work throughout the next day and night on his Sherman dozer.

After returning from the war in 1946 he met his son, Ross, who was born while he was away.

Charlie milked cows for a few years before moving on to farming sheep and cattle, and in 1960 bought Carlyon Station on Farm Rd in Waipukurau, remaining there until 1980 when he and son-in-law Don Macdonald together purchased Mangatarata Station, which they farmed in partnership until mid-1993.

Charlie and Isa continued to live on the farm before moving to Waipukurau in 2002.

During his farming years in particular, Charlie was known around the country for his dog trialling prowess.

During his farming years in particular, Charlie was known around the country for his dog trialling prowess while a member of the Otane, Tikokino and Takapau (where he was president for many years) dog trial clubs.

He started rearing pups as a boy and even before he started trialling showed an affinity for training young dogs.

After returning from the war he started competing and won many club trials in Hawke’s Bay, including all four centre championships in the region.

He placed 31 times in North and South Island New Zealand championships and won one New Zealand championship with his dog, Star, at Waimate in 1976.

He was generous with his knowledge, freely giving advice to young shepherds and triallists to help them improve their skills.

His dog-trialling achievements saw him named both the overall CHB Sportsperson of the Year and the CHB Master Sportsperson of the Year in 1996.

Throughout his life he and Isa travelled extensively, visiting most places around the world, their travels documented by Charlie who was a keen photographer and took to new digital technology with enthusiasm.

At the EIT in Waipukurau he was a star pupil of the computer classes he attended from the age of about 80, and he would create cards, videos, and print his own photos.

In later years he was also heavily involved in local organisations and activities, giving back to the community in varied ways.

He was a member of Pakeke Lions and drove the bus, even though he was older than many of the clients, and his services earned him a Lloyd Morgan Charitable Trust award in 2002.

He was also a member of Probus, recognised with a Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding service in 2015.

He was a member of the Waipukurau and Hastings racing clubs, and a member of the Waipukurau RSA.

For many years he helped run the annual Lions Bookarama event, raising money for the community, and he was a member of Hawke’s Bay branch of the New Zealand Founders Society.

Throughout his life Charlie demonstrated a lust for life and genuine interest in others around him – and will be remembered by those who knew him as one of life’s true gentlemen.

Charlie is survived by his wife Isa, three children, four grandchildren (one passed) and two great-grandchildren.

Photo caption – AS HE WAS: Charlie Anderton in Venice at the end of the war.
PHOTO/SUPPLIED