Tong Family History

Having lived her early life in Haumoana & going to school until standards was reached. They moved into town having finally lived cnr Tomoana Rd & Avenue. She went to Central School until the time came to go to High School & this day was a day of remembrance as it was her first day & the day of the big earthquake. Oswald Tong her father worked at Tong the Undertaker in Karamu Rd with two story building at the back as the work shop. He jumped from this building then went to car parked on the side of the Herald Tribune which was all smashed in but still able to drive he came down Karamu Rd over debris from the two story building with [which] was damaged and bricks over the road looking for Rona at High School & she was with all the pupil in the play ground watching the new boys being [initiated?].

Going home very carefully we went looking for mother eventually she got over a high fence next door to Mothers sister lived in St Aubyn St just around the corner from us. So with bedding and all the necessities we went around there and sat on the back lawn with sheets over the clothes line a night. Back in our house, picking up the jam and preserves we were all trying to get our lives together.

My cousin suggested to me how about we go out to labour day sports. She [I] said I’ll had to ask first, however with a lunch cut we cycled out to Clive, entering in races and having success. A lady approached and asked us if we like to join the athletic club. I said I’ll have to ask my parents first that was the start of my sporting life. Athletics in summer & basketball then in winter. Having left school I joined a club and stayed with them as player and coach for 40 years, having much success. It was a busy home, Rona off to practice at night and Les football to [too].

Rona coached HB rep team for along time, she being in the NZ team in 1936 but this trip did not eventuate. Training hard after we got all measurements of the hurdles etc, as South Africa was the only country in the world that had ladies hurdles measurements etc and her father first made two hurdles and measurements that was the start of hurdling in NZ for women. The trials were held in Wellington and Rona was chosen 1938 to go to the games in Sydney & won a bronze medal for NZ, then later was honoured by Queen with MBE, 40 years to sport.