One hundred years of Paeroa rugby will be on display for an August exhibition at Paeroa and District Historical Society Museum on Belmont Rd.
The exhibition is part of the Thames Valley Rugby Football Union centenary celebrations, which will take place on August 26 and 27.
The exhibition features photographs, newspaper articles, trophies, badges, rugby jerseys and other rugby gear from clubs before and after the rugby union was formed in 1922.
These include memorabilia from Paeroa West, Paeroa East, Netherton, Hikutaia and Karangahake rugby clubs.
Museum president Ron Turrell told The Profile museum volunteers Kae Petch, Gaye Cleave and Glenice Williams captained the arrangements for the exhibition.
“They were very good at borrowing things off past rugby players and members and the museum has quite a bit of memorobilia as well, including some badges,” he said.
“They copied the photos because we don’t put any original photos on display, and arranged them in chronological order, and they have been working for the past couple of months getting all the equipment together for the exhibition.”
Union community officer Kaitlin Russell, who attended the exhibition opening on August 2, said it was “pretty cool” to see what was on display.
“It’s good to see someone take an interest in something that’s so old, seeing jerseys which are 60 years old, that’s double my age,” she said.
“With our centenary weekend coming up, something like this we can get out to the public as well is pretty cool.”
Ron said the exhibition would be open Tuesdays to Fridays from noon to 3pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm until the exhibition’s final whistle on August 27.
“Come along and have a look, it’s suitable for all ages to see what the rugby of the past was like.”
Thames Valley rugby union celebrations include an official welcome and the rugby union history book launch on August 26, and a Thames Valley Heartland Championship Match at 1pm at Te Aroha’s Boyd Park on August 27, followed by a dinner at Te Aroha Events Centre.
