Photos: Church and Seven Sisters, Matangi Road, Matangi School Primers 1943, Graham speaking at the naming of the Jack Foster Reserve. Graham receiving a Mayoral Award in 2015. Graham at the 70 year celebration of the Matangi Bowls Club 2019

Graham Membery was born in the Seven Sisters house closest to the Church, in the photo above, and continued to live in this community until his recent move to Cambridge.

Having taken on an apprenticeship as a builder with the Taplin Brothers Graham soon found himself involved with the Matangi Hall as he was called upon by community members to assist with repairs and maintenance. When the first Hall burned down in 1959 Graham built the new Hall and has been involved with its care and administration ever since. It is no mystery that Matangi Hall is one of the best maintained and managed in the Waikato District – A long term and dedicated committee with Graham as a guiding light and practical problemsolver.

Graham has many stories to tell of his working life in Matangi, A time when the Dairy Factory loomed large in sound and activity. It is a bit hard to comprehend that the school roll in 1950 was 250.

Graham took up Indoor bowls at an early age – when the Matangi Indoor Bowls Club 70 year celebration was held in 2019 it was noted that he had been a member for 69 of the 70 years! – now 74 of the 75 years as Graham is a life member and the club is still going.

In the early 1990s Graham became involved in working with Council to improve the drainage in the area – how to ensure the water went the right way especially when a lot of rain came down. The Drainage Committee is still in operation and Graham has remained involved in working with the Regional Council and landowners to manage the drainage as continual maintenance is required and changes to land use arise. A good reminder that most of this area was originally swamp especially at some times of the year.

The first Matangi Community Committee was formed in 2005. Graham became the Chairperson and remained so for the next 12 years. The committee created the Community Plans of 2005 and 2013 and worked with Council to secure the land for the community that was eventually named the Jack Foster Reserve.

Graham was always ably supported by Betty, his wife of 59 years, who passed away in October, 2019.

We hope you can join us next weekend to thank Graham for his work for the community and to share and hear a few stories.