When Dr. Ted Gillies and I arrived in Levin to join Dr. Jim Thompson in
General Practice we realized that it was imperative that we took an interest
in horses. The Levin Races were being run on this particular weekend. And
Jim persuaded us to go. “It is just a family outing” he said. So I bought a
beautiful new hat with red roses round the crown.

Well at 8.30 AM on that lovely Saturday morning Ted was called down to
Otaki Maternity Home to deliver a baby. 12 noon arrived and still no Ted.
So I decide to wear my HAT around the house.

At 3.30PM Ted returned from Otaki. SO that was our one and only
DAY at the RACES.

Mr Laurie Robert who was a Mayor of Levin at the time was a patient of
Dr. Ted Gillies. And on one occasion when he had visited the surgery he was
tempted on his way out to pick up a lovely looking apricot from our drive.

“I will have this one on the Doc” he told us afterwards. Getting into his car
he decided to have a bite of the ill-gotton fruit.

The Mayor confessed later that it was the most bitter mouthful he had ever
tasted. The apricot looking fruit had fallen from our flowering almond tree.
And you know what they taste like!!!

I don’t suppose many Levin people are acquainted with the fact that Dr. Ted
Gillies was instrumental in acquiring the permission from the Maori owners
of Lake Horowhenua for sailing, rowing, and Sea Cadets etc.
Ted made dozens of trips to Wellington to meet with the Muaupoko iwi.
Time and time again he would return home so frustrated because one
Member was not present or available and another date would be set.
Ted would often return home only to find that he had to turn around and go
back to Otaki as fast as possible to deliver a baby. There were no cell phones
in those days.

Dr. Gillies also formed the Levin Branch of the Navy League, which made
it possible to have a Sea Cadet unit in Levin. It was imperative that they
had the Lake for training.

Ted was President of the Sailing Club for many years and our two sons had
P Class yachts which they used to tow behind their bicycles all the way to the
Lake each time they wanted to sail. They still tell me what a long hard ride it
was up the Queen Street rise.

1) St. John Ambulance upholds tradition.

The St. John Ambulance Division was formed in April, 1937, with a strength of 19 members and three probationers from among those personnel who had obtained their association certificates during the previous year. The division has remained very active during the intervening 19 years and wherever there is a sports meeting or large assemblage in any part of Horowhenua the St John uniform is evident.

2) Car club fosters sport and improves driving.

The fostering of car driving as a sport and endeavours to instil good driving habits among its members are the aims of the Levin Car Club. The club held its inaugural meeting on March 17, 1952. The instigator and chairman of the meeting was Mr. L. du Rhone.

3) Opera and drama in early days capably handled by society.

Recent revival of the Levin Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society recalls the very excellent work done in the early days of the borough when residents had largely to make their own entertainment.

4) Contribution to peace is made by Corso in Levin.

The Levin Corso Committee had its origin as the Mayor's Patrotic Committee and Lady Galway Guild A branch of Corso was formed on February 15, 1946, the then mayor and mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Burdekin, being instrumental in its formation.

5) Rotarians - to serve is their deal.

Though the world -wide Rotary movement was introduced to New Zealand in 1921, nearly a quarter of a century elapsed before it came to Levin. The local club was formed in 1945 under the sponsorship of the Palmerston North club.

6) Pre-school age child is their concern.

During the year 1952, the Levin Junior Chamber of Commerce under the presidency of Mr. G. H. Kerslake, felt there was a need in Levin for a free kindergarten, and an inaugural meeting was held in the Council chambers when an executive and committee were elected.

7) Group which encourages an appreciation of the arts.

The Levin Arts Society held its inaugural meeting in May, 1949, when the convenor, Dr. S. J. Thompson, president at that time of the Levin Rotary Club, suggested that the Levin Arts Society be formed to deal with cultural aspects which were not then being catered for in Levin and district.

8) The Navy League is well established in Levin.

The Navy League is a patriotic organisation with its principal aim to impress upon the Government and the people the importance of maintaining the Navy at a high level of efficiency in both equipment and personnel.