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James Owen Young 1920- |
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| JAMES OWEN YOUNG was born at Riverton on 9
December 1920 to parents Robert
Stanley and Louise
Gertrude (Shirley) Young. He attended Orepuki School and
later studied through the Technical Correspondence
School, Wellington. He worked on the family farm as well
as other casual work, before going overseas in (when ?)
1942. He served in the Signals Platoon, 30th Batallion,
3rd Division in the Pacific Zone, returning to NZ on
(when ?). On 17 April 1946 he married Ellen Mary King (Ella) at Tuatapere. Owen and Ella set up home in the Pahia District, first as a married couple on a Lands and Survey Development block of land, 1200 acres at Mt Victoria, formerly owned by the early pioneer George Printz. After serving two years as farm manager, 700 acres was purchased leasehold, which became freehold in 1954. They continued developing the property for the next 40 years, but unlike his father and grandfather, Owen was assisted by modem technology. Machinery such as bulldozers, ditching machines, and aerial top dressing enabled him to treble the carrying capacity of the property. The couple took an active part in district activities: Owen with the R.S.A., Federated Farmers, School Conunittee and Social activities. Owen was also the last Chairman of the Orepuki Rabbit Board before amalgamation. He was appointed a J.P. in 1979 and is a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge. Ella was also very active in local activities, Womens Division of Federated Farmers, Church Management and social events. Owen participated in several sporting events, but lawn bowls has become his great interest for close on 30 years. He represented Southland for 8 years, and played in several NZ Championships, but considers his greatest thrill as skip in an Orepuki R.S.A. team at Oamaru in 1990 finishing runners up in this NZ R.S.A. Championship event. Ella and Owen have reared a healthy family of six children, all bnorn in Tuatapere, (two are farming the family farm - daughter Margaret Anne, born 14 January 1954, and son Andrew Russell, born 24 July 1962). Their other childern are : Norman James, born 9 August 1947, Edith Ellen, born 12 October 1949, Robert John, born 3 December 1951, and Helen Joy, born 13 June 1957. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1996 and now live at 12 Bates Street, Riverton where they are both continuing an active interest in a number of local pursuits. |
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