Kaitaia Lodges' last hurrah

MEMORIES: Faye Irwin Erceg is transported back in time by the IOOF display at Kaitaia's heritage museum.

Time finally caught up with Kaitaia's Koa Rebekah and Northern Star International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Lodges earlier this year.

The display now on show at Kaitaia's heritage museum could be seen as confirmation that two organisations that were once strongly supported and very active within their community have now become an historical footnote, but at least one former stalwart hopes it is not too late for the wider community to appreciate what they once meant.

Faye Irwin Erceg was an active member of Koa Rebekah until defeat was finally conceded earlier this year, and was saddened by the loss of two organisations that once did such a grand job of supporting those who needed a hand, particularly in the decades before the advent of social welfare.

"We tried so hard to get new members," she said last week, "but times have changed. Now we want to explain the aspirations of this friendly society, which at the end of the day was all about helping people in times of hardship."

Priority generally went to fellow Lodge members, but offers of aid went beyond IOOF as well, to individuals and organisations.

"We gave very generously to all sorts of local organisations, like Scouts and Cubs, St John, Plunket, the Switzer Home, over many years. The list really is endless," Mrs Erceg added.

It was all done quietly and without fanfare, but contrary to the widespread public perception, and despite a certain air of mystique, the IOOF was never a closed or secret society.

"We tried really hard over the last few years to be more transparent," she said.

"We even conducted our installation of officers publicly, but the highlight had to be the national conference of IOOF lodges that we hosted here in Kaitaia in 1984. Ian Tailby QSM was installed as Grand Master of New Zealand at that conference. We were very proud of him."

The installation team, which of which she had been a part, had also impressed the illustrious guests, including the Australasian hierarchy, while, as always before and since, it was the dancing of the kolo and spit-roasted lamb that made the biggest and most favourable impression on attendees.

Koa Rebekah and Northern Star were both founded in 1922, so did not quite make their centennials, but the names now displayed at the museum are a real who's who of Kaitaia over many decades, whose good deeds are well worthy of belated recognition.