Park named after 'local hero'

Rob Shaw loved Taneatua, he loved children and he loved rugby.

So it seems entirely fitting the Taneatua Rugby Grounds should carry the name Rob Shaw Park.

This Sunday a day of waiata and rugby will mark the official opening of Rob Shaw Park, a park to acknowledge and celebrate Mr Shaw's contribution to the Taneatua community.

When he died suddenly in July last year, Mr Shaw was principal of Taneatua School, a position he held for 16 years. He had attended the school as a youngster and said his appointment as principal had been the crowning of his teaching career.

Two years before his death, Mr Shaw had been recognised at a function held at the Taneatua Clubrooms, for 50 years of dedication to junior rugby. He started his involvement with the Tai Mitchell Tournament in 1961 and was still involved when he died.

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In 2012 he was given a "Local Hero" medal for services to the Taneatua community.

Mr Shaw had also known tragedy in his life. In 2004 Mr Shaw lost his foster son, Greg Shaw, during Cyclone Ivy. Greg and a mate were surfing at Omaio when the storm hit and they both drowned.

In 2011 his second adopted son, Hughie Biddle, died after being buried under a landslide that hit the West End, Ohope, home he and Mr Shaw shared.

At Mr Shaw's funeral his closest friend and fellow principal Tony Holland summed up his mate.

"What made you tick was the tamariki [children], everything you did was for them," Mr Holland said. "You were a teacher, a coach and a mentor to so many boys, you touched so many lives." He said nobody would ever know how much money Mr Shaw had taken from his own wallet or how many kilometres he had driven in his own car, to make sure "his boys" had the gear they needed or were where they had to be.

Timetable

• 
  Ceremony at Rob Shaw Park at Taneatua Rugby Club, Sunday, to acknowledge and celebrate Rob's contribution to the community.
• 
  11am: Blessing followed by speeches
• 
  11.40am: Waiata by Taneatua community and ribbon-cutting. Haka by Taneatua School (and JAB boys), Taneatua School children karakia kai
• 
  Noon: Taneatua JAB rugby game
• 
  1pm: Taneatua senior rugby game
• 
  3.15pm: Taneatua senior speeches, trophy presentation, barbecue