Murray Smith, Ngaira Whitaker and Fay Maguire share
memories of the Lockington Mine over lunch at the Bridge
Tavern in Kaitangata on Saturday. Photo Supplied.
The Lockington coal miners' reunion in Kaitangata on
Saturday brought people from as far as Hamilton together to
share memories over lunch.
The Bridge Tavern hosted 75 former workers for what was only
the second reunion since the mine closed in 1970.
A miner's lunch of "Kai" pies (steak pies), mashed potato,
vegetables and gravy was served while guests enjoyed musical
performances from Colleen Hosking and the Kaitangata School
kapa haka group.
Lockington Mine was the last underground mine in the
Kaitangata area, opening in 1956 and yielding more than
550,000 tonnes of coal before its closure.
Kaitangata and districts promotions community co-ordinator
Jean Proctor said the bond between the group was still
strong.
"It was really good for people to get together and find the
friendships they established in the mines had continued.
"Even though some of them hadn't seen each other for a long
time, they still had a lot to talk about.
"There was lots of reminiscing done."
The last reunion was in 2004, 34 years after Lockington
closed, and there were plans to host another reunion "soon",
as many of the former miners were now in their 70s, Ms
Proctor said.
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