A small piece of Carisbrook's hallowed turf has a new home at Andersons Bay Cemetery in Dunedin.
David Trevathan (66) honoured his dad, Dave, a former All Black and Otago rugby player, by placing a patch of Carisbrook turf at his headstone in the weekend.
Mr Trevathan said it was ''absolutely special'' to honour his dad with a piece of turf he had played on.
''He was a wonderful person. He was very much loved and was a really nice person.''
He played three tests for the All Blacks in 1937 and 44 games for Otago between 1934 and 1942. He was renowned for his drop goals, Mr Trevathan said.
''I don't have any memories of his playing days, but I vividly remember going shopping as a family one day. We were walking down the main street of Dunedin and everyone was recognising him. He got swamped for autographs. We had to leave him and find him later.''
Mr Trevathan sen fought in World War 2, ending his rugby career. His wife, Irene, died in 1952, leaving him to bring up Mr Trevathan and his sister, Dawn. Mr Trevathan sen died in 1986.
Mr Trevathan thought it was ''very sad'' Carisbrook would be demolished and would have loved to have seen it refurbished. The Carisbrook Rotary Project donated the turf to Mr Trevathan.
- Robert van Royen
