Noted leaders in NZ's naturist movement   

This page commemorates some noted leaders in New Zealand's naturist movement, in an approximately chronological order.

Eric Flint was involved in a short-lived venture in Dunedin in 1938. He offers some insight into his thinking in #50. After a move to Auckland he became involved first, with Bert Britton's work setting up ASC (#58), then a founder of AOHC (1950), but quickly resigned, and founded Karimu that same year. After Karimu was closed in 1969 (#52), Eric was made an honorary member of AOHC.

Bert Britton was a founding member of ASC (1938?) and contributed the occasional article (eg: #9, #58 ).

Ivan Mowlem (obituary) wrote in issues: #21, #46. (Nora Mowlem's obituary) The Mowlem Trophy (#56) is an annual award for the club with biggest improvement in membership numbers. This involves a formula intended to adjust for the local catchment potential as a theoretical counter to the obvious advantage of a large catchment like Auckland (and is therefore subject to controversy on occasion).

Perc. Cousins' obituary and tributes. Perc Cousins was regarded (certainly in Wellington, where he lived) as the 'Father of Naturism' in New Zealand, because he advertised for other naturists to contact him via the UK's Health and Efficiency magazine - the only one available during the 40s and 50s, in New Zealand. This, it seems, was a significant reason for his dedication to establishing The New Zealand Naturist: to cater specifically for New Zealand-wide interests.

Doug Cousins was Perc's son, and heavily involved in national affairs until his untimely death (as a pedestrian, hit by a car he didn't hear) in 2000. His total deafness followed a bout of meningitis when he was 13. He was a keen supplier of naturist photos to the magazine for his whole life. Doug was also deeply involved in the scouting movement for most of his life.

Jack Carr (obituary) was the secretary at Wellington's naturist club for much of the time that Doug Cousins was the treasurer; from the 60s through to the 90s, approximately. (Jack was Doug Cousin's 'translator' at many meetings, both in Wellington and nationally.)

Norman Fullerton (obituary) joined Karimu when he was 19, and became president of AOHC. In the early days, he saw the importance of having a publically available magazine and contributed many items in those days.

Joan Treanor's dedication as editor and executive member of the NZSA seems to have eventually 'burnt her out'. She retired to a rural country house near Woodville, in Southern Hawkes Bay, where in 2004 she was quietly tending her garden; following the death of her second husband, Bruce.

Jock Shoolbread (obituary) was given "free beach" work at the 19th Rally, so that the Wellington members could "get on with the job of attending to Miss Bartlett's various misguided attempts to thrust her perverted sense of values on us and the rest of New Zealand" (which implies that the anonymous solicitor previously appointed to oversee relevant legislation, was a Wellingtonian).

Russell de la Cour (obituary), NZSA President, CS&HC. Of him, Joyce Fleming mentions, "The Christchurch Naturist Club at McLeans Island was a breakaway group from Pineglades led by former president Russell de la Cour.  An ex-army major, Russell was a born leader and had very strong views on things. In particular, he objected to the takeover of Pineglades by the 'beautiful people' led by Pat Trott & co. who had big ideas to make the place into a sophisticated 'country club'. (As Russell said, "before long they’ll be having a turnstile at the gate.") A main principle of the McLean Island club was simplicity and minimal development. However they did not own the grounds and when the rent went up, the small membership could not afford to continue."

Aubrey Fitton was a founding member of the Wellington club in the 50s, and later, a president there. He had a wonderful way with everyone, including the kids. It was often Aubrey who patched things up and smoothed over any cracks before they developed, among the Wellington cliques.

Derek Tollan (obituary), a schoolteacher and member of first, Waikato Outdoor, then Northern Sunseekers; wrote several articles for the Naturist and a number of letters to it; mostly attempting to point out realities, in the face of some of the more 'fringe suggestions' from some quarters. (#56, #58, #60, #98, #99, 122)

Emiel Roland (obituary & letter #92 - September 1979), in Auckland; was The Naturist's (and NZSA's) spokesperson and promoter of Free Beaches. Unfortunately, he died prematurely of blood-poisoning, which occurred while working on a new section he and Edna had purchased at Huia. Emiel was also a producer of the Federation of Parent's Centre's film on birth: part of their ante-natal course which was advertised in Naturists from #52 - #56 (look just above the linked items).

Graeme Anderson (obituary), a long-time stalwart of the South Auckland Naturist Club, saw it through some difficult times, until his untimely death on the way home form the Tolaga Bay Rally in 1985.

The Fairbrother family: Ian & Jennifer with son: Lance and daughters, Jane & Sue. In issue #66 the Fairbrothers host the NYC on their (previous) farm at Ruatoria. They also attempted to start the East Coast Sun Club in 1976. They hosted the 26th and 33rd Rallies for GCC, on their farm near Tollaga Bay. (They moved to Australia in the mid-80s.)

Pat Trott (obituary) was, with Ian Fairbrother, one of the 'beautiful people' (in Russell de la Cour's sardonic view) who ended up founding the Mapu Leisure Club, after some years as PRO for the NZNF, and also Canterbury Sun Club. It was his widow, Kathy (photo), who took over as manager of Mapua Leisure Park until it was sold in 2002.

Ralph Riccalton has been PRO for Pineglades (#46) and in #220 is noted as still playing miniten there, at 87.

Norm Wilkinson was a keen member of Canterbury Sun Club and a fierce supporter of 'community' in the naturist context, as a letter in #105, indicates.

Joyce Fleming (previously Mrs Turner) in Christchurch, was a 'quietly staunch' supporter of naturism both within and without club grounds. Her career as a teacher and librarian gave her letters (#118) and articles a literary edge of notable quality and perception. Overseas travels (usually with long-time companion Bert Riseley), led to interesting reports of naturist venues overseas such as a holiday in France in 1991. She was made a Life Member of Free Beaches NZ Inc. in September 1996.

Stan (obituary) & Muriel Howell of Hamilton were deeply involved in both their local club (WOS) and national affairs, for much of the latter half of the 20th century. Stan was one of the directors for Geyserland Leisure Park Ltd.

Ron & Hanna Rencher have been enthusiastic, long-standing members of Auckland Sun Club, where Ron was president for a number of years, and Hanna prominent in social encouragements like regular monthly dinners. The Auckland Sun Club generally invited 'all-comers' to their spa (and dinner) evenings. Ron was also NZSA President during 1979 and 1980 - he reflects on that time in #96.

Gavin Robieson (obituary) was NZSA President and also president of the Wellington Sun Club.

Kevin & Joan Sampson worked their way from dedicated club members (#118 Sep 1986) to winning top prizes in a national general tourism category competitions for Katikati Naturist Park. Their quiet persistence (and resillience) has left its mark on both Katikati and the wider NZ community

Roy & Sue Cox (photo) are dedicated, energetic Naturists (#121). Roy produced a single sheet newsletter, In Touch; for the years from 1986 to 1990, on behalf of the NZNF. Publication was subsequently taken over by Edna Sykes, from HBOLC.

Kay Hannam was the editor of the Federation's publically available magazine (now called gonatural) between #200 (March 2007) and #234. She has also produced the later versions of the 'Club Guide' for some years and later jotted her musings in Nude with Attitude. Kay has been in the forefront of extending the 'visibility of Naturism' in suitable public venues such as golf courses and hired boat cruises. She also led a Naturist group at the last Sweetwaters music festival (#169), where she resisted a (failed) police attempt to require her to cover her top. (At that particular venue, one of the organisers, Lisa Prager, had publicly specified that there would be "no nudity", leading Neil Finn - obviously remembering the Nambassas - to ask from the stage, "Where are all the nudes?")

Graham Macgregor in Tauranga, spent 20+ years, from July 1985, successfully promoting an annual hot pool event at Fernlands, a commercial premises in Cambridge Road. He also fronted up to the police and council on behalf of Papamoa Beach use - or more accurately: misuse - of the dune area by some male couples. He was also a director of the Geyserland Leisure Park Trust (#118).

Johnny McDonald (obituary) of the Palmerston North Sun Club made it the most family-friendly in the country during his time as president, in the mid to late 80s. Much of his tenure occurred during the development of that club, and he 'led the team' in ensuring that their "Youth Group" children had a good time during their inclusion in the working bees and that they were also rewarded with their own 'lemonade hour', afterward. The result; the highest ratio of children to adults in the country (sometimes better than 1:1) - something not seen since, in any other club.

'Tahanga' (Maori for naked) was notable for activism among councils (#110) and other authorities (perhaps with a job which required his anonymity). He also reports on various aspects of 'the literature' in #111, #120, #121 and 122.

'Gemini' began his noted "Talking Point" in #115, and (except for nos: 120 & 127) continued with an article in each subsequent issue until #128.

Tony Wilson was one of the stronger writers on Free Beach matters (#139), including legal letters to councils, and the Standards Association, to encourage the dropping of the standard council injunction to specify that at local beaches one must be 'sufficiently dressed'.

Adrianne/Jackie Caldwell, a long-serving PRO/Secretary of the Free Beach Group in the 80s, researched and wrote the access details for most of the FBG's Beach List (#127, #135) and edited many of the FBG newsletters during that decade. She also contributed some articles on the 'legality' of free beach use (#126).

(This summary may be found rather idiosyncratic due to my original membership of the Wellington club, thus mainly au fait with Perc's world there.)

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