# 197 - June 2006

[gonatural] (Pages: 24)

Contents:-

Editorial
Ngatuhoa Lodge 2006 (Fern MacKenzie)
Police vs Naturists (Glenne Findon)
10th Birthday of Waikato Outdoor Society Clubrooms
The Forgotten Highway (Ray Coates)
Tourists' Notes
Auckland Sun Club - Seventy Years Young (Max Earby)
Naked in San Diego (Isaac Lucas)
Haka Valley Lifestyle (Will Fraser)
Our Whitsundays Nude Cruise
Around the Clubs (8)
You Write
NZ Club Directory (25)

Editor: Conrad Inskip

Features:-

Auckland Sun Club - Seventy Years Young

Max Earby

Later this year, on Saturday 18 November, the committee of the Auckland Sun Club cordially invites present and past members, members of other clubs, supporter groups and friends to help celebrate 70 years of naturism in Auckland. We have formed a committee to organise this event (details are still being worked on) and as soon as details are finalised clubs will be sent flyers and advertising will be placed in the September issue of GoNatural.
As far as we can ascertain, it was during the summer of 1936-37 that Bert Brittain, after making contact with interested people, invited them to join with him and his wife in the practice of naturism on a property known as Woodlands Park Estate, Titirangi. This appears to be the beginnings of organised nudist activity in Auckland.
In 1941 Bert purchased the present property at West Coast Road, Oratia and after the death of his wife, the property was sold to Norman Murray who was a member of the group. At about this time, 1954, a split occurred with some members wishing to purchase a property of their own and others keen to stay on at the Oratia site. The Auckland Sun Club as it came to be known was then officially registered as an incorporated society and Norman allowed continued use of the property in exchange for members maintaining the grounds. In 1964 Norman gifted the land to the Auckland Sun Club and became the club's patron until his death. The club grounds were renamed "Murrayglade" in Norman's honour.
By 1967 membership of the club was in the doldrums, but help was on its way as recent arrivals to the club decided that the situation had to be reversed and quickly, if the club was to survive. By the early 1970s membership had grown to 136 adults and 60 children. Obviously with this increase in membership the club buildings and grounds were in need of upgrading and enhancement. The clubhouse was still the 1950 bach built by Bert, access was difficult, and there was no swimming pool.

Since this initial swimming hole we have had a hand dug black polythene pool which was used until 1979 when it was replaced by our current concrete block constructed pool.

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