Petone town clock chimes in 100 years

A celebration to mark 100 years since the Petone Town Clock first chimed out over a youthful Petone Town was a great occasion to dress up and even bake a cake for more than 300 people, mainly families, who turned out for the event.

The Jackson Street Programme committee under chair Leonie Dobbs is to be congratulated for staging the event. They have been operating in JacksonStreet for more than 20 years, encouraging enterprise and creating new ideas to promote the town

They have done a good job.

 At the core of this enterprise is the Petone community represented by the Community Board.
The Board has done a good job supporting local initiatives among them reconstruction of the McKenzie Pool complex which is proceeding at a rapid pace to be ready for summer.  They were also involved in submissions on the recent District Plan changes.
Local representation is important and ensures the voice of Petone is heard at the full council table.
Local government history in Petone has had its share of controversy whether it was voting for a gasworks or discussing how to raise loans for new roading, or even straightening Jackson Street – the debates were all vigorous and well discussed.
At the turn of the century Petone was the hub of a bustling community and in 1913 the new Town Clock was installed on the back of this prosperity.
During its 100 years, the Town Clock has “watched” the town from both sides of the street, sometimes with chimes, and sometimes without. It has seen a passing parade of our history – our young marching off to two world wars, the hungry and the jobless of the Great Depression, and the workers hurrying off to the Gear meatworks or car assembly plants.
Sports clubs flourished off the back of industry as young talented players came to Petone looking for work.  Among them were a fair share of New Zealand representatives many of whom are part of the Walk of Champions down Jackson Street.
And then came a slow decline as the core of established business including picture theatres and other enterprises quietly closed. 
Throughout these last decades the families, the community, and the organisations that provide care and support, endured.
Volunteers are the core of any community and more so in Petone. This was brought home to me during the recent and destructive storm when winds gusted up to 180 kilometres an hour and the Esplanade was closed for short periods because of high seas. With no power, thousands of people were left cold and with no way of cooking their own food. But virtually no one required support from aid agencies within this community.
It was friends and neighbours who went to their assistance came, making sure everyone was safe, helping to remove trees from driveways, and just being available.
That is the spirit of Petone – it was here 100 years ago and endures still.
Many of the building owners also attended the centennial celebration. They also have endured through good times and bad and helped maintain the heritage character of this wonderful street.
It was a great day for Petone.