History Record
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| 4 Apr 91 | At the invitation of Audrey Rodgers, six friends met at Fergusson Park Tauranga to form a marching team purely for exercise, fun and friendship, ages 50 plus. The team was named “The Marching Grans” | |
| June 91 | TV One filmed this for the Holmes Show. This started the Leisure Marching throughout New Zealand. The second team to form was the “Silver Crowns”.
The Marching Grans with Mark Sainsbury filming for the Holmes Show
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| 6 Oct 91 | Both teams gave Tauranga Domain for “Life Span have a Go” organised by Tauranga District Council | |
| 3 Nov 91 | First Open Day for the various teams was held at Fergusson Park when a large number of the public attended. | |
| 24 Nov 91 | Marching Grans invited to Rotorua to march at the “Your Only Young Twice” Festival arranged by the Rotorua District Council. | |
| 1991 | The idea of leisure marching on the Kapiti Coast was inspired by an item on The Holmes Show in 1991 when he interviewed the newly formed Tauranga team. Proving age was no barrier, a group of over 50’s Kapiti Coast women formed their own marching team and called it the JOYSTEPPERS. A year later they added the name Waikanae and became the WAIKANAE JOYSTEPPERS. Their first march was at the Levin Christmas Parade in December 1991.
(added by Waikane Joysteppers July 2010) |
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| 1991 | After seeing the Holmes Show a group of Levin ladies formed the Silver Tops, finally disbanding in 2009. | |
| Feb 92 | In Tauranga a well attended meeting of ladies interested in marching was held. From this meeting, Tauranga Classics, Golden Kiwis, and Matua Majors marching teams were formed and later the Impalas. | |
| Feb 92 | The Gran-a-Dears tea in Rotorua and later Glenbrae. | |
| 1 April 1992 | Kiwi Gems formed | |
| April 1992 | Leisurelites were formed in North Shore Auckland. | |
| 25 Apr 92 | An Open Day was held at Rotorua with 12 teams taking part. | |
| Nov 92 | Tauranga’s second Open Day held at Wharepai Domain for all teams. The name Leisure Marchers was chosen for all non competitive teams. | |
| 20 Mar 93 | Rotorua hosted the first New Zealand Open Day for Leisure Marchers and twenty two North Island teams took part. | |
| 7 Apr 93 | Names were still being received from ladies wishing to arch. The Blue Belles and Greerton Gold teams were formed also two teams in Te Puke, RSA Ladies and Simply Magic. | |
| 1995 | Levin Lakers formed later to become the Happy Hookers. | |
| 2004 | Remax/Reds formed (and in 2010 changed their name to Taitoko being the name first suggested for Levin). | |
| 2005 | Web site created http://www.leisuremarching.org.nz by Robin Radford | |
| 2011 | NZ Originals (Marching Grans) celebrate 20 years in marching.
Alan & Audrey Rodgers
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| 2012 | Facebook page implemented by Amanda Martin from Royal Guards (Invercargill) and administrated by Amanda and Toni Grumball – Hokonui Pioneers (Gore). | |
| 2015 | Facebook page boasts 600 members in March
Audrey & Alan Rodgers
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| 2021 | Tauranga teams held a luncheon on 11 April to celebrate 30 years since Audrey Rodgers started the Leisure Marching sport. It was attended by 70 former and current marchers who reminisced at length of their days in marching.
Sadly Audrey passed away in February at the age of 93.
This is a photo of Jocelyn Evans (founder of Tauranga Classics in Feb 1992) and Raewyn Andrews (currently team coach and former marcher) who are both still actively involved in the sport, cutting the birthday cake in honour of Audrey. |
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