It is with sadness that the NZTWSA community acknowledge the death of John Weller Senior.
Our deepest condolences to the Weller family and Johnny’s many friends in the water ski community.
John started waterskiing in the early 1960’s, mainly at Taylors Bay down the end of Belfast Street on the Manukau Harbour. He joined the Auckland Water Ski club soon after. He spent a lifetime tirelessly working for the sport of waterskiing. Those who knew him will remember him as someone who always had a joke and a smile and was always one of the first to lend a hand.
To summarise a long list..
- He was an organiser and participant in show skiing from Northland, Thames and annually at the NZ Boat Show, Browns Bay and Hobson Bay.
- He was an organiser of the annual Stanmore Bay ski marathon, which was a huge spectacle of waterskiing back in the day.
- He was one of the founders of Northern Districts Barefoot Association and won NZ titles in Senior Men’s Slalom, Starts and Tricks.
- He was a former President of the Auckland Water Ski Club and sat on the executive committee for decades.
- He was a former President of the NZ Waterski Association and sat as an executive member for decades.
- He was/is also a life member of AWSC, NZTWSA and NZWSA.
- He took on the NZ Boat Show, was the driving force behind it, and ran it for the AWSC for decades. Inducted into the NZ Boat Show /Marine Industry Hall of Fame 2005.
- He was a founding member of the NZ Water Ski Foundation and sat as a trustee for decades.
- He helped set up the Tournament Water Ski Division (NZTWSA) as the first secretary and the second president.
- He was a NZ national tournament driver for decades.
- He represented NZ as a tournament driver at the 1981/1983/1985 world waterski champs.
- He represented NZ as a tournament driver at countless Oceanic Tournaments.
- He was a member over his lifetime of Auckland, Kai iwi and Karapiro water ski clubs.
- He was a father and grandfather who held his family together and supported them all to continue with his love of waterskiing. A farewell celebration will take place at the Avondale RSA 1pm Monday, 29th June
What a legend – farewell, John, from us all.
