OBITUARY: William Trevor Cowley (Trevor), Pakuranga Athletic Club life member
By Linda Mitchell, Pakuranga Athletic Club historian
It’s with much sadness that we note the passing of our life member and friend, Trevor Cowley.
He passed away peacefully at the Howick Baptist Hospital on July 9. He was 90.
Trevor had a long history with the Pakuranga Athletic Club, going back to its founding in 1967.
A member at the time of the Pakuranga Round Table, a combined meeting with the Howick Jaycees was held to discuss forming an athletic club for the new suburb of Pakuranga.
Having been an athlete himself in earlier years, it was natural for Trevor to become involved along with his wife Joy, in the club’s formation and to bring his young family along on those first Wednesday evenings.
What followed was many years of involvement with children’s track and field, as an official, handicapper, coach and participant in many working bees where Trevor’s skills as a builder were put to good use.
As the kids grew and moved on from children’s athletics, the Cowley family were lost to our club, but only for a few short years.
In the late 1970s, Trevor and Joy returned minus children but with their spiked shoes in hand this time, to a newly formed harrier section where they both competed in road and cross-country events for many years.
Over the ensuring years the positions that Trevor held in the club were numerous.
There are too many to list but a few most notable are: Many years on the club management committee; chairman of senior track and field (2000-2003); and house manager for many years.
The latter involved not only being the club handyman but maintenance of the building where Trevor’s expertise and skills as a builder were often called upon.
He was also a member of the Pakuranga Athletics Charitable Trust (PACT), to seek funding for the extension of the existing building across the track from our clubrooms.
In 1993, Trevor was awarded a club service award and in 2002 he received honorary life membership.
In 2011, Athletics Auckland awarded him with its merit award.
As well as all his involvement in volunteering, Trevor managed to find time to compete very successfully in masters track and field.
Competing at events here in New Zealand as well as overseas, he won many medals for pentathlons, high jump, long and triple jumps, hurdles, sprints and cross-country.
He was still competing in his early 80s and was an inspiration to us all.
On his retirement he joined the joggers and walkers’ section and became a regular member, with his absence over the past months being felt.
Pakuranga Athletic Club members’ and the community’s thoughts are with Trevor’s family who he was very devoted to: His adored wife Joy of 66 years, his children Bruce, Diane and Marie, and his 12 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Trevor will be long remembered for his dedication and devotion to our club and athletics in general.
