Some family and friends watching the release of ‘Blackler Sticky Beak’. They are, from left, Sue Bard, Seb Blackler, Leo Blackler, Grant Blackler, Carolyn Blackler, Rachel Bryant, Chris Bard, ranger Craig Montgomerie with the Kiwi chick, and Geoff Bard.
Terry Blackler, a man described as having the ‘true measure of a Lion’, has been recognised by the service organisation with the release on Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari of a Kiwi chick called ‘Blackler Sticky Beak’.
Terry, who died last October, was Cambridge Lions’ director-at-large and a mentor to many Cambridge High School students.
Terry Blackler
Many past and present Lions and school students joined family and friends for the release in mid-February. The release of the then 23-day-old chick included a talk by ‘Save the Kiwi’ ranger Craig Montgomerie and a karakia and blessing by Harry Wilson. Access to the release site was given by farmer Bill Garland.
“The chick’s name,” explained his widow Carolyn, “was chosen because Terry knew everything that was happening around him – hence ‘sticky beak’. We put the ‘Blackler’ in front to acknowledge Terry’s late brother Ken, who was a member of Lions for 30 years.”
She said Terry’s passion for youth had been evident during his nine years with Cambridge Lions, and he had given much time to encouraging boys to find their place in the world. “Terry had a real connection with the boys, and he had great success stories because he saw them in ways they didn’t see themselves.”
He received numerous awards for his work with Lions, including the Lloyd Morgan Lions Clubs Honoured Recognition Award, received in 2018.
Craig’s father and Lion Brent Montgomerie said Terry’s position in the club was ‘one where he was available to all committees when an informed opinion was sought’.
“His work within Cambridge High School with youth was a continuation of work done in the past by Ken Riddle, Fred Hansen and others, and at our youth group meetings there was always a slot for ‘Terry’s boys’. He had a wonderful way about him. His opinions were highly valued … he was everyone’s ‘go-to’ person”.
Terry was born in Thames. He moved to Cambridge when he was 13, and it wasn’t long afterwards that he walked into a Cambridge High School classroom and caught the eye of a young Carolyn.
“It was a high school romance,” she said. Terry’s departure for Clevedon to start his training as an A-grade mechanic proved little hindrance and when he came back to finish his apprenticeship with EW Gorringe, the pair picked up where they had left off. When Terry died last year, they had been married for 56 years and had three children.
During that time, Terry’s career rose to great heights. An early move to Palmerston North saw him develop an interest in agricultural machinery, and after moving from there to Ōtorohanga then Hamilton, his entrepreneurial side was well established. He went out on his own, developing and marketing range of machinery and components, some of them award-winning.
Later, he worked for major companies such as Tasman Chemicals, Diversey and Gallaghers, where his role as international development manager saw him expand northern hemisphere markets for some 11 years before he retired. He also joined National Fieldays as international agribusiness manager in 2010, helping gain global value for New Zealand businesses.
Retirement really didn’t feature, and Terry continued developing and manufacturing components for global markets right up to the time of his death.
