Dedicated Darrel flies in to help each year

by Timaru Herald on 30 Mar 2006 For the last 18 years Darrel Purton has flown back from the Mt Isa mines in Queensland to help out at Maadi Cup and national regattas at Lake Ruataniwha.
These days, although his ties with Mt Isa are not quite severed, Purton is again a resident of Twizel having purchased the Mountain Chalets.

Far from being dismayed at the thought of a tough Twizel winter he is relishing the thought. ‘It will be great to get back to having four seasons,’ he said. ‘In Mt Isa there are two – hot and hotter. The temperature is between 42 and 45 degrees in summer and about 20 in winter.’

Purton is driving an umpire's boat at this regatta and he loves it.

‘I have been involved with rowing in Twizel since 1987,’ he said. ‘I worked on the projects at Benmore, Aviemore and Twizel before going to Mt Isa in 1987.’
Purton spent two seasons rowing with the Timaru club but by his own admission was only making up the numbers.

It didn't stop him coming back year after year to help out.

Purton was born at Ulverstone in Tasmania, moving in 1966 to Wellington where he got married. From there he moved to the up-country electric power schemes and stayed for 18 years.

At Mt Isa he was an underground miner and wouldn't change it for the world.
‘I love it, I love every second of it,’ he said.

He is looking forward to developing his new business but for this week the accommodation is full. ‘We could not squeeze an extra body in,’ he said. ‘We have 26 motels and 16 backpackers.’

This weather was kind to Darrel and his fellow umpire boat drivers this week and the regatta has gone off like clockwork. That this happens is credit to an army of volunteers, numbering over 100, without whom the regatta would not proceed.