Issue date
Yachting New Zealand is sad to advise that Life Member Bren Nelson, of the Macandrew Bay Boating Club in Otago, passed away on Wednesday 15 April.
Born in 1937 Bren first joined the Macandrew Bay Boating Club back in 1948 and remained a member ever since. Bren served two terms as Commodore at Macandrew Bay Boating Club from 1978-79 and again in 1986, and he was Secretary at the Club during 1984 and then again from 1990 to 1991.
Having spent years in yachting administration and coaching Bren’s contribution saw him recognised as a Life Member of Yachting New Zealand, the Otago Yachting Association and the Macandrew Bay Boating Club. He was a National Race Officer and Club Race Officer.
Bren was also an ex-President of Otago Peninsula Lions and a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand. He held a Second Class Diesel Trawler Engineers Certificate and an inshore Trawler Skippers Qualification.
Current Commodore of Macandrew Bay, Tony Marcinowski describes Bren’s commitment to the Club; “In his later years Bren was instrumental in co-ordinating club fundraising utilizing his experience with Peninsula Lions.”
“MacAndrew Bay Club members spent many enjoyable evenings and Saturdays preparing and delivering gardening material for the local community at the end of our long cold winter. He established links with the mountain bike community enabling our club to earn additional funds by providing support for the Otago Peninsula Challenge - a most gruelling bike race in our local wilderness and our financial security is now, in a large part, a result of his esteemed efforts in this respect.”
“Bren was never a stranger to our starters box; there was hardly a race when he didn't officiate in one of his many and talented capacities. He embraced the microphone, and his voice could be heard resonating over the waters, especially during our summer evening series, providing delightful and charming commentary on all manner of situation. The new silence will be something that will take time to adjust to.”
“His name now remains in perpetuity on our club honours board sharing with those other devoted and steadfast members in the legacy of generosity and devotion so necessary for the survival of volunteer clubs such as ours. Bren's life was an inspiration and example to those who wish to leave their good mark on this earth."
His career was varied. With a foundation from a Mechanical Fitters apprenticeship with the New Zealand Railways Workshop Bren went on to be involved with Power Projects around the Otago region as Fitter, a Technical Officer, and a Mechanical Foreman.
In 1976 Bren joined Line 7 Limited as their South Island Manager and Representative covering the entire South Island and running a Warehouse Facility from Dunedin until 1983 when he joined Epiglass / Healing Industries. Then, due to a house fire in 1985, they bought the local Grocery Store which they ran until 1991 after which Bren joined The Warehouse Limited and worked there until 2010.
Yachting New Zealand sends its condolences to Bren’s wife Maureen, his family, friends and club-mates.
