The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association lost one of its most distinguished members last week when Ted Howarth died suddenly at the age of eighty.
An accountant who established a successful roofing business, Mr Howarth had a thirty-year record of dedicated voluntary service to the NZTBA at branch and national level. He helped to establish the NZTBA's Wellington branch in 1973, serving as its inaugural President until 1980 and remaining on the branch committee until 2003.
Mr Howarth was a member of the NZTBA Council for fifteen years, from 1974 to 1989, serving as Vice-President from 1982 to 1984. He then held the position of President from 1985 to 1989, a term that co-incided with one of the liveliest periods in the history of both the Association and the industry. He guided the NZTBA through a process of adaptation to a more competitive and professional environment, by reducing the size of the Council, re-branding the Association with a new logo, launching the Industry Development Plan and supporting the shift of the National Yearling Sales from Trentham to Karaka.
Mr Howarth also led the NZTBA's efforts to resolve GST and other taxation anomalies in the late 1980s. Following his retirement from the Council in 1989, Mr Howarth was made a Life Member of the Association. He maintained his thoroughbred interests to the end of his life, at Woodleigh Stud, Waikanae.
Another former NZTBA Councillor and current Wellington branch President Tom Burn says, "Ted Howarth was a man who would walk and talk with the man in the street, and mix with royalty without thinking any less of the common man. He was an absolute gentleman."
Mr Howarth is survived by his wife Michelle, son Michael, daughter Linda and stepson Simon Darragh. His funeral will be held at Waikanae on Tuesday.
- Susan Archer
An accountant who established a successful roofing business, Mr Howarth had a thirty-year record of dedicated voluntary service to the NZTBA at branch and national level. He helped to establish the NZTBA's Wellington branch in 1973, serving as its inaugural President until 1980 and remaining on the branch committee until 2003.
Mr Howarth was a member of the NZTBA Council for fifteen years, from 1974 to 1989, serving as Vice-President from 1982 to 1984. He then held the position of President from 1985 to 1989, a term that co-incided with one of the liveliest periods in the history of both the Association and the industry. He guided the NZTBA through a process of adaptation to a more competitive and professional environment, by reducing the size of the Council, re-branding the Association with a new logo, launching the Industry Development Plan and supporting the shift of the National Yearling Sales from Trentham to Karaka.
Mr Howarth also led the NZTBA's efforts to resolve GST and other taxation anomalies in the late 1980s. Following his retirement from the Council in 1989, Mr Howarth was made a Life Member of the Association. He maintained his thoroughbred interests to the end of his life, at Woodleigh Stud, Waikanae.
Another former NZTBA Councillor and current Wellington branch President Tom Burn says, "Ted Howarth was a man who would walk and talk with the man in the street, and mix with royalty without thinking any less of the common man. He was an absolute gentleman."
Mr Howarth is survived by his wife Michelle, son Michael, daughter Linda and stepson Simon Darragh. His funeral will be held at Waikanae on Tuesday.
- Susan Archer
