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The Blue T's women's entertaining group.
History
HistoryThe following information is mostly based on the 20th-anniversary article and picture printed in the 'Upper Hutt Leader' on November 17, 1981. The picture named the 25 members present.
The Blue T's began as a group of mothers that became friends while their children were at Cottle Kindergarten, and came together when it featured parents' 'talent nights'. The mothers' group asked Ngaire Paterson, formerly Tungatt, to produce their item, and she continued to do so for several years. When the kids went to school, a play-reading group, Cottle Drama Group, was formed; it progressed and expanded, to form a variety-type concert party. The Blue T's name came from their first blue costumes, and T's from Tungatt's three; Ngaire was their leader. Their main aim was to entertain senior citizens at the Hapai Club, Silverstream Hospital, the Salvation Army home, and other similar places.
They produced a different show each year, with different themes; singing, dancing, Maori culture, sketches and humour. The article said that many members had become grandmothers and senior citizens, so the group were to be re-formed; their full social life would continue, but the style of entertaining would change.
A March 22, 1982 20th-anniversary (Wellington newspaper?) article says the group was 20-26 (never more) strong, and had a 90-minute programme of choruses, songs, sketches and Maori items, and performed about once a month.
A February 11, 1986 article covered their final concert, given in Trentham School Hall late in 1985; no advertising has been found, so the date is unknown. The article said their concerts had usually been directed for senior citizens. They had given annual concerts at the Hapai Club, the Lower Hutt Masonic Home, and the Aroha Home, Taita.
It also said they were based in a large detached room at Ngaire Paterson's home, and starting with nothing, had built up a large collection of costumes and old music.
All nodes use both Ts and T's versions of the name, so that either will find items from the collection.
The numbered photos include one with a full set of names matching the original members listed in the February 11, 1986 article. One face is named as 'Me', and Nola Wallace's name is missing; chances are that she supplied almost all the photographs.
The Blue T's began as a group of mothers that became friends while their children were at Cottle Kindergarten, and came together when it featured parents' 'talent nights'. The mothers' group asked Ngaire Paterson, formerly Tungatt, to produce their item, and she continued to do so for several years. When the kids went to school, a play-reading group, Cottle Drama Group, was formed; it progressed and expanded, to form a variety-type concert party. The Blue T's name came from their first blue costumes, and T's from Tungatt's three; Ngaire was their leader. Their main aim was to entertain senior citizens at the Hapai Club, Silverstream Hospital, the Salvation Army home, and other similar places.
They produced a different show each year, with different themes; singing, dancing, Maori culture, sketches and humour. The article said that many members had become grandmothers and senior citizens, so the group were to be re-formed; their full social life would continue, but the style of entertaining would change.
A March 22, 1982 20th-anniversary (Wellington newspaper?) article says the group was 20-26 (never more) strong, and had a 90-minute programme of choruses, songs, sketches and Maori items, and performed about once a month.
A February 11, 1986 article covered their final concert, given in Trentham School Hall late in 1985; no advertising has been found, so the date is unknown. The article said their concerts had usually been directed for senior citizens. They had given annual concerts at the Hapai Club, the Lower Hutt Masonic Home, and the Aroha Home, Taita.
It also said they were based in a large detached room at Ngaire Paterson's home, and starting with nothing, had built up a large collection of costumes and old music.
All nodes use both Ts and T's versions of the name, so that either will find items from the collection.
The numbered photos include one with a full set of names matching the original members listed in the February 11, 1986 article. One face is named as 'Me', and Nola Wallace's name is missing; chances are that she supplied almost all the photographs.
Photos
Details
Organisation typeEntertainmentDate establishedNovember(?) 1961Date disestablishedNovember/December 1985
Date establishedNovember(?) 1961Date disestablishedNovember/December 1985loading google map....
The Blue T's women's entertaining group.. Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 30/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/26626