Stanley Robert Kelk

Stanley Robert Kelk, son of Frank and Elizabeth Kelk, was born on 17 January 1915 at Otekaieke, South Canterbury, New Zealand.  Stan was brought up in Oamaru where in 1938 he married his first wife Annie Brown.  Annie died in 1948. Stan remarried on 19 October 1951 in Invercargill his new bride being  Margaret Rose Wyeth from Woodlands.  Stan died in Feb 1991 he was survived by his wife, Margaret, and sons Geoffrey ( from his 1st marriage), Barry and Bryan.

Margaret lived on in the family home at 25 Wales St Dunedin until her death on 23 February 1993.

Obituary

The following Obituary was published in Dunedin newspapers shortly after Stan's death in 1991.

Stan Kelk dies at age of 76

Stan Kelk, a gentleman of rugby administration, has died in Dunedin at the age of 76.  Mr Kelk, the President of the Otago Rugby Football Union in 1978, was a well-liked and respected administrator.  "He was a top-rate organiser, a great worker and a pleasure to work with," the Executive Director of the Rugby Football Union, Mr John Hornbrook, said.  "Stan had tack, diplomacy, and was never heard to speak a harsh word about anybody."

Mr Kelk was rejected for overseas service in World War II because of heart complaints and lived with the problem for the next 50 years.

He was a member of the management committee of the union for 6 years from 1967 to 1972 and vice-president in 1976 and 1977.  Mr Kelk set high demands on himself as a sports administrator.  "You have to organise yourself and your job otherwise you don't get results," he said on one occasion.  "You must cater for detail because things don't go off if they are only half planned."

Mr Kelk, a retired Post Office executive, had a gift for fund raising and helped many sports organisations.  "I like to be a worker in the background," he said.  "I don't like the limelight and prefer to do my work behind the scenes."  Mr Kelk grew up in Oamaru, but because of shift work in the Post Office he was not able to play much rugby.  He did not have a playing background and looked upon himself purely as an administrator.

Mr Kelk was a member of the North Otago Rugby Football Union in the late 1940's at a time when administrators had to work hard, sell tickets at the gate and do other odd jobs such as looking after the showers.  He joined the Kaikorai club when he transferred to Dunedin in 1952.  There he held the positions of Treasurer, Secretary, and President.  He was later elected a life-member.  His administrative skills were widely recognised and he was co-opted to the Sassenachs committee.

Mr Kelk also enjoyed tennis, table tennis, wrestling and bowls.  He was a former president and secretary, for nine years, of the Kaikorai Bowling Club.  Mr Kelk is survived by his wife, Margaret, and sons Geoffrey, Barry and Bryan." 

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