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Wednesday 28 February 2024 Pages 14-15
Sense of belonging
3rd MARCH
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Celebrating 65 years
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Motueka’s father and son leaplings GORDON PREECE A soon-to-be 68-year-old Motueka fencing contractor can’t wait to legally drink, visit nightclubs and vote in four years’ time. Philip Grooby was born in 1956 on New Zealand’s rarest birthday, 29 February, and 28 years later his son Clint Grooby, a joiner in Motueka, was born on the same day. The father and son leaplings will turn 68 and 40, or depending how you look at it, 17 and 10 tomorrow and plan to celebrate at the Riwaka Hotel after a four year wait for their day of birth. Philip says sharing the unique birthday with his son was “a good thing to have”. “I’ve never known anything different, it’s what we’re used to I guess,” he says. “On the day Clint was born there was another couple in Golden Bay who had the same date, they were also a father and son [born on 29 February]. “[In 2028] I’ll be able to go to the pub …
Philip and Clint Grooby share New Zealand’s rarest birthday, 29 February. Photo: Gordon Preece. considering I was going to pubs since I was 16 [4], that’s pretty good aye.” Clint says sharing a birthday with his father ensured it was never forgotten and he looked forward to celebrating his double milestone. “We’re coming up 40 birthdays together, I don’t think we’ve had one apart yet,” he says. “Some cards might come with 10 or 40…
Ruby Bay, 64 Admirals Way NEW LISTING
Private, luxury estate
I don’t know which age is worse, probably the 40.” Roman dictator, Julius Caesar, is credited with the leap year origin in the year 45 Before Common Era (BCE). The early Romans had a 355-day calendar, and to keep festivals occurring around the same season each year, a 22 or 23-day month was created every second year. Julius Caesar decided to simplify things
and added days to different months to create the 365-day calendar. Every fourth year following 28 February one day was to be added, making every fourth year a leap year. While it may be the country’s rarest birthday, there are plenty of other locals who will be celebrating on Thursday including Katrina Evans, who says the date keeps her “forever young”.
Upper Moutere, 1395 Moutere Highway 4
5
Historic charm
4
2
Atop the spectacular Ruby Bay Coast with sweeping sea views, this extensive home was architecturally designed for an exceptional experience - luxury, privacy, and expansive living situated in an exclusive vineyard estate. Rarely do coastal properties of this calibre become available, and even fewer with a house size of 657 square metres and the majestic features that ‘Seaward’ offers.
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bayleys.co.nz/4005126
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Offers Over $3,600,000
Offers Over $1,400,000
Daniel Reed 021 548 982 daniel.reed@bayleys.co.nz
Matt Galvin 027 768 6288 matt.galvin@bayleys.co.nz
ALTOGETHER BETTER
LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED
Vining Realty Group Ltd, Bayleys, Licensed REA 2008
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