Vale - David (Rusty) Wright

[Paul Mullan]

We have just lost an important part of our family ? Rusty succumbing to little known CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) last night in Dunedin hospital. It's a disorder that infiltrates the brain, gets progressively worse, is extremely rare and sadly always fatal.
 
This is highlighted by Rusty arriving at the Waitaki River Race only two weeks ago to handle his usual radio comms duties but was clearly beginning to suffer and needed help.
 
We will bring you a full account of Rusty?s enormous contribution to jet boating in New Zealand through the magazine and social media outlets but to highlight his contribution he?s been the Otago Branch Secretary for around three decades, longer than many of us have been members of JBNZ.
 
As Otago Chairman Geoff Schaumann also reminded me ?He?s the recipient of an Otago Branch Service Award for his service to the branch particularly in the area of Rivers Access for the region over many years?.
 
Rusty was also recently presented with a special JBNZ National Service Award for his extraordinary service to river racing. Many don?t realise that almost every race held in recent memory had Rusty?s involvement, ensuring communications between officials and competitors ran like clockwork.

River Racing NZ President John Derry sums up the feeling amongst the racers ?It?s a sad day for everyone and certainly a huge loss to river racing. He was a popular member of our fraternity, always in the background, keeping the wheels turning ? he will be sorely missed?.
 
We will keep you posted on further details and funeral arrangements as they become available but for now felt it important to inform everyone as soon as we could.

Dallas Shaw
President
Jet Boating NZ

[Ross Goldsack - JBNZ Immediate Past President]

Good old Rusty. He was a truly top bloke and will be sorely missed.
R.I.P