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“$2000 of the best”

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Description: These images were taken for the September 17th 1978 edition of the Tribune weekly newspaper – the first of which was published.
The short article read: “Six crossword puzzles entered, and Tony Neville of Feilding was $2000 richer- thanks to the ‘Tribune’. Tony won our ‘Bestword’ competition when the jackpot stood at a record-breaking $2000. He is pictured receiving his cheque from the ‘Tribune’ assistant manager, Mr A. Marshall. It was the first major prize the 25-year-old fitter and turner had won in his life ‘apart from a dozen of beer in a raffle’. It was the first time he had entered the ‘Tribune’ competition as well, although his wife had submitted several unsuccessful entries over the years.

Tony, who works in Palmerston North but who lives in Feilding, said the money would be used to reduce the mortgage on his two-year-old house. His parents had loaned some money to help with the mortgage, and he intends giving them most of the prizemoney before considering anything else. Although he would like to have a garage built at his home.

The announcement of his good fortune did not result in an immediate party for his workmates, although he expects there will be one (he works at Niven's engineering). ‘There's been a bit of pressure at work to have one,’ he laughed. ‘I'll have to shout for the boys.’ He'd also like to take his wife and parents out to dinner. And just how did he arrive at the correct solution, with only six entries? ‘It was a sheer fluke.’ Are you going to put any more entries in for our future ‘Bestword’ competitions? ‘I might-just now and again.’”

These images form part of the Manawatū Evening Standard Negative Collection. Unfortunately, only negatives between April and December 1978 are held.