In July 2021 the Harvey Symes Fund was transferred to the Taranaki Foundation for management.

Harvey Hugh Symes was born in 1919 and was raised on the family farm at Glenbervie, 20Km from Whangarei . He was the youngest child of Jackson and Maggie Symes. He had two older brothers and a sister; Francis Hamilton, Linda May and Ian Edmond. They attended the local Glenbervie Primary School and Harvey’s secondary education was at Whangarei Boys High School, where he made the 1st XV in 1935.

In 1939, his father died, the homestead burned down and war was declared. The family moved to Petch Rd, Alton, South Taranaki to work for his mother’s brother Leslie Hamilton. Maggie was one of nine children of RB and Elizabeth Hamilton of Manutahi.

Harvey enlisted in the Air Force and trained as a navigator in New Zealand and Canada. He joined the RAF 44 Squadron and completed a full tour of 15 bombing raids as a navigator in Lancaster Bombers. Fourteen of these raids were to Germany and one to Trondheim Norway. After the war he returned to Alton to farm. He was to own four farms in the district during his farming career and was still actively involved in farming right up to his death in 2003 aged 83.

Rugby was Harvey’s great love outside the farm. As a hard-nose prop he played many years for both Patea and Taranaki, but the highlight for him was captaining Patea in 1951 to win the Taranaki Championship. In 1952 he played for Taranaki at Rugby Park in New Plymouth when they played against Australia. The score was 13/9 to Australia. Patea Rugby Club was an important part of Harvey’s life. When the Patea Rugby Club rooms were built in 1968, he donated all the funds required to get the interior lined.

Not many people know of Harvey’s generosity and financial support to people and organisations. He was personally involved in sponsoring young achievers in sporting and cultural activities to further their overseas aspirations, gave advice and financial assistance to young farmers and gave generously to many charities.

The Harvey Symes Trust was established in 1981. Grants from this Trust have benefitted charities in South Taranaki and Patea in particular. To honour its intentions, Taranaki Foundation will continue to make annual distributions  to support local charitable causes as well as looking to support those working in farming and sport – rugby in particular.