An Ahuriri (Napier) Rotarian's ring has taken a miraculous 2,000km return trip to Dunedin and back thanks to an eagle-eyed Rotarian and a lot of luck.Don Alexander, 84, lost his wedding ring whilst packing citrus fruit as part of his club's annual citrus drive.
Every year Ahuriri Rotary send lemons and grapefruit down to Dunedin to be given away free to those the elderly. Several crates were dispatched before Don realised that his wedding ring was missing.
The ring could have been anywhere amongst twelve crates of fruit.Four crates were sent south and stored in the yard of Timeless Floor and Bathroom. The business owner happened to be Barry Johnston, a Rotary member.
The Napier club searched high and low for the ring and they also alerted the Dunedin Rotary club doing the distribution.
Don and Shirley on their wedding day
It was not until three days later that Barry Johnston's eye caught something sparkling on the gravel driveway outside the yard. "I found this shiny gold ring glittering in the sunlight, it was really pure chance.
The treasured item was then sent back to its owner, who couldn’t believe his luck.
This is the fourth occasion, the ring has gone missing - lost in a Wellington garden, thrown out with potato peelings, and hidden in a deep crevice on a couch!
Don decided to leave the ring on the mantlepiece for the time being. "I thought it was safe there," Don said.
Shirley Alexander said that he better put it back on before someone thought he was back on the market!
Don Alexander has since visited his local jeweller and had the wedding resized, in time to celebrate the couples 62nd wedding anniversary.