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JOHN
ASPIN married MARGARET BARRY
at Brisbane (Aust) on 13th May 1872
Their
five children:
MARY
(POLLY) ASPIN
1. MARY (POLLY) married RICHARD JOHN (DICK) McPIKE at the
house of Mr J. McPike, Onehunga on 7th January 1897.
View Mary and Richard's Marriage Certificate here.
Their
nine children -
(1)
GEORGE m Amy Agnes Mary Ward both (dec'd)
Phillip Anthony George (dec'd)
Edward (Eddie) (dec'd)
m Evelyn Graham
Colin Edward
m Roslyn Helm
Karen
(Colin's partner now is Robyn
McNaughton and she has two sons)
They are
Stewart
Robert
Stephen Gary
m Leanne Smith
Daniel
Melissa
Alicia
Robert Graham
m Nicola Watson
Matthew
Laura
John Kevin
m Kathy Baldwin
Dana ) Twins
Logan )
Gillian Lorna
m Jamie
Jonathan
Freda
Mary Agnes (dec'd)
(2)
BILL
m Mary Margaret Hudson (dec'd)
Maurice Norman (dec'd)
m Helen Fraser
Gary William
m Clare Upson
Josee Matilda
Gemma Caroline
Linda Jane
m Robert Charles Dibella
Kate Angela
Justine Alyce
Ian Fraser
m Patricia Hallal
Connie May
m Keith Gerald Cathcart
(dec'd)
Maree Patricia
m Owen Williams
Emlyn Gareth
Bevan Lloyd )
Keegan Gavin) Twins
Morwenna Maree
Karen Margaret
m Geoff Corkill
Alexis Seran
Cameron John
Morgan Lance
Wendy Daureen
m Kevin Gawne
Donna
Michael
Ashleigh
(3)
JIM (dec'd) m Phyllis Hyland (dec'd)
Max
James
m Julie Williams
Veronica
James
m Nichole "Nicky" Rea
Bradley James
Jarred William
(Max
remarried Lorna Orton)
Marjorie Raewyn
m Eddie Ivicevich
Daniel Edward
Sandra Phyllis
m Richard John Wright
Royce Daniel Harry
TammyLillian Marjorie
Vinessa Lee Gillian
Steven James Mathew
Chevyez Cordell
(Marjorie remarried Noel White)
Harold Rex
m Maria Orton
Wendy
m Kevin William Pennell
Brayden William
Nathan Troy
Grant
Neville
& Lisa Melva Mildon
Quin Joseph
Judy
Vera
m Keith Maclntyre
Yvette
Liza
Samantha
Gary
Terri
Garry
Richard
m Andrea Vivienne Sullings
Rachel Vivienne
Stephanie Rose
(Phyllis McPike remarried Geoffrey Perris
(both
dec'd)
Geoffrey's previous family are -
Ron
Pam
Norman
Ken
Robyn
(4)
MARY (dec'd) No family
(5)
DAVE (dec'd) No family
(6)
ANGUS (dec'd) m Helena Chalk (dec'd).
Lena's previous family are -
Terry
Julia
(7) CATHERINE (KITTY) (dec'd)
m Arthur Victor Waters (dec'd)
Lawrence
m Dulcie Waghorn
Debra
m Maurice Cleland
Jodene
Georgine
Basil
Anna
m Robin Rawson
Mark
Kevin
Richard
(Lawrence remarried Lewellen, and
Dulcie remarried too)
Rosaline
m Terry Hart (dec'd)
Cindy
& John Banks
Daniel John
Norma
Teresa
& Earl Espie
Steven Terrence Blair
(Teresa & Partner Malcolm Bain)
Sasha Chloe
Cyril
Cynthia Christine Mary
m Paul Rells
Michael Adrian
Rachel Suzanne
& Lee Dobson
Jared Lee
Simon Jared
(8)
ELIZABETH ANN (LIZZIE) (dec'd) m
Harold Stansel Hyland
Lorraine Rose
m James (Jim) Edward Bronlund
Senior
Susan Marjorie
m David Bell
Natalie Camille Marjorie
Adam David
(Susan married Herman Kamphuis)
Deborah Ann
m John Cantell
Paul
Murray Reginald
m Diane Harris
Justin James William
Shawn Murray
Aleisha Rose Marie
Norman Max
m Lorraine Mae Johnston
Adele Maree
m Craig Trevor Schick
Kiri Elyse
Ellie Maree
Rhys Euan
Gavin James
Craig John
Donald Raymond
m Judith Ann Wood
Donna Maree
m Evan Wynyard
Dayna Anne
)
Stephen Raymond )Twins
Vicky Anne
m Peter Wynyard
Kate Louise
Paula June
m Mathew Allcock
Lisa Courtney
Karen Elizabeth
Trevor Stansel
m Sheryl Fleet
Martin Craig
m Lynda Paine
Ashleigh Grace
Aleks Joy
Kayla Rose
Scott Adrian
m Michella Lorraine Thomas
Samantha Lee
Georgia Maree
Kylie Joy
m Joseph Richard Tristan Deane
Elliette Joy
Dulcie Mary
m Peter G. Barton
Tony Mark
m Sandra Westlake
(Tony's partner now is Sharon
Gwilliam.) Her children is
Ayla-anne
Mark
Gregory Peter
m Kelly McKee
(Gregory's partner now is
Josta Slots)
Patria Marie
m Dan McGovern
(Patria's partner now is
Shannon Moyle)
Troy Adam
m Rebecca Jorgensen
Samuel
Stanley Richard
Mervyn John (dec'd)
(9)
RAYMOND ASPIN McPIKE (dec'd)
m Noeline Stella Morrison
Richard Robert (dec'd)
Kenneth Peter
Cheryl Noeline (dec'd)
(Noelene McPike remarried Alan
Skinner)
View Mary Aspin's Birth Certificate here.
Mary
(Polly) Aspin was born at the Knive Downs Station,
North Warrego, Queensland on 11th January 1873, although we
believe she always celebrated her birthday on another day.
Her birth certificate shows that there was nobody in
attendance at her birth, and we are told that her arrival
created an awful amount of interest among the native
Aborigine - they had never seen a white baby and they wanted
to steal "little white Mary" and her mother had to
keep a very close watch on her at all times. Nothing else is
known of Polly's early life, except that at no time at all
did she ever receive any formal education. She was seven
years old when the family moved to New Zealand, and
apparently on arrival they stayed at a camp at Waitakere for
some time before travelling across the Manukau Harbour to
Grahams Beach.
Polly
worked very hard helping the family to make a living. She
had to lead the bullocks while her Dad ploughed and often
got terrible bruises on her arms, mostly from the bullock
horns, but she just had to carry on. Fish was aplenty, and
that which was not eaten was dug into the vegetable garden
as fertiliser (oh for days gone-bye), and this was often her
job as well. Then she was not helping on the farm she, and
her sisters, were full-time gum-diggers, leaving on a Monday
morning in their clean white stockings to work in the
blackened and burnt gum fields. We understand that if they
returned without any gum, often they were severely
reprimanded by their father, and sent to bed without any
tea, although we are also told that their mother used to
sneak them in some tea a bit later. Another remedy for this
situation was to sleep out all night, and at times they did
this too.
Although
Polly never received any formal education, she did learn to
read and write fairly well. Among the treasures I have on
file are four songs/poems written by her. I suspect they are
songs of the time and she has simply written them out,
perhaps for practice. I do not recall where I got them from,
but they are in her handwriting and so we have printed two
of them in this update. The other two are too poorer quality
for me to reprint. If someone knows where the originals are
then we would really appreciate having a better quality
reprint of them to keep. She has signed it - Miss Mary
Aspin, Harbour View Farm, Awhitu.
Note the four birds she has sketched on one.
She and Richard (Dick) McPike were married at the house of
Mr J. McPike, Onehunga, Auckland on the 7th January 1897, at
the ages of 24 and 25 respectively. When Dick had asked her
father for permission to marry his daughter, John had
described her as "worth her weight in gold", and
that was a quality she carried with her throughout her
entire life. Dick McPike was born at Onehunga, where he
attended school, and upon leaving went to work for a
gentleman as a stable-boy, then at an iron works in
Onehunga, and Lithgow, Sydney. Dick's brother, Ted McPike,
owned the farm later owned by Dan, then Kevin Torpey at Big
Bay on the Peninsula, and remnants of the old McPike
homestead were still there in the 1980's.
Polly
and Dick's first home was on the Orua Bay Road, not far from
the Grahams Beach turn-off, on the right going to Orua Bay
before Boiler Gully Road. It had sack walls and a ground
floor, and their first five children were born here, being
delivered by the mid-wife, their grandmother Margaret Aspin.
The eldest ones attended Orua Bay School for a short time.
Dick was engaged with kauri gumdigging, and sawmilling,
doing a lot of pit-sawing and working with Ralph Millet.
Together they worked across the Harbour at Huia cutting
timber for the first, and at that time the only, dam for
Auckland water. This was an all wood dam at Niatapu, and
they used to travel back home in a small boat for a break
now and then. They moved from here to commence sharemilking
for Mr Given at Pollok. Some time later they bought land
overlooking Cochrane's Gap at Pollok, and while they were
here Dick also worked constructing roads with horse-drawn
plough and scoop, for a few shillings a day, and also split
posts in the bush with mall and wedges, as well as doing a
bit of work for other farmers for extra cash. In 1917 the
family moved to a brand-new home built by Dick and son Jim,
on their new farm at McPikes Road, Pollok, and this is where
they settled. Ray was the baby at this time, and we are told
they took with them four cows and one sythe to cut the hay
with, remembering that the farm they had bought was covered
with fern, gorse and such. Polly helped hand-milk cows when
gumboots were unknown. She wore lace-up leather boots called
dairy boots, and of course she didn't wear jeans as we do
today, but a skirt with a sack tied around her waist. Water
often was a problem, and it was carted by Polly from springs
in buckets and sometimes in cream cans on a sledge.
The
family were very good fishermen and women, and they grew and
maintained a very productive vegetable garden, established
an orchard and raised pigs and fowls. Dick used to kill pigs
for bacon, and Polly would bone, roll and cure it. She also
made her own bread and butter, and attended to all the
washing, sewing, darning, etc., that is always there to do
in a large family. Polly was never idle, and Angus remembers
these days, and he writes, "If we did not have a
garden, milk and butter, and unlimited rabbits for meat, we
may have starved. We never went hungry or had any fear of
it. Perhaps Dad and Mum had fear, but never let us kids
know".
Kitty
too can remember some of Polly's favourite sayings, and she
recalls "a great saying Mother had was, 'where there is
a will there is a way' - and that was when we thought we
couldn't do something. Mother often said that if we were
expecting a letter and it didn't arrive that 'no news is
good news'. I never heard my mother or father swear, and we
were not allowed to answer back". Their mother had
another favourite saying, and Angus can remember this, she
used to say 'if you can't say anything good about someone,
then don't say anything', and he recalls fondly that she
lived up to this 100%. Her very gentle nature, and wondrous
spirit were with her throughout her entire life, and she is
remembered for these great qualities.
When
the children were attending school, Dick was involved for a
number of years on the Pollok School Committee, and he was
on the organising committee that built the Pollok Hall,
donating some of the timber for it himself. Tennis was a
favourite sport, and the McPike family played this on their
own grass courts at McPike Road. Cricket too was played by
'everyone', including any neighbours who happened along, and
at one time we understand an area in a haybarn was cleared,
and a wooden floor there was used for roller skating. As
they grew up, Dave, Angus and Ray became very involved in
wrestling, gaining much success, and helping to establish
the sport on the Peninsula. They travelled to many
championships, and became involved in coaching younger
wrestlers, and in the administration side of the sport. They
also became noted for their gardening, and at one time had a
vegetable garden that extended from the Pollok Hall to the
School, and many of these vegetables were given away to
anyone who wanted them. The same applied to fishing. They
were a keen fishing family, and many's the time that they
travelled around the district giving away fish they had
caught.
When
the elder boys left school, they worked at home for a time,
then eventually left, and it was Angus who was at home
working the farm. Jim was living at home too at this point
and he was operating his carrying business. They continued
to work and develop their farm, until over the years they
had built the cow numbers up, and by 1930 they were milking
35 cows, and were using milking machines, which were driven
by an engine.
In later years Dick really enjoyed his fishing. He died on
l1th October 1930, aged 60 years (although his age does not
tie-in with his marriage certificate) and was buried at
Waipipi.
After
his father's death, Dave came home to work the farm with
Angus and they were able to purchase more land, which was
added to the original block. Along with their farming, Dave
and Angus both did a certain amount of bulldozing and
contracting work around the district, and it was in the late
1930's that McPike Bros. was formed. Anybody who drove past
where they were working will recall their 'advertising
billboard' - a replica of a bulldozer, pushing a great
globe, and painted on the globe were the words "McPike
Bros. move the earth". This whole thing measured about
6ft high by 8 ft long, and would be sitting on the roadside.
It should be said that McPike Bros grew very rapidly into
quite a large and very profitable enterprise - very
profitable indeed.
At one point I am told that McPikes owned something like
four farms in and around the Pollok area.
In
1950 the main farm was sold, and Polly, along with daughter
Mary and sons Dave and Angus, moved up to Silverdale, north
of Auckland. This was Polly's 'official' retirement,
although she never did stop working, and was very busy still
attending to all those who lived and visited her in their
home. Dave and Angus lived on with their mother continuing
their contracting interests, and they also bought a launch
the 'Karere' on which they had many enjoyable fishing
expeditions down around Tairua and other waters.
The family owned a batch at Tairua. Their partnership was
dissolved in 1959, and at around this time Polly moved into
a rest home on the Northshore, and continued on here until
her death on 20th August 1962, aged 89 years. She is buried
beside her husband Dick, at Waipipi.
(1)
GEORGE
- Born at his parents' Orua Bay Road home in 1898, he
started school at the Orua Bay School, then continued the
rest of his education at Pollok School. He worked on a farm
at Otaua, then met Amy Ward at Tangiteroria, just east of
Dargaville. Amy was born at Gore, Southland, and they were
married in 1925 and came to live at Pollok, farming 60 acres
across the road from the home farm. He used implements from
the home farm to develop his block, and of course these were
all horse-drawn, in those early days. During the depression,
George also worked on the roads in the district. Their son
Phillip was born in 1926, second son Eddie in 1928 and their
daughter Freda was born in 1930.
George spent most of his life engaged in dairy farming, and
also established a nursery on the farm. He would often be
seen selling some of his trees at the pig sales in Waiuku.
He also sold some samples of a new "wonder-grass",
that is kikuya, well known throughout the Peninsula nowadays
as a good summer grower, and apparently he was the first to
have these samples in Pollok. He was chairman of the Pollok
School Committee for some time, and very well known as a
fisherman. He would often be seen riding his pushbike down
to fish off the rocks and Pollok Wharf. George died on 24th
March 1959 at the age of 61 years, and his widow Agnes
continued to live at Pollok until poor health necessitated
her moving to a rest home and she lived there until her
death on 14th August 1972. They are buried at Waipipi.
Phillip
was born at Pollok on 26th September 1926 and like other
members of the family, attended Pollok School, and from
there attended a special education facility. He enjoyed the
simple things in life, and his great love was to milk the
cows. He died on 5th September 1982.
Eddie
(by his own confession, the best looking of the bunch!) was
born on 10th August 1928, also attended Pollok Primary
School, and continued on there doing Secondary at the school
by correspondence. He worked farming for Bob Crane at
Whangarei for several years, and then moved to Napier,
farming there for some years, and also working on the
wharves, along with two other 'local' lads, Trevor Hamilton
and Doug Monteith. It was while he was at Napier that Eddie
became very involved in racing motorbikes, and we believe he
became quite proficient at the sport. We understand that he
was invited to race in the Isle of Man T.T. event, but as he
was due to be married, he couldn't go. It was at Napier too
that he met Evelyn Graham, and they were married at Napier,
on 24th September 1955. Evelyn was born at Otaki on 25th
November 1930, and after their marriage they were at Napier
for some years, before moving down to farm at Shannon, then
returning to farm his parents' farm at Pollok. In 1962 they
bought their own dairy farm at West Coast Road, Pollok, off
Ross and Alma Dryland, and farmed this together. Eddie had
been associated with the Pollok School Committee for very
many years, and enjoyed a very long association with the
Pollok Tennis Club and the Matakawau Badminton Club. In both
tennis and badminton he showed great skill and a tremendous
competitive spirit and was known for his quick wit and
humour. Evelyn too enjoys these sports, and together they
made a formidable pair on court. They continued their
sporting prowess when the Awhitu Golf Course was established
in the late 1970's, again becoming formidable competitors.
It was here, at the Awhitu Golf course, that Eddie passed
away on 12th June 1994. After this time Evelyn moved to her
new home on the Whangaparaoa Peninsular where she lives
today, enjoying her ever-increasing family.
Their five children, Colin, Stephen, Bobby, Johnny and
Gillian all attended Pollok Primary School, and Waiuku
College.
Colin, born on 11th April 1956, upon leaving school,
served his apprenticeship at Howe and Western, Pukekohe. He
travelled quite extensively, settling at Ranfurly, South
Island where he was married to Roslyn Helm in May 1981,
still working as a motor mechanic. They moved north after
their marriage and made their home in Waiuku, Colin working
as a digger driver for Short and James. After their divorce
Colin remained in Waiuku and this is where he and his
partner Robyn McNaughton have made their home, along with
their family of Stuart and Robert.
Stephen, born on 8th October 1957, also served his
apprenticeship, this time in panelbeating, and worked for
Cooper and Curd Motors at Pukekohe. He was married to Leanne
Smith of Waiuku on 28th March 1981, and they have made their
home in Waiuku for one year before taking on the challenge
of dairy farming. As 50/50 sharemilkers they have lived at
Onewhero, Big Bay, Aka Aka and are now sharemilking for Jock
Massey on West Coast Road, Pollock, immediately opposite his
former family farm. They have a family of three. Daniel,
born on 19th June 1984, a student of Waiuku College, and he
too has a 'bent' for all things mechanical, working at
Monty's mowers in Waiuku. Melissa was born on 3rd
February 1986, and is entering the 5th Form at Waiuku
College in 2001. Alicia was born on 1st March 1990
and is a Form 1 student.
Bobby who was born on 14th October 1959, represented
Counties in the Junior Grades rugby as a school boy. After
leaving school he qualified as a Meat Inspector, being
employed at the Auckland Abattoir. He continues in this
profession. He married Nicola Watson in Huntly, her home
town, and this is where they have settled. The couple have
also purchased a commercial lawn-mowing business, and have a
family of two, Mathew and Laura.
Johnny arrived on 27th June 1961 and after his
schooling worked for Dalgety at Tuakau, before heading off
to discover the world. He married Kathy Baldwin in London
and they have two year old twins, Dana and Logan.
They returned home for a while and the family have recently
moved from NZ to make their home in Grafton, Australia.
Gillian who was born on 8th October 1965,completed her
schooling at Waiuku College enjoying netball, tennis and
badminton. She became a registered nurse before the travel
bug hit her too. She travelled extensively, including
Australia, the Middle East and Europe before returning to
settle in N.Z. Her son Jonathan was born in Auckland, then
she made her home in Paraparaumu for some time before she
married Jamie. They have settled in New Plymouth.
These McPikes all played rugby and tennis and have all
enjoyed badminton. As school boys they were all members of
the Awhitu Wrestling Club, a sport well established in the
McPike and Aspin families.
Freda,
George and Amy's only daughter was born on 2nd November 1930
and she too attended Pollok School, and has lived and
continued to live at Pollok in her parents old home,
enjoying the growing families of her nieces and nephews.
Freda passed away quite recently.
(2)
BILL - Born at his parents' home on the Orua Bay
Road, on 26th April 1899. He also attended Orua Bay School,
and then Pollok School when the family shifted, and left
after having gained his Proficiency. He had a very short
spell living and helping at home, and after his brother Jim
contacted polio, Bill took over his job working for Barnabys
butchery in Waiuku, and this was to be the beginning of his
career as a butcher. He left Waiuku, and travelled around a
bit, working in butchers shops, and settled in Coromandel.
It was while in Coromandel that he met Mary Margaret Hudson,
a Waiuku girl, born on 24th October 1907 and they were
married in Epsom in November 1928, and after their marriage
continued living in Coromandel for a short time. They moved
back to Waiuku, where their two children, Maurice and Connie
were born, and Bill was working for Frank Knight in his
butchers shop. Then came the depression, and during this
time Bill worked in another butchers shop in Waiuku, then
went back to Coromandel for a short time, before returning
to Waiuku, still employed as a butcher. Eventually they
bought their own business in Pukekohe, and continued on
here, working together for many years. Bill and Margaret
later sold the business and retired in Pukekohe.
After
Bill's death on 3rd December 1956, Margaret continued living
in Pukekohe, working as a shop assistant in a radio shop for
a time. Then, after she moved to her home in Remuera, she
took a position with the Auckland Meat Company as a cashier,
and spent a distinguished 13 years with this firm. For eight
years she worked down on the water front in Auckland,
enjoying great views of the boats from her office and was
able to get a birds-eye view of many celebrities, including
the Queen, then she went to relieve for a short time in the
Queen Street branch of this firm, and ended up staying for
the next five years. She continued on living in her Remuera
home after she formally retired, and enjoying the company of
family and friends. Margaret passed away in January 1988
aged 80 years.
Maurice
was born in Waiuku on 29th January 1930, and gained his
primary education at Coromandel and Pukekohe, and secondary
at Pukekohe High. He left school to join the 'trade', and
while still living at home, travelled to his work as a
slaughterman at the Auckland abattoirs. At some time about
this point in his life, Maurice met an Australian girl who
was holidaying here, and with the holiday over she returned
to her home in Melbourne, - to be followed not long after by
one Mr McPike! It was just as well for destiny had it that
she was to become Mrs McPike, and Maurice and Helen Fraser
were married in Melbourne in 1954. They have made their home
there, and Maurice worked for the Employees Union of the
Australian Meat Industry, spending a lot of time travelling
to various Works throughout the country. He passed away on
25th October 1985. Their three children were all born in
Melbourne and gained their education there.
Garry, born 12th September 1956, thoroughly enjoyed
his time at school and settled just out of Melbourne
enjoying the quiet life and whatever employment he could
find. He married Claire Upson on his 42nd birthday, 12th
September 1998. Claire was born on 26th December 1963 and
the couple have two children, Josee Matilda Upson-McPike
who was born on 31st July 1995 and Gemma Caroline
Upson-McPike who was born on 30th June 1997. Garry and
Claire continue to live at Apolla Bay, a coastal resort
200km from Melbourne where Gary conducts a Café/take-away
food premises specializing in health food products.
Linda was born on 14th November 1957, and she worked
as a clerical assistant in Melbourne. She married Robert
Dibella on 9th November 1980, Robert being a Captain in the
Australian Army, and they made their home in Melbourne for a
time, then to various States of Australia as well as
overseas postings to the USA and Malaysia. Following his
retirement from the Army the family returned to Melbourne
where Robert has now settled happily into commercial life in
that city. They have two children, Kate Angela Dibella
born on 25th January 1985 and Justine Alyce Dibella
who was born on 5th August 1987.
Ian was born on 29th January 1961, and his love in
life is gardening. He was unable to find a position in a
nursery as he would have liked, but became the
owner/operator of a taxi truck in Melbourne, and in his
spare time enjoyed whatever odd gardening jobs he could
find. Ian married Patricia Hallal on 9th March 1985.
Patricia was born on 26th March 1960 and is a graduate from
the Victorian Academy of the Arts and has had several roles
with Opera Australia. She teaches singing at two schools as
well as teaching privately at home and Ian has developed his
business as a customs broker.
Connie
was born at Waiuku on 22nd June 1931, and like Maurice,
gained her schooling in Waiuku and Pukekohe High. She left
school during the war years, and, due to a lack of man-power
when her mother Margaret was on the delivery truck, Connie
worked in the office of the butcher shop. When they sold the
business she went dressmaking in Pukekohe, remaining here
until her marriage in 1952. Connie married Keith Cathcart, a
dairy farmer from Onewhero, and they made their home at
Pukekawa, dairy farming, and while here their three
daughters were born. In 1961 they purchased a dairy farm at
Pirongia, and continued on living here, although they sold
their cows and farmed dry stock and also established a
Murray Grey stud. Connie still enjoys dressmaking, not to
mention the odd round or twenty-five of golf. They took a 3
month tour of the States in 1989, visiting a lot of the
families of the A.F.S. students who had stayed with them.
After they lost Keith on 19th April 1993, Connie has
continued on in their home, now being fully involved with
her grandchildren and helping out with picking and packing
the orchids, she has a large garden, has taken up hardanger
embroidery (don't know how you spell that!), and is right up
there with all the happenings on farm. Never one to slow
down, she has continued her overseas travels. In 1995 she
visited England, Egypt, Europe, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. In
1997 did a tour of the South Island, 1998 an outback tour of
Australia and in 2000 she spent 10 weeks touring Wales,
Ireland, Scotland and Ecuador.
Maree Cathcart was born on 18th March 1955. She spent
the first 18 months of her schooling at Pukekawa Primary and
then attended Pirongia Primary and Te Awamutu College. She
gained her school certificate and her sixth form
certificate, and then did three years training as a general
nurse at Waikato Hospital. After becoming a registered
nurse, she left New Zealand and toured the United Kingdom
and Europe for nine months. While in England she married
Owen Williams, a Welshman from Liverpool, in August 1975.
While here, Maree worked as a theatre nurse at Park House
Hospital, and Owen worked on an Oil Rig in the North Sea.
Maree and Owen returned to New Zealand in 1976, and took up
dairy farming. They spent one year at Ohaupo, the next just
out of Hamilton on a town supply farm, then to another town
supply farm at Tokoroa, and the last two seasons have been
50/50 sharemilking at Otorohanga. In 1984 they purchased
their first dairy farm of 49 ha at Puketaha near Hamilton,
and spent the next 11 years developing this farm. After
looking at bigger farms in Southland, Hawkes Bay, Tasmania
and South America, they purchased the neighbour's farm one
and a half kilometers down the road!!!!!!. They milked 240
cows on this 73ha block for the next fours years, and then,
both wanting a change, sold that and purchased a house in
Hamilton. Owen is working as a farm consultant in Ecuador,
South America, and Maree lives in their family home in
Hamilton.
They have four children, Emlyn born on 16th December
1978, and at the age of 22 has graduated from Waikato
University with a physics degree. Twins Bevan and Keegan,
born on 25th September 1980, have spent their 20th year in
Christchurch, where Bevan is completing a
construction/building diploma at Polytech and Keegan has
completed his second year of a Civil Engineering Degree. Morwenna,
born on 13th October 1983, has just completed her 6th form
year at St. Pauls Collegiate in Hamilton.
Karen Cathcart was born on 11th June 1957. She
attended Pirongia Primary School and then Te Awamutu College
where she gained her school certificate and university
entrance. Karen spent her 1975/76 year as an American field
scholar student, attending Plantation High School, Fort
Lauderdale, Florida and her host family were Mr and Mrs
Robert Mitchell, who now live in Ohio. After returning to
New Zealand, she did three years at Waikato Teachers
Training College, plus part of her degree in education at
Waikato University. She then taught for one year at
Otorohanga Primary School. While at school Karen showed
great interest and skill in tennis, being selected as coach
for Te Awamutu Juniors, and while in Florida she was
selected for a Plantation High School team. Karen was
married to Geoff Corkill on May 31st 1980. Geoff is a
qualified engineer, and at the time this information was
given to us in 1981, Karen had one years' leave from
teaching and she and Geoff were touring the U.S.A., the
U.K., and Europe. They came back to the Waikato and took up
dairy farming, Karen teaching for a couple of years while
they were sharemilking. They purchased their 83 ha farm at
Ohaupo in June 1989, milking 270 cows with the help of a
married man. Geoff puts his engineering skills to great use,
having built a cowshed and a large range of the machinery
required on farm. In true McPike fashion, Karen is a keen
gardener, and Geoff and the boys are very keen fishermen,
while all the family enjoy the pleasures of boating and
water skiing.
They have three children. Alexis, born on 21st July
1983 and she has just completed her sixth form year at
Hamilton Girls High, while working part-time at a couple of
restaurants in the city. Cameron was born on 25th May
1985 and has just sat school certificate. He is a keen rugby
player, representing Hamilton Boys High in the under 15A
team which competed in the national tournament in Wellington
this year. Morgan, born 6th April 1989 has just
completed year 7 (Form 1) at Peachgrove Intermediate and he
enjoys his go-cart and freestyle bike.
Wendy Cathcart was born on 18th December 1959. Like
her sisters, she attended Pirongia Primary and Te Awamutu
College, where she gained her school certificate and
university entrance, and then spent two years working in a
medical laboratory in Auckland. After that she started
general nursing, training at Greenlane Hospital, and had
completed two years and gained her 3rd stripe and then also
sat her final exams. While at college she was selected, and
competed in the inter-college athletics which were held at
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton. Wendy married Kevin Gawne in
April 1980, and made their home at Karaka where Kevin worked
on a town supply farm and he also played rugby for the local
Karaka team.
Since
Karaka, they have made their home near Pirongia on the
family farm. They converted this farm back to dairying from
bull beef, as Keith and Connie had sold their dairy herd
some 20 years previously. They run this along with a
commercial orchard business - these orchards being mainly
exported to Japan, and huge input from Connie makes the
workload lighter. (Yes, you read that correctly. I suspect
these are the only orchards being exported to - well -
anywhere, at a guess. No wander they need Connie's help.
This could be a world's first, or then again it just could
be a lousy spelling error on my part! It is in fact orchids
that they are exporting. Yes, orchids, as in flowers!!!)
Both Wendy and Kevin are heavily involved with various
community and sports groups, PTA, Plunket, tennis, rugby,
netball, etc, etc, again, in the true McPike spirit of
getting stuck-in.
Their first child, Donna, was born on 10th April 1986
and completes her fourth form year at Te Awamutu College.
Donna enjoys a wide range of sports, plays the clarinet, and
feels that in the future she would like to work with
animals. Michael, born on 21st December 1987 has
completed his time at Pirongia School and next year will
attend Te Awamutu College. He too enjoys many sports,
including rugby, skateboarding and cycling, but has a real
passion for motor cross. Then there is Ashleigh, born
on 29th June 1991 and attends Pirongia School, again being
involved in a large range of sports, also with a great love
of animals, and we hope that Santa brought her the puppy she
wanted for Christmas 2000 !!
(3)
JIM - Born at his parents' Orua Bay Road home, on
26th February 1901 and attended Pollok School for all his
education. He gained his Proficiency at the very early age
of 12, and this was considered a particularly fine effort
indeed. He then took up a position with a butcher in Waiuku,
but left after he contacted polio, and his brother Bill took
over his job. Jim came home and worked on the family farm,
being later able to purchase 60 acres next door to his
brother George's property on McPike Road. About this time,
i.e. 1924, he bought a T.Ford truck, and along with Gus
Hartner who also had a truck, be became one of the first
carriers on the Peninsula. This was a full-time job for him
now, and in 1926 he bought a Chev 4 cylinder truck, and in
two years sold this to purchase a Dodge truck. Jim was the
first carrier to cart cream from Pollok to Waiuku, the
produce having earlier gone by boat. He carted from Brooks
Road at Awhitu through to Meikles, south of Pollok. However,
it was not a lucrative business, and he sold his truck in
1930 and concentrated on farming his dairy farm. Like the
rest of the family, Jim played a lot of tennis, and loved to
go fishing, and during the war years spent some time serving
on the Home Guard.
Jim
married Phyllis Hyland in November 1940. Phyllis is the
sister of Bill Hyland who married Lizzie McPike (a brother
and a sister married a brother and a sister) and her family
lived at Matakawau. A new home was built for Phyllis and Jim
on the farm and they lived here until approximately 1951.
Their first four children, Max, Marjorie, Harold and Judith
were all born while they were here. They sold their farm and
moved to Papatoetoe where they lived for one year, then they
bought a small dairy farm at Swanson, which is not far from
Henderson, north of Auckland. The arrival of Garry made the
family complete. Jim and Phyllis farmed here for about five
years until poor health necessitated they sell this and so
they moved in to Henderson. Jim continued to suffer poor
health, and he passed away just about a year later, in
August 1957, aged 56 years.
Phyllis
continued living on in Henderson with her family and then
some years later she married Geoffrey Perris. Phyllis's
family grew now for Geoff had his own family of five, Ron,
Pam, Norman, Ken and Robyn, and at this time some of them
were still living at home. They made their home in the
Waimauku/Henderson area for a time, then moved to Papatoetoe
for a number of years whi1e Geoff worked at Mangere Airport.
Their next move was to Otaua where they helped Phyllis's son
Harold and his wife Maria while they were sharemilking for
Stan McDonald, and after this they moved into Waiuku, making
their home in Warriston Avenue. January 1983 saw them move
again, this time down to Waihi where they 'retired' to a
home on Harold and Maria's farm there. Geoff passed away on
24th July 1989. Phyllis eventually settled into a retirement
village and she too passed away on 7th March 1991.
Jim
and Phyllis's eldest four children were all born in Waiuku,
and gained their education at Pollok and Swanson primary
schools and Henderson High. Son Garry was born at Henderson
and gained his schooling in Henderson and Waiuku College.
Max
- born in 1941, after leaving school he worked in a factory
in Swanson and then for Air New Zealand when this company
was based at Whenuapai, working as a Ground Steward, then
when the airport opened at Mangere, he transferred to there.
In 1964/65 he married Julie Williams, Julie coming from
Henderson, and they made their home in Mangere. Their two
children Veronica and James were both born here, Veronica on
23rd October 1966 and James on 21st May 1968. They gained
their education in Mangere, then in approximately November
1980 the family all moved to Australia and made their home
in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast of Queensland. In September
of 1995 Max returned to New Zealand and on the 8th March
1997 he married Lorna Orton, and they have made their home
in Manurewa.
Veronica and James remain on the Gold Coast.
James married Nichole "Nicky" Rea, and they have
two children, Bradley James born on 11th July 1997
and Jarred William born on 10th September 2000.
Marjorie
- born in 1943, she worked as a machinist in Henderson after
leaving school and continued on here until her marriage to
Eddie Ivicevich in 1960. Eddie was a carpenter, and they
made their home in Henderson where their three children
Daniel, Sandra and Steven were all born and gained their
schooling. Marjorie remarried Noel White in 1988 and made
their home in Waiuku for a time, until their separation. She
worked as a machinist in Waiuku and Papakura until her
retirement in 1997, and now lives in Whangarei with her
youngest son Stephen. She enjoys crocheting and handcrafts
and spending time with her four grandchildren who all live
nearby.
Daniel (Danny) served his apprenticeship as a
mechanic and worked for some time as a truck driver. While
running his bread and pie delivery business, he was also
busy building up a beef farming unit at Maungaturoto, and at
the same time was very involved in the Maungaturoto Trail
Bike Riding Club, not just winning trophies, but also
helping in administration. In 1997, along with his partner
Robyn Vivian, moved his interests to Whangaroa, Northland.
He helped to design, and had built, a deep sea fishing
charter boat which he named "Millennium". During
this time also, he qualified as a Skipper. He enjoys his
lifestyle, participating greatly in the fishing club and
anything connected with big game fishing.
Sandra completed her schooling at Waiuku College and
was employed on the Henderson Borough Council staff. She had
her first child, Royce in 1986. She married Richard
John Wright in 1992, Richard working in the earthmoving
business, and they lived in many different places at this
time. Tammy was born in 1964 when they lived in
Waiuku, and Vinessa in 1996 when they were in
Henderson. Around 1996 they moved to Ruakaka, Northland.
Sandra has suffered ill health in recent times and in early
2000 was diagnosed as having spongy kidney (RTA). Richard
has become her caregiver, and their leisure is spent camping
and fishing.
Steven, who gained his secondary schooling at Wesley
College served his apprenticeship as a panelbeater, then
began driving trucks for his father, delivering bread. He
later became self-employed doing a pie delivery run in the
north and now this business serves the Whangarei area. His
son Chevyez Cordell was born in 1997 and Stephen
shares Chevyez' care as well as refurbishing his old kauri
villa and true to the McPike tradition, is an avid
fisherman. We are told his one fault is that he brings the
fish home for his Mum Marjorie to fillet. Could this, also,
be a McPike tradition???
Harold
- born in 1944, and he worked on a market garden for a time
after he left school, then also as a Ground Steward at
Whenuapai for a time. He then turned to dairy farming and
his first sharemilking position was with Stan McDonald at
Otaua. Harold married Maria Orton, Maria coming from
Taupaki. Their three children, Wendy, Grant and Neville were
all born in Waiuku and began their schooling there. They
moved to Paeroa to another sharemilking position, and in the
early 1980's they purchased their own dairy farm at Waihi,
where their children continued their schooling.
Wendy attended College there, then trained as a nurse
in Auckland. She married Kevin William Pennell at Waihi on
7th March 1992. Kevin, born on 11th December 1969, is a
cabinet maker from Waihi. They have two children, Brayden
born on 7th May 1996 and Nathan born on 24th July
1999.
As this goes to press in 2001, Grant is doing a
Diploma in Body Therapy at Auckland School of Massage. Neville
is Purchasing Manager in the liquor industry in Hamilton,
and is engaged to Lisa Melva Mildon. Lisa, born on 4th June
1975, is a graphic designer from Tauranga. They have a baby
boy, Quin Joseph born very prematurely on 17th July 2000 and
after 8 weeks in hospital, he is now home and doing really
well indeed, as only babies can.
Judy
- was born in 1948 and she gained her primary schooling at
Swanson and secondary at Henderson High. Judy worked in
Henderson until her marriage to Keith MacIntyre, Keith
coming from the Swanson area, and they made their home in Te
Atatu. Judy continues to live in their home in Te Atatu with
her five children, Yvette, Liza, Samantha,
Gary and Terri and they all attended school in
Te Atatu.
Garry
- born in Henderson in 1956, Garry attended Auckland
University for a short time after leaving school. He took
employment in Waiuku and then trained as a metallurgist at
the Glenbrook Steel Mill. Two years were then taken up with
extensive travel overseas, before returning to Waiuku to his
former job. Garry married Andrea Sullings, on 16th January
1982 in the Waiuku Methodist Church. Andrea is a local
Waiuku girl who worked as a secretary, and they have made
their home in Waiuku. They have two daughters, Rachel
born at National Women's Hospital on 13th July 1984, and Stephanie,
also born at National Woman's, on 14th June 1986. Both girls
completed their primary schooling in Waiuku, and now attend
Waiuku College.
(4)
MARY - The eldest daughter, she was born at her
parents' home at Orua Bay Road, and attended Pollok School,
also gaining her Proficiency. After leaving school, she took
a number of positions as a domestic help, working in
Auckland and around the Waiuku/Pollok districts. She later
came back home to help with the family, and was a tremendous
help to her mother, cooking and cleaning for everyone and
Lizzie remembers that in those days of wooden floors, she
scrubbed them all with sand soap. Mary never married, and
moved to Silverdale with her mother and brothers in 1950,
still helping with all the work that had to be done. After
her mother died she moved into a private rest home,
remaining here until her death on 24th February 1968. She
was buried at Glenfield.
(5)
DAVE - Also born at the Orua Bay Road home, and
was just a baby when the family moved to Pollok, and gained
all his schooling at Pollok School. Upon leaving school, he
worked for the Post Office, but when electric lights were
installed, they affected his eyes, so he gave up this type
of work, and turned to farming. He worked on the Aka Aka
swamp for farmers, and when his father passed away in 1930,
he returned home to help manage the home farm with Angus.
Dave was a keen wrestler and took part in many competitions,
wrestling in the Auckland Town Hall on some occasions and
travelled around the North Island attending competitions. He
was a foundation member of the Awhitu Wrestling Club, and
was involved in its administration and coaching, and also
established a gymnasium when he moved up to Silverdale. He
also took a keen and active interest in tennis, and was well
known for his enjoyment of fishing.
While
at Pollok, he and Angus formed 'McPike Bros', doing
contracting work in the district. When they moved to
Silverdale, they continued this business working as far
north as Okaihau, and it was at this stage that their
nephew, Norman Hyland, worked for them for a time. McPike
Bros. also owned a batch at Tairua in the days when it was
still a natural wilderness, and they bought a launch the
'Karere' on which they spent many a happy fishing
expedition.
The
partnership with Angus was dissolved in 1959 and Dave
continued on his contracting interests, doing a lot of the
roading work for the Stillwater subdivisions at Silverdale.
These subdivisions were his sister Lizzie and Bill Hyland's
farm, which they were selling as sections, for a holiday
resort. He also took on subdivisional work up at Kerikeri,
and at this point he went into partnership with a
second-cousin, Don Goodrick. Dave continued this work until
he died of a heart attack on 28th January 1969, and he was
buried at Glenfield.
(6)
ANGUS VINCENT
- Born at his parents' home overlooking Cochrane's Gap, on
the Peninsula, on 10th November 1907. Angus tells us that he
was named after two of his fathers' school friends - Angus
Gordon who became Clerk of the Auckland Racing Club, and
Vincent Meredith who was Crown Prosecutor for Auckland. Like
other members of the family, Angus attended Pollok School,
which had an attendance of around 25-35 pupils, one room and
one teacher. He belonged to the Pollok Tennis Club and the
Awhitu Wrestling Club, being a keen wrestler and competing
in competitions and a very active member of this new club.
After leaving school Angus became involved in land
development, dairy farming and earthmoving on the Peninsula
along with his brother, and in the later 1930's he and Dave
formed McPike Bros. In 1950 he, Polly his mother, Mary his
sister, and Dave moved to four acres of land at Stillwater,
Silverdale where the brothers continued their earthmoving
interests. As stated previously. Angus and Dave owned the
launch the 'Karere' and spent a lot of time on her in and
around Tairua where they also had a little batch.
On
18th July 1959 Angus married Helena (Lena) Elsie Ida
Baker/Chalk. Lena was widowed and has a son Terry, then aged
20, and daughter Julia, then aged 8. The family lived in
Papakura for four years, then moved to Parua Bay, Whangarei,
where Angus had a small market garden and worked for the
City Council. It was while living in Whangarei that Lena
suffered a stroke in 1963 which unfortunately left her quite
disabled. They moved back to live in the 'West Homestead',
Shakespeare Road, Waiuku, then about 1969 moved to Manly,
Whangaparoa, where they lived for nine years. 'Ihey then
crossed the Tasman and settled in Gladstone, Queensland. We
were absolutely delighted and completely taken by surprise
when Angus literally "turned up" at the centenary
reunion in 1981, travelling over from Australia especially
for the occasion. He had the honour of planting the Kauri
tree for the McPike family on the farm at Grahams Beach the
Sunday of that reunion and I can recall quite clearly Angus
taking his time to do it well, and thoroughly tramping that
young tree into place, saying that you must "tuck it in
well and firm". I can tell you that Angus' tree is the
one that grew the best from the beginning, and today stands
as the tallest tree in that plot! In 1982 Angus and Lena
returned to settle back in New Zealand, making their home in
Kaitaia, Northland. Lena passed away on 1st April 1990 at
Kaitaia and Angus on 21st February 1996, both being buried
at Kaitaia.
(7)
CATHERINE (KITTY)
- Born at Pollok, Kitty gained all her schooling at Pollok,
leaving after gaining her Proficiency. She enjoyed many
sports, playing tennis along with her parents, brothers and
sisters, won medals in athletics, and reigned supreme as a
wicket-keeper on the cricket field. She married Arthur
Waters in Penrose, Auckland about 1932, and after their
marriage, Arthur took on a land clearing contract job,
sometimes working clearing gorse that was a good meter or
more higher than the tractor. Then they went sharemilking,
and over the next wee while had a number of moves to
different places, including Nongataha, Waihi, Penrose and
Mangawhai. In 1946 the family travelled south to Dunedin,
the journey taking three days. They travelled by train,
inter-island ferry, train, another train and then a taxi to
their home at Hamilton Bay, Port Chalmers. Their daughter
Rose remembers this time, and I quote from her letter
"We had 47 acres, 11 cows, one bull, two dozen chicks,
lots of ducks, two cats, two dogs and later a nice garden
which Dad made - boy, could he grow things. There were
always vegetables and fruit on the place, we all helped
getting in the cows for milking, and we had to look for them
in the bush. Mum milked cows in the rain or snow, maintained
a wonderful flower garden, having flowers all year round. I
think her daffodils would have won prizes, there were always
bunches and bunches of them. We had no power in the place,
just used tilly lanterns and candles, and we had a coal
range".
This
was not a self-contained farm, and Arthur took employment in
Dunedin from time to time to supplement the family's income.
When Arthur was 60, they left Hamilton Bay and brought a
place at Broad Bay on the Otago Peninsula, on the other side
of the harbour. They enjoyed their retirement, still
maintaining a great garden, and after Arthur passed away on
30th December 1969, Kitty lived on here for a while.
Eventually she moved into Dunedin, where she enjoyed new and
wonderful talents, woodcarving, painting, rugmaking and many
other art interests.
Lawrence
was born at Warkworth in 1933, and began his schooling at
Nongataha, attended other schools where the family was
living at the time, and finished at Port Chalmers, Dunedin,
at the age of 15. Lawrence had a great love for the water,
and remembers making his first canoe out of a sheet of
corrugated iron, and being told off by neighbours for
'boating' on logs in the harbour during high winds. After
leaving school, he worked for a neighbouring farmer for a
few months, then when he was 16 he took a job on a fishing
boat, fishing all around the lower South Island. In the
early 1950's he worked on the steam trawler 'Taiaroa'
between Dunedin and Banks Peninsula for 12 months, and
during the boom period of crayfishing on the West Coast, he
was there, working on several boats. In 1955 he returned
home and he and Dulcie Waghorn, the 'girl next door' were
married, Dulcie having worked as a Machinist in Port
Chalmers. They made their home in Port Chalmers, making
several moves to accommodate their increasing family. During
this time, Lawrence bought a boat and worked around the
Otago coast doing general fishing and crayfishing, then
owned several other boats, and in 1968 they had the 'Anna
Dee' built. All their family were born while they were
living at Port Chalmers.
After their divorce, Dulcie remarried and now lives in
Dunedin, and Lawrence married Lewellen Taylor (nee Baker) in
1977. Lewellen (Lew as she is affectionately known) comes
from Northland, and with the addition of her three children,
their family now grew to nine.
Lawrence continued fishing in Dunedin, until Christmas 1980,
when they bought the Pukenui Motor Camp, at Houhora,
Northland. The family packed up, and along with their boat
'Anna Dee' moved north where they enjoy sunshine, fishing
and lots of visits from friends and family. My plug for a
bit of advertising here now -anybody travelling north will
be made most welcome during a stop-over at the Pukenui Motor
Camp. You'll find yourself literally surrounded by
relations!
Lawrence's eldest, Debbie, was born in 1956, and did
her primary schooling at Port Chalmers, and then attended
Dunedin Tech. She left school and worked at Cadburys and
then for a jeweller, before her marriage to Maurice Cleland.
Maurice comes from Dunedin, and is a T.V. Technician, and
after their marriage they made their home n Dunedin,
Blenheim, Timaru, and back to Dunedin again where they now
live. They have two children, Jodene and Georgine
who are both still pre-school. and Debbie continues her
interest in Country and Western music, enjoying some
considerable success in the Golden Guitar Competitions, and
singing around the Otago area. Do we have a budding Anne
Murray here?
Basil was born in 1958/59, and attended Port Chalmers
Primary School and Dunedin Tech. After leaving school, he
went fishing with his Dad, and then skippered a boat for
Wrightsons for a time. He is now an apprentice motor
mechanic, and this stands him in good stead, as the most
favoured sports interests of this thrill seeker is building
and driving 'off roaders', or beach buggies as laymen like
me know them to be!
Number three in this family, Anna, was born in 1961.
She too attended Port Chalmers Primary School and Logan Park
High, Dunedin. Anna has a great love of horses, enjoying
many visits to Pony Clubs. She left school to work at
Cadburys, and in 1981 was married to Robin Rawson. Robin is
a cabinet maker from Dunedin, and this is where they have
made their home.
Mark was born in 1963, he too attended Port Chalmers
Primary School and Logan Park High. He spent some time in
the Territorials, and now is an apprentice upholsterer in
Dunedin.
Kevin, born in 1964 attended Port Chalmers Primary
and Logan Park High as well. For the first year after
leaving school he worked next door in the fishing factory
and in 1980 moved north to Houhora. He enjoys horse riding
and riding his motorbike and has found employment as a farm
labourer, and a builder's labourer.
Richard was born in 1971, and is still attending
Primary school in Dunedin where he lives with his Mum.
Lewellen's family of three sons, Graham, Roger
and Carl, have made their home in Dunedin and
continue to live and work there.
(Lawrence's family is to be updated here.)
Rosaline
(Rose) - was born on the 6th April 1942 at Auckland,
and when she was just four years old travelled south to
Dunedin with her family, the journey taking three days. The
out-door/tom-boy life was for Rose. She enjoyed many sports,
and remembers well helping the family with the chores,
getting the cows in for milking, the lovely garden they
maintained, carrying bread and a few groceries home on the
school bus, and fishing whenever she could. She left school
to go to work, didn't attend High School, them moved with
the family to Broad Bay, which is across the other side of
the harbour, about 10 miles from Dunedin. Here she met Terry
Hart, a bus driver who lived just two doors away, and they
were married two years later, and went to live at Portabello
and settled there. Terry was a volunteer fireman for 12
years. He was an owner-driver of a beer tanker working for
New Zealand Breweries. Terry passed away on 26th March 1997
at the age of 63 and whilst she has made several shifts of
home, Rose has remained living in Harwood. Once again we can
see where the McPike tradition of fishing and always keeping
yourself busy lives on, for Rose tells me she enjoys a good
walk every afternoon and is kept very busy with the demands
of life and family. In the recently blizzard that blew
through in July 2003, they even got a good fall of snow at
Harwood. Rose, like her grandmother before her, is a keen
fisherwoman and like her grandmother she too fishes the
"old fashioned way" ie she slings a line just like
Poly did. No fancy rods for this master of the art. Rose and
Terry have four children, all keen sports people like their
parents.
Cindy was born in 1966, and when our first
publication went to print, she was in Form 5 and sitting her
School Certificate. She enjoyed swimming and ice-skating.
After finishing College she worked at the YMCA and then the
Post Office before heading to Brisbane where she worked in a
scallop factory. Upon returning to NZ she took up a position
with the ACC and has remained there ever since. She and
partner John Banks have a son, Daniel was born on
15th March 2001.
Norma, born in 1967, was then in Form 4, is also a
good swimmer and liked horse riding, and ice-skating. She
held a position in an old people's home for a while after
school and then took a position full-time at Dunedin Public
Hospital. From there she held a position in the Mosgiel
Woollen Mills and now holds a position with Fisher and
Paykel, also in Mosgiel. She and her fiancé Malcolm Bishop
have made their home here and the couple plan a wedding day
for 6th March 2004.
Teresa, born in 1970, was in Form 1 at the time of
our first publication. She liked growing tulips and cacti,
and like her sisters, enjoyed swimming. She also worked at a
home for the elderly as a nurse-aid and at that time she and
partner Earl Espie had a son, Steven who was born on
6th December 1991. In 2000 Teresa and partner Malcolm Bain
celebrated the arrival of daughter Sasha on 10th July
2000.
Cyril, born in 1972, and became another keen swimmer
during his schooling years, having gained three certificates
up to his 200 metres and he liked BMX bike racing as well.
From the ages of 8 right through to 24 he enjoyed his rugby
as well. After school, he also worked for a time at an old
people's home then spent some time in forestry before
settling into his niche of dealing with fish. We just might
have guessed!! After working with Otakau Fisheries, then
Rainbow Fisheries who specialize in the elite restaurant
trade, Cyril works with Ngati Tahu Fisheries where he is
completing his apprenticeship as a filliter ie one who
fillets fish! A handyman for mum..
Kitty
and Arthur's third child, Chris, - was born at
Port Chalmers Hospital in 1953. She attended Port Chalmers
Primary School, and Bayfield High School. After leaving
school she worked for an insurance company in Dunedin, being
employed in the clerical staff. She married Paul Rells, who
was working in Dunedin, and they made their home their. They
had three children.
Michael was born on 16th January 1974 gaining his
schooling in Dunedin. He has made his home now in Dunedin,
working for Vodafone.
Rachel was born on 21st March 1976 and upon leaving
school gained her qualification to become a registered
veterinary nurse. She and her partner of 8 years, Lee Dobson
own their own electrical business and they have a son Jared
who was born on 14th February 2002.
Simon also gained his schooling in Dunedin and gained
his qualification as a chef. He made his home in
Christchurch for 2002/03 and has recently moved to
Pennsylvannia, USA where he is employed in the Camp USA
programme.
Christine works in the product department of Cadburys and
she tells me she is "unattached and still
looking………" - I was not sure if this is the
correct forum for advertising or to be looking !!! A few too
many rellies……. She is very excited about her
forthcoming trip to see Simon in the States and leaves in
August for that adventure.
(8) ELIZABETH ANN (LIZZIE) - She was born at
Pollok on 18th October 1914 and she attended the Pollok
Primary School as well, having to walk the two and a half
miles to school along the clay roads. She left school at 15
years, there being no secondary schooling available in those
days, and worked in Auckland as a housemaid. She returned
home to help when her mother was unwell. They used to go to
dances in the local hall at this time, and had to walk the
two and a half miles there, wearing old shoes and clothes,
and got changed when they arrived at the hall, but beyond
doubt the dances were well worth the effort of getting
there. Lizzie was a keen dancer, as was a certain Mr Bill
Hyland, and their marriage in that same hall in 1938 bares
out just how good these dances were! Bill was from Awhitu,
and he is the brother of Phyllis Hyland who married Jim
McPike. After their marriage Lizzie and Bill made their home
in a two roomed bach on George's farm, managing the farm for
him. This little bach, on Pollok Wharf Road, is still
standing, now being used as a hay barn, and in the days they
lived in it of course they had no electricity, but this was
connected just before the birth of their first child. They
worked on there, then after the arrival of their third
child, they went to sharemilk for Lizzie's brothers in
McPike Road. They remained there for three years, and then
sharemilked on a neighbouring farm for another two years.
After that time, they bought a house with a few acres at
Waipipi and Bill worked as a carpenter for a couple of
years, then they purchased a farm at Silverdale. They lived
there for 10 years, until the farm was developed into
sections and subdivisions, and sold - it is now part of the
developed area known as Stillwater. They continued to farm
just north of Auckland until 1977 when they retired to
Tauranga, and enjoyed travelling with their campavan to
visit their extensive family, including revisiting Grahams
Beach, much to our delight. Lizzie passed away on January
12th 1986. In 1990 Bill remarried Betty and they continue on
living in Tauranga. Lizzie and Bill had seven children, the
eldest five are all married with families of their own, Stan
lived in Tauranga, then in family care and their youngest
Mervyn, only lived for three days.
Their eldest, Lorraine, - was born at Waiuku
on 19th February 1940 and gained her schooling at Pollok,
Waiuku and Silverdale. She took a clerical position on the
North Shore after leaving school, and then worked for Yates
Limited, boarding in Auckland, and continued on here until
her marriage. She and Jim Senior were married on 15th
November 1958 at Epsom, Jim coming from Ellerslie and was
employed as a telephone technician. They built their new
home in Henderson, and this is where they "settled
down". Lorraine found herself very involved in the
various school activities, Cubs, etc., and in particular
cake decorating, in which she displays great skills, and
teaches this 'sticky' art at night school. Shortly before
Jim's retirement in 1987 they moved to Hihi Beach
(Mangonui), where Lorraine opened a cake decorating shop in
Kaitaia, travelling daily from Hihi. She sold this business
to their son Murray and she and Jim worked for Murray for a
few years before returning to Auckland in 1996 to care for
Jim's mother in Pakuranga. In 1999 they purchased a town
house in Manurewa and she still decorates cakes and also
enjoys doing handcrafts, etc with Manurewa Probus Club, of
which she is a committee member. Jim, at long last, can play
golf and this he does 3 or 4 days a week at Pukekohe Golf
Club, in between time spent with their 6 grandchildren.
Lorraine and Jim have three children, Susan, Deborah and
Murray.
Susan was born in Auckland in 1959 and was educated
at Henderson. She worked in Henderson in various shop
assisting jobs before departing for Australia where she
worked for two years. She returned home to Henderson and
after her marriage to David Bell, a carpenter, in the Winter
Gardens in Auckland on 14th November 1981, made their home
at Tutukaka where they lived with their daughter Natalie,
born at Whangarei on 17th September 1982. Susan moved to
Kaitaia where her son Adam was born on 12th November 1985.
She raised the children on her own, working at cake
decorating, and in Murray's bakery. She has also been
caregiver for her uncle, Stan Hyland, since the early 1990s.
Both her children had a keen interest in ballet and tap
dancing, which Susan encouraged and supported fully. She
became a dab hand at doing makeup, scenery, costumes and
props - no mean feat indeed. The family moved back to West
Auckland, and in late 1996 Susan was able to work for Murray
in a bakery in Te Atatu South, to where he had also moved.
In 1999 she began a new job as manager of a large shoe
outlet. On February 14th 2000, she married Herman Kamphuis,
a truck driver, and they reside in West Harbour. Her
daughter Natalie, after finishing her education at
Massey High School, worked at data entry. She has recently
moved to Wellington and works at reception and data entry
for a large transport company. She began dancing when she
was two and a half years old, and continued until she was
14, passing Elementary Royal Academy of Dance in Ballet and
many other exams with honours and distinctions during her
career. Adam, a keen guitarist, is still at school.
Deborah was also born in Auckland in 1960, and
educated at Henderson. She took employment around Henderson
before heading off across the Tasman where she remained for
two or three years. Deborah worked her way up through the
ranks of Woolies over there and on her return found an equal
position in Woolies at Henderson. Change of name came about
for her on 23rd October 1982 when she and John Cantell were
married at Blockhouse Bay, and they made their home in
Henderson. The couple moved permanently to the Gold Coast in
1987 where she worked in a supermarket and doing
photographic processing. Deb and John built and sold several
houses over the intervening years while Deb worked at
various occupations and John became involved in finance. Paul
was born on the Gold Coast on 9th March, 1996, and from time
to time they have visited New Zealand to catch up with
family. Soon after Paul was born Deb and John started their
early retirement and they both enjoy their Harley Davidson,
Chevies and travel. The family sedan is a two-door Chevy
which John restored.
Murray was born at Henderson in 1963 and was educated
at Henderson Primary and |
