Well the weather is cooling down and daylight savings has ended, which might dampen a few spirits - time for another newsletter to warm the cockles of your heart. Thanks to all those who sent emails of appreciation in the last few months and contributions to the latest newsletter. It's good to know the newsletter is being read, enjoyed and passed onto others. Our email list is growing all the time thanks to some hard work by Chrissie to spread the word. I hope you all enjoy this latest edition. Next newsletter will be in two months time (hopefully - baby is due in June!) so could all contributions be in by 6 June.
P.S. Does anyone have a photo of Les and Ruby's old house? Could you please send a copy to Chrissie Mankelow.
Milestones
Reminder: Mabel's headstone unveiling 31 May at 2pm at the Te Awamutu Cemetery. Then join us afterwards at the Ngaroma Hall for a cup of tea, followed with a meal later on.
Trent Mankelow of Wellington married Louise on 8 Feb in Johnsonville. It was a spectacular day, brilliant sunshine and none of the usual Wellington wind. The wedding party all look gorgeous! Wedding photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nastymcfly/sets/72157604063833203/
Cody Mankelow has been helping his mother clean up around the yard and house in preparation for the get together of invited guests 26 April, to help her reflect of changes in her life since 1948. I guess that's a round-about way of saying 'happy 60th birthday Barbara'!
Financial reportAccount update as at 10 April $2311.78. Please keep the money rolling in. Thanks to the families who are putting money in regularly. Judy wants to remind you please get $1000 per branch if possible.
Mankelow abroad
By June Teague
Here is a short story of my travels in South America.
Towards the end of last year myself and 15 others left these shores for a dream holiday in South America. After arriving in Santiago Chile and a quick look around we were on our way to Ecuador. Our first encounter with something unusual was to board the Chiva express - a cross between a bus and a train that ran on rail lines and had seating on the top for an exhilirating ride through the countryside and down the Devil's nose switchback and the avenue of the volcanoes, past colourful markets stocked with dressed chickens, fish,cooked pigs, fruits and veges and many crafts, most sitting in the hot sun. Ponchos were supplied when the weather turned nasty - hail and even snow which made all head inside the Chiva.
A few days later we left the city of Guaquil to fly to the Galapagos Islands off the coast. We then boarded a ship which was to be our home for a few days while we visited several islands to see the species found only there, such as marine iguanas (hundreds of them) some up to a metre in length which blended into the surrounding landscape. Many birds including Darwin finches, frigate birds and our favourites blue boobies with beautiful turqoise coloured feet. Sea lions,lava cactus and giant tortoises which can live to 200 years old.
After waiting for the rain to clear we were finally able to land on the dirt air strip in the Amazon rain forest at Kapawi. Here we stayed in huts made from the wood of palm trees and thatched with palm leaves which remained completely watertight even in the torrential rain. Each day guides took us in native Achuar canoes to different parts of the jungle to see birds, large insects, frogs - amall and poisoness ones, colourful butterflies. The local Achuar indians get everything they need from the jungle.
The altitude tested us a we moved into Peru home of the Incas. Wearing their colourful costumes they would pose for photos and a thankyou for a donation.I was impressed by the building skills of the ancient Incas who built their villages of stone without any mortar and each block shaped and fitted to the next so tightly that not even a pin could be put between. Great excavations are continuing to unearth more ancient ruins. We climbed up and around Machu Pichu and the hillside terraces. Land is still farmed in this way on the mountain sides. Corn and potatoes - all 4000 varieties are grown in the hills and valleys. Cultivation is done by hand and ploughing by oxen.
A visit was made to the reed islands on Lake Titicaca. The highest navigable lake in the world. The lake in that area is 11 metres deep and reed houses are built on top of the islands.There is even a floating school where the pupils entertained us with singing. The women make beautiful handcrafts to sell. We spent a few days onboard a catamaran and were entertained with dancing and music by the local band and presented with garlands of flowers.
The city of La Paz in Bolivia was at the highest altitude and found even turning over in bed made us breathless.We survived on coca tea and anti altitude sickness pills. The streets were mostly very narrow, the people quite poor with favellas (ghettos) housing them on the higher areas of the city. They were friendly, colourfully dressed, especially the women in very full skirts and bowler hats.
Into the city of Beunos Aires and the tango dancers of Argentina. The centre of the city was a vibrant place with plenty of shops selling leather goods. Meals out included huge steaks. The Iguazu falls was a very spectacular sight and through a series of walkways we were able to take in the awesome cascading water. A boat trip under the falls was especially thrilling as we sped through the rapids and stopped briefly under the falls getting soaked in the process.
The final country we visited was Brazil with the famous statue of Christ on Corcovado hill in Rio de Janiero, so high up that a lot of the time was covered in low cloud making photos tricky.We took the cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf where monkeys played in the trees. Copacabana beach and it's neighbour Ipinema beach were beatiful sandy beaches and close to our hotel. Sand sculptures were a feature of the beach and even a football stadium right on the beach. A samba show was the highlight with truly magnificient costumes and beautiful dancers.
So 5 fantastic weeks passed with such contrasts from simple living Indian people in remote mountain areas of the Andes to bustling cities. The skill in architecture and astromony of the ancient Incas, ornate churchs and cathedrals, beggars,colourful shops, all made the trip memorable.
This is just a brief review of what I saw in a once in a lifetime experience.
Newsworthy Mankelows
This is a selection of clippings from papers that appeared over the last few months, featuring some of our Mankelow whanau.
Bay News, 12 Dec 2007 "Making a mural masterpiece"
There's a mural masterpiece at Maungatapu School. A group of eight young, gifted and talented visual art students at the school have created the mural and entered it in the Resene's Mural Masterpiece competition. The group of eight included Moshea Mankelow.
Bay News, 12 Dec 2007 "Pam and Constable Ted are moving on"
Pam Mankelow and popular companion Constable Ted - known to thousands of school children - are off to Gisborne. Pam Mankelow very nearly didn't become a policewoman. The first time she applied to join the police force they said she was six months too old. Then the age limit was raised to 40 and she was accepted. Now after 15 years of policing in the Tauranga District, the last nine as Police Education Officer, Constable Pam Mankelow is moving on. She's off to Gisborne in January to work in Youth Education on the East Coast.
The Weekend Sun, 11 January 2008 Passing muster.
Former Tauranga community constable Pam Mankelow is hoping Gisborne wineries have hitching rails.www.thesun.co.nz/Archives/Issue_375_January_11_2008_IDL=6_IDT=372_ID=13390_.html
Introducing Margie Pryor
Where do you live?
Australia
Where do you fit in the family tree?
Auntie Ivy brought up my twin sister Rosemary Powell
Current employment
Dairy farmer.
We have been dairy farming in Australia for the past 14 years. Most of this time has been in the Atherton Tablelands at Cairns. We also share-farmed in Victoria for 4 years. Victoria is like good old kiwi land in many ways, lots of rye grass, haymaking etc but dairy farms are a lot cheaper than NZ. Here it QLD it is very different dairying to NZ there is lots of green grass but no protein much and there are the awful shellback tick which will kill your calves real quick. It is very warm with lots of rain which dear kiwi land could do with at the moment.
What keeps me busy?
Milking, rearing calfs, farm work. We milk a jersey and first cross herd from kiwi bulls. We hope to retire in the next few years all going well.
My most memorable life moment
When my grandaughter Thalia was born
My favourite part of nz and why
Ngaroma where my childhood was spent with Aunty Ivy and Uncle Bobby and my sister.The wonderful years of helping dear Aunty Ivy on her dairy must have given me the taste for milking.
Who/ what would you be for a day
A man to see how they tick
Currently in my CD player
Elizabeth Marvelly
Where would you find me at 10pm on saturday night
In bed
Favourite quote
Love your fellow man
I am inspired by
The American Native Indian
If I could give one tip what would it be
Love all animals and love your family always
REGARDS TO YOU ALL MARGIE PRYOR MILLAA MILLAA QLD
