Remembering Bert at the Rock

It’s been a year since granddad Bert passed away on 1 October 2010. Around 60 descendants of George and Sarah Mankelow travelled the road to Ngaroma to remember him with a small ceremony at The Rock.

His eldest son Bob (my dad) summed it up for us all why our family is so strongly connected with each other and the place called Ngaroma.

“Bert loved it here,” said Bob.

“It’s about shared experiences,” he said. “It’s not just about shared blood; it’s about shared experiences here at this place, making memories together. Even those who left, still shared experiences together as the oldest ones came back and helped out.”

“He was looking forward to the reunion but he couldn’t hold on any longer. He just got tired. He said several times towards the end, I’m stuffed.”

Bob stepped back from the rock with a tear in his eye. A quiet “we miss you” was heard from his youngest brother Tim. The words each spoke were simple but from the heart and they had power. Power for all of us there, who were blessed to know, love, and be loved by Bert.

Tim scattered a few of Bert’s ashes around the base of the rock and as he screwed the new plaque onto the rock now bearing the last date, Bob read out the names.

“She had a lot of children,” said Bob, “No TV” quipped Tim.

We farewelled Bert in true Mankelow fashion, always with humour, washed down with a beer.

Buster also spoke from his heart and was inspired by the occasion to write a poem. It seemed appropriate then that someone – Judy? – said that this poem should be spoken each time we return to the rock. A new ritual for Ngaroma, a new way to remember those that have gone before. Many of those that were there finished the small ceremony in their own personal way, standing before the rock, reading out the names that meant the most to them, and remembering the stories of their past.

Buster’s poem

They travelled by foot and horse
A family of no fixed abode
Told of a promised land
35 miles from the crossroad

They pitched a tent and cleared the land
And made the most of their lot
Their names are etched here now
So they will not be forgot

Through the years of toil and sweat
They endure droughts and floods
But by the smiles upon their faces
There were no regrets

So as we stand here today
To remember our families and mates
We will always know they stand by us
Just leaning over the gate

So friends and family smile with them
For today is not the end
Our bonds are strong with family ties
So this is not the end.

Book launch - Memories of 100 years in Ngaroma

It seemed fitting while so many of us were gathered to hold the book launch – the culmination of four years of hard work by Chrissie Mankelow.

Buster speaking on behalf of the reunion committee said that some thought the book launch should wait until the reunion proper. “Lucky I don’t listen,” he said.

“It’s captured the crux of the reunion and has the makings of a good read,” said Buster describing the book.

“You’ll want at least five copies – one for each room of your house. It represents a lot of time and effort by a lot of people. This book is magnificent, something to be handed down to children, not just stuck in the bottom shelf and forgotten about."

A story about Chrissie and the book in the Waitomo News can be viewed online:

http://www.waitomonews.co.nz/issues/2011.09/2011.09.29.WN.pdf

Returning Bert to his Mum

The next day, Sunday, 30 of us gathered again, this time in Tauranga, as most of Bert’s ashes were interned into the ground on his mother’s grave.

Bert’s second son Ray welcomed us to the grave site and explained that this is where Bert wanted to be.

“He was quite clear,” said Ray. “We asked him where he wanted to go and he immediately said – with mum. What about with our mum we said. Yep sure. What about Ngaroma, yes that’s good too. But his first response was with his mum.”

It was a short ceremony, as fitting Bert’s straight-up lack-of-fuss approach to life. Each of us there took a moment to say goodbye to Bert and lay a Ngaroma daffodil before Bob filled in the hole. Then again, in the Mankelow way, we retired to have a drink and a good feed at Bob and Joc’s house

Bert may not be with us in body at the reunion coming up in January, but he will be there in spirit, in our blood and in our memories and shared experiences – including those we created this weekend by coming together to say goodbye to Bert.

Those of you on Facebook can view photos of the day posted by various relatives – most of which have been shared on the George and Sarah Mankelow group page.

Update from family reunion committee

Chrissie Mankelow - mankelow1@farmside.co.nz * Caroline Hirama - hirama@farmside.co.nz

Book – “Memories of 100 years – Ngaroma”

The book has gone to the printers and will be back towards the end of August. Copies will be available for purchase. Please contact Chrissie for more information.

Reunion update

BBQ Friday night 27 January – BYO food and drink for the people arriving Friday night and also for the people who have been setting up.

Finish up at 9 pm. Please let Chrissie or Caroline know if you are interested in attending.
Eftpos – hopefully eftpos facilities will be available.

Registration forms – Chrissie has registration forms for the Ngaroma Centennial and will send out to all family members who want them.

Confirmation – thank you to all those people who have sent back confirmation that they are attending and also camping. If you have not confirmed you are coming to family reunion then please contact Chrissie as she needs numbers please.

Meeting minutes – These are available on request; please contact Chrissie if you would like a copy.

Replacing the plaque and book launch

Saturday 1 October, 9.30 am – This is a significant event; the anniversary of Uncle Bert’s passing. We will be replacing of the plaque, and this is the last date to be added to it. A catered finger food lunch is planned with the book launch in the afternoon.

All family members are invited and the day will also be open to members of Ngaroma Community. RSVP by 10 September to either Caroline or Chrissie.

Details of the day:

9.30 am - morning tea at Ngaroma Hall

11 am – replacing the plaque

Lunch followed by book launch.

Afternoon tea – please bring a plate.

We hope Ngaroma puts on a warm day, but just in case, please bring a jacket.

Contact: Chrissie Mankelow – mankelow1@farmside.co.nz

Mankelow korero - April 2011

Only ten months to go until the joint Mankelow Family Reunion and Ngaroma District Centennial.

Mark it on your calendar 27 – 29 January 2012. Go to www.ngaromacentenary.co.nz for more information and to register.

Caroline reports from th

e Mankelow reunion committee:

Please – we would like to see as many descendants of Sarah and George Mankelow as possible. We will be celebrating 100 years since Sarah obtained the ballot for Ngaroma Farm. We are all looking forward to meeting up with family and friends whom we haven’t seen for years. It will be a huge weekend and hopefully the turnout will be better than any of us can imagine.

We are still hav

ing trouble contacting some people so if you have moved or changed your email address please let us know. We are happy to post information if you don’t have email.

There has been lots of work going on behind the scenes and the Ngaroma community have really got behind us. They have done a wonderful job organising the District Centennial which our family reunion merges wit

h at 3.00pm on Saturday 28 January.

We would like to thank all those who have donated money to the reunion account, which got up to $20,000. We have given $10,000 to the Ngaroma Centennial Committee to go toward the marquee hire, which will be used for events throughout the weekend.

The Ngaroma Centennial Committee has set up a website, and while this is still a work in progress, you can use this to get the latest updates, and the registration forms for the dinner and dance on Saturday night and the Sunday events. You can also order the book here. Go to www.ngaromacent

enary.co.nz

Camping: there will be facilities available for those who want to camp in tents or campervans for the weekend. There will be a chiller for food but only very limited facilities for reheating or cooking food. Toilets and showers will be available at the camping area.

Parking: to keep th

e area around the hall free, we will provide parking in a paddock nearby with a shuttle van to ferry you to and from the hall.

Memorabilia: Photos and videos will be set up in the hall during the weekend for you to view. If you have anything relevant to the time and place that you are happy to lend, please let Chrissie Mankelow know and she will arrange pick-up and delivery back to you.

Refreshments: a tent with tea and coffee will be available all weekend, and another for parents to feed or settle children. After 3pm on Saturday the Ngaroma Centennial Committee will be running a cash bar, so no BYO.

Book: As many of you know, Chrissie Mankelow has put together a book called 100 Years – Memories of Ngaroma. This book will go to print in April and we would like to hear from those interesting in purchasing a copy so we know how many to print to avoid disappointment. Price is yet to be confirmed, b

ut should be $30

or less.

Programme - Mankelow Reunion January 2012

Friday 27 January

3pm – 9pm – Registration begins, followed by a get together and barbeque dinner.

Saturday 28 January

9 am – registrations for those arriving today. Meet and greet, tea and coffee.

Midday – shared lunch, speeches and cutting of the cake.

Afternoon – sports activities, bouncy castle, bullock team rides.

Programme –

Ngaroma Centenary

Saturday 28 January

3pm – registration,

cash bar and mix and mingle

6.30 – 8.30 pm – Buffet dinner in marquee, speeches, and cake.

8.30 pm - midnight – Entertainment with DJ and supper served from 9.30pm onwards.

Sunday 29 January

10 – 11 am – Church Service held jointly with NZ Army

11.30 am – lunc

h and cuppa

1.30pm – 5.30pm – bus tours leaving at half hour intervals, plus other acitivties at the hall including bullock team rides, wood chopping display. The bar will reopen at 2pm.

6.30 pm onwards

– An informal barbeque dinner.

Go to the Ngaroma website to download the registration form – www.ngaromacentenary.co.nz

HOW MANY ARE COMING?

We only have months to go before the weekend kicks off so now we need an indication of numbers so that we can

arrange things like toilets etc.

Let us know number of adults and children attending from your family, whether a campsite is required and how many copies of the book you would like.

Please contact Caroline Hirama – email hirama@farmside.co.nz

Experiences of the Christchurch earthquake
Sarah Mankelow

There’s nothing like a natural disaster to make you remember how important family is.

I was at work when the earthquake struck – in central Christchurch – just around the corner from the CTV building. When it first started everyone froze to see how long it was but when my desk jumped up and hit me I knew it was time to get under it.

When it stopped and we all stood up you couldn’t see outside the windows for white dust. The office was a mess but it wasn’t until we stepped outside that we knew just how bad it was. Joe’s Garage café right opposite was all rubble – some of our guys ran to help as one of their staff had run out and been buried in rubble. You might have seen the security camera footage of the guy that walked away from that. Well just around the corner, someone died in that rubble. We could see fire down the alleyway – we didn’t know then it was the CTV building.

We all went to Latimer Square as it was not safe on the streets – then an aftershock hit and there were screams and everyone surged into the middle. People with bloody heads were walking around dazed or being helped by others. All I could think about was how was I going to get home to see if the kids were OK. I was about to start walking when someone came to say they were leaving in a car and I grabbed a ride. Both the children were fine – Josie at her home-carers in Opawa – William at school in Heathcote. William was in the playground when it hit – he said he tried to run but he kept falling over. Kids were crying – even the big kids he said. Of course we know now that Heathcote School was only metres away from the epi-centre. My husband Stuart got home only ten minutes after me and the kids – he’d walked from Victoria Street right through the middle of town to get to my work, then walked to Opawa where he borrowed a car to get to Heathcote. The roads were clogged with people trying to get home to loved ones and there was silt and mud everywhere.

We had no poweror water for a week. School was closed for several weeks so I and the children came up to Tauranga for five weeks to be with family. Mum and Dad, his three brothers, and my sister Robyn and her son Taylor – Nana and Bill, Aunty Bron and Uncle Mike, cousin Erin also a refugee from Christchurch where she is studying, my Uncle Brad and cousin Alana. It was great to catch up with them all and get a sense of normality that comes when you reconnect with family. We are back in Christchurch now and settling into a new sense of normality. Thanks to my family for being there for me – especially my sister Robyn.

Memorial rock and plaque

The plaque will be removed from the rock and sent to the engravers to

get edited. It will be re-attached to the rock in October 2011, to coincide with the scattering of Bert’s ashes one year after his passing. More details and dates will be posted out closer to the event.

This is your life - Ann, Keith and Samantha Solomon

It’s very hard to keep track of who is who, as families move around a lot more now than they did a few generations ago. I was at my mother’s place, (Daphne Prestidge) on the weekend when out came her photo album of her father’s and mother’s families.

My name is Mrs. Ann Solomon, my husband is Keith Solomon and our daughter is Samantha Solomon who now is 21.

My mother is Daphne Prestige nee Disher, her father was John Prestidge. They had six children; I am the only girl an

d

the youngest. My mother’s mother was Emily Eleanor Elizabeth Disher (nee Mankelow), best known as Girlie Disher and her husband was George Disher; they lived in Ngaromona , Maihihi area.

So this is where I fit in the family tree.

Over the past couple of years Keith and I have lived in our motorhome, travelling around, working in different places. We have a permanent home in Taupo that we rent out. It’s great living in the motorhome, meeting different people from different countries around the world, and your everyday kiwi person.

Singing is one of not only mine but my family’s passion. We have a karaoke system that we hire out along with ourselves, but we also enjoy going out to others and singing and having a good time.

I have two memories from my past that I have kept with me over the years. The first was lambing time. We lived at Kopu near Thames. I was about 5 or so and I had been at Nana and Pops, I asked my father could I bring a lamb home, the answer was no. Little did they know that Pop had put a lamb in the boot, so when we got home there was a noise coming from the boot, opened it up and “HELLO” there was my lamb.

The other was my horse ‘Black Beauty’ which Pop broke in for me, when he was not young and not well. I picked it out of a herd we went and saw, named her and the rest followed.

Over the years we have come across cousins, usually at funerals, so this time it will be nice to meet family in a different situation. We are intending to come to the reunion next year to say hi to everyone.

See you there.

Ann Solomon