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

Mankelow korero Christmas 2010

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou - Seasons greetings for Christmas and the New Year.

Only four more sleeps until we fly back to Tauranga for a Mankelow family Christmas. It’s a bitter-sweet thought as this year we are celebrating with one less amongst our midst. Granddad Bert won’t be there to munch through Robyn’s homemade shortbread, to share a beer with dad over Christmas lunch, or to watch the children excitedly open their presents.

We will be remembering him with love this Christmas. Thanks to all those who attended his funeral in October, and to those that sent through a personal memory of Bert for this newsletter.

I hope Tim doesn’t mind, but I have also written down his very moving tribute to his father as it has such a strong message for us all.

Memories of Bert Mankelow….

“For those that don’t know me I’m Tim, the youngest of the four brothers.

As I sit in the sun out in the back yard at home, thinking of you and what has been; fond memories abound. I look though old photos of you and me, sitting, eating and sharing ice-creams, playing with the hose. Zoom slides and more. The stories of my older brothers being put in their place for picking on me. The many times I’ve been disciplined that put me in good stead in my adult years. The respect that you taught me for my elders and my family. Many fun times at the top ford trying to keep up with you. The way you taught me to use koura to catch trout. Staying at the campsite having a wash in the freezing cold water. The great times we had out fishing at Pahoia, slaying the snapper, only ever taking enough for a feed. Respect the resource for others you told me. The way we talked about current events, rugby and the issues of my life.

Now I must do these things on my own. I hope you will watch over me and help me out. I will miss you. The family is blessed and strong. I love you dad.”

Timothy Mankelow 9 October 2010.

From Joy and Bob Miller: We had a surprise visit from Uncle Bert, Robert and Jos. They called in on their way home from their trip of a life time by helicopter to White Island. Uncle Bert said it was something he wanted to do while he was still fit enough. He had really enjoyed it and was so glad he went. Sadly this was the last time Bert set foot into our home.

From Anne Mankelow: My memories of Bert are crackers & cheese for morning tea then him saying "there is fruit cake in the tin you could have had a piece of that."

Lovely fresh produce from his garden. New potatoes, carrots or beans & delicious tree ripened apples (YUM)

From Sherryll Andrews (Mankelow): Tuesday mornings - housework day. As i arrive he is usually sitting on his chair outside the shed. There's no hurry is there he says sit for a while with me in the sun. The stories flow so easily some from many years ago but never forgotten - what a memory he has. Many fond memories of THE TOP FORD & THE WAIPAPA RIVER. I could sit for hours and listen to all the adventures.

From Cody, Kathy, Samara and Amber Mankelow: On our last visit to Aunty Doreen before her passing, my daughters Samara and Amber took a shine to a very scruffy old garden gnome perched in Uncle Bert's garden. Much to the girls delight, Uncle Bert with his mischievous smile promptly loads the old garden gnome into the back of the car. Back home in Puhoi two young girls had a wonderful time scrubbing and painting a new shiny suit on the gnome. Today, he still sits here in our Puhoi Garden watching over all the fairies and elves just as Uncle Bert said he would :)

It was always a pleasure catching up with Uncle Bert. Even the last time we visited him at the hospital, he had clearly had enough but he still had a big smile and warm friendly hug for us. We will miss him.

New members of the Mankelow family:

Patience Serenity-Rose Ford-Bennett

Born 28 May 2010 - to proud parents Rebecca Trubshoe and Damian Bennett

Lily-Rose Georgina Oates

Born 8 June 2010 - to proud parents Natasha Connolly and Allan Rose.

Bailey Ngaroimata Onemaru Kaaka

Born 9 June 2010 - to proud parents Lindberg Kaaka and Tuaine Taru

Nathan George Wahanui Reid

27 August 2010 - to proud parents Marama Kaaka and Chris Reid

Anniversary Weekend 2011: Our next Family Get together will be held on Sunday 30 January with a shared lunch followed by an Auction. There will also be the lucky dip for the children.

1 November 2010

Kia ora

It’s been a month since Bert passed on. And a long time since our last korero! I’d like to just take this opportunity to say while the occasion was sad; it was great to see so many family at Granddad’s funeral. Around 200 people showed up to say their last respects to the last of the first Sarah Mankelow’s children. I’d like to make a special mention of Rikki Wikeepa, Cath and Delwyn who all singled me out to say hi and thanks for the newsletters. I really appreciated it – even if I seemed a little vague at the time!

I’ve posted a few of the photos from this occasion on my facebook page – even those of you not signed up to facebook can go and have a look by following this link:

I’d like to lay down a challenge to you all; I hope to do a full korero at Christmas – with meeting updates and a “this is your life” from the Mankelow resident in Amsterdam – so you have four weeks to each send me a memory of Bert. It could be a fu

nny story like the bee-hive story told by Laurie at the funeral. It could be just a ser

ies of thoughts, memories or triggers. I will compile them all and share them with you at Christmas time.

To get you started here are a few of mine: home-made pickles, riding in the back of the ute up to Ngatuhoa, his happy whistle, the spoils from a successful hunt hanging up in the garage, Christmas in the backyard of nineteenth avenue with all my cousins and getting my first ten speed, picnics at the beach with the back of the ute as our table.

So the gauntlet is laid – send me back your thoughts and stories by the beginning of December. Also, if you know someone has changed their email address lately, let us know as I am getting a few bounce-backs. Ray has put the mailing list on google docs so can you all access it and check if we have the latest emails for you and your whanau.

Ka kite ano

Bert

Outside the shed

he sits.

A seat in the sun,

warmed by habit

white painted, wooden chair

reserved, waiting.

The shed

Stores the labours and tools

of a well-lived life, and

well stacked wood:

comforting, reliable, constant.

He sits in contentment,

relishing a moment of quiet reverie.

The happy whistle signals

all is right in the world.

Always the same tune.

A gentle spring breeze

carries the last notes skyward

leaving us with the memories

and a seat in the sun.

Sarah and Robyn (Grand-daughters)

September 2010 (backdated post)

SSGT Robert (Bob) Mankelow RNZIR

One of the features of Army Reserve (ARes) personnel is their commitment to service and to their unit. Often such service is measured in decades. Given that Army Reserve personnel have civilian careers, in addition to their ARes commitment, such long service has great merit and is worthy of recognition.

SSGT Mankelow receiving his 2nd clasp to the Efficiency Medal in 2002 from the Mayor of Rotorua.

Staff Sergeant Robert (Bob) Mankelow is a good example of commitment and utility that often typifies senior Territorial Force staff.

Staff Sergeant RJ Mankelow enlisted in the NZ Army on 4 January 1967. He was awarded the Efficiency Medal on 10 May 1979; first clasp on 12 October 1992, second clasp on 5 March 2003 and third clasp on 22 June 2009. SSGT Mankelow is currently an Instructor with the training team. He has served 6th (Hauraki) Battalion Group for 43 years, and continues to be an active, energetic and willing participant in Battalion Group activities.

SSGT Mankelow is also a long-serving member of the 6th Hauraki Regiment Association, having been on its committee since inception. He occupies the role of Bar Manager, in which duty he is conspicuous at Anzac Day. The Association bar contributes funding to the 6 Hau unit private fund and SSGT Mankelow works hard to ensure that the bar remains available to soldiers and Association members alike. He also ensures that Regimental merchandise is displayed and available for sale. He is active in providing support in the construction of the Association’s museum displays, alongside Sergeant Tony Fraser. SSGT Mankelow remains an active and valued member of the Association.

Bob’s civilian career commenced in 1965, when he commenced training as a fitter, turner, machinist. He was the top apprentice in his class and was rewarded by his employer with attendance at an Outward Bound course in Anakiwa in 1966. And so began a life long romance with the outdoors, and, with youth development.

During 1966, Bob was involved with the setting up and running (by a group of Outward Bound old boys) of a youth programme called Compass, developing 16 to 21 year olds.

A year later, in 1967, he was invited to become involved with the Kaimai Youth Camp Society and the Ngatuhoa Lodge facility as Secretary and Treasurer. He retained this position (Secretary / Treasurer) for 25 years.

Deciding that he was interested in outdoor education, he became a seasonal outdoor education instructor at Ngatuhoa Lodge, working during the Summers. He continued in this role for 14 years. Because he had taken a bit of a pay decrease, he supplemented his income by working the winter months as a field instructor for the New Zealand Forest Service, teaching staff bushcraft and outdoor living skills. He also took on some summer interpretation duties for visitors to the NZ Forest Service parks in the area. Marking himself as a young man of energy, he worked a third (part-time) job in town.

In 1987, when the Department of Conservation replaced the New Zealand Forest Service, Bob was invited to join the Department as a Ranger. During the next ten years he was involved with duties relating to marine mammals, threatened species, off-shore islands and recreational facilities.

In 1997 Bob left the Department of Conservation and worked for Work and Income New Zealand delivering skills to their Youth at Risk programme.

In 1999, Bob became a contractor to Environment Bay of Plenty delivering environmental monitoring services. Bob remains on contract to Environment Bay of Plenty currently.

Continuing his involvement in youth development, Bob has been involved with Youth Search and Rescue delivering bush craft and search skills to youth aged 14 to 17 years who have joined the search and rescue organisation. Bob is a member of Search and Rescue.

In recent times Bob has also delivered training to the SAS in rongo (the medicinal use of plants). Because of his skills in bush craft, Bob was appointed, and continues, as an assessor with the Mountain Safety Council. There can be little doubt that such community minded individuals make a significant contribution. Bob Mankelow is marked out as a man of commitment and energy. While ‘serving the Colours,’ he has also made an outstanding contribution to both the environment and youth development. SSGT Robert Mankelow is an excellent example of those long-serving individuals that live the Army ethos and are a rich part of the tapestry of the Army Reserve.

http://www.armyreserve.mil.nz/news/2010/ssgt-robert-mankelow-rnzir.htm

This is your life - Jeantine Michelle Mankelow

branch of family tree where do you fit in?

Granddaughter of Herbert Mankelow, Daughter of Ray Mankelow

current employment / study

I am a contract software developer and currently taking some time off to enjoy the summer and think about my next move, but previously was working at ING and Tom Tom, and a small Dutch company called Strawberries.

what keeps you busy? interests

Music - I love checking out new bands and going to concerts. I have always loved music, probably aided by my father constantly surrounding us with it, but now living in a city with a constant supply of good bands visiting this seems to have turned into a hobby.

Travelling - I like to visit new places and explore new cultures, which is a major reason I am living in Amsterdam and not New Zealand.

Photography - I enjoy taking pictures, my camera is a constant companion with me on every trip I go on, if you are on my facebook no doubt you will already know this. I would like to do more while I am not travelling but Amsterdam can be a busy place.

Shopping - this one is going to get me in trouble with my mother, but what can I say I love to shop and with no kids to support and a good paying job this is possible (don't worry Mum I still have lots of savings :))

Cycling - You can't live in Amsterdam and not own a bike, and this is one of the reasons I really love this city. You can get anywhere on your bike in 20 mins, and there is no better way to shake the sleep from your eyes or release the daily stress than a bike ride.

Yoga/Pilates/Dance - along with cycling, this is what keeps me fit and keeps me sane :)

I like to keep busy :)

Most memorable life moment

Stoned off your head and answering the door to the police at 3 in the morning is perhaps not a good way to meet your neighbours for the first time! Yet this is what happened when some of my friends from London came to visit me in Amsterdam. They may not appreciate this story as they are still in denial, but you should be able to laugh at yourself I say.

Part of the standard tour of Amsterdam includes sampling the local fare, marajuana, which is legal to smoke in the Netherlands. As neither my friends or I smoke, we decided to sample the brownies, 1 each, first mistake. Ignoring the advice on the label we ate the whole thing, fairly quickly, second mistake. The night quickly turned hilarious and I can remember trying to hide from the police and all holding hands like little kids when crossing the road. Somehow we made it home. The problem with brownies though, is it is a mix and you never know exactly how much marajuna is in each piece, hence why the instructions say to eat a little bit and wait an hour to see how you feel before having more. Unfortuantely there seemed to be quite a lot in ours and after the hilarity passed we all quickly descended into the depths of paranoia. It got to the point that we all thought we were going to die and we rang the ambulance for help, which always amuses people over here. They told us we would be fine and to eat some sugary food. Goodbye expensive chocolates we had purchased earlier that day, hello to my friend making glasses of sugar water following her own personal receipe of 1/2 glass sugar, 1/2 glass of water and forcing everyone to drink them. My friend who I called in the morning to help with the aftermath said he found piles of sugar all over the house. I'm not sure what impression we must have given to the ambulance staff as they sent the police over. Hence my first memory of meeting my neighbours is standing around downstairs surrounded by the them, and their elderly parents who where over for the weekend, all in pjyamas talking to 3 policemen. The police, who were probably relieved to find we had not taken hallucinogenics, just laughed at us and told us we would be fine. We spent the rest of the night taking turns hugging the toliet seat. My advice, follow the instructions.

My favourite part of NZ and why...

My favourite part of NZ are the west coast beaches of Auckland. Although there is many a sunny beach in Europe with white sand and pristine clear water, nothing can compare to the untamed wild beauty of these beaches. Or to the feeling you get from standing hot and sweaty on a lookout platform of the nearby bush and looking out to the ocean with not another soul in sight.

Who/what would you be for a day?

I am perhaps more shallow than I would like to believe, as I would not change places with some great world leader and try to change the world or some great brain to find out what it is like to comprehend this world on another level, but I think for just one day I would change places with a rock star to see what the buzz of being on stage is like. Perhpas with Karen O, from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who puts on a pretty mean stage performance.

Currently in my CD player...

Well too much to mention really, but some of my recent disoveries are, Band of Skulls, Angus & Julia Stone, Stornoway, Broken Bells. Basically anything Indie Rock, with a touch, of pop, country and folk thrown in there.

Where will you find me at 10pm on Saturday night?

You are always spoilt for choice in Amsterdam, could be at a cocktail bar, at a concert, at a house party, at one of the visiting festivals, out for dinner with friends, or as this week tired from too many nights out during the week, enjoying some time at home watching movies and listening to music.

Favourite quote?

'I firmly believe in making your life a work of art.' - Katherine Oktober Mathews. This is actually a quote from a friend of mine, who has it as her byline on facebook. If everyone would live their life with this in mind, this world would be a more colourful place.

I am inspired by...

I am inspired by the free spirits who live their life with passion and live to create. Their music, pictures, movies, writing leaves me in awe, and makes me want to create also.

If I could give you just one tip, it would be...

Never think you can't. Your life will only be as big/rich as you dare to dream. Or in the words of Franklin D Roosevelt 'Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds''.