New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc.
Hamilton Branch Newsletter
Newsletter No 1 – 2015
***********************************
In this Issue
Convenor’s message
Pg.1
Committee
Pg.1
Programme Notes
Pg.1
TRIBUTE
Pg.2
Branch Open Research Day
Pg.3
Hamilton City Library
Pg.4
Transit Camps
Pg.4
Interest Group Notices
Pg.5
Interest Group Notice
Pg.6
Editors Comment
Pg.6
Branch Information
Pg.6
Schools Registers Project
Pg.7
Member Profiles
Pg. 8, 9 & 10
Committee 2014-2015
Branch Convenor
Judy Hitchcock
Branch Secretary
Raewynne Leigh
Branch Treasurer
Meryl Dixon
Branch Almoner
Marion Halford
Committee
Peter Gillies
Marion Halford
Beth Hooper
Marilyn Richer
Mark Schroder
Library Assistance
Mark Schroder
Magazine Round Robin
Marilyn Richer
Newsletter Editor
[email protected]
Branch Contact
[email protected]
Convenors Comment
Greetings,
By the time you read this, the first month of
2015 will already have disappeared.
I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing time with your
family and friends.
We note, with sadness, the passing of Life Member and
NZSG stalwart Peter Bloomfield. Peter shunned the limelight,
preferring to work quietly in the background, at committee,
branch and national NZSG level. His legacy is the wealth of
projects he instigated, most notably the monumental indexing
of LINZ records. (See “Tributes” later in the newsletter.)
On a brighter note, we are thrilled to receive a grant from
TRUST WAIKATO. The money will go towards updating the
Branch computers. Thank you Meryl, for making the
application.
Plans for our OPEN DAY on Saturday 21 March are
progressing well. The Maori Interest Group promise a strong
representation, and we have secured ex NZSG President
MICHELLE PATIENT to deliver 2 afternoon lectures on IT
Records and Storage.
Summer has finally arrived – with a vengeance! I really
noticed the humidity factor upon return from Nelson Lakes.
(The last day of 2014 -- spent at Lake Angelus -- was wet and
freezing cold, the rain turning to ice overnight. However it was
beautifully fine for the ridgetop walk out on New Year’s Day.)
‘Ancestry’ is launching all NZSG Cemetery Records, up until
2009, on line, commencing on February 6. This will be an
invaluable resource for subscribers and those who make use
of the library facilities.
It is not too early to begin thinking about the Branch AGM and
the incoming committee. Both Meryl (Treasurer) and I will be
standing down, and new people with new ideas are always
welcome.
Judy
PROGRAMME: Thursday 7-30 pm Monday 9-30 am
© 2014 MIDDLETON JOSHUA PHOTOGRAPHY
Thursday 5 Feb 2015:
"FUNCTIONAL FOLDERS"
Monday 16 Feb 2015:
DISTRICT KEYS revival
Thursday 5 Mar 2015:
(still to be arranged)
Monday 16 Mar 2015:
IRISH NOTES with Elizabeth Heaphy
1
TRIBUTE
PETER BLOOMFIELD lost his battle with cancer on 31 December 2014. Most of us knew Peter
as a dedicated genealogist (not in the personal, family sense, but rather in his commitment to seek
out and record vital historical information in a format readily accessible to all).
Born in Essex, Peter joined the navy in 1961, and after several long voyages around the New
Zealand coast, decided he would like to live here. He emigrated to Wellington in 1966. His love of
music and dexterity on the dance floor won him several awards at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio,
and it was there that he met his future wife, Dawn.
They married in 1972 and moved to Whangarei. In 1974 Peter joined the Fire Service – a career
which spanned 29 years - and included moving the family to Hamilton in 1991. About this time he
discovered Genealogy and quickly became involved at local branch level, as well as helping with or
instigating various branch projects.
Peter retired from the Fire Service in 2003 to take up part time work with the NZSG. This entailed
commuting to Auckland several times a week. At the same time he continued active involvement
at branch level, serving many years on the committee in various capacities: he computerised a list
of members’ research, maintained the branch web-page, acted as membership officer and newsletter
editor, and spent two terms as treasurer. Concurrently he was an active member of various subcommittees at National level. Somehow, he still found time to devote to projects.
All this effort did not go without notice. In 2003 Peter was awarded an NZSG Group Service
Award and Badge for his efforts on the ‘Intentions to Marry’ project. He started work on this
project in 1995, began computerising the card index in 2000 and handed over the completed project
in 2013. How’s that for long service dedication?
In recognition of his work on the local scene Peter was endowed with Life Membership of the
Hamilton Branch in July 2009, along with an NZSG 10 year Service Award.
Peter’s greatest legacy to genealogy, however, is the on-going Land Information Indexing project
which he instigated in December 2002 and continued working on up until his death.
It is a measure of the esteem in which Peter was held in genealogical circles that 12 NZSG staff
came down from Panmure to attend his funeral
R.I.P. PETER
Memories of Early Days at LINZ
At Peter’s funeral mention was made of him being a choir boy as a lad prior to leaving school. His
love of music carried over into later years. The Project to Index Transmission Documents held at
Land Information NZ Hamilton Branch commenced in December 2002. In the early days when
team members were few and indexing was carried on downstairs at LINZ, in the area
“affectionately” referred to as “the dungeon”, Peter would bring along a portable CD player and
enjoy listening to a variety of music. Occasionally while working on his own, or with another
member present, he would hum or softly sing along to the music. When he felt his music was
causing a distraction to others he would don headphones and disappear into a small world of his
own. Over the years team members increased in number, the work became more structured, team
members were relocated to a more public work-space upstairs and this glimpse into Peter’s early
life and love of music was set aside.
2
NZSG HAMILTON BRANCH FAMILY HISTORY
OPEN DAY
SATURDAY, 21 MARCH 2015
Chartwell Co-op Church Hall, Comries Rd
9.30 am – 3.30 pm
$5 entry fee
Make use of our resources, including:
 The local “Intentions to Marry” CD,
 Local WWI Soldiers, WWII enlistment records,
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 ‘Funeral service’ and ‘Obituary’ collection,
 Local history and maps
 There will be displays from various Interest Groups,
Hamilton Library and Waikato University Library
In addition, we are pleased to host several seminars
11.00 am “Getting Started” for beginners
Afternoon lectures with Michelle Patient
12.30pm “Indexes and Archives in the Digital Age”
2.00pm “Creating your own Digital Archive”
The following new items are now available from Hamilton City Libraries
A Bloody Road Home: World War Two and New Zealand’s Heroic Second Division by Christopher Pugsley
A History of Tawa: by Bruce Murray
A Job to Do: New Zealand Soldiers of ‘The Div’ write about their World War Two edited by John Gordon.
Anzac Girls: by Peter Rees
April 25, 1915: ‘The most glorious day of my life’: A New Zealand officer remembers Lieutenant Spencer Westmacott
edited by Christopher P. Tobin
Driden Dryden Dreadon: The history & mysteries of a family name: an account of the ancestors and descendants of
John Dryden the builder of Canons Ashby House by Brian Lawrence Dreadon.
From Tauranga to the Trenches: by Fiona Kean
Frankton: from farm to inner city: by Barry Lafferty
Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story: by Christopher Pugsley
Kiwi School Days: a collection of Interviews and Reflections 1928-1999 by Ross Sutton MA.
Pukeroro Days: Extracts from the Diaries of Morley E. S. Boyce 1926-1932: when beginning his dairy farming life at
“Bald Hill” Pukeroro, Tamahere, Waikato edited by D. Patricia Watt.
Soldier Boys: The militarisation of Australian and New Zealand Schools for World War I by Maxwell N. Waugh.
**************************************************
Transit Camps in Hamilton post WW2.
While indexing the Hamilton West School rolls from the mid 1940’s, names of Camps as the addresses,
kept appearing.
Several of us who remembered the Camps got curious about the names and started collecting information
with the help of the Central Library staff.
I know there were several Air Force and Army Camps around Hamilton during the War and post war,
due to shortages of housing.
Two of these that I am aware of, Central and Snake Gully, had huts and buildings altered and utilised
in 1945 as part of a national emergency/transit housing scheme.
By 1946/7 in the former Central Air Force Base (between Angelsea/Palmerston and Clarence Streets,
there were possibly five separate small camps with their own communal wash-houses and ablution blocks.
The Camps had identifying names – NAAFI; Maadi; Bari; Central; Beirut; – four of which we have identified
in this central Hamilton area but Beirut, which is named in the Ham. West rolls, is eluding us.
“Snake Gully” or “Whitiora” was an American camp at the bottom of Edgecumbe Street, by the Fairfield
Bridge and was also a Transit Camp, but little more is known about this to date.
Several members and friends have provided information and we are gradually building up a better overview of the scheme with some personal anecdotal history.
However, there are many gaps and I would be pleased to hear from anyone who can add to this rather
forgotten aspect of post war life so we can eventually make the information more widely available.
Lorraine Agnew
(Ph. 8475567)
e-mail [email protected]
4
Greater London Interest Group
(Waikato)
Scottish Interest Group Waikato
Tuesday 10 March 2015.
Tuesday 24 February 2015
First Meeting for 2015… We meet in the
First meeting for 2015 will be held in
St. Andrews Library Community Room,
Braid Rd.
St Andrews, Hamilton
10am till 2pm.
There is plenty of parking at the rear of
the shops.
Topic: - Family Heirlooms
For this meeting we would like Members
to bring along their favourite family
heirloom e.g. Medals, Spoons, Pictures,
or Books.
Roger will endeavour to answer any
questions you may have about them.
We would like to welcome anyone with
an interest in researching their London
Ancestors.
Please bring your own lunch - Tea and
Coffee provided.
$2.00 door charge.
Any further enquiries please contact
Ken & Lorna Weeks on (07) 847 4272.
or Lorna Lawrence on (07) 843 7073
Our meetings are held four times a year on the
last Tuesday of February, May, August and
November.
St Andrews Library seminar room,
Braid Road,
St Andrews
starting 10am till 2pm.
with a break for lunch. Cost $3.00
Convenor: June Sunkell
The morning Programme:
Start with FINDS!
Then Antonia Jones has a PowerPoint
presentation on Scotlandspeople website
and how she uses it for her research.
After ½ hour lunch break we continue with
another PowerPoint presentation on
Rootsweb Mailing Lists by Irene and how to
use the lists for your research
Book review of the month is on TARTANS
by Shirley Lawson
HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO BRING
OR WEAR YOUR TARTAN EVERYONE
Please bring your own lunch or buy at local
bakery; tea and coffee provided..
Contact Irene Polkinghorne [email protected]
Or Antonia Jones ph. 855 3859
5
Editors Comment,
Back in August 2013 our Convenors Comment
contained the following message.
“Our newsletter has a new editor and we look forward to
your comments/suggestions to improve this major
communication link. Contributions and comments may
be sent to [email protected]“
Our next meeting
“St Patrick’s Cottage Day”
Saturday 21st March 2015
This current issue will be the tenth one I have put
together. I hope that we have managed to make
them interesting and informative and that you have
enjoyed reading them all.
10am-3pm
15 Cranbrook Place, Rototuna, Hamilton
Door Fee $3.00
11.15am: Share your Irish related family stories
1.15pm: Research time
Bring your lunch, tea/coffee/juice provided.
(Jug will be boiling when you arrive)
Researching at home on your computer is great
but
come out and celebrate St Patrick’s Day with us.
For further details contact: Margaret
(07) 854-0866
[email protected]
Right now since I find myself with an empty column
and I don’t wish to have such a large “white space”
it crossed my mind that it is a perfect time and
space in which to write this message.
I want to say Thank You to everyone who has made
a contribution to our Newsletter. There are a
number of them and not one wanted to be named
at the time! However they do know whom I mean.
They are those people who have done the
reporting from meetings that I have not attended,
those wonderful people who have done all the
necessary proof reading to make sure the
Newsletter arrives in a readable condition.
Last but very not least are the superb people who
serve on our Committee who allowed me to write
about “Who they are” and also those folk who are
now allowing me to introduce them to you in our
Members Profile column!
Thank you! You are Magnificent!
No I am not going
to stop editing.
New Zealand Society of Genealogists
Hamilton Branch
Emails to the Hamilton Branch: [email protected]
Or News Letter Editor: [email protected]
Postal Address: P O Box 1301, Hamilton 3240
2015: Branch meetings - Chartwell Church Centre, Comries Road, Hamilton
Evening Meetings are held in the Lounge. Morning Meetings in the Main Hall, unless prior
notification is given.
First Thursday of the month - February to December at 7.30pm
Third Monday of the month - February to November from 9.30am - 11.30am
Newsletter published – Bi-monthly on the 1st day of the month. 6 issues per year.
Convenor – Judy Hitchcock Email: [email protected]
Almoner - Marion Halford Phone: 855-7280 or Email: [email protected]
6
School Admission Register Project Invitation: Tuesday 24 February
The Hamilton School Admission Register Indexing Project is part of a wider national project to digitize as
many school admission registers as possible. Currently we have about 20 members and friends working on
the project, and several schools have already been completed. The work being undertaken includes:
collating photocopies and printouts of data, Excel spreadsheet data entry, checking and correcting data.
Beth Hooper is the Hamilton Branch team leader.
Mostly members have been working on the project individually but last year a small group met regularly to
do some checking together. This has resulted in new friendships with members sharing their knowledge of
Hamilton, struggling to decipher old handwriting and of course talking family history, and time to have a
cuppa and a chat.
You are invited to come and see if you would like to be involved in this project as part of a group or, if you
prefer, to work independently. Training is given and help is only a phone call away if you need it.
This invitation is also open to members who are currently working by themselves on this important
voluntary work and would maybe like to join a small group. This includes data inputter’s who use a laptop.
Currently the group gathers on the 4th Tuesday of the month at Yvonne Milbank’s home, 1 Holly Place,
Rototuna North at 1pm.
If you are unable to attend on Tuesday 24 February, and would like to be involved in a group or to work
independently, please phone Beth Hooper (ph. 855 3282).
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COME AND SEE THE WORK IN PROGRESS
Tuesday 24 February
Drop in anytime between
10.30am – 4pm
1 Holly Place Rototuna North*
Tea and coffee will be provided
(You are welcome to bring your lunch if you would like to
stay over lunchtime)
*To find Holly Place: from Wairere Drive head north on Resolution Drive, turn right into Farringdon Ave, through a roundabout
and then 3rd right into Holly Place.
If you need more instructions please phone Yvonne 855 4757
This is a “white space” Please use it to take notes. Alternatively have a think about how you might be able to
contribute a small item or items that might be used to fill such a space in future issues!
Branch Member Profiles
This month we bring you the stories of Lorna & Ken Weeks.
Lorna & Ken have written the stories of how they came to be in New Zealand, I have decided that you will
enjoy the full stories as I did so here they are.
The HUNTER FAMILY at PUKEATUA by Lorna Weeks (nee Hunter)
Firstly I must give a brief outline about the Hunter family. They lived in Scotland in the Aberdeen shire area.
There were seven children in the family. Three girls stayed in Scotland and the four boys eventually moved
to New Zealand, to the Pukeatua district which is 27 km from Te Awamutu on the main Arapuni road.
The second son George (Dod) or (Geordie) came to New Zealand in 1912 with another cousin. They also
settled at Pukeatua.
Other friends Alex and Eliza (Lizzie) Ferguson came out in 1908. In 1929 they took
a trip back to Scotland with four of their children. For the voyage they had a family cabin. One of the
children decided to come back to NZ early so as they had booked the same type of cabin for their return
journey in Sept/Oct 1930 they asked Alex’s cousin Florence Pyper to join them which she did. Once Florence
and George (Dod) or (Geordie) met with the same accent – enough said – they were married in March, 1931.
(Lorna’s parents)
I, (Lorna) am a first generation KIWI with Scottish blood. I was born on 26th January 1932 in Te Awamutu
at a Nursing home.
When first married George (Dod) or (Geordie) and Florence lived in the house by the store. (In the mid 20’s
he was thrown from his horse and broke his hip hence his need for a job in the store). The store owner Arthur
Weal decided to return to Pukeatua so they needed to move. They rented Rhode’s cottage opposite their farm
in the Cemetery Road. When it was nearly time for me (Lorna) to start school, Margaret Barron from the
next farm along had offered to double me on her pony which I thought would be great but Mum had other
ideas. She was not a horse person so we moved to the old Creamery House which was down the hill from
the Post Office and owned by the Jemmett’s. At both these places we used to walk to the cow-shed to collect
the milk in the billy.
No problem getting to school now – it was only a very short walk almost just across the road. I started in Sept
1937. My first day was great because Margaret Barron and Peggy McGrath left their horses in the horse
paddock and walked to our place so they could accompany me to school. I was already registered so there
was no need for my parents to be there. Margaret and Peggy were the “Big Girls” so capable of looking after
me.
The reason for our departure to Hamilton in Jan ’42 was this. The store, George (Dod) or (Geordie) managed
had a small truck which he always used for deliveries to the back country areas of Arohena and Rotongata.
This was during WWII and the Army decided they liked these small trucks. They commandeered them so as
George (Dod) or (Geordie) felt that the customers from these areas would do their grocery shopping when
they went to Te Awamutu on sale day and the delivery service from Pukeatua would become a non-event.
This was the case. So George (Dod) or (Geordie) with thanks to the Travelers from Burgess Fraser in
Hamilton who knew him for recommending him for a job at the warehouse. Hence our move to Hamilton at
that time.
Lorna’s schooling - Pukeatua local school
1937 started in Sept. - Primers 1 term
1938
- Primers 3 terms
1939
- Std 1.
1940
- Std 2.
1941
- Std 3.
Moved to Hamilton – Whitiora Primary
1942
- Std 4
1943
- Std 5
= Form 1
1944
- Std 6
= Form 2
The house by the store
Going for milk
8
Member Profile cont.
Moved to Hamilton Technical High School.
1945
- General Business Course 1946
ditto
1947
ditto
Form 3.
Form 4.
Form 5.
Paid work started in November 1947 when my first job was at the
Hamilton City Council – City Engineer’s Dept. (11yrs there) I moved on to the NZ Co-op Dairy Co for
(10mths) In March ’58 I started with the Royal Insce (prev London & Lanc) to Sept 1990 (32yrs) The
company restructured with all accounts jobs transferred to Auckland. All duties were accounts type -including
payroll. I did several courses over the years to update me to modern technology.
-Compiled by Lorna Weeks (nee Hunter) –some included in the Pukeatua School Centennial booklet 2011.
KEN WEEKS - story - London to New Zealand.
Ken was born on 22nd October 1934 at Edmonton, London.
Started school - 1939 at Bush Hill Park Infants School. On the outbreak of WW2 I was evacuated with my
mother and younger brother to Ton Pentre, a coal mining village in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. This
period gave a great boost to the Welsh language due to so many schools being taught in Welsh only. The
evacuees were put into a special class and given a 3 weeks crash course in the Welsh language before being
integrated into classes with the Welsh children.
In 1940 we returned to London to Bush Hill Park Junior School. It was here later that I won a Scholarship to
attend Hornsey County School in 1946.
When I attended Hornsey County Grammar School at the age of 11 – on a wet day instead of sport we had
an activity in the hall. My choice on these days was Scottish Country Dancing. I danced in London until I
moved to NZ in 1952 and when I moved to Hamilton in 1953 I joined the local club, Hamilton Scottish – still
there.
This is where Lorna and I met in 1959 when I had spent one year overseas in ’58 when I caught up with family
and friends around London. My first trip home.
When I returned to Hamilton and went along to the Hamilton Scottish club night there were some new
beginners attending, yes, Lorna was one. Enough said. We got engaged later that year ’59 and were
married on 15th June 1960.
After our marriage I decided to apply for NZ Citizenship by Registration so I could obtain a NZ Passport.
This means that Lorna and I can go in the same queue at airports etc.
Why did I come to New Zealand?
Well, one day in 1952 I saw an advertisement in the London newspaper “The Evening News” that stated
there were free passages, jobs and accommodation guaranteed under the N.Z. Government Immigration
Scheme. After consultation with my parents I applied to N.Z. House and in due course following a medical
examination in Harley Street, I was accepted as a Railway Trainee at a location in N.Z. of my choice which
was Taumarunui. As I was 17 years old at the time my application was fast-tracked to get me out of
Britain before I was called up for 2 years National Service. I was offered a berth on the N.Z. Government
immigration ship TSS “Captain Cook” sailing from Plantation Quay, Glasgow on 19th August, 1952
preceded by a charter train trip from Euston Station, London. Following a very enjoyable voyage with
calls at Curacao, Panama and Pitcairn Island we arrived in Wellington on 25th September, 1952. After
Customs clearance I and other immigrants disembarked and were taken to the Wellington Railway Station
where we entrained on the Wellington to Auckland Express to our destination, Taumarunui.
Accommodation was reserved at Meredith House Railway Hostel. After a while I shifted into a one-man
hut in the Railway Compound.
9
Member Profile cont’
Reporting for duty on my first day at the Locomotive Foreman’s Office I encountered my first glitch to my
allotted job. They saw that I wore glasses so I was unable to be employed as an engine cleaner, thus
thwarting my dream of becoming an engine driver. Fortunately there was a vacancy in the office so I became
an office cadet. The following year I was transferred to Frankton Junction where I eventually left the Railways
Department in order to be able to settle in Hamilton. My life long experience in payroll work stems back to
this start at Taumarunui.
Submitted by Ken Weeks, from Hamilton.
Lorna tells me she joined NZSG Hamilton Branch in 1997 attending a beginners Genealogy class held at
Melville High School run by Val Woods!
On discovering there was a Greater London Interest Group she suggested Ken might like to join too.
Ken has been a Rawleighs Dealer since 2003 and most will be aware that he has been a seller of beautiful
Scottish jewellery and keepsakes for many years.
Lorna & Ken were honoured last year in July as the Community Heroes having served for nearly 20 years
delivering meals for the YWCA.
10
Ken’s early family photographs
Time spent in Wales during WW2