Mari and Jack McDonald - 60th wedding anniversary

15th January 2015
From their Ascot home, Mari and Jack celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.  They received a congratulations message from Queen Elizabeth II, one from the Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, and another from the Queensland Governor and his wife Lynne.
Congratulations from Margret to two who are delighted to be married to each other.

2012 Queen's Birthday Weekend

QEII, and both Hip and Ike were members of the NZ Army Coronation Contingent.  My Dad, Hip, brought home a packet of Ceylon tea and it was forever kept in the china cabinet and kept as an artefact.  Another souvenir was a red-leatherette box, suede lined and keeping compressed blocks of Horlicks lollies.  That box only disappeared a few years ago.  I remember eating one, when it was fresh!  Dad brought two hair combs; they were tortoise-shell plastic and were held inside a brassy-gold case that had an enamel showing Windsor castle.  One comb was for Mum and the other for me.  Dad brought home two leather shoulder bags from Egypt.  Both had a small mirror in the folded ove flap.  Mum's was dark brown leather and mine was a goldenbrown, with scenes of the pyramids and camels punched in.  From somewhere on the to England, Dad brought a lemon-colour dress for me.  Postcards arrived for Mum and one for me from his visit to Scotland on that same trip.

When the Queen and Prince Philip came to New Plymouth, Dad was in charge of the battery that put on a display at Pukekura Park.  I can only remember being in the park, on a corner in the centre, waiting to see them drive by, also seeing them in the main street of New Plymouth. 

A few days ago, Mari celebrated her 78th birthday.  She had a splendid week of events organised by Jack and family.  Happy Birthday to our youthful cousin in Brisbane.

57th wedding anniversary for Mari Rona McDonald , nee Fenton and John McDonald

A week's celebrations that had both Mari and Jack visiting favourite places in their hometown of Brisbane. Gelato/i or coffee or meals and a daily photo accompanied the emails sharing their delight of being married to one another.

Cousin Danny

Here is a very sad piece of news for us.  The notice is from the NZherald.

FENTON, Danny. Suddenly at home on 10 March 2011. Aged 71 years. Treasured husband of Nola for 50 years. Loving dad of Wayne and Cindy. Father-in-law of Jan and Peter. Dearly loved grandad of Olivia, Jenny, Megan, Katie and Rebecca. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. 'A loving gentle man, at peace with God'. A service for Danny will be held at Hibiscus Coast Salvation Army, Greenview Lane, Red Beach on Tuesday 15 March at 11.00 am followed by a private cremation. All communications to PO Box 305, Whangaparaoa, Auckland.

A while ago

Here we are, facing a new year. We have a government that is fast-tracking their initiatives and we are having to face the re-location of our plain and simple website. January will bring the inauguration of Barrack Obama in the USA and also Kingi's induction in the Air Force.
I've reviewed the content on astories about our family and hope that you enjoy using it.

Look around at the word pictures or dialogues or view the photos

Use the messages or notes to find out information about our whanau. The same can be said for the photos.

2010 and with the 41st year celebration

Time to reflect; the new month of september and the advent of the earthquake in Christchurch.

2010 January 31st, Sunday, Tomorrow is Auckland's anniversary day

Mum's tangi was held in early December 2009 at the Kairau Marae that she played at during her childhood. Her home was across the road and her bigger playground was with the children of the Kairau pa.
She was buried at the family urupa at the top of the hill.