2003 October - In touch with the newsletter - from Jack

From: Margret

Sent: 26/10/2003 10:22 p.m.

October 2003    Editor:  Jack McDonald, Brisbane  WHANAU IN TOUCH - Keeping the dream alive KIA ORA Welcome to the second edition of Whanau In Touch” in which we feature the Danny Fenton Story along with updates from around the Whanau, Medical reports, a story on “Our Mum”, Auntie Es and a top report from Margret telling us all about the Korero and Kai at Brenda and Paul’s. We are gradually gathering more whanau to the Internet, the latest addition being Vicki Fenton, and we soon hope to have Bryan and Pam online. There are now 14 of the 26 Cousins enjoying this facility. Being online, having access to the wonderful “Fenton’s of Waitara” website set up by the lovely Margret from Herald Island is really an experience.  You have at your fingertips so much information and the photo section for each of the Whanau is unbelievable; at this moment there are over 500 photos, the opportunities to add messages and photos is there waiting for you, Bryan and Pam Taylor. During the month of September, Jack and I had a lovely couple of days in the company of Bryan and Pam Taylor.  They had been in Australia to see the concert “Queen,” which was playing in Melbourne, so while in the land of OZ, they decided to come to Brisbane.  The Capital of the Sunshine State put on lovely weather for them, thus setting the scene. We spent many hours catching up on those earlier years as well as having a nice day out at Redcliffe where we enjoyed a good seafood meal, then back to our place for a few gin and tonics along with a lot of chin wagging.   Both Bryan and Pam are two very interesting people to listen to; both have so much to offer.  Bryan with his life in the Royal New Zealand Navy and as a Ranger covering Lake Taupo and surrounding rivers, and his memories of those early days in Waitara are great.  Talk to him about those days as this Man has so much to offer and he should be encouraged to put pen to paper. Pam also has very interesting tales to tell of her days in the Navy as well as the school teaching days and those lonesome days as the wife of a seagoing sailor. Both Jack and I felt very sad standing at the airport bidding Au Revoir to those two lovely cousins. It was indeed our pleasure to have had this quality time with two such lovely People keeping the “Dream Alive”. We loved every moment of it, Arohanui,Mari.   Medical column by Dr Feelgood Auntie Mona is pleased to report that Uncle Hip has had a good report from his Doctor, which pleases everyone very much and he is again showing interest in poetry. Our lovely cousin Brenda is as chirpy as ever, she is very positive.  Right now Brenda is undergoing a further stage of treatment and we all wish you well, You are a real inspiration to us all, lots of love to you Mate from all the Whanau.    Congratulations to Sarah-Jane Sheehy, who has just celebrated her 21st birthday with a great birthday party at Palmerston North.  We hear that Jackie and Max prepared and hosted a top party for their lovely daughter and all had a great time. Jackie Sheehy recently traveled to Christchurch to watch Daughter Sarah-Jane compete in the New Zealand National Swimming Championships.  Keep watching the progress of Sarah-Jane as we could be looking at Olympic Selection here.  Jackie will be coming to Brisbane in June/July managing a team of Swimmers from the Manawatu.  Both Mari and I look very much forward to this visit.  Travelling Whanau, while on that subject, in November Trish Fenton will be taking an overseas trip and will be calling into Brisbane for a few days on her homeward journey, and we look forward to reuniting and entertaining our “Cuzzie Trish”.  The “Californians”, we just love getting their mail, Roger, Sherrie and Rangi are all fit and well.  Rangi is doing very well at school.  When we get mail from these folks we get out the atlas what with Roger’s work and car racing, Sherrie’s lectures and scholarships they cover an awful lot of that wonderful Country of theirs.  Just in the last couple of letters, they have been to Connecticut, Ontario, Atlanta, Santa Monica, Portland, Georgia, Long Beach and the lovely Corona Del Mar.  This is family that is enjoying life, for sure.  Roger’s company plans to send him to Japan in December inspecting circuit breakers. Richard’s beloved “Warriors”, sorry Richard, maybe next year mate. Another of the Whanau, Gloria, has been jetting back and forth between Aotearoa and Australia, with visits to Melbourne in July followed by a visit to Sydney in August.   C’mon Gloria, when are you coming to the Sunshine State? Our feelings go out to Michelle who returned home from a weekend away celebrating her niece’s birthday to find that her home had been burgled again. The burglars returned to steal the items replaced by insurance from the previous break-in.