From: Malcolm
To: Jan
Subject: My Forebears

Hi there,

My son and his family now live in Sydney Aus. and we are proposing to visit them in the coming year. If possible we would like to extend our journey to include New Zealand as my Mother was born in Waipawa.

Her birth is entered in the register under no:-2820 on the 22nd March 1899 as Florence Ellen Standley, I know very little of these Grandparents as very nearly all memorabilia About them and their early life was destroyed by the bombing of Birmingham in the w.w.2

I do believe that grandfather Standley was the local photographer as he took his camera with him from England

From: Jan
To: Malcolm
Subject: re My Forebears

Hi Malcom,

I haven't got anything here at home about your grandparents, but I will forward your email on to the CHB Settlers Museum as they might have more info. They do have quite a selection of local photos from that era so they may have some of your grandfather's.

It would be really great to fill in the gaps if we can... So hopefully Rosheen will be able to help you.

Regards

Jan

From: CHB Settlers Museum
To: Malcolm
Subject: re My Forebears

Hello

Sorry I haven't been able to come up with much info for you.

My early birth records give Florence Ellen's birthdate as 15th March [yours 22nd] and lists her mother as Florence Elizabeth.

I cannot find any record of your Grandfather working as a photographer in this area or any inscriptions on any of our photo collection.

Not listed as a photographer in the 1901 Tabuteau & Baker almanac.

The only record I have been able to find is the marriage notice from the "Waipawa Mail" as follows: 14th January 1897 at St Mark's, Wellington by Rev Mr Johnstone, William J Standley of Waipawa to Florence E Parsons of Birmingham, England.

St Mark's Wellington was consecrated in 1876 - I wonder if they may have the marriage record with full details [births, deaths & marriages will have] St Mark's address should you wish to contact them is: Parish Office, 13 Dufferin St, Mt Victoria, Wellington.

Regards

Rosheen Parker
Curator/Manager

From: Malcolm
To: Jan
Subject: Ancestry

Hello Jan.

I wonder if to ask you something other than ducks?

My grandparents lived in Waipawa and my mother was born there in 1899. My son now lives Sydney, australia and we are planning to visit him (and his family) in october 2008, we want to extend our journey to waipawa if all goes well.

Grandfather was William James Standley. He married Florence Elizabeth Parsons on 14 january 1897 in Wellington N.Z.

You can understand my interest and I would like to find out more about them and their life then.

Can you tell who to approach.

Thanking you in anticipation of any information

From: Jan
To: Malcolm
Subject: re Ancestry

Hi Malcolm,

Yes I do know a little bit about things other than ducks :-)

Like teaching kids to read, carving in stone, painting murals, raising children, gardening... and a little local history...

And for some reason people DO think I know a lot about ducks - like I once had a woman ring me up because her kids had taken some ducklings away from a wild duck nest and she didn't know what to do with them..

It's true some people call me the duck lady in Waipawa - but that's because I made a big concrete duck not because I'm an expert on ducks.

However I did raise the ducklings successfully and had fun doing so… and now they have flown off into the big wide world and hopefully are having their own little nests of ducklings which I won't have to raise.
But although I can turn my hand to most things (like making and raising ducks) unfortunately I don't know anything about your forebears.

I did forward your request on to the CHB Settlers Museum last time you emailed me but I don't think that helped much either....

You did mention last time you emailed that he was a photographer - but Rosheen has looked that up (down at the museum) and can find no record of him working as a photographer in our district. So... That's it so far...

I'm sorry.... I don't know who else to suggest to help with your enquiry - but will get your enquiry on the website so maybe someone might find it and help you.

If you are coming to Waipawa a trip to the Museum is well worth it even if it just lets you see what Waipawa might have been like when your grandparents lived here - as there are lots of photos (None attributed to him though)
And you are welcome to come and look at my stone statues too

Regards

Jan

From: Jan
To: Malcolm
Subject: re Ancestry

Hi Malcolm again,

I was looking through some photos I have here at home and found this one.

This will give you a bit of an idea what Waipawa was like when your grandparents lived here. Williams and Kettles (on the right) didn't open until 1904 so it maybe a little after their time - but things wouldn't have changed too much.

Hope this gives you an idea of where they lived

Jan

From: Malcolm
To: Jan
Subject: Standley's

Hello Jan,

Thank you for your prompt reply. You are an obviously a talented lady and I was glad that it was you I contacted. Sorry about two emails but it would seem that the first was not copied to my mail. But I cannot blame the computer system because the old f--t that I am I probably pressed the wrong buttons!

I cannot tell you much about my grandparents life in OZ as all I have appertaining to their sojourn in Waipawa is my mothers typewritten birth certificate signed by the vicar of St. Peters, a W. M. Swimburn ( I think? ) and a later official certified copy, stating that mothers birthdate was15 march 1899. I see from the official form that my grandparents were married in Wellington NZ.on the 14 January 1897.

This must be after their arrival in NZ.

I should perhaps contact the church?

I think I can pursue official channels for dusty records but i was hoping to find some more homely details of past life in Waipawa.

Thank you so much for the time you have expended in quest and believe me it is very appreciated.

Malcolm

From: Jan
To: Malcolm
Subject: Standley's

Hi Malcolm,

I could see if I can follow up on that birth certificate.

I am (supposedly - although a little out of practice) a part of St Peters congregation, and my Mum is really involved there(having been on vestry and part of the ministry team as we have no vicar at the moment). I will ask her about the church records - but I suspect they are no longer in the church's possession as I think they are all stored now up by the diocesan office up in Napier.

Worth a try though...

I have looked it up and found that there was a Rev W Swinburn recorded as being a vicar as St Peters in 1898 - 1902

I have attached a photo of how St Peters would have looked back then...

Regards

Jan