The amazing Gilda McKnight from the Pahīatua Museum recently sent us some new photos related to our clan.

This huge Rata tree on our family’s neighbour Vial’s property shows a small boy, who became our Great Uncle Colin Dron; he married our Great Aunty Lizzie Kelly in the 1940s. Colin was born on 15th September 1909 according to this shot, and his father and their neighbour Mr Stewart are also captured for the camera.

I had not previously heard that Colin’s father managed ‘the property at Ngaturi’ – that appears to be a Land Block, I will have to find out more while I’m in Pahīatua next week donating the O’Grady family travelling trunk to the Museum.

It does make me feel sad to think of how beautiful the ngahere (forest) must have been when it was full of magnificent trees like this – all cleared by settlers like my family for farming. Thanks to Alistair Stewart who donated these epic photos.