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Don Woodward
I was born one year to the day after the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
My father had emigrated with his family from the midlands in England not long before the first world war, with hi...view moreI was born one year to the day after the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
My father had emigrated with his family from the midlands in England not long before the first world war, with his mother and four
brothers. His father had left England a year before to work the coal mines on the West Coast of South Island where the work was
back breaking but where good workers could earn big money and where my grandfather, George Woodward saved up enough money
in a year to pay for his wife and five boys to sail to New Zealand and join him on the other side of the world. It would a tale worth
telling, as my Welsh grandmother must have been tested to the limit keeping five rambunctious boys ranging from five to ten years
old ran riot on their ship for eight weeks off on a huge adventure. In New Zealand they rounded off the team with two more boys and
moved north to warmer climes where they bought an area of land which they cleared of bush and farmed.
My parents had produced three children when the second world war erupted and my father enlisted and was shipped across to Egypt
leaving my Mother with three young children to look after and along with many other young mothers, dreading the postman's visit each
day with the feared news that hubby wouldn't be coming home.
After the war the surviving troops returned home and were encouraged to take up farming financed by the government and so I was
born into a period of plenty of food, no wars, practically no inflation and no unemployment. The youngest of four. Two older sisters and
an older brother. Growing up in the nineteen fifties and sixties which, looking back, I think we were blessed by growing up in two
very privileged decades.
Left school at 17.
Completed a 5 year carpentry and joinery apprenticeship.
Spent four years exploring the big wide world.
Worked in South Africa, Rhodesia. Scotland & England.
Married my wife Margie in Johannesburg at 26.
Moved back to NZ with my new bride.
Produced a daughter and a son. Nicky and Bruce. Both now married with two children each. A boy and a girl each. Both now
school teachers.
Operated a construction and property development company with my Brother inlaw. until recent retirement.view less