Books
“Scant and hazy” memory brings Uncle Frank back to life Laingholm author Louise Maich (left) was only a pre-schooler in 1965 when her famous Uncle Frank and his friend Johnny Cumming were killed in New Zealand’s first helicopter hunting accident. He was only 30 years old. Louise’s Uncle Frank was Frank Erceg who had built an impressive reputation as a marksman, deer hunter, mountaineer and photographer. He was highly respected by his peers, but Louise’s memory of Frank was “scant and hazy. I grew up knowing very little about his life,” she says. “He always appeared as a handsome, adventurous uncle who died tragically and, of course, someone I wish I had known. He was a part of my family history, someone that I was driven to uncover and write about.” Still remembered as one of New Zealand’s most prominent deer hunters of the 1950-60s, Frank’s photographs were widely published in newspapers and magazines of the day. He was frequently mentioned in books on the history of deer hunting but no book had ever been written about his life and achievements. Until now.
Weaving magic in Avondale
Hail, rain, and wind didn’t dampen the spirits of the Whau community who came out to support We Are Woven. The event, run by I Love Avondale and supported by Whau Local Board, Auckland Transport and Eke Panuku, featured live entertainment on the car-free Crayford Street West. This included Whaea Bella with her karanga and opening karakia, Tung Tek Lion Dance Association, the Clan Celtica tribal Scottish band and Avondale local, MC and rapper MELODOWNZ. Visitors also enjoyed a mākete (market), food trucks, live muralling, cultural clothing parades, bike and scooter pump track, free kai and face-painting. Whau Local Board deputy chair, Fasitua Amosa, says the event was an incredible get-together for a community experiencing rapid intensification. “The board is proud to have supported the event and the feedback has been fantastic,” he says. “As a board, it’s great for us to look at how we can best manage our local suburbs with all the intensification happening here. Woven is another example of an awesome placemaking event in Avondale and I’d love to open the streets for the people on a more regular basis to encourage more locals to use our streets and have fun in our public places.” We Are Woven was the third of four events from the Avondale Open Streets Activation project. The project delivers events in parts of Avondale town centre, which will temporarily be made car-free. The final event of this series, Avondale Christmas Parade, is coming up on November 25. Advertisement
6 The Fringe NOVEMBER 2023
Louise has spent more than 20 years researching Uncle Franks’ untold story through family memories, letters and recollections and yarns from Frank’s contemporaries. The result is her just-released Finding Frank, published by Bateman Books, a heartfelt tribute to one of New Zealand’s true hunting legends. The book covers the migration of the Erceg family from the former Yugoslavia to the central North Island. Growing up in a small settlement near Taumarunui, Frank was influenced by three older brothers who taught him hunting, fishing and bushcraft skills. From there he moved south, first enlisting as a government shooter – deer culling for the New Zealand Forest Service – and then becoming an independent meat hunter. Full of atmosphere and including dozens of rare photographs, some of which have never been published before, Finding Frank is a story of hope, overcoming trials and tragedy and of a family finding their way in a new country. Louise has dug deep, and succeeded, in bringing her famous and handsome Uncle Frank back to life. – Moira Kennedy
The Fringe has a copy of Finding Frank to give away. To go in the draw to win a copy, write your name, address and phone number on the back of an envelope and post it to Finding Frank, PO Box 60-469, Tītīrangi or email your details to info@fringemedia.co.nz with Finding Frank in the subject line. Entries must be received by November 10.
WIN
Discovering beach treasures There’s much to find meandering along a beach with small children when the tide is out. Tide’s Out is a simple bilingual counting book by Frances Plumpton with water colour illustrations by local artist Stephanie Thatcher. It features many beach treasures to encourage young children’s curiosity. Frances is a former Waitākere Libraries children’s librarian whose family has spent summers at Huia on the Manukau Harbour since the 1960s. (Te reo Māori translation by Dr Darryn Joseph, Ngāti Maniopoto.) To order a copy ($20), email tidesout@francesplumpton. com. To go in the draw to win one of five copies, write your name, address and phone number on the back of an envelope and post it to Tide’s Out, PO Box 60-469, Tītīrangi or email your details to info@fringemedia.co.nz with Tide’s Out in the subject line. Entries must be received by November 10.
WIN
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