LIFESTYLER
December 21 2011
Kaipara
Holiday Entertainment Pages 8–10
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A special tree for Christmas
by Paul Campbell
Page 3
New Co-ordinator for popular local market
Two huge pururi trees which took root in Dargaville in the 19th century have had a Christmas visit from a family who once lived and played in their shadow.
For Mary Le Noel (nee Wilson), the Mangawhare corner section bounded by Liverpool Street from River Road is very different from the days when it was her childhood home. Now a resident of Tinopai, Mary lived with her parents and two brothers in a Victorian villa on that section of land, before it was aquired by the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company in 1973. “Today, the former dairy company administration building is the home of NorthSouth Multi Media, publishers of the Kaipara Lifestyler and a stable of four farming papers as well as books,” said a family spokesman, Kaipara farmer, Bill Guest. “These magnificent puriri trees were retained when the dairy company directors cleared three houses from the land, relocating one villa to Campbell Terrace nearby, where Mrs Le Noel’s mother, Gertrude, lived until her death in 1978. Her father Mervyn passed away in 1973. “This past weekend, Mary has come up to Dargaville with her four daughters and many of her grandchildren as well as twelve great-grandchildren and her brother Ian with his family and another brother Ken, now Brother Damian, a Franciscan monk.” The extended family held an unveiling and plaque dedication ceremony at the cemetery at Mt Wesley, and then moved down to enjoy a family lunch under the puriri trees. Mrs Le Noel said she believes the trees are over 150 years old and seemed special to local Maori. “When an important Maori died, locals came and picked leaves for use at the funeral.” Mr Guest said the two trees “are dominant in Dargaville and ought to have some heritage status. The gathering of some 30 descendents of the family made for a moving event, with many stories and anecdotes told in a background of fascination with the trees. It was surely an ideal time, with Christmas in the air.”
Page 5
New look website for KDC
Page 14
Family fun for a worthy cause
Top photo left to right: Ken Wilson, Mary Le Noel, Ian Wilson and Nell Davis Guest. Bottom group family photo
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