Glaisnock Rock Bivouac Part One

In the 1952 book Deer Hunter by Joff Thomson, he mentions a rock bivvy up the Glaisnock River thats in Chapter 18 titled: The Glaisnock Headwaters.

I've found two fairly comprehensive articles which I'll link to here. Both on the area and both mention the Rock Bivouac with map co ordinates. Its an interesting place and historically significant in our hunting history, quite famous in New Zealand especially for the Fiordland waptiti hunters.

http://www.nzoutdoor.co.nz/gary_NZOH_June_2012.pdf
http://www.rodandrifle.co.nz/assets/Uploads/glaisnock.pdf

Its situated near Midnight Creek, and was first used as a dryrock bivvy by Jim Muir in the 1930s. Hunters have camped at the site ever since and hundreds of names are carved into the rockface.

I wonder if any documentation exists regarding detailed photos of the graffiti left by hunters. It must do and I'd be keen to see some of them. If anyone has pics or knows someone who does please get in touch.

Frank and George Erceg visited this area on their Fiordland Photographic trip in 1961. (See the August posts for some of George's diary entries and photos.)
I wonder if they stayed there, or stopped for a bit to boil the billy and check it out? George doesn't mention it in his diaries but they were in the area.

I'd love to visit the place and stay a few nights. That would be an awesome experience. Maybe I will do that one day. But not during the bugle. I'd like some peace and quiet, and  I'd make a sign saying Writers Retreat - your welcome if you have a bottle of something and yarn to tell me.
I'd just hang out and soak up all the history, oh and make camp oven bread.

There's some books mentioned in one of these articles so they're going on my list. Hmm lets see if I can find a photo to finish....

Beautiful textures. Great photo. Not sure where... and that's either George or Frank in the foreground. 

Update: Its George!

Creating a Narrative

I sent the manuscript off to a publisher recently and received instant feedback which was very promising. They thought I had the start of a good book but that it needed more pulling together, and they offered a few other very good suggestions and thoughts.
They praised my writing and want to see the manuscript when its further along. This is all very encouraging.

So... I'm about to begin working on the overall structure.  Creating a narrative for the material is a huge task, but vital to writing a great book. I never envisaged it to be only about deer cullers, its about a time and a place in our national history that doesn't exist anymore. Although that might be obvious, that of course that time doesn't exist anymore, it's about finding ways to write it with subtle not so obvious layers - thats where the magic lies.
Writing to me is about the hard work of re writing and re writing until its so distilled and powerful it resonates with the reader on many levels. Stephen King talks about this in his book "On Writing" You rewrite, you edit, but the words that get axed they're all still there.  Ernest Hemingway likened his writing to an iceberg, you only see the tip but what lies beneath the surface is enormous.

I will dream and muse on what the storyline will be. How do I want to integrate all the material? Where to begin? By looking at other publications - biographies and memoirs, seeing how other authors create a vehicle to tell their story. I'll revisit workshop notes on brain storming, do some mind maps - they're always good fun and bring up unexpected threads and ideas.

Last year I attended Kathryn Burnett's brainstorming workshop at the Auckland Readers and Writers Festival, she's so vibrant and full of ideas her workshops are fun and very helpful. I've referred to her notes before and keep them handy.
http://www.kathryn-burnett.com/about-kathryn.aspx

I'm having to stretch my brain and go somewhere with this book that I hadn't given thought too until now. I saw it going in a certain direction and now it's taking me in another. After the initial shock, and a shuffling of the feet this way and that, I see this is so dam exciting.

Up until now I've been absorbed with all the research, interviews and collecting images, scanning and creating the archive which has also included completely changing how I file my research. I now have four filing cabinets and the system is working fantastically. Before that everything was in folders in clear sleeves, sometimes ten deep and all on bookshelves. It took time to locate documents and pull everything out, and put it back again.

I have everything in order and easy access to all the material.  Thats all done and most of the interviews are completed so its time to take the next step. I'm with a new sets of goals and more challenges. I'm creating the space to think about this next step. Theres no distractions anymore. I cant say, but I'm not there yet, I'm not ready there's still this to do, that to do.

One can think up many reasons to put something off. I dont tend to do that - not usually - I know, because the vacuuming always needs doing, the dishes stack up and the gardens a bit of a mess; thats because I have to write. Anyway, we live surrounded by native bush so 24 hours after a house clean every-things moved back in again, daddy long leg spiders, the cats dragging in bush debris and the occassional half eaten rat. Too Bad...the writing must go on!!

Speaking of which, I'll keep the posts coming and do some interesting side storys to keep you all visiting.

The author relaxing at home, west Auckland.

And as always, thanks for dropping by, the traffic to the blog the last few months has been from: Slovenia, Croatia, Russia, China, Australia, America, Scotland and of course NZ, that's so cool. Thank you everyone xx

The reading list for the next month includes:
Witi Ihimaera's, The Parihaka Woman (he has some interesting thoughts on creating a narrative so thought I'd give this one a go).
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/ihimaerawiti.html

Dave Drangsholt s book on Dave Saxton.
http://www.halcyonpublishing.co.nz/hunting-books/128-sax-preorder-9781877566165.html

Art/biography books see how the authors integrate research into a storyline alongside images - that was my big brothers suggestion, and a good one.
Plus a trip to the library for a few leisurely hours and look through a pile of books.

Back again soon. Until then take care - where ever you are!
Louise.

Mid Winter Update

Mum's old shed Christchurch

Been so damn busy and have neglected my bloggy-blog, sorry! Well I start to feel guilty if I haven't posted every ten or so days.

Not a hell of a lot to report though. I'm looking at where the Frank Erceg manuscript can be sent to next. First publisher has said thanks but no thanks, but thats normal in the publishing business. They have been inundated with proposals and were kind enough to say if I havent found a publisher by the end of the year they'd have another look at it. This is the nature of the game!!!

I'm doing a power point presentation at the West Auckland Historical Societies monthly meeting on July 17. Will be talking about my award winning essay from last year on the Dalmatian community in west Auckland and our family history connections to the area. See earlier post from November: Out West Essay Competition.
Very excited about this as its another step in the right direction, connecting to larger groups and sharing the work and talking about the processess and influences. I can see doing something like this with the Frank Erceg Project one day. Travelling around the country and talking about the book and how it all happened - and I can get to meet you all in person as well.

I've been spending a lot of time this year researching the history of deer in New Zealand from the 1860s on and now its being put to good use. I'm writing some articles for NZ Outdoor Hunting magazine the first to be published will be later this year. And that's what I intended to be doing right now so I wont be hanging around here for too long.

... just wanted to say a big mid winter cosy-warm-hello to you all, and thank you for the great traffic this site gets and the e mails. Cheers everyone, will be back soon.

Louisex

Christchurch

Demolition of Scales Building cnr Montreal and Cashel St.

Carl checking out the demolition

Christchurch was good, it was family time and catching up with some of Frank's buddies.
We had two big shakes while I was there but you expect that these days. I spent an afternoon with my brother Carl checking out some of the red zone - from behind the cordons. We stopped to watch the demolition of the Scales Building on the corner of Montreal and Cashel Street. Then checked out the Container Mall and walked alongside the Avon River then down Gloucester Street into the Botanical Gardens.
It was a leisurely few hours just wandering around and there's nothing like walking through knee deep autumn leaves in Hagley Park!
They had their first Winter frosts while I was there with some bitterly cold mornings and then those brilliant clear blue skies and sunshine all day.

I enjoyed a Saturday evening at the Miller Bar on Lincoln Road with Carl and Shary, down the road at Addington the Crusaders thrashed Auckland. Heho. I gunned for the Crusaders of course, its my home town. If you're in ChCh drop into the Miller Bar & Cafe, it oozes character, originally a classic style ASB bank the bar is the original wooden counter. There's a big log gas fire, excellent food and cruisy live music that doesn't invade one's conversation.

One of mum's roses

Mum still lives in the same house I grew up in, so it really is special hanging out in my old room and she has the most beautiful flower garden. In 2009 she won a "Christchurch Community Pride Award" for her effort in beautifying the street. Many gardeners strive to receive these awards, neat rows mapped out with a tape measure all perfectly spaced with their plants in varying degrees of height not unlike those old school photos with the tallest kids in the back row.
Mum's not like that, she digs and pokes, pulls bushes out, puts something else in simply becuase she likes the look of it she mixes it all up -  and what a display of texture and colour.

On the Sunday Mum and I visited Jack Wildermoth in Coalgate. We sat round his big open fire and chatted about his time as Ranger  for the Riccarton Bush Reserve in Christchurch, where he worked for fourteen years until retiring in the late 1980s.
We also talked about his deer hunting days of course and I was also very keen to learn more about his first job at fifteen, working in the Burke Creek Coal Mine on the Westcoast. Jack was born in Reefton his father and grandfather were miners before him. His father died when he was a teenager, so he had no choice, he had to go to work to support his mother and younger sister. He's tough - a real coaster is our Jack and has a great sense of humour, he made me laugh several times recounting stories and I got the feeling the loved having an auidence. It was a pleasant afternoon.
We had breakfast at the West Melton Pub on the way out to Jack's. It was another fine Canterbury day, clear blue sky and the drive out to Coalgate heading towards the Southern Alps was a treat.

Mum enjoying a cuppa at West Melton Pub Canterbury.

Bacon, eggs and hash browns... all washed down with a pot of tea.

I also caught up with Kevin Whitelaw after years of corresponding and never meeting it was about time we did. Kevin has written articles on NZ wilderness, hunting, and related subjects for many years. He is a wealth of knowledge and generous with it. Thanks Kevin and Pat for a lovely night out. Look forward to seeing you all again soon.

The not waiting game...

View from my desk in the Waitakere Ranges west Auckland.

Regarding what this blog was set up for, to generate interest and gather an online community for the Frank Erceg book.
Earlier this year I sent an extract of the manuscript and some sample images to a publisher. They're in the process of making a decision and this all takes time. One has to be patient and until then there's still a lot of work to be done.

This week I'm off to Christchurch for an extended weekend to see family and undertake some more interviews, see what else I can dig up.  I've got a couple of articles to write for NZ Outdoor Hunting magazine on my return, which I'm looking forward to getting stuck into. This has involved months of full on research, collecting data and learning more on the early days of hunting in New Zealand. I'm pleased NZOH asked me to write these historic based articles, I've learnt heaps and  fast becoming a deer-hunting historian nerd. I love it!

Polly likes to keep me company

Aside from this project, I've joined NZ Society of Authors and have been working with an editor on a novel length manuscript for their assessment programme due the end of May. If I am accepted into the programme I'll have the opportunity to work with a professional assessor on the story.
Then there's the day job,  although I have today off. Each week the goals are set and deadlines put in place otherwise its too easy to whinge and moan about not having enough time. We don't have a TV and live in the bush, our driveways about 1/2 mile from the end of the road so the peace and quiet its great for writing.
Read more about my writing routine at Stephen Townshend's Germinal Press blog:
http://www.germinalpress.com.au/blog/the-writers-routine

Steve's a good ol' kiwi boy, his family knew the Erceg's during the time they lived in Taumarunui. Steve's now based in Sydney and is the founder of Germinal Press, in a short time GP has made a mark in the publishing business with some great titles in the The Last Word series, including Rugby World Cup 2011 and  Mixed Martial Arts. Make sure to check it out.
My other posting on his site was for the Rugby World Cup: what to do in Auckland, that was fun to research.
http://www.germinalpress.com.au/blog/rugby-world-cup-2011-party-central-vs-the-west

Well I've got a day to get on with,  words to hammer out a pile of library books to return and a very small cabin bag to think about packing for tomorrow. My ticket to ChCh is a grab a seat carry on 7 ks only - will be interesting!
Will be back next week, thanks for dropping by.

A good keen woman reads Crumpy...

Well I finally got round to reading the kiwi classic 'A Good Keen Man' by Barry Crump. Can see why it has appeal to the masses and sold over 300.000 copies, its an easy and fun read. He also has some touching and poetic moments writing of the surrounds and hut life, of the stillness of nature, giving some eloquent passages that surprised and delighted me.

Scattered throughout the book is the repititive phase good keen man having good keen fun with the other good keen men and Flynn ain't he a good keen dog and some of the hunters well they're not good keen men. There's one good keen woman towards the end. I have thirty pages to go if I hear that phase one more time, I might have to throw the good keen book across my lounge and hope it vacates the premises swiftly through the good keen doorway out into the good keen bush. You get my drift ! But ahhhhhh, bugger me if I'm not enjoying it.
My copy is from the library, a 50th anniversary edition with an introduction by author Jack Lasenby.
Jack writes for children and teenagers and his books and short stories are widely read by people of all ages, and include the series of Harry Wakatipu the pig headed pack horse which sounds a hoot and I want to read some.

I've just skipped to the new Zealand Book Council's website to read his bio:
http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Writers/Profiles/Lasenby,%20Jack

But I'm digressing here, back to the good keen book and the very last sentence on page 224:

"The world of stone fireplaces, trees and rivers belonged again to the owl and the possum."

In Jack's introduction on page 13 he mentions that he:

"can't help but notice it's the owl, not morepork, not ruru. And is there a play, I wonder, on Lear's 'The Owl and the Pussycat'? It never pays to underestimate Crump."

Well this got my creative juices going. Here's my play on the classic Edward Lear poem, I hope you like it.

      The Owl and the Possum
       by Louise Maich 
       Dedicated to  Barry Crump 1935 - 1996
       Adapted from the original "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear.

I

The Owl and the Possum sat in the bush

Side by side in two beautiful trees,

Ruru in a Rimu and Possy up a Kauri

Chomping on all the leaves.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sung to a small guitar,

“O lovely Possy! O Possy my love,

What a hunk of a Possy you are you are,

What a good keen Possy you are!”

II

Possy said to wee Owl, “You’re a good keen fowl!

And your singings not too bloody bad you know.

Say let us shack up, I’ve saved a few bucks:

But what shall we do for a ring?”

They hit the road with their meagre load,

To old Dave’s car-wreckers yard.

In a recycle bin they both did hop in,

And a Tui-beer tab caught the light of the moon

The moon

A Tui beer-tab caught the light of the moon.

III

Old Dave said, “Before you take it, first let me shape it,

Into a fitting wedding band.”

They took it away and were married next day,

By the Kereru who lives very grand.

They dined on kiwifruit, pav and whipped cream,

And scoffed it all down with a runcible spoon:

They got pissed on le Brun and danced to Dragon,

And Ruru stole the spoon,

The spoon,

And Ruru stole the spoon.

      

Japanese Venison Stew

We had a piece of back saddle in the freezer from my trip down south last year - shot by Bill Henderson in Hasst - and some Sika from another friend Scotty up in the North island.

Scotty enjoys his fishing too, he smokes his own and always brings up some bottled trout when visiting, of which I  devour on classic Huntly & Palmers crackers.

Back to the stew - Gazza decided we would honour the Sika component and make a Japanese curried stew. The most popular Japanese curries are sweet, ours was the savoury type and store bought. Although it was classed as hot, it was nothing compared to an Indian hot curry. Very flavorsome though and this dish was a great success.
The recipe is for a slow cooker but can be done in the oven:

Ingredients:
1 kilo venison
2 large onions
4-5 TB olive oil or good quality cooking oil
5 carrots
5 medium red jacket potatoes
Packet of good quality japenese curry paste (not sweet)
6 cups of water - or enough to just cover ingredients in the pot or cassreole dish for oven version.

Method:
Dice the venison (not too small about one inch cubed) and onions and saute in a pan with the oil until browned.
Mix the curry to a smoothe paste (ours came in a cake) with one cup of boiling water before adding to the slow cooker - read the instructions on your packet in case differs!
Peel and chop the carrots and potatoes and add to the crockpot along with the sauteed venison and onion.

Add the remaining 5 cups of water, put the lid on and slow cook for about 6-7 hours. Dont be tempted to take the lid off for the first 4 hours of cooking the heat will instantly disappear and you don't need to stir it, just check the potatoes are done, you want them firm not turning to mush -  that's when you want to turn the slow cooker down to warm or low and prepare the rest of the meal.

For the oven version - which I haven't done so I take no responsibility for! Do all the above but gauge how much water you need. Once all your ingredients are in the casserole dish cook slowly on a low to medium heat until the potatoes are done. You may need to give it a stir every now and then, make sure its not sticking and has enough water.
If the gravy is too thin add some cornflour mixed with a little water for the last ten minutes of cooking, this applies to the slow cooker also.

We served the stew on a bed of fluffy rice, with a side dish of sauteed spinach and ginger sprinkled toasted sesame seeds and a decent dollop of Korean Kimchee (pickled cabbage)  a great condiment cutting through the richness of the stew nicely.

And don't forget the Saki !

Writers block and rescued by mum's peanut brownie recipe...

... well I could say I have writers block as I haven't really written bugger all for a while and completely lost my writers mojo.

I walk away from the computer and rub my eyes from weariness at scouring topographical maps and google earth and all the geographical details, the ridges, gullies, mountains, the many rivers and their tributaries where these hunters lived and worked, finding huts and marking their location,  writing notes on past hunters, are they still alive, phone them if they are, more notes and then to bed where I'm reading through a stack of books digesting details and relevant information. (At the mo its Archie Kitto's diaries by D. Bruce Banwell - brilliant book by the way).  

A morning of baking...necessary diversions when overwhelmed  !

So is it writers block or something else? I'm way too in tune with my creative energy to dismiss it simply as the former and know from past experience when working on an extensive and drawn out  project such as this, one has to expect some downtime; times of nil productivity, when the  batteries are recharged, when all you want to do is read books and watch DVD's on totally unrelated subjects; sit and fry ya brain on hours of bizarre and fantastic you tube videos. Bake peanut brownies, paint toe nails rainbow colours, put on bright pink gardening gloves and pull out weeds that will grow back tomorrow,
collect firewood (my favourite since we live in 11 acres of bush)
and not feel guilty when thinking I should be doing more interviews, editing, revising, transcribing...etc...etc  

Its all part of the process and one has to believe in it. The diversion into other places is necessary and valid. It affords one time to digest and reflect on a subconscious level, you may think nothings happening but by hell I can tell you it is. Theres a torrent of information  being processed and it takes time for all this data to settle into place.

So today I'm jubilant! Why? Because I feel settled and focused for the first time in months. I've resurfaced, recharged the batteries and ready to carry on with all the work in earnest.

When in doubt...doodle

Reading, Writing and Cups of Coffee...

I'm waiting on a stack of books and DVDs from the Auckland Libraries. Went online and found an extensive list of authors and a variety of interesting subjects on the deer hunting industry in New Zealand. Need to brush up on my research as I've been asked to write some articles for a NZ hunting magazine, which is great, a win win situation, I get paid for it and at the same time learn more.

Until then I'm reading Gerard Hindmarsh's Angelina a beautifully written book of real life turned into not quite fiction but a sub-genre called faction (factual but fictionalised).
It's the story of his Italian grandparents coming over from the island of Stromboli and settling on the remote D'Urville Islands in Cook Srait.   Its a nice respite from all the deer hunting books although I'm keen to get back into reading more about all that. I've requested some of Bruce Banwell's books which feature some of Frank's photos, these books are hard to find in any book shop and expensive.

Well... I have writing to get on with and another cup of coffee..more later.

Huts

Last week I bought the book Huts by Mark Pickering subtitle - Untold Stories from Back Country New Zealand. Have to admit haven't hardly touched it, its next on the pile though. Looks good, nice layout and great pics.

I'm still reading Gordon Roberts about to get stuck into High Country Four Seasons which has been sitting on the bedside table for a month now, gets dusted along with the ornaments once a week, has become part of the furniture. Got a friendly reminder from the library yesterday, so renewed it for another month.

Been a rollercoaster ride for the start of the year. Made redundant from my job of five years last day was on the 27th January and as one door closes another opens. Start a new job this week so very happy about that. My hours will still afford me precious writing time and some space to meet up with friends that I havent seen for awhile.

I decided to have a two week hiatus from the Frank book and edit another story I wrote last year. Completely different genre, a novel length manuscript of around 60,000 words. So I've been hammering the keyboard, and got a good first draft finished today for some writing colleagues to critique.
There is a connection as there's a Frank character in the story. I enjoy writing fiction based on family, and friends and even people I don't particulary like, writing them into solid and believable characters. I observe a lot and take mental notes and or write down keywords in notes on my iphone - all to draw from later. Sometimes a person or something someone says can be the germ that starts the story. Doesn't have to be much only inspiring in some way and the story grows from there.

I now have two unpublished novels, the other has been doing the rounds with publishers for a year now; however more and more these days I'm beginning to look at self publishing for this particular genre. There are some pretty awesome success stories of people self publishing, uploading their work to Amazon or Kindle books for example, so I need to look into that, could be the way to go.

Its back to transcribing interviews from this week and searching the land for any more of Frank's photos and stories. And can't wait to start the Hut book. Leave you with a photo of a hut somewhere in the south island I think. If you know where it is let me know... and here's two of my favourite hut links:
http://www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaBB.cgi?action=print;num=1163108251
http://www.remotehuts.co.nz/

Received this e mail today from Kevin Whitelaw...thanks Kevin.

Hi Louise,  The hut you seek clarification on is in the upper Esk Valley, Canterbury. Early N.Z.F.S. hut a classic really and seldom visited owing to the station and its isolated site. Andersons Hut was constructed I think 1956 making it one of the first Forestry huts. Place to be on a beaut kiwi night when about to look for a deer. Cheers and warm wishes  Kevin.   

Gordon Roberts Wildlife Photographer

The last few weeks I've been looking through Gordon Roberts books, the New Zealand wildlife photographer. His quote on Frank being the inspiration for taking up photography is in my first post. In both books Game Animals of New Zealand and High Country Four Seasons Gordon mentions Frank in the introduction. 
I've interviewd Gordon, he's a wealth of knowledge, very passionate about the project and one of my key people for answering any questions I may have  on the finer aspects of being a hunter turned wildlife photographer.

In the introduction for Game Animals Gordon writes  how he spent a winter's night in the Hunter Valley with Frank and Wattie Cameron. At that time he was early on in his hunting career and hunting professionally for the New Zealand Forestry Service. That night in the hut a discussion started on stalking and photographing wild animals. Gordon maintained all one needed to be a good photographer was to be a good hunter, Frank and Wattie weren't in agreement on this. Camera skills and other attributes came into it.
Gordon soon realised all this with his early years photographing wild animals, but he persevered and also got a lucky break when he was employed as a guide for John Johns the NZFS senior photographer.
He told me his hunting skills and knowledge of tahr country helped him to get the job and working with John set him on the path that led to a successful career as a wildlife photographer. He also said he never forgot that night in the hut with Frank and Wattie and the lively discussion they shared.

I especially love the photos of the tahr in Game Animals, I love all the photos! But my favourite is a shot on page 111 of a bull tahr. He's a very handsome specimen, and is looking directly into the camera, his thick coat swirls about his chest and a ridge of bristly hair sits up on his back, maybe these are indicators that he's clocked Gordon?
The captured movement of the coat adds a dramatic contrast to his fixed gaze and the craggy rock face setting. Its a sublime photo and I find myself turning to that page often to study it and immerse myself in the various textures and atmosphere.

So right now I'm fascinated with these animals, especially after some You Tube searches watching them run up and down unbelievably steep  mountain sides with ease. They are true masters and mistresses - love the nannies too - of their lofty domain. 

Gordon says photographing tahr is the most demanding due to their challenging alpine habitat and he decided some years ago to focus on these animals. (P8 introduction Game Animals).
The last section of the book shows this commitment to securing stunning shots of tahr in some unbelievably difficult situations and locations. Viewing these fine photographs with many shots showing heads turned to the click of the camera or the animals displaying a posture that indicates they are sensing something just beyond the bush line. I feel as if I'm right there trying hard not to be heard or scented. Stunning.

I borrowed both books from the library, so if you want to see these great photos and haven't they shouldnt be hard to find.

Quakes, Word Counts and Happy New Year

I was in Christchurch for the two big earthquakes on December 23rd. The 5.8 and the 6, very frightening and unsettling for everyone, especailly how they just kept on coming, it was a fitful sleep that night, and the next.
Mum's house was built in the late 1950s, with a weatherboard exterior and since the first big one on September 04, 2010 it's stood strong with no major damage. The old chimney was removed last year in fear of it toppling, apart from that the old gal's looking after me mum. 

I spent a week there and besides the big quakes I experienced well over 50 "daily energy releases" as they are so named on : www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz. This is a University of Canterbury website with up to the minute data and animated quake maps. Check it out if you're interested.

All this jiggling about didn't upset my appetite. Had a fantastic sunny Christmas day out on mum's back lawn eating and drinking and eating and more eating and drinking...okay you get the picture.

I'd asked mum to write out some memories from her childhood days particularly anything relating to the boys. She recalls stories of Frank and George making their own bows and arrows and shanghais. They caught birds and rabbits and went eeling down in the creek by the house.
The older brothers teaching them hunting skills also, and many days spent trekking over the King Country hills near their home.

Some of the other stories that are emerging from my interviews and from studying the photographs illustrate how all the brothers showed great skills in the wilderness (I know I've already stated this previously) and how climbing, surviving and hunting came naturally to them - aside from growing up rurally and being exposed to these outdoor environments early in life there's also the fact that they were predisposed to being adept in these situations.  I believe from past generations, its in the genes. They were newly migrated family and the brothers, particularly, Vic, Frank and George left home and gravitated to the South Island mountains to hunt professionally into a similar situation to the mountainous terrain of inland Croatia where the family came from.

My grandparents moved to NZ in the early 1930s. The eldest brothers and one sister: Joc, Al, Vic and Mary were born in Croatia. My mum Helena was the first born here in 1933, then Frank in 1934, George 1935, and Margaret was the last born in I think 1937. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the Erceg's and their origins back in the old country regarding all of this.

Other news: I visited Jack Wildermoth while in Chritchurch. He's now in a rest home. His memory is failing him but those stories from the past are still there. He's tall and trim with thick brushed back hair set into place with - maybe he uses good ol fashioned Brylcreem, probably has all his life. He would've cut a fine figure in suit in his day, you can still see that in the way he carries himself, the way he sits and holds his head. It makes me think about how fit these guys were and some like Jack, continued to look after themselves all though life.
I asked him if he suffered from many aches and pains, a little he said. I can't thank him enough for his time and sharing, and his great sense of humour. I enjoyed our time together, it was very special. Bless you Jack.

Transcriptions of the interviews are going well. 20.000 words and counting. Will keep you informed of progress and Happy New Year to you all, hope 2012 is a good one.