Bro's n Arrows

A morning session at Full Draw Archery in Christchurch. Carl's there most Sunday mornings practising with Frank's 1960 Ben Pearson hunting bow. I always go when I'm down and really enjoy it. This time we managed to get Peter along for a try out on the range.

For more on Frank's bow, and how we got it from Bill Henderson, read the post from 29 May 2017,  it's a great story. 

Please visit:

fulldrawarchery.co.nz

for more info on the club.

My target chart

Carl bombing my photo

Peter with Frank's bow

Carl, Peter and me, at Full Draw Archery in Heathcote, Christchurch.

Huts, hunting and writing ... including Nolans Hut

Kevin Whitelaw and Hamish Menzies keeping the memory alive. These images are from their trip down to South Westland, December 2018.

Tomorrow, June 01 marks the 54th anniversary of Frank Erceg and Johnny Cumming's death. Thanks Kevin and Hamish for allowing me to use your images for this post, and great to have some of Kevin in there, he's been there from the get go supporting the Frank Erceg Project. Kevin is passionate about recording our hunting past and it was nice to receive his latest publication in the mail last week:
New Zealand's Hunting Legends Book 2, available to purchase at: https://www.rodandrifle.co.nz/store/p6/legendstwo.html#/

Nice mention of Frank and Vic on the Keith Richards tribute page.

So last Decemebr and the text comes in from Kevin...

"...going to South Westland Friday ..might have another Frank day. "

And they did.


Check out the post from July 2013 for the first Frank day. Here's a photo from that one:

Frank Erceg Day 2013

Reliving the Dream. Kevin outside Nolans Hut. December 2018

And the memory lives on. Hamish Menzies garage. Great poster, wonder if Ken Tustin has seen it : ) 

Reads: This hut was erected August 1949 by Terrence J Nolan and Jack Burke. Tools used 2 axes, 1 cross-cut saw 1 Hammer. Built with Heart of Totara.

Wow what an amazing record of the hut build. (Just click on image to enlarge). Graffiti on the wall beneath the window and partially hidden by table with portraits of who built the hut, all the tools required and the date.

Hut life, crackers and cheese, and don't forget the whisky !

Nobby Norris hut in the Okuru River Valley opposite Franklin Creek. South Westland.

Some good meat for the freezer here.

Nolans Hut, link to Doc Site:

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/west-coast/places/whataroa-area/things-to-do/huts/nolans-hut/

https://tramper.nz/6497/nolans-hut/

Nobby Norris Hut with some great images:
https://bogholesandbuckethats.com/2018/06/24/norris-hut/


Images on this post: Copyright Hamish Menzies and Kevin Whitelaw 2018.

Family

In May, Carl and I visited cousin Allan Erceg. We looked through some of George's memorabilia. And a very odd carving Frank Woolf gave to Allan - a wooden leg by Frank Erceg. I could imagine Frank sitting in a hut, perhaps it was pissing down outside and bored out of his wits; as he whittled away he found the shape lent toward such an undertaking. 

We talked about family and shared stories. And of course the visit included venison steaks for lunch! Here's a selection of images from our afternoon:

Me with one of Frank's rifles, brother Carl and cousy Allan.

Looking through some of George Erceg's albums

Leg carved by Frank. Note charred section on front, looks like Frank Woolf may have saved it from being firewood. The writing in felt pen was done in recent years by Frank Woolf. 

Allan's daughter, Xanthe, holds up one of her grandfather's ribbons. This one dated 1970. George's axes still kept in their original  case.

I recall as a child, we took family trips to Hanmer Springs and watched uncle George in the Axemen's Competitions. The highlight for me was the thrill of seeing him scale the vertical log and inserting the jiggerboards to reach the top. If you ever get a chance and haven't seen these men in action, its a must see experiencing these shows.
For more on the Axemen association and their history in nNew Zealand go to:
www.nzaxemen.org.nz

Allan's son Tom, continues the Erceg tradition of hunting. His first helicopter trip with his dad on venison recovery. Awatere Valley, Marlborough. 2017.

 Fledgling hunter... watch out, here comes another Erceg! Tom's Grandad would be proud. Awatere Valley, Marlborough. April 2017.

Allan and I talked about his work, and that he's back doing venison recovery,  and the only Erceg in our immediate family of our generation who's worked in the industry employed as a professional hunter.  Allan divides his time between venison recovery and his work in the timber industry. A combination of his father's passions for hunting and chopping wood! He's definitely his father's son through and through.

Tom Erceg, the next generation of Erceg hunters. Clarence. Marlborough.

Monach of the Glen painted when I was eighteen. 

One of the reasons for the visit was to retrieve a painting I had gifted to George many years ago. As a teenager I took up oil painting, and I'm not sure what possessed me to paint Landseer's Monach of the Glen. But I did. After completing it, it seemed fitting to offer it to my uncle, and was displayed proudly in his lounge for many years. It now hangs in my writing studio alongside Frank's stag and Gordon's photo - and how prophetic it seems all these years later, that here I am writing a book on Frank and his brothers and deer hunting, and that this majestic animal is now such a huge part of my life.

Gordon Roberts RIP

Gordon Roberts passed away on January 28, age 83. Will miss our phone calls and all the great conversations had over these past few years. He was always so passionate and supportive of the Frank story and it's sad he wont get to see the book done. And doubly so as this year I'm into it, with other work done I now have the space to write the book.



This post is from 2012 ...Rest in Peace Gordon.


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 shouldn't be hard to find.

I mentioned the Tahr image to Gordon,  he sent me a signed photo. Soon to be framed and on the wall!

NZ Outdoor Hunting 80th Anniversary Issue

NZOH 80th Anniversary Collectors Issue October/November. Available in many bookstores and supermarkets, with my feature article titled: Strange Finds Myths and Legends of the Outback and Wilderness New Zealand. Where I shed light and peek readers curiosity with tales of: the sightings of Big Cats in Canterbury, a skeleton found at Cavern Head in Preservation Inlet, Ken Tustin and the elusive Moose of Fiordland, and the Lost Ruby Mine of the Olivines and more...much more. 

Also on Page 46,  Frank Erceg makes a great profile opposite  Gary Johnson in a then and now comparison with gear and hunting weapons from Frank's era to the latest contemporary equipment around, with great photos of them both doing what they love and in Frank's case past tense: what he loved. Was really awesome when Gary contacted me to suggest he use Frank as the person for the reflection of how it was for trampers hunters back then compared to now.  

Go buy your copy now!!!!

Frank Erceg's 1960 Hunting Bow

Christchurch May 2017 and Carl strings the 57 year old bow

Ben Pearson 
Cat No 337

Strato Jet

Hunting Bow

May 14^th, and my younger brother, Carl, demonstrates with Frank’s 57 year-old bow.

“It’s a Ben Pearson Srato Jet Hunting Bow. Made in 1960. With a high velocity speed of about 150mph. And a 50-55 pound draw weight.”

Frank died in 1965, and the bow sat in fellow ex deer culler, Bill Henderson’s garage for over fifty years. I knew Bill had it, as I’ve stayed with Bill and Annette while down south doing research on Frank and the government shooters. Bill said to me last year, do you want it, it should eventually go back to the family. Well, at the start of this year, Carl expressed an interest in taking up archery and remembered about Frank's bow. As it transpired, I contacted Bill, and that same week, our older brother Peter,  just happened to be passing through Central Otago, so he picked it up and brought to ChCh. Carl adds “Since then I’ve been practising with it, and to be honest, it’s a little beast. It’s a very good bow.”

Carl’s had it restrung and new arrows made by Paddy Long from Archery & Bow Hunting New Zealand:

http://www.bowhunt.co.nz 


And keeps the original arrows for posterity, would hate to lose them if he fired them off and couldn’t retrieve them.

He practises in his backyard, on his custom made target range. The range is complete with a permanent punching bag, and an ever changing collection of found objects that sometimes include a few polystyrene cups, some balloons for fun and variety of other items. The day I took these photos he’d found a plastic corrugated advertisement for a Harley Davidson, but he told me it’s a bugger to get the arrows out of. Personally, I love the Red Pooh Bear Bag and laughing ball. Carl's wife Sharon, got out the spray cans and had some fun painting the back drop.

Carls’ taken to archery like the proverbial duck to water. He’s exceptionally good considering he’s only been doing it a few months. I spoke to him this morn, he’d been to the Full Draw Archery Range just yesterday, to practise:  

http://fulldrawarchery.co.nz

Everyone there was impressed with the bow and its story. He handed it to someone to try, like me, they struggled to draw it back.

Carl’s joining a club, his goal is to win a cup, and I’d say the best place for it would be next to the old arrows. The other amazing thing is, as a child Carl was left handed, and made to write with his right hand on starting school, and has done ever since. He says that his left eye is the better eye for archery, so recently he’s started practising with his left hand, as he did the day I was there. I couldn’t see any difference with his ability to draw the bow and hit the target.

It’s a wonderful story how the bow came to be in the family again, and that its being used with such passion and enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to holding that cup myself, and that day will include a nice drop of whisky and a hi-ho-here-we-go salute to our Uncle Frank.

Left hand draw

Right hand draw

I'm happy with that ! Carl annihilates the Pooh Bear Bag.

Carl's custom made backyard practise range. Just click on any photo and you'll get full page image gallery.

May 28th and Carl practises at the Full Draw Archery Range in Heathcote Valley, Christchurch. 15m distance.

Part Two: NZ Deer Culler Reunion Paeroa 2017

Held at the Thames Valley Deer Stalkers Lodge, the perfect setting for a deer cullers reunion. Caught up with friends made over the last few years, and enjoyed meeting a few new faces. Including Allan Farmer. One of the longest serving government hunters, with forty years on the job.

Having a yarn with Allan Farmer at the reunion

Arrived in the mail yesterday, Allan kindly sent me his book to read. Halcyon Press.

I was very much looking forward to meeting Keith Purdon, who knew Frank down south. Particularly in the off season when they all hit the hotels in Queenstown and Wanaka. Keith remembers his hunting days like it was yesterday, and it was a delight to sit and listen to his stories.

Keith Purdon, ex Field Officer, now 92. Ive interviewed Keith by phone, but this was the first time we met. 

With Pamela and Keith Purdon.

He watched over us the entire time. What a magnificent animal. every other head was dwarfed by him.

Some interesting finds on the display boards. George Erceg second row on left. And Ross Courtney, back row.

It was nice to  see Ross Courtney at the reunion. I interviewed Ross two years ago at the Kuripapango reunion. After he finished up culling, Ross trained as a psychiatric nurse. He has a big heart and is a gentle and kindly man, and I can imagine he would have been a great nurse. An engaging  and interesting man to talk too. 

The Daily Post, 17 July 1969

Found this on the table. 

Brenda Murcott, Arthur's wife. Sat with her Thursday evening and we enjoyed some light conversation, and all the racket going on in the background, all the boys catching up. 

Awesome couple, Tom and Karen Te Ata.

Tom and Karen live in Te Urewera, on Tom's ancestral land. I was fascinated by their lifestyle. The only way to reach their home, is by horse or by foot.  They've invited me to stay sometime...hmmm that will be interesting, not too good on the old horse, but hell what an offer.  We sat and talked for ages, I asked them many Qs about their life. Tom's very interested in the deer cullers history, so I'm sending him some of my articles, in an envelope of course, they don't have the internet ...yet. I said, so lets be pen friends then. Karen is awesome. She said she was missing some very important fruit bottling days coming to the reunion. She gets out once a week, they very connected to their wider community. I think they said its about 4 hours hike to get in. Thats if the rivers not flooded!! Glad they made the trip and looking forward to keeping in touch with them. 

Day trip to Martha Mine, Waihi.

On the Friday, we had a wet day out in the bus, didn't get to do the Karangahake Gorge windows walk, hit the hotel instead, and had a beer. We did get to visit the Martha Mine and Battery, which I  loved for its gothic look,  a stunning edifice.

Old Martha Mine Battery

Ghost trophies. Thames Valley Deer Stalkers Lodge. Paeroa.

Other highlights, besides the great food and atmosphere, I enjoyed talking with Jock Spinks, Graeme and Jenifer Reinhardt, always nice to see Andy Leigh, the editor of our newsletter, and Alison, the co editor. Great to see our President, Dave Pratt and his lovely wife Helen. Wayne and Janet King, and everyone else, too many to mention. Lastly though, big uppies to my hosts, Basil and Kaye Morrison. They put me up (or is that put up with me!) for three nights, and were so easy to get along with. We sat and yarned and enjoyed a lovely glass of wine...or two... at the end of each day. Basil was our guest speaker at the Saturday night dinner, a born and breed local, and ex mayor of the region, he had some great stories to share, and is a wonderfully entertaining raconteur.

What a weekend !

To all my deer culler mates and their partners, keep well guys and gals, and see you next year.