Frank Erceg book to be published in 2023

 

Dave Barton on left, and Frank Erceg outside the Arawhata log cabin, early 1960s.

Fantastic! Awesome! Exciting news to share!!! The book that has been in the making for many years, now has a publisher, and will be out October 2023. So folks, not long now and it will be on your bookshelf! Closer to the book's launch, I'll share more news and where to buy the book! Cheers to everyone for your support of the blog and the book project. 

Gordon Roberts & Angus Thompson

In this 1990 New Zealand National Geographic documentary, (see link below) Gordon Roberts talks about his wildlife photography, of his working in the wilderness and backcountry of NZ as a deer hunter and then moving in to his years as a professional photographer. Alongside Gordon, his mate Angus Thompson reminisces about their deer culling days and reflects on some of those times also.

I like the comment Angus makes when asked about: how did the government shooters cope when heading into town? During the off season or for a weekend of fun. Did they feel different from the city folk. His reply included that one most harrowing things was: crossing the road in traffic - more terrifying than hanging off a bluff, he quips.

In the film Gordon obviously still very fit, trots up the steep mountainside completely in his element, you can tell he's done this for years. the young journalist is keeping up with him, but  is ungainly and struggling a little. There's a stunning sequence of footage a bit further on has Gordon careenes down the mountainside,  flying over the scree, hardly touching the ground, he looks like a human chamois, incredibly fit and agile. It really is a magnificent sequence and for me, encapsulates in one flowing carefree movement all that he puts into words.

I've interviewed both Gordon and Angus, and I'm really honoured to have had that opportunity and their content contributes to other's stories of those times in the Frank book. The book which is how in its final stages of editing and soon on its way to being published. I' ll post updates on progress with publishing here. BUT for now, enjoy this great bit of NZ history. 

NZ National Geographic: A Thing of the Past:

https://www.nzgeo.com/video/a-thing-of-the-past/ 

Angus and Dave Drangsholt's tribute to Gordon Roberts from June 2018 NZ Deer Cullers news letter. And two of Gordon's books.

Gordon recalls a conversation with Frank and Wattie Cameron. From Gordon's book Game Animals of New Zealand. 

Paradise Valley Springs Rotorua

Frank Erceg and Barry Crump feature together on this sign at Paradise Valley Springs, Rotorua

 

Love this sign. Yep they were tough buggers; clever, resilient and a breed unto their own. 

Hi all, it's been awhile, but I've been very busy!  I sent the Frank Erceg manuscript out last year to a group of fellow writers and received some great feedback from: Geoff Spearpoint, Julia Bradshaw, Kevin Whitelaw and Gary Johnson. And I thank them all for taking the time to read the draft and give their suggestions and some good feedback. It was a valuable exercise. I made a few changes and decided before going to final edit to have it professionally assessed. 

An assessment is a valuable part of the process. My assessor gave the book much praise, she also noted some areas that needed a bit more attention to clearly put Frank and his life into context. She also suggested adding extra content around family and his Croatian heritage. So now just finishing off some of this, and getting it ready for submissions to potential publishers.

What a journey this book has been, what a huge part of my life for many years. And the many people met along the way. One being Stuart Hamlett from Paradise Valley Springs and his idea to have some deer cullers history at the park. He got in touch with me and I sent him some photos.  I enjoy these encounters and the passion other people have for keeping the stories and history alive, it makes it all worthwhile. 

Take care everyone. And there's some links to Paradise Springs and for any writers out there some info on NZ manuscript assessors, this info is available on the New Zealand Society of Authors website, the NZSA also supports writers with funded mentoring and assessment programmes and advice on publishing. 

https://www.paradisev.co.nz

https://authors.org.nz

Spring bulbs for Frank

 

Kevin Whitelaw is in Wanaka today. Fresh Spring flowers for Frank, and a beautiful message on a stone that reads:

To my uncle Frank with love Louise. " Beyond the Skyline"

Thank you Kevin, looks like a beaut day down there... enjoy!

55th Anniversary Frank and Johnny

June 01 1965

Frank Erceg

John Cumming

Gone most definitely not forgotten. 

Frank loved wild flowers, he tied rata blooms to the grill of his Land Rover, and always had a jar of fresh flowers in his cabin on the Arawhata. Managed to find these, but slim pickings this time of year out the in west Auckland bush. 

Johnny Cumming

Frank Erceg

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.