Waiwauki

In 1952, my parents with Rewa, who was on holiday after finishing her General course of Nursing, and prior to commencing her Maternity course, spent time at Mr. Dey’s cottage at Waihi Beach.  They liked the beach, and on making enquiries, visited some “for sale” sections.  Only two were on the beach and they liked the one.  So, the first Saturday in December, the whole family, in three cars took the trip to see it and picnicked among the lupins. They paid a deposit on it then and there.  In January ’53 my parents, with Edith and Freddy, set out to put the caravan on Waiwauki, but it got stuck in the sand just off the road.   

They stayed two nights, making enquiries about timber.  They returned the next week with pulling gear, and inch-by-inch, moved the caravan to the middle of the section.  They had also bought piles, roofing, and asbestos for the car shed, and they all worked to complete that.  In March ’55 they took up the concrete mixer and did the foundations.  Timber for the framing and flooring was brought from Waihi but in April Phillip Ballard took a load of timber from the home farm.  Dad, Freddy and Melville helped put up the frame and put on the roof.  A fortnight later Bill helped put down flooring, put glass in windows and windows and doors in, put in waste pipes and slept in the house.  In November they hung bedroom doors, window fastenings and painted.  Logs were put in across the frontage, and sand bags in front of the section. In June ’57 they put lino down and  spouting up, and I, with seven children were the first visitors.  Dad had left at 5pm and returned on Sunday in time for breakfast.  Many were the family gatherings, birthdays and Christmas Days and holidays enjoyed there.