A treasure for generations to come

Author Reynold MacPherson (far left) and friends.

Reynold Macpherson made another major contribution to the Far North's recorded history last week with the launch of his biography of his father, William Guy (Guy) Macpherson.

The exhaustively researched, richly detailed story of what in many ways was an extraordinary life was the result of years of research, with some of it told in his father's own words. The book follows the publication of the biography of Guy's mother, one-time Northland Age editor Margaret (Husbands, Lovers and What-not).

Those who spoke at last week's launch agreed that Confident in Adversity represented much more than a hugely important repository of one family's history but a story of importance to the wider community, now and for generations to come.

Mayor John Carter said the book went some way to addressing the unfortunate fact that the Far North did not do a very good job of celebrating the positive, tending instead to focus on the negative.

Guy Macpherson certainly experienced adversity, but his story was not only important as a record of the contributions he made in many fields, not least farming, national politics and adult education, but also for what others could learn from it about themselves.

"It's a fascinating story," Mr Carter said.

"It gives us an idea of what life was like for this generation and who and what we are today. It's not only about Guy and his family; it's about all of us."

It had even given him new appreciation of the impact war had had on individuals, such as Guy and his father, and Mr Carter's own father.

"It certainly explains one or two things about dad," he said.

Those who attended the launch included some of the Macphersons' farming neighbours at Mangatoetoe, south-east of Kaitaia, among them Edward (Teddy) Durbin, now a Professor of Oceanography at Rhode Island University, who recalled spending many happy childhood hours in Dr Macpherson's company, a favourite activity being eeling.

He and Dr Macpherson had gone through Kaitaia Primary School and Kaitaia College together, and the book had brought back many memories from those years.

He recalled Guy Macpherson as a politician, a man who was never short of ideas, a philosopher, a thinker, a man who pursued his passions, perhaps at the expense of his success as a farmer.

The farm, he said, had generated the income he had needed to pursue other interests.

It had been a different era when he was growing up at Mangatoetoe, he added. It was a time when people were self-sufficient, perhaps in part as a legacy of the Great Depression.

For many dairy farming had been a way to make a living rather than a passion. One such person was his uncle Jim Durbin (whose legacy to Kaitaia was transforming what was an old river bed on South Road, still referred to be some older folk as Jim Durbin Drive), who hadn't done a lot of work on his farm, instead buying a bulldozer and working for the Mangonui County Council.

Meanwhile the author paid a warm tribute to the Kaitaia museum staff and everyone else who had assisted his research, particularly museum archivist Olwyn Ramsey and author Kaye Dragicevich, who he described as two very special, magic people. He was also delighted to see Faye Irwin-Erceg, who had taught him (and Professor Durbin) in Standard 1 at Kaitaia Primary School.

"I must have tested my fellow pupils and teachers," he said.

"In fact I baited some of my teachers. I was drop-kicked out of French by Mr (Bill) Mabbett, my punishment being extra maths. Quite ironic really; my first degree was in maths, and I later went on to teach it."

(Mrs Irwin-Erceg remembered young Reynold Macpherson as a thoughtful, studious boy, albeit one who was always looking for "opportunities". Edward Durbin had sat at the back of the class and "got on with it.")

His father, Dr Macpherson added, had made some terrible mistakes and had hurt some people badly, but had also made a hugely important contribution to his community in many fields, and deserved to be remembered for that.