Bill fell off the roof of his house in 1985, injuring himself so badly that he was forced to give up farming. The property was subdivided into horticultural blocks, resulting in a new access road, Imms' Road, that provides a permanent memory of him.
Bill and Robin, who predeceased him by 15 years, had five daughters - Rose, Debra (who died at two and a half), Rebecca, Suzanne and Diane, who produced 15 grandchildren.
The community was the beneficiary of Bill's tireless efforts. At Diggers' Valley he supported every school working bee; having a truck put him on the required list. At Kauri Flat he spent the best part of 20 years supporting Paparore School, and as chairman of the board of trustees was responsible for maintenance, the bigger projects including a swimming pool and playground. He was especially pleased to see some of his grandchildren enjoying the benefits of his endeavours.
With Horace Foster and a few others he also built the Kaitaia Intermediate School swimming pool, while the Waipapakauri Sports Complex was another huge community project, involving not only the erection of a clubhouse but a new bowling green (with the North's first artificial surface), netball courts, a tree plantation and upgrading of the rugby ground.
Bill was at the forefront of the small band of dedicated workers who saw that project through to fruition.
He was also directly responsible for raising $30,000 for the Cancer Society's annual Daffodil Day appeal over a period of 16 years, mainly from firewood which he cut, stored and sold himself, a huge physical effort. And, not one to tolerate waste, when he became aware of the large numbers of avocados that were left to rot on the ground in nearby orchards he obtained the owners' approval to pick them up and distribute them to friends, family and the needy.
He received a Far North District Council Citizen's Award in 2003 in recognition of his voluntary services to the community.
In his young days Bill enjoyed pheasant shooting, so much so that he kept Robin waiting on their wedding day because he was late back from a shoot. In time fishing became his preferred sport, however, and he was a full-time, hard-out surfcaster through to the late 1980s.
He was a foundation member of the 90 Mile Beach Surfcasting Club, formed in 1956, served on the committee most years and was president for most other years. He was also involved in the sub-committee that organised and ran the big surfcasting competitions of the late 1960s and early 1970s, with cars as prizes, mass vehicle starts and beauty contests, forerunner of today's Snapper Classic.
At the time of his death Bill was a life member and patron of the surfcasting club. His name appears on the majority of the club's trophies, including King of 90 Mile, and he was instrumental in assisting his daughter Rebecca to become Queen of 90 Mile, and retaining the title for a number of years, all while she was a junior.
Bill had to give up surfcasting for the same reason that he had to give up farming, but that didn't stop him fishing, from a boat. He loved fishing from Kaimaumau, often by himself, and he got to know the Awanui Harbour entrance area very well. Seldom did he return home with a poor catch.
He loved taking first-timers out and seeing them catching trophy-sized fish, and was dubbed Trevally Dundee for consistently catching the Houhora Big Game and Sports Fishing Club's heaviest trevally.
He became a legend for his catches; one suspects that the number of fish in the Awanui Harbour has increased since his passing.
Whitebait were also high on his preferred catch list. He didn't give away his possies, but the farmers whose streams he fished would enjoy some of his catch, along with friends and families.
Bill was a special person to many, none more so than his daughters and grandchildren, of whom he was overwhelmingly proud. Nothing was too much trouble. He gave a hand up to anyone deserving of it, and his kindness and generosity live on in the community and in the hearts of his many friends.
May you rest in peace old cobber.
