Picton marine stalwart mourned
‘‘A mighty to¯ tara has fallen in the Waitohi forest.’’
Picton Volunteer Fire
Brigade chief fire officer Wayne Wytenburg has paid tribute to Picton marine industry stalwart Gary Kenny, who died after a crash on State Highway 1 last week.
The 74-year-old was critically injured when an SUV collided with a small truck outside the Picton Golf Club near Koromiko, south of Picton, about 2pm on Friday.
He was flown to Wellington Hospital by the Nelson
Marlborough Rescue Helicopter about 3pm. He died a short time later.
Wytenburg said Kenny’s death had shocked and saddened the community.
‘‘A mighty to¯ tara has fallen in the Waitohi forest,’’ Wytenburg said.
‘‘His family has a massive history here in Picton.’’
Kenny’s family had been involved with the Marlborough Sounds marine industry since 1857. His parents William and Sylvia ran Red Funnel Launches which provided the Picton Mail Boat, as well as passenger transport and industrial barges.
Kenny and his wife Valerie bought the business from his parents in 1980 and changed the name to Kenny Barging, focusing more on barge work.
The couple retired last year, selling the business to O’donnell Park Barging and their grandson
Liam Black, the seventh generation of family in the marine transport business.
Wytenburg met Kenny while working for the Department of Conservation. Kenny skippered barges with gear for projects such as the Queen Charlotte Track, he said.
‘‘He was very much a professional, a very hard worker. He kept a very tidy ship, and he was a good seaman ... He loved the outdoors, he loved to go out hunting.’’
Kenny Barging managers Kim O’donnell and James Galloways said Kenny was a legend in the community.
His skills on the water came from generations of seafarers. ‘‘He has passed these skills down to other skippers including his grandson Liam, who operates the vessels today.’’
Inquiries into the crash were ongoing.