Community legend fondly remembered
Dennis Raymond Henwood will be remembered as a dedicated community man and amazing supporter of his family.
Born on November 17, 1941, Dennis passed away at Auckland Hospital on September 9.
He was farewelled at the Kaikohe Rugby Club on September 14.
Dennis was a life member of the club that saw him involved firstly as a player for a number of years before becoming president.
He raised his three children Deb, Terry and Jo with wife Jeanette on a dairy farm in Kaikohe before owning farms at Mahuta Gap and Kirikopuni for fifteen years.
Jeanette says Dennis had recently sold the farm at Kirikopuni to move north closer to his family.
They now have eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Daughter Deb Wilson says her dad was a ‘‘really good bloke’’.
‘‘He would always help people in and out of his community.’’
She says Dennis was known as stick and then Ghandi when the family came to Kaikohe because of his build.
He didn’t enjoy being called Mr Henwood by the kids competing at A and P Shows where he was often stewarding.
He was also a life member of the Kaikohe Agricultural and Pastoral Association.
‘‘I also note how he was so respectful and helpful to old people, he was real good mates to his parents until the very end.
‘‘He sold his farm as he wanted to spend more time with friends and family and just didn’t quite make it.’’
Granddaughter Bradie Wilson says her poppa was ‘‘amazing’’.
‘‘We spent a lot of time with horses and he taught me everything I know about riding.
‘‘In 13 years of horse shows from Hastings north, he didn’t miss a single one.’’
At Christmas time Bradie says while everyone got a present they were also given a big bunch of bailing twine, because you ‘‘couldn’t go anywhere without it’’.
She says Dennis was obsessed with stewed apple.
‘‘We went to Hastings for Horse of the Year and there were bins of apples. Pop would sneak over every night and get a supermarket bag full so he could stew them, at the end of the week we went to leave and the whole cab was full of apples, they rolled out over everyone.’’