Robbie happiest on his TA farm
Robbie Wallace loved Te Awamutu; it washis happy place. For 85 years it wasall he needed and according to his son Doug, he rarely left. Hehad in fact stated that he would rather spend amonth in the Alpha Hotel than get on a plane and go overseas.
As a family man, farmer, friend, active memberof the community, sports spectator and writer for the local press, Robbie proved that when you love the people and the place that you live in, that love is returned in abundance.
His family and friends filled St John’s Anglican Church to farewell himin September.
Robbie had family connections on his mother’s side that began in the early history of this region.
This story is well recorded in Footprints of History— Number20, June 1998— thanks to the research and writing of Robbie and two other descendants. His mother Dorothy (ne´e Langley) came from Ka¯whia and was the granddaughter of Matire and Samuel Morgan.
Matire was the daughter of an early trader James Mon cur who ca met oK a¯w hi a from Sydney in 1831 and was given RewaTe Rarangi as awife. Their daughter Matire spent her early years in Sydney, but returned to NewZealand when she was about twelve and was a pupil teacher at ahalf caste school at O-Ta¯whao (the original settlement in TeAwamutu) established by the Rev. John Morgan and on the instruction of Governor Grey.
It is no surprise that Robbie’ s name reflects his ancestry on his father’s side.
His great grandfather arrived from Kintyre in Scotland in the late 1800’ sand settled and farmed on land in south west Auckland. Robbie’ s grandfather, Andrew Wallace moved to TeAwamutuin 1897 to begin farming in the Fairview Road and Frontier Road area.
Part of that farm remains today and there is also the reminder in the naming of Wallace Terrace.
Robbie, an only child, was born in Te Awamutu. His mother, Dorothy, a registered nurse, died of tuberculosis when Robbie was seven and it was the Langley and Wallace aunts who stepped in to help Robbie and his father.
Schooling began at TeAwamutuPrimary and Kings College in Auckland provided his secondary education. Robbie made many friends at school and they became life- long mates. Compulsory military training followed school and then Robbie headed to Massey University to study agriculture.
At Robbie’s funeral Brian Pitts- Brown recalled the tight knit group of friends who were often motivated and organised in many student activities at Massey by Robbie. They remained friends for life and Robbie kept the group together helping to organise reunions and writing regularly to many of the past students.
Robbie’s father died young and as the only child Robbie returned to the farm in Te Awamutu. There he met Colleen McKee, ahome science teacher at TeAwamutuCollege and they married in September 1958.
Colleen supported Robbie in all his activities and made sure that he never missed ameal. Even if he was running late for ameeting after being held up on the farm, a plate would be ready to take with him. His four children are all living in the Te Awamutu district.
Robbie wasan incredibly happy farmer at 113 Rewi Street. He worked hard and enjoyed each new season and what it brought.
Hehad a particular love for Holden vehicles and Massey Ferguson tractors. His son Doug commentedthat if aGallagher silorator and a cage were hooked on the back of the tractor the love waseven greater.
Robbie became a legend in the 1980’s keeping the roadsides in the district tidy and providing a bit of extra grass for his cows at thesame time. Robbie’s good friend John Storey reflected at the funeral on a friendship that developed as children and continued as they shared farming activities in the early days. They had many interests in common, were involved in thesame Church and gave much time to the Committee of the New Zealand Dairy Company. They were both passionate rugby supporters and enjoyed their trips to Eden Park to use their twenty-year tickets. John Storey added that Robbie’s strong sense of community was in his blood. Both his grandfather and father had been active supporters of the Te A wamutu Community.
Letter and card writing were also something that Robbie did much of in his life. Family and friends were fortunate recipients of his many humorous and encouraging words and his grandchildren received mail weekly when they were away from home. For a time, hewas also a feature writer for a local paper, where he wrote about many topics using the nom-de -plume ‘Doc’.
Robbie had kept good health throughout his life until one August day seventeen years ago which changed everything. Hesuffered a stroke while out on the farm. Although the stroke affected Robbie’ s movement and speech his mind and memory remained sharp. It was his happy positive nature that really came to the fore and allowed him to maintain his sense of humourand get the best out of each day. With Colleen now behind the wheel of the car they madea daily coffee outing and regularly ventured to the South Island to visit grandchildren studying there.
Just before the Covid lock-down this year Robbie required some hospital care and daughter Vicky made the call to bring him home so that he could continue to see his family and share in their daily lives. Heremained athome in their care. The family is grateful for the support from Access Homehealth that enabled this to happen.
Te A wamutu has sadly lost one of its greatest fans.
Robbie is survived by his wife Colleen, sons Douglas, Samand Hug hand daughter Vicky, daughters-in-law Kathy and Janet, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.