Ōmokoroa farming families 1900 to 1970
Have you ever wondered how the land at Ōmokoroa went from fern to farm, orchard to subdivision? Who came to Ōmokoroa after Rev Gellibrand and Captain Crapp? What was life like for those early settlers here? A new book contains the answers and much more.
The personalities and characters of farming families and rural community life through seven decades from settlement to modern-day subdivision are portrayed in this new book. It is a collection of contributions, narratives, personal accounts and some in-depth researched chapters.
Following on from Colin Pettigrew’s book ‘Ōmokoroa’ which covered Māori habitation, Rev. Tice Gellibrand, Captain Arthur Crapp and his family, you will meet those who came next to farm the land, build the roads, schools and hall, creating a friendly caring community. You can follow them through their trials, tribulations and triumphs.
Conceived by Jocelyn Hicks (née Francis) who sadly passed away last year, and who realised the importance of recording these various stories, it has been compiled by a team of three co-editors, ensuring variety in all the chapters. There are 23 farming family chapters plus 13 portraying farming life from 1900 to 1970 and for some families to 2021 so readers can dip into the standalone chapters.
Families past and present have given generously of their time, recording their memories and supplying photographs and other details of their years here. The lives of rural women, their children, shop keepers, the sharemilkers, neighbouring farmers, teachers, carriers, and more all feature.
Comprehensive coverage of conditions and events that impacted their lives is included such as the construction of the railway line, both world wars, the economic depression, the boom years, the building of State Highway 2 and the social history of those times. The book is amply illustrated with photographs, most previously unpublished, and maps.
Newcomers to Ōmokoroa can discover who farmed the land upon which their new home sits.
The book will be available in November. For further information contact Maureen Bruning, 548 0617, Chris Wright 548 0088, Val Hale 548 0370 or Don and Jo Cameron 548 0655.