Biographies

Donald Campbell (founder member)

Bruce Clearwater (founder member)

Local lad Bruce is, he tells us, a sign painter not to be confused with a sign writer. He and wife Judy run a successful business doing

just that. They were also stalwarts of the Invercargill Repertory. Being a keen cyclist in his youth he has an interest in the sport and other

local activities - his wide knowledge of our city and what goes on here is amazing.

Russ Dear (founder member)

Anthony Johnson (founder member)

1960 in Windsor Street selling and servicing appliances and radios. In 1989 I lost my wife to cancer. I sold the business in 1980 and worked for Wrightson Appliances eventually forming a company and buying the business. I retired in 1995 and travelled extensively. In 2004 I entered a retirement village.

Pet Hates; ratbags who continually want to get into my computer, spammers who want to sell me Viagra etc, the small print at the bottom of TV ads which I can't possibly read in the allotted time.

My hobbies have been; carpentry, doing up houses, pottery, leadlighting, model ship building.

Roger Washbourn (founder member)

Born 1942 in Kent. Educated at local Grammar School and Leicester University. Taught mathematics for 10 years in England, then emigrated to New Zealand where I taught at Southland Boys’ High School for 25 years with a year at Otago University as a Teaching Fellow. With the family I enjoyed all that goes with a 12-acre lifestyle block, including rearing animals and riding horses. I have published eight books on various aspects of mathematics and contributed to others including a senior school mathematics in Australia. I had puzzle columns in NZ Science Magazine, NZ Surveyor and three newspapers. Retired in 2000.

Other interests have included DXing (shortwave radio listening), two weekly radio shows on Radio Southland (one on jazz for 18 years), magazine writing on Skeptic and Rationalist topics and music – I sing and play guitar. I have had a lifetime’s passion for bird watching.

Born in 1941 in Glasgow. Educated at Allan Glen’s School and Glasgow University. Graduated in 1965. Spent one year as assistant d’anglais in Lorient, France and another as Englischer Assistent in Saarbrücken Germany. Taught one year in Scotland and came to New Zealand in 1967. Taught 2+ years in New Plymouth, came to Invercargill in 1970 and taught French and German at James Hargest High School. Studied Japanese at Massey University and introduced the language to Invercargill schools in 1976. Married Claire, also a JHHS teacher, in 1972.

Our main interest has been travel, mainly to the UK to visit relatives and tour Scotland and England. Between 1981 and 2011 we made 13 trips to the UK, USA and Europe and one to Canada. In 1984 I began to build square-rigged sailing ships from kits. I retired in 1998 and built from scratch. I joined the Southland Society of Model Engineers in 2005 and have built and sailed radio-controlled sailing ships since then.

Born in 1925 in Yorkshire village of Ilkley-in-Wharfedale. 2nd son. Older brother posted missing from mission in RAF Coastal Command in 1941. Educated at the local Grammar School. Sat School Certificate July 1942. August joined Clan Line as indentured Cadet and in North Atlantic Convoy a week later. Studied on the job and with correspondence courses for 4 years. Went to finishing school in London before sitting for 2nd Mate’s foreign going certificate obtained in January 1946. Sailed as 4th and 3rd Mate until 1947 then resigned to join TEV Hinemoa in Greenock to go to NZ to work for the Union Steamship Company.

Shortly after I joined NZ Broadcasting as a trainee technician and was sent to Invercargill. I worked in the 4YZ studio and transmitter site at Dacre. I married a local girl in 1950 and had two daughters. NZBC wanted me to go to the windswept Highcliffe transmitter on a hill above Dunedin so I resigned and went into retail in Invercargill. I bought my own business in

Born in Christchurch NZ in 1941, the eldest of a family of 4. Grew up and was schooled in Timaru (South Canterbury). I joined the NZ Forest Service in 1960; then went to Otago and Edinburgh Universities and emerged as a forester. Over the next 30 years, I practiced as a government forester in Westland, Wellington, Rotorua and Canterbury, then had 4 years as a regional manager with the Forestry Corporation before redundancy and a short period of unemployment struck in the wake of restructuring and privatisation.

I married an Otago girl, Marie Veint from Paradise, in 1968, and we had 4 children (two of each) in the 70s. Tramping, skiing and school sports took up much of our time in those days. They now have families of their own; nearly all of them live overseas.

We moved to Invercargill in 1992 when work was secured, still in forestry : Marie taught maths at local high schools. I retired in 2012. Our plan is to move to more northern climes in the South Island after some asset downsizing. The main retirement interests include bike riding (for fitness), Sudoku and crosswords (for mental agility), family (8 grandchildren) and genealogy (following a lifetime interest). Recreationally we head for the central Otago region where we have some property and - who knows - our future.

Geoff Bovingdon (joined December 2017)

Born 1941 in Enfield Middlesex UK, a county that disappeared when the Greater London Council was formed (subsequently abolished by Maggie Thatcher). Educated at Latymer Grammar School, Edmonton (Sir Bruce Forsyth was an old boy), then at Enfield Technical College. Trained as a toolmaker but switched careers early on as I discovered an aptitude for Logistics.

Continued in that line of work in the UK and Australia where I lived with my wife and daughter until 1987 when we returned to the UK. Always in the an engineering environment apart from 4 years in the hat trade upon our return from Ausssie. I retired from Aero Tec Laboratories Ltd. as Distribution and Purchasing Manager. That was a fascinating job as the company had virtually a benign monopoly on the manufacture of fuel tanks for the Formula One grid and are major suppliers for competitors in races like Le Mans, GP2 and GP3.

Hobies and interests are: steam loco preservation, reading, history, industrial archaeology, general archaeology, mediaeval churches, photography, petanque and caravanning in both the UK and Europe.

My wife died in 2009 and I retired shortly afterwards, our daughter Leigh, son-in-law Adam and grandsons Ben and Sam live about half-an-hour from my house in Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire.

Just over six years ago I met Gina Brown and discovered the joys of New Zealand, where I spend six months of the year. During the rest of the year we are usually travelling together in my caravan from dig to dig and other interesting places.

I am a member of:- The Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society, The Woburn Sands Association for Research into Alcoholism, The Great Western Society, The Middle Nene Archaeological Group, The Community Landscape Archaeological Project, Friends of Vindolanda, The Upper Nene Archaeological Society, The Caravan and Motorhome Club, Sedgeford Historical and Archaeological Project and the Simply Forward Group.

Rowly Currie (joined June 2023)

Born in 1939 in Dunedin. Educated at Southland Boys `High School and University of Otago MA ( History ). 1961 married Barbara Poole. Taught at SBHS, 1964 – 1969. Choldren, Michael born 1965, Megan in 1967.

Taught at Rutland Secondary, Kelowna Canada 1970-1971. A marvellous experience. Reluctantly returned to SBHS, briefly, and later secured the position of HOD Social Studies at Kingswell High School, a brand new co-ed in South Invercargill. After 7 years, moved to Menzies College, Wyndham, as Deputy Principal and then Principal.

Finally, I returned to SBHS as Rector, from 1988 -1999. Retirement didn`t suit me and relief teaching at SBHS was the answer for a decade, followed by 3 terms as elected Councillor at Environment Southland.

Recently, I was awarded Honorary Membership of the Rotary Club of Invercargill North in recognition of 32 years of service to Rotary and our community.

Ken Bowie

I was born in Dunedin,1948, at a young age and became a farm boy at 11 months when my parents took over part of my maternal grandfather's farm at Feldwick in Western Southland. The farm was surrounded by the Braida Crags, a limestone cliff face, with the Orawia River forming half the boundary. This allowed for lots of fishing, eeling, and cowboys & indians !

My primary schooling was at Orawia School, then to SBHS 1962/66. In 1967 I began working for the (then) Wallace County Council as a cadet, and they gave me a bursary to attend Otago University 1969/71 where I completed a B.Comm. in accounting.

Come January 1975 and I headed away on my OE which lasted 6 years, including 4 yrs as a Tour Manager with Contiki Travel in Europe. I also did some temporary accounting in London. Between tours, I travelled other continents/countries on my own. When I came home in 1981, I had been to about 85 countries, over all the major continents. (just Antarctica to go !)

I returned to an accounting career, in industry, local govt., and small businesses. I am now semi-retired. I am married to Amanda, and have a son, Greg, and a daughter, Sara, who are both currently doing their OE's.

I have been involved in many community groups/committees over the years, and enjoy fishing, music and travel.

Oh, yes - and organising Blokes & Sheds tours !!

Honorary Members

Graeme Wilkinson

Graeme was an inaugural member of Wednesday Chatters until he and his wife Maggie moved to Waihi in the North Island.

They stay in touch and it's always good to keep abreast of their news. In his retirement Graeme is interested in gardening,

house renovation, the Prostate Club for those who are in remission from prostate cancer and listening to jazz. They are well

placed for jazz in Waihi as the annual Tauranga Jazz Festival takes place just down the road.

Dusty Miller

Dusty is a friend of Russ's who lives the good life with wife Jackie in the Catlins and is a regular reviewer of the Chatters

website. Dusty is another old sea dog who began his life in the merchant navy before joining the 'paras' in Britain. In New

Zealand he has been a diver for the Port of Timaru and with Jackie ran a garden centre, the Garden Gate, inland from

Timaru. In the Catlins his interests are self-sufficiency, wine tasting, reading and his dogs. He also cooks a canny breakfast!

Sadly, honorary member and Russ's friend Dusty died on 26th November 2020. We'll miss him.

Ron James

Towards the end of November 2016 Ron James joined us at the Cheeky Llama. Ron is an ex-colleague of Russ's, a friend of Donald's and knew Tony from way back when he used to call in to his electrical shop in Windsor.. Ron was over from Sydney where he now lives and was visiting friends and relatives in New Zealand. He brought us up-to-date with his news, arranged a visit with Donald and Clare for the next day and promised to keep in touch when he got home via email. He was also happy to join our select group of honorary members. Ron was born and educated in Dunedin between 1937-1959. He began secondary teaching in Gore in 1960 and continued in Invercargill until 1995. Always interested in music he was the founder and conductor of the A Capella Singers and Director of Music for various churches in Gore, Invercargill and Christchurch. He retired to Christchurch in 2000 and did some part-time teaching there. His wife Carol died in 2012 and Ron moved to Sydney where he married Frances in 2013. Life in Sydney involves travel, concerts, music-making and bowls.

Significant Birthday

On the 8th December Tony had his 90th birthday. This was truly a significant event and his family entertained him right royally with one daughter travelling from London. 'A wonderful visit', Tony told us, 'not least because she cleared out most of her junk that had been cluttering my garage for 20 years!'. On an adjacent Wednesday we had a bit of a party to celebrate the occasion with a superb chocolate cake made for us by Rowena at the Cheeky Llama and a card signed by ALL the Chatters and the girls from the café too. Thanks for your input to the group Tony, your humour and your friendship. We look forward to your 100th birthday and wonder who will send you the telegram, the Queen or Prince William (as he is known now).

Celebrating Tony's birthday - birthday boy in the middle.

Since Tony is our senior member we celebrate his birthday as a gesture to recognising all our birthdays. This year we gave him a very appropriate birthday card in honour of the day. Happy birthday Tony!

Fancy Dress?

We found some photos of some of our members in disguise, the question is were they just playing around or was there something more sinister in it all? And who were they?

This is a bollard we came across in Paihia. I think Dusty must have modelled for it, it's so like him!