Waves of emotions

There have been many!

The last 7 days have been noticeable of such waves. Firstly, a book which is out of print arrived in my mailbox after fossicking by Paul for a second-hand copy.

For the first time, I saw in print Tupuna Wahine (Great Grandmother) Erana Kohe Maning/Leef. Till now I have known very little about her. In fairness, much of my adult life has been spent in Western Australia and the informal conversation that takes place within the extended family, over time, has not happened until father’s recordings in 2001 and while writing this manuscript.

In John Nicholson’s book, he writes, “Hauraki was responsible, no doubt, for many more unseemly sproutings of the Maning family Tree…’ [and] in 1979, Erana Kohe (Ellen or Emily) Leef gave birth to his daughter Keita Maning.” Pg. 160. 

Keita is father’s mother and my Kuia (grandmother).

So special seeing both acknowledged in print which allows me to proceed more confidently. As a researcher, there is a desire to validate in print what we hear anecdotally. Where possible I have endeavoured to do so.

Secondly, I have been in communication with a female relative of my generation in New Zealand since writing this book and noticed in the above John Nicholson book that he acknowledges her as one of those interviewed as giving, ‘generously of her time’ prior to his publication in 2006. Her I am communicating with Kate in 2018. The synergy of it all.   

Finally, my ongoing communication with Alexa Walley, a volunteer researcher for the Hokianga Historical Society has undertaken research on my behalf. One such request was a photo of the Pakanae School, as I wished to include one in my book.  Father provided an anecdote linked to the school during his formative years in his recordings The following provides a vignette of the information provided by Alexa and related to the school photo provided.

-          We have put it in the 1950s before the building was extended in 1958. (Source Alexa Walley, email 16^th April 2018).

I am thrilled to have access to this photo.  However, there is a 20-year difference from when the photo was documented to father’s attendance in the 1920’s & 1930’s. Nonetheless, the anecdotal story linked to his schooling years provides an insightful understanding when his mother passed away and the caring of younger siblings at nine.

Waves of emotion have been numerous and varied throughout the last week but it will be a week remembered as a fork in the road of my emerging book.