Beryl’s Story - aussiesphere.net

(In her own words)

Hi …My name is Beryl.

I was born Beryl Constance Foster on the 17^th October 1927 in new Plymouth, New Zealand. My birthplace is situated on the west coast of the North Island about halfway between Auckland and Wellington and not far from the Egmont National Park and its volcano.

My parents were New Zealand born Wallace Wilford Foster and Nora Marie Christophersen.

They were married on 25 Jan. 1919 in Wellington, New Zealand.
My Dad was born in Blenheim, Marlborough, on the South Island of New Zealand on 25 May 1895.

My mother, Nora was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 1 Aug 1890.
Mum’s parents were Olaf and Thora Matilda Christophersen both born in Oslo, Norway. Thora may have been born on (an unconfirmed) 5 April 1859. My Norwegian heritage may possibly explain why some regard me as having a feisty nature!

Dad’s parents were John Foster who was a builder, and Annie Peckham. They were both born and married in England and migrated to NZ sometime between 1873 (when they were married in England and 1880 (when their child Christina Maud Foster was born in Blenheim, NZ.

From a very early age I was proving to be a very vibrant and determined little girl –“Bellie do it” with a stamp of foot was shown when anyone offered me any help!

Being in the Depression era and no work available for my father, we moved further south to Hawera.

After another three or four moves, Dad found work on a farm out country Matapu.

That was very hard for him coming out of Salvation Army Officership and hard for my Mother too, stoking up an outside copper in all weather for hot water.

But little Beryl was very happy with the farm life. Apparently very attached to Mr. Dean (Green) being taken for a ride to the milk factory each day by horse drawn wagon and rattling milk cans.

As my Father found casual jobs in the building trade, we had to move yet again.

I commenced school around this time, having to travel with my sister Audrey to Matapu School.

Our last residence at Matapu was next door to the local store and across the road from the school – no risk of me missing the bus again. I did once!

During the farm days I can still recall clearly my poor father having to double me on the push bike to the Dentist in Eltham some miles away, there and back. After riding on the cross bar I can still almost feel the discomfort of the ‘hard leg’ as I used to call it. No wonder!!

Also during these years Mum took us frequently to Wellington by steam train to visit Grandma and Grandad Christophersen. Particularly loved playing in the head high Lupins and visiting Uncle Vic’s butcher shop, especially sampling his yummy Polonies. Never tasted any as good since.

Our little home at Matapu was moved a few years ago to a very delightful position near bush and stream and called Kingfisher Cottage. It is a B&B but mainly used for weddings and business functions etc. My old school friend Alice and I were able to spend one night there and I slept in my bedroom after 75 years …A truly nostalgic occasion.

During the Matapu school days, maypole dancing was the go, which I loved. I was also very involved in athletics and did quite well at the combined Schools Championships.
When in about Form 1 we moved to Okaiawa district and my time there was enjoyable. With a mixture of Maori and Pakeha students, we had some wonderful concerts. I also loved basketball and learned to swim in a nice cool Taranaki River.

Our trips to Opunaki beach (black sand) were great as was a climb up Mt. Egmont’s Fanthams Peak.
We had a glorious view of the mountain from our front door. It was sad to leave that when we eventually had to move.

While at Okaiawa I started Form 3 at Hawera Tech, having to travel by bus again the 8 miles. I can still recall the heavy frosts with my shoes crunching on the ice.
I did quite well the year I was there, achieving 2^nd place in the class.

Also while at Okaiawa I made new friends – one very special one, Margaret Brown, owned a beautiful pony called ‘Maire’. I had many happy days at their home on the farm. A neighbour at Okaiawa had quite a section of large gooseberry bushes and I remember their son Michael and I crawling underneath seemingly to pick the fruit. Fun?!

I still kept up with my two special friends Joan Brock and Alice Pitt from Matapu as we started school on the same day. We cycled many miles to see each other. I loved being on their farms with the lovely Jersey cows. Joan and I played duets on the piano – hilarious times I can tell you. Joan was such a happy soul.

Now, after Joan’s death, there are exhibits in the Hawera Museum donated by the Brock family.
It was very nostalgic and moving to see all their different possessions there, including the piano which I happily shared.

During those years my sister Audrey moved to Wellington to work during the 1940 Centennial Exhibition. There she met Jim Bent who was in the Army at Fort Dorset. They married in 1943 in Wellington where they continued to reside.

Mum also had a very bad attack of gall stones and nearly passed away. Aunt Alice came from Wellington to help with the nursing. Dad at this time was doing well building on his own with staff, building many homes and cowsheds. He helped build friend Alice’s parent’s home and Joan’s folk’s cowshed.

We thought we were made about that time too when Dad managed to get our first car, a Ford (a Tin Lizzy as they were called). We were then able to get into town to spend my big pocket money of 2/6 – usually consisting of a bag of chocolate coconut roughs and a packet of stamps. All through the years I have continued being interested in stamps. We enjoyed being able to drive to the Salvation Army meetings in Hawera again.

Our big trip to Wellington was quite an adventure although must admit I was a bit terrified going up the Paekakariki Hill and then driving through flood waters up to the running boards, around Foxton.

In 1942 Grandad Foster died in Whangarei leaving the home he built to Dad, (5 Otaika Road which is still in good condition today) so we had no option but to move again …Not such a happy time for me in the midst of schooling!

This was during the Second World War so it was a big thing to do at that time. We had to travel by train with our few possessions and Ginny our dear ex Mitt Daly’s dog, arriving in Whangarei in February. We nearly died with the heat after the Taranaki climate.

We slept on the floor for some time. There were compensations though as we now had a flush toilet instead of the drop variety, be it still outside in the wash house. Also the bathroom contained a beautiful big bath. We previously had to make do with a large tin bath, but that was lovely in the winter by a roaring open fire …It truly was a big readjustment for us.

My Father found work building State Houses and joined the National Home Guard.

I attended a business College for a while to continue with my typing and shorthand, eventually finding work at the Bargain Store in Bank Street, then on to Hardie Brothers Carriers and Fuel Merchants.

Around this time I became very involved in Salvation Army activities, and as many of the bandsmen were unavailable because of active service, playing the cornet in the band became an enjoyable and top item for me.
I sang in the songsters where I remained for 30 years and also taught the YP (Young People’s) group of the Corp.

We young people did our own Open Air Witnessing with our instruments at Kamo quite often – all piled into the one vehicle. We had a great time – they were happy days. That was really the time of my spiritual awakening.

The end of the war in 1945 was a great occasion for celebration, with everyone flag-waving and marching in the streets. Of course a special service was held with the Salvation Army band officiating – I was privileged to be a part of that.

The next year I had the opportunity to work for the Grove family in Khyber Pass Road, Auckland in their Milk Bar, Dairy and Take Away. I lived on the premises working for my board. It was quite an experience with trams rattling past till midnight (different to quiet Whangarei).

I attended the Salvation Army Eden Corp with Allan and Frank Grove, also playing in the band, having to walk there and back some kilometres. It was a happy time and was to change the direction of my life quite dramatically.

Allan had a friend Ernie Rivett, who like Allan loved motor bike riding, so was over quite a lot and subsequently took an interest in Beryl.

I had a great time in Auckland but as it was only a temporary arrangement, 18 months later I returned to Whangarei, finding work in a toy factory manufacturing soft toys.

I think it was on Pine Island in the Waitemata Harbour where Ernie and I fell in love, and as he was looking for a change in his employment working for Hellaby’s as a butcher in a few shops, decided to move to Whangarei and found work with butchers Timewell & King in Cameron Street.

After 6 months Ernie and I were engaged and were married on March 6^th 1948 by Col. Sam Hayes and Major Harry Morley.

We lived at home with my parents at Otaika Road for a while, then moved to Deveron Road where we rented 2 front rooms and shared conveniences at the back of the house – no fridge, and a copper to stoke up for washing.

My first child Gloria arrived in April 1950 and Ernie moved to a branch shop nearby.

Gloria

A year or two later we moved to Otahuhu (Auckland area) hoping for better housing – a job with accommodation. However, that did not work out. We did enjoy our time there with Salvation Army folks and made many new friends. We both played in the band there.

We moved back to Whangarei as we had bought a section there, so after living in a caravan in Mair Park Motor Camp and on the section, we eventually moved into our new home at 24 Russell Road. Times were of course hard for a while.

While in the caravan on our section we were blown and washed out during a storm. Luckily for us our friend Gordon Rose rescued us in the middle of the night! We also endured frost on the windows at night and cooked outside.

Gloria started school and had to walk quite a distance there and back each day.

Ernie opened his first shop, The Whangarei Meat Company, so life became very busy. I was involved helping with the book work etc.

Ernie was also involved in the SA being YP Sgt. Major and also President of the Christian Business Men’s Association with more involvement for me with those activities.

My second child Alan came along in March 1956 and I just had to get a driver’s licence to manage.

It wasn’t easy starting off with a little old Ford (not like the cars of today) but determination prevailed! From then on life became even busier, with 3 shops and a factory processing chickens, sausages and dog rolls.

I delivered meat orders to private homes, hotels and bus depots (Ron Morley being a Railway Services Bus Inspector was around often – not that I realised then!).

We moved house to a big old home in Manse Street near the railway line, next door to the Whangarei Girls High School – handy for Gloria, and the Primary School for Alan was just over the railway line. Our shop was also very close in the Regent area.

During these years we enjoyed happy times travelling, and camping in our caravans at the many beaches of Northland. Ruakaka and Waipu were the most frequent being handy, but we did enjoy the Paihia visits except on one occasion when blown out by a cyclone!
Alan had a little Z Class yacht in which Ernie taught Alan to sail, giving us much enjoyment.

From Manse Street we moved to Weaver Street in the 1960’s. We also purchased a lovely brand new car, a Chrysler Valiant which was used several times as a wedding car – yours truly doing the decorating!

In 1969 my parents celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary at our home. Gloria celebrated her 21^st Birthday in April 1971, leaving for a working holiday in the UK 6 months later. Alan left school and moved to Auckland to start an apprenticeship in the motor trade.

Sadly, in December 1971 my Father passed away.

In 1972 we bought a property in St. Heliers, Auckland with Mum so we could care for her in her later years.
She later moved to Papakura until poor health required her to move to SA Resthaven in Mt. Eden, Auckland where she lived for 12 years.

Here is a photo of my Mum celebrating her 100^th birthday at Resthaven.

My Mum

We were free of our Whangarei business in 1973 and Gloria arrived home after a wonderful time abroad.

Sadly, in 1974 Ernie developed Cancer so we had a sad 4 years before his passing.

My final move after Ernie’s death was to a lovely home unit in Moana Avenue, Onehunga, Auckland.

Gloria, after moving to Adelaide, Australia and meeting Doug decided to be married there, so I made the trip to give her away. Her Father was too sick to travel unfortunately, however they did decide to return to NZ with Ernie’s pending terminal illness.

Ernie died in October 1978.

Ron Morley and I later became good friends.

We were married on October 17 1980 (my 53^rd birthday) and honeymooned in Fiji. At this time Gloria and Doug also decided to return to Adelaide.

Ronald Morley and I

During Ernie’s illness I found office work at Lucas Industries in Newmarket for 7 years.

After leaving Lucas I did part time Cafeteria work which was a real experience – hard and hot work at times. This involved travelling to many industrial companies including Johnson & Johnson (in 2 locations), and Feltex. At Tullen Industries I had a call to manage a small café alone for one day – quite an experience having never seen the place before. At another place I had to make a batch of scones for about 100 people. My last out-working was quite daunting but I made it!

Ron had retired from the Road Services and again Reckitt & Coleman but had part time work at the Showgrounds when different exhibitions were on. In between working Ron and I did various trips by car around the North Island, mainly Gisborne, Taranaki, Wellington and Whangarei which were most enjoyable visiting old friends and relatives.

I retired at 60 and with our families all living in Australia, we made many trips over there. I made my first overseas trip on my own to Perth, travelling on the Indian Pacific train in 1979 after Ernie passed away. In the following years Ron and I did that journey a few times, calling in to Adelaide and Melbourne.

My Mother Nora passed away in 1991 at Resthaven aged 101 years. With Ron’s son Graeme & his wife Andrea, together with other family members already residing in various parts of Australia Ron and I also decided to make the move to Queensland in 1992.

It was a delight to be around when Alan’s second son Jason was born that year and it has been wonderful to see both he and Mitchell (the first born in 1989) grow from babies into big strapping young men.

‘Nana’ was able to help out here and there and Ron adored them.

Mitchell and Jason

In 1998 after suffering with painful feet for many years I underwent surgery to correct bunions on both feet. It was the best decision I ever made!

Ron and I had our last trip together in the year 2000 to NZ. Previous to that we journeyed to Townsville by train and visited Magnetic Island. Once or twice had various short day bus trips with the Masonic Lodge and Newcomers Clubs. We also as keen gardeners, enjoyed our garden at Turner Street.

Ron enjoyed being Welcome Door Sgt. at the Redcliffe SA of which we became part of on our arrival in Australia. Just before his passing on October 29^th 2005 we had celebrated our 25^th wedding anniversary.

2006 was a busy year. I flew to Adelaide for Gloria and Jeff’s engagement at Easter.

I also had eye operations and then in November took myself on a cruise around NZ on the ‘Statendam’.
(Sadly missed out on seeing Milford Sound due to bad weather)

Xmas was spent in Adelaide.

2007 was again a busy and eventful year. I shifted house in June to Ballycara Retirement Village (beautiful) as well as many trips:

My recent travels

2007…

Adelaide in April for Gloria & Jeff’s wedding
Yeppoon in June for 5 days
Cairns in September for 5 days
Around Australia Cruise on the ‘Sun Princess’ in November for 28 days with Ailsa Kelly.

2008 was even more busy and exciting…

NZ during February – March for 28 days
Adelaide in May for Mother’s Day for one week
Grand Pacific Cruise on the ‘Sun Princess’ for 10 weeks during July – September with Ailsa Kelly
The Pacific Cruise was an awesome experience and to top it off, as a coincidence we met up with a nice gentleman Allan Pike from Whangarei. (He was living there during our time and managed Hannah’s Shoe Store.) Allan seemed to enjoy our company and was our photographer here and there. So consequently, quite a fond friendship has resulted.
I flew to NZ in January 2009 and Allan and I travelled by car from Whangarei to Bluff– I at last was able to see all the beauty of the South Island including Milford Sound.

It was wonderful being able also to catch up with our birth places, past residences, many friends and relatives along the way.

Allan Pike

2009…

NZ during January / March (6-7 weeks)
A 10 day Baltic Cruise and a 17 day coach tour of England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland in August/September

My future travel plans (so far)

2010…

Back to NZ in January, returning in March to visit my Homeland for 6 to 7 weeks

OTHER RESOURCES
Below are several resources that have been located on the internet by Jeff that may be usefull in enhancing Beryl’s Story.
This information available from the links below has not been verified.

Wallace Wilford Foster (1895–1971) • FamilySearch
Wallace Wilford Foster (1895 – 1971) – Genealogy (geni.com)


My paternal grandfather	My paternal grandmother (not yet avail.)


My grandfather Olaf Christopherson	My grandmother Thora