our place Out West we have a wealth of local history and local stories, and we are blessed with many local individuals and writers who are passionate about researching and sharing this legacy. The next few pages are just a brief snapshot of the past we all share.
Call for Muddy Creeks’ history to see the light “It’s our story. By us. For us.” Locals with a love of history, Wayne Mackenzie and Simon Rush, are working on bringing their close community even closer and asking them to join the “Muddy Creeks History Project” writes MOIRA KENNEDY. The project is to develop a documented historical record of Little Muddy Creek, Laingholm, Big Muddy Creek, Parau and Nihotupu. The aim is to create a book, including input from locals, with a targeted launch of April 2023. Wayne was managing a Facebook page called Laingholm History when, in April this year, someone suggested all the information being gathered would make a great book. Wayne has been writing about local history for a “long, long time” and soon he and amateur historian Simon Rush connected and the project was go, go, go. Simon has an interest in preserving local stories for the next generation so the pair are a perfect combination to bring together the stories of local areas often overlooked. “Simon’s awesome, has lived in Laingholm for 10 years, and has all the publishing and IT skills needed,” says Wayne. “History in the areas we’re concentrating on hasn’t been well covered in the past, although there are numerous books on Titirangi, Waiatarua, Piha, Huia, Whatipu and generic books on the Waitākeres.” While Simon and Wayne want to change that and will act as researchers, writers and editors, they’re calling on others who know more than they do. “My history knowledge is quite extensive but it’s not everything, so we’re looking for essays – and photos – from people who know local stories better than we do. “It will be like a big jigsaw. We’re hoping for surprises and already they’re happening. We have a photo of Willie the Whale that washed FRINGEADLTD.pdf 1 15/11/16 16:33 up at the end of Kauri Point Road from the 1950s. There’s a six-year old boy in that picture
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Presland and Co provide a variety of legal services including conveyancing, family law, criminal law, wills & estates.
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The Fringe OCTOBER 2021
and we think that person is still contactable, so we’ll follow that up.” It was a huge story at the time with daily newspaper, The Auckland Star, running a feature that saw traffic backed up for miles. Then there’s the tale of the Laingholm sewage main line having a truck-load of concrete dumped into it as it was being installed. It’s believed that was done by people who didn’t like what was happening. “There will be all sorts of things in a melting pot and the completed project will be a collation of all those things. Simon and I will support it all with our nuggets of information. We’ll check the facts too as sometimes people’s memories can be fickle. This is an exciting opportunity to share and learn more stories of our past,” Wayne says. Subjects of particular interest include early history, natural environment, notable residents, cultural and sporting events, interesting stories, artefacts and modern life. While the original deadline for material was the end of this month, lockdown has changed the boundaries and Simon and Wayne are open-minded about dates at this stage. If you have things to contribute contact MuddyCreekHistory@gmail. com.
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Gant cottage, located opposite Laingholm Primary School, overlooking Parau. 1926. Photo supplied by Joan Glasse.
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