Marj’s Story: Introduction

Marj Knight was born on the 4th of January 1924 at Norswood Nursing home,in the South Island of New Zealand. She started school there as well. Her parents were Alfred Austin King and Annie King. She had 5 siblings, Ray, Betty, Verna, Jean and Gwen. Marjorie was given the nickname “Marj” for most of her lifetime. Jean was born in 1931, (7 years after Marj) and was born at Con’s Farm. Gwen was born in 1933 and is still alive at 89 years old. Marj slept in Verna's room because they were too poor to afford a bigger house. They were so poor that once, they were given a whole sack of cabbages and fruits by a man to feed the family for the week. Marj had to walk to school barefooted and she had only one pencil for the whole school year. It had to last her the whole year so she was very very careful when sharpening it. She went to Pokeno school from 5 to 8 years old, but Marj never wanted to go to school so a neighbour gave her 6 pence if she went. As soon as she got to school, she turned around and went back home. She hated the thought of being at school for a whole day away from her Mother and baby sisters.

She remembered living Awhitu in a big house on the cliff. It had big french doors and a deck, overlooking the bay and the sawmill. She remembers having a copper bath outside and she had to take buckets of water from the water well, up lots of steps to fill the bath. The King family moved to 1758 Great North Road, Avondale and Marj went to Avondale Primary for Year 6 (standared six) and she was in year 6 because from 5 to 8 (age) she was at Pokeno (1st year to 5th year).

She passed her proficiency test exam and then left school. She did not go to intermediate or college, and she got all of her teeth removed for a classified reason, making her get false teeth at such a young age.

Marj worked at Flamingo Frocks for seven years between the ages of 15 to 22 years old. Her job was being a dressmaker and she was very good at it. She made wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and tap-dancing dresses. Marj also worked in a sample room, hand sewing, hems and buttons. While living in Avondale, Marj met Jim. He lived opposite her house, in the back of the dairy, or best known at the time as “the milkbar”. Jim's parents owned the dairy and they had a milk round delivering milk with a horse and cart. He used to see Marj get off the bus, so he asked her to go out with him one day. They went to dances at the bowling club and all of Marj’s sisters went as well. When Marj was 22 years old, she got married to Jim, (James Clarence Knight was his full name, but his nickname was Jim). Their wedding was on the 27th July 1946 at the Presbyterian Church in Mount Albert, and had their wedding party at Avondale Bowling Club.

After they were married, Jim built a new house at 5 Layard Street, Avondale and it was right next door to Avondale Primary School. There was a gate going from the house through to the school. Marj and Jim had their first baby, my nana Jude, (Judith Maureen Knight) on January the 1st 1951. Then they welcomed their second daughter, Lynette Anne Knight on August 20th 1954. Judy and Lynn did a lot of tap dancing and competitions when they were little girls , until early teenagers. Marj, their mum, made all their costumes and dresses and was such a proud mum going to see her girls dance on the stage. They had a yearly recital in the Avondale Hollywood picture theatre and Marj’s sewing was well on display. Marj grew so many flowers in her garden, like roses, sweetpeas and she would always pick them for Judy and Lynn to take to school for their teachers. Jim built a batch for their family to go on holidays up at Shelley Beach on the Kaipara Harbour. He also built several batches in a line for other family members so they could holiday together. They did a lot of swimming, fishing, picnicking, building sand castles, mud pies, swimming on lilos.

Marj loved gardening, sewing embroidery and baking. She made great roast dinners, apple pies, chocolate cakes, butterfly cakes,sponge cakes and orange cakes. She made plum puddings at Christmas time with coins in it and it was very good luck to find one. She had lovely gardens and great vegetables. She did the most amazing embroidery pictures. Every Guyfawkes night, Marj would bake a beautiful supper of cream spongecakes with jam and cream, butterfly cakes and cream lemingtons. The children and Dads would built a bonfire with a Guy on it, and at night, would light it and set off sparklers and firework crackers for Guy Fawkes night. Neighbours and family came for this big night and enjoyed Marj’s beautiful supper after the fireworks. In 1968, Jim and Marj, Judy and Lynn moved to their new house in Northcote, 13 Heath Ave. They both really enjoyed playing golf several times a week at Helensville Golf Club. The gardens at Heath Ave were amazing, flowers and vegetables.

Marj, very sadly, died on the 17th of June, 2018, at Northbridge Rest home, living to a wonderful old age of 94. She had four great grandchildren when she died. Their names are Ben Harrison Ogier, Grace Michelle Ogier, Harrison Mark Vipond and Ava Rose Vipond. The reason I have chosen my Great Nana Knight for this biography because she is the oldest person I have had in my life and my only Great Grandparent that I had quality times with, up until the age of 8 years old.

By Ben Ogier

ART PROCESS - THE DRAFTS