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NAME:
Harry Jones Priestley
BORN:
8th Apr 1902
MARRIED:
Esther "Effie" Oxenham
1936 aged 34
DIED:
16th Dec 1963 aged 61
This chapter is dedicated to the life of Harry Jones Priestley (b.1902). It has been researched and written by Robin Hodkinson, partly through stories and taonga passed down by her mother Joan, grandmother Amelia and great grandmother Kate. And as always, Bill Paku has also contributed with his invaluable recollections.
As you will find, our Uncle Harry was quite a remarkable person. His is a life full of accomplishment through dedication, and a testament of courage under adversity.
Any corrections, additional information, pictures or stories relevant to this chapter can be submitted via the contacts in the footer section of this page. Accreditation is given, where applicable. Many thanks to all those who have contributed.
Harry Jones Priestley
Harry Jones Priestley
Harry was born on the 8th April 1902 and like all of the children, he was delivered by his mother alone. And although he was four to five months premature, he was perfectly formed. With his mother's nurturing and massage over those first few precarious months of his life, ensured his development into a healthy and normal child.
From birth and through out his life, he proved to be a real fighter and a great achiever in many ways.
He was named after his grand aunty Tuhi Waipara's husband, Harry Jones. He lived with the family in Whangara before they moved to Gisborne in 1904 and into the homestead at Cochrane St.
Harry's first school was Gisborne District school, where in 1909, he received a good attendance medal. (Robin Hodkinson Collection).
Harry's Attendance Medal
6th Feb 1911 he was admitted into Te Hapara School where he continued until 17 Dec 1915.
Harry and his older brother Pat were very close their whole lives. Pat was in his third year at Gisborne High School and a keen rugby player when Harry started 3rd form and went straight into the first Rugby XV to join him. There he remained for his four years of High School - something of a record in those days.
Harry, like all his brothers excelled in the sporting fields of rugby and cycling. He also played First XI cricket, was a boxing champion in his own weight, and both a hurdling and a sprinting champion.
He was also an exceptional scholar, and a greatly respected Prefect of the school. The family finances at the time he left school did not extend to higher education, so Harry headed off to work, and save.
Harry's name appeared on the New Zealand WW2 Ballot List. He joined the RNZAF as a flying officer and training teacher in the basic flying schools, where he served for the remainder of the war.
From about 1938 until the mid-1940's, Harry and Effie taught at schools in the Bay of Plenty and on Matakana Island. His sporting instinct remained and he took up golf. With his usual flair he became a 2 or 3 handicap player in no time.
Harry married Esther Oxenham, who was also a teacher, in 1936. Esther was more commonly known as Effie. They never had children.
He went on to teach at schools from the Hawkes Bay to the Bay of Plenty. The 1935 Electoral Roll has him residing at West Avenue Road, Hastings and his occupation listed as Teacher.
Sister Amelia (Dine) was away teaching by this time, so Harry headed to the King Country to join her and husband Hugh on the farm. With his savings and Dine's help he entered Teachers Training College. Harry passed the New Zealand Teacher and civil Service Examinations in 1916 and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree from Canterbury University.
Nephew Bill Paku remembers a football team photo in the old homestead, showing Harry in the University First XV. He also played for Canterbury, representing the South Island in a battle against the North.
After the war in 1946, Harry and Effie were teaching at Mohaka Native School in Hawkes Bay. It was here that Harry had an accident while chopping wood and injured an eye. It was more serious than first thought, and led to total blindness. They moved to Auckland for treatment, and Harry joined the St. Dunstan's School for the Blind where he learned leather work and started making sandals from his home factory in Manukau Road.
By 1949 they were living in Mt Smart Rd in Onehunga and the 1954 electoral roll has Harry's occupation listed as Sandal Maker.
An excerpt from the past student section of the 1947 Gisborne High School magazine reads:
"Harry Priestley is a trainee at NZ St. Dunstan's, Epsom. In a letter written last July, Harry described how at that time he was busy mastering arts like bag making in leather, typing, reading in Braille and generally developing skills which would help to compensate for the loss of his sight. We were distressed to receive that news, but feel urged to remark that if courage helps to restore sight, Harry's sight will return, for his letter radiated courage. Years ago it was this same courage displayed in leadership, scholarship and sport that set him among the elite of the schools, prefects, scholars and sports. We wish Harry well."
Harry's sight did indeed start to improve in 1950, and he eventually regained total sight. By 1957 he was back working as a Clerk.
His nephew Bernard Priestley fondly remembers been given a teddy bear that was made by Harry while at the Blind Institute. His niece Robin Hodkinson (nee Edwards) recalls holidays spent with Harry and Effie and shopping at Royal Oak. Robin's first unaccompanied flight was when she went to stay with them about 1958.
With his sight returned, Harry wasted no time returning to his beloved teaching. He and Effie accepted a post at the Native School on Matakana Island near Tauranga. They remained there until they moved back to Gisborne, Harry taking up a post at the Gisborne Girls High School.
A heart problem restricted his movement for some time, and Harry passed away on 16th December 1963. He was buried at Taruheru Cemetery (Ang Block 14, Plot 45).
Effie died 12 May 1964 and is buried with Harry.
Harry News Articles
Harry News Articles
Note - James Priestley = James Patterson (Pat) Priestley
Harry Timeline
Harry Timeline
> 1902 - Born: 8 Apr 1902
1905: New Zealand rugby team tours England and becomes known as the All Blacks
1908: New Zealand's population reaches one million.
28 Jun 1914: Start of World War I
Oct 1918: The Influenza Epidemic of 1918. Refer also to New Zealand History online.
1927: World population reaches 2 billion.
> 1936 - Married Esther Oxenham: 1936
1 Sep 1939: Start of WWII. Germany invades Poland.
Aug 1945: End of World War II. V.E. Day.
1950: Korean War. (1950-1953)
1952: New Zealand's population reaches over two million.
6 Feb 1952: Reign of Queen Elizabeth II begins
29 May 1953: Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay conquer Mt Everest.
24 Dec 1953: Tangiwai rail disaster.
30 May 1959: Auckland Harbour Bridge opens.
1960: World population reaches 3 billion.
> 1963 - Died: 16 Dec 1963
Harry Media
Harry Media
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Harry Whakapapa
Harry Whakapapa
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