What are your family links with the Coromandel?
My parents accepted a job with Toby and Diane Morcom at Cooks Beach, in search of a better lifestyle for all of the family. The move/decision proved beneficial for the whole family, especially us kids – David, Lynda and me.
Where are you living now?
West Africa. However, I’m about to return to NZ and retire before age 60.
Which schools did you attend in the Coromandel, and for how long?
MBAS from the start of 4th form to the end of 6th form. Outcome: obtained University Entrance.
What have you been doing since school?
Simon Waters (now deceased) randomly knocked on my parents’ door one school holiday, asking if I wanted to earn some money working on his fishing boat. This set the seed; when I left school I became a deckhand on a local fishing boat. After a year or so, I became the youngest commercial captain in NZ (at 18yo). I did well and eventually bought my own fishing vessel, which I later steamed to Australia to fish for three years. I sold the boat due to a three-year contract offered by the French New Caledonia government to teach the French how to fish (lol). This involved me travelling to France, French Guiana, Japan, Guam, South Korea in search of appropriate fishing vessels. I didn’t find any, so they decided to build new, which landed me in China for six months overseeing the four new builds. Once these were delivered to New Caledonia, I taught the French some tricks and then roamed most of the Pacific Islands as required.
After the French contract, I transitioned into the oil and gas industry where I captained vessels for an American company with divisions in various countries world-wide. I as located in Dubai/Abu Dhabi for ten years, then in Saudi Arabia for seven years, and now I’m about to finish up five years in West Africa. About ten years ago, I came ashore to become their operations superintendent and relief country manager in any particular country where required.
However, before I was led abroad, I met a lady resulting in a relationship that produced three kids and then two grandkids. I look forward to seeing them a lot more from now on.
What achievement are you most proud of?
Being successful in most aspects of my life, enabling early retirement due to investments established along my journey. Not to mention my children are all doing well and I’m very proud of who they have become as adults.
Have you been back to the Coromandel recently? Impressions?
Not for many years – but soon I’ll be able to see the dramatic changes that have taken place.
What are your fondest memories of the Coromandel?
The difference in all aspects of quality life with our parents’ decision to relocate to Cooks Beach/Whitianga. Schooling especially was superior and made all the difference to us kids – also farm life, sports including pig hunting and spear fishing.
Who were some of your friends in those early years?
Darren Shield, Robin Simpson, Helen Hunt, John Cox, Lisa Abrahamson, Peter Clark, Paul Duffield, Philip Brown and the rest of the class friends we call the 65’s. I aim to make the Whitianga Area school main reunion in approximately two years’ time.
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