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As Father’s Day loomed last Sunday, no doubt many struggled to find the perfect gift to show their appreciation for their Dad. While ties, belts, socks and slippers remain perennial favourites, and perhaps are appreciated, they do seem short on imagination. In a bid freshen ideas up for next year, Mahurangi Matters asked a few well-known locals what was the best gift they ever gave their father.
Murray Chapman
Manager, One Mahurangi Business Association
My father was old school. He was brought up not to show any emotion and as a man with six children and a plumbing business to run, he possibly didn’t have the time or the energy to show us that he cared. I had been living in Australia for a couple of years and came home without telling either him or Mum and surprised him on Father’s Day. To see the look and the tears in his eyes reminded me that while he may not have showed affection to his family, he certainly felt it and it was possibly the best present I could have given him – that and the bottle of Black Label Whisky that was his favourite.
Peter Henderson
Warkworth Lions
My father passed away in 1983, and a year or so before his passing I gave him a photo taken with our two boys that he always loved. It is a family favourite still. He loved the outdoors and his family, and to me it captures him and who he was.
Michelle Carmichael
Fight the Tip campaigner
I definitely know which present was the most significant. It was a heritage rose plant called Crimson Glory – crimson in colour and deeply fragrant. My father had been looking for it for years because one used to be outside his grandmother’s window, and he remembered its strong fragrance. I found it by asking a rose grower who was, by chance, at a Christchurch market I went to only once years ago. I had to order it as they needed to grow some from stock. At the time, they were the only growers of it in New Zealand. He was incredibly surprised when it arrived from Christchurch as he had given up looking for one. He planted it and when it eventually bloomed I know smelling it brought back a few memories for him.
Nick McLennan
Pastor, Mahurangi Presbyterian Church
I’m not particularly renowned as a great gift giver in our family, but I would have to say the best gift I ever gave Dad was two beautiful granddaughters, as well as a spectacular daughter-in-law. I have struggled to top that since. Dad was always extremely proud of the girls, but unfortunately since he came down with early onset dementia a few years ago, communication with him has become pretty challenging. However, when the grandchildren come around to see him, the way he lights up and starts engaging with them is really noticeable.
Mark Macky
Director, Bayleys in the North
One of the best gifts I’ve given my father was a ticket to attend a Bledisloe Cup match with my son and I. It was significant as rugby has always been something that we have both cherished. Some of my first memories were of watching him play at the local rugby club. He also coached me for a number of years as a kid, and continued to support my rugby as I played through the grades. He now supports my son when he can when he plays. We had a great afternoon together, an early dinner, walked to the ground and then watched a great All Black performance at Eden Park. Special memories for us both, and creating them hopefully for my son.
