Bob Dawson – a good sort

Men working at Pukemokemoke
Winter workout four years ago – Jack Brinkman up on the landing and standing below, from left, Keith, Bob Dawson and Malcolm Watkins.

“Horsham Downs farmer Bob Dawson…. was a community minded man who put more in than he took out” – writes Charles Riddle in the Waikato Times.

For about 10 years the 86-year-old volunteered at the bush reserve, and was a long-serving JP, a voluntary chaplain’s assistant at Waikato Hospital,  and a stalwart (and sometime president) of the East Hamilton Friendship Club, a social club for senior citizens.
He served on his local drainage board and council.

As with all good sorts, Bob would have been embarrassed at the idea of a public acknowledgement of his life, Charles Riddle says.

Chartwell Cooperating Church parish administrator Keri Anderson said Bob would probably be horrified to be the subject of an obituary, as he was a modest man.

“He devoted his life to helping others, but Bob would say ‘Oh, I don’t do much’.”

Number 8 Network had the pleasure of meeting Bob on a Winter’s morning at Pukemokemoke, where he was repairing the lookout with a group of friends of the bush reserve.

The group, all ‘retired’, had lugged tools, equipment, boxes of nails up to the summit for a full day’s work.  We were inspired, and in awe at their energy, commitment and passion for getting stuck in.

Keith Holborow wrote an account of the day at Pukemokemoke for N8N, click here to read.

And click here for the full obituary in the Waikato Times.

 

 

 

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N8N

Number 8 Network - a community website for the rural areas northeast of Hamilton, NZ, is run by Gordonton journalist/editor Annette Taylor.

2 thoughts on “Bob Dawson – a good sort

  • July 4, 2019 at 5:33 am
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    Thanks for that article of my Dad at Pukemokemoke….I thought he just weeded & did tree planting. Another photo of my Dad’s endeavors! Thankyou 😊

    Reply
    • July 4, 2019 at 9:24 am
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      Lesley – it was a real highlight to meet your father. Such a lovely man and so inspiring.

      Reply

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