Orepuki Family History - Gloria (née Brookland) married Ivan NEIL Herrick

Shared by Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive

Orepuki Family History - Gloria (née Brookland) m. Ivan Neil Herrick: Gloria (Brookland) later Herrick was born 27 Jul 1936, in New Zealand. She died on 25 Apr 2008 (aged 71) at Tūātapere, where she was also buried. IMAGES: Photos 1 to 6 - Family Bible by Suzie Best of CWA - Central & Western Archive, taken 12 December 2024, CC BY to the Community Archive Photo 7 - Gloria Herrick's Headstone, gifted by family members Photo 8 - Ivan NEIL Herrick's Death Notice, found inside above Bible Photo 9 - old sign at Queens Park from ICC - Invercargill City Council papers (rights status unknown) FAMILY BIBLE: We were recently gifted this beautiful old Bible with the name of 'Gloria Brookland' in the front of it, and it soon became clear that an earlier owner of this precious family heirloom was someone from the Kallin/Kallan/Kallen/Kalem (spelled at least 6 different ways in official birth/death/marriage records) family. However, this name was spelled 'Kallin' in the Family Bible, so that is the version we will use in this history entry. However we have noted also that the family name was written as Kallen on certain grave memorials. We have more on the history of these families connections later on in this online entry. This Bible is not a large book, it was probably one used by the owners on a regular basis, not so much a traditional large Family Bible that would have sat in the home to be brought out on special occasions. Although as the gold leaf edged rice paper is still in good condition, it is not thought to be overly old. However it is well used as a record of family members who have had it in their ownership or care. Starting and ending with Gloria Brookland it appears it was originally gifted to her Grandfather, John Kalin, as "A reward for special good conduct & behaviour with much love and many prayers from his teacher, Getty Sunday School, January 1878 (signed) Henry J Quinn, Superintendent, John 111.14". It looks also like it had later been her uncle 'Bert's' Bible, and that she was given it as a child, due to the childlike handwriting of her name in many places in it. There is the following family information recorded inside the Bible: Front inside first page leaf contains the following - Brookland - Peter, born August 24th 1901 - Gloria, born July 27th 1936 (Makarewa is written in pencil) - Sylvia, born Aug 14th 1904 crossed out and written 1903 Dad - died 20th January 1959 Mum - died 28th April 1994 in her 91st year Dear Peter is also written in pencil Opposite page leaf, first page of the Bible has the following - Mr Bert Kallin Mrs Gloria Brookland (both written in pencil) Front inside second page leaf contains the following - Gloria Florence Ann July 27th 19-36 (Opposite can be seen the original inscription quoted in the story above) Back inside page leaf, of the Bible has the following - Bert - died 17 Oct 1955 aged 48 years Peter - died 20th Jan 1959, 57 years Mum - died 28th April 1994, 90 years Back outside page leaf, last in the book, the Bible has the following - Bertie, June 16th 19-7 Jackie, March 23 19-1 Millie, Feb 9th 19-2 Sylvia, Aug 14 19-4 (with '3' lighter in colour, almost looks rubbed out) Ivy Myrtle, July 31st 19-10 Minnie, June 21st 19-5 July died Mum died 9th Jan 1929 Nellie died 10th? (very faint) July 19-14 Jackie died 6th Dec 19-14 Dad died 6th Dec 1922 ---------------------------- Mum Jan 7th 1881 Bert died 17 Oct 1955 Dad Feb 1965 Minnie 21 July 1965? (very light ink) Tot died 2nd Jan 19-84 Thora Rose 27th Oct 1917? (very faint) Thora Rose 27th Oct 1919? (even more faint) The very back inside paper page stuck to the back cover of the Bible has - At the top of the page, Minnie died 21 July (no year?) Gloria Brookland in pencil writing, also caricatures of Mum, Dad and Peter plus some sums and other cursive script writing. WHO WAS GLORIA BROOKLAND? Gloria (née Brookland) Herrick had lived at Orepuki in earlier times with her husband Ivan NEIL Herrick. The couple then moved to Tūātapere in their later years, according to local Tūātapere historian Margaret Thomas. So their link to the Tūātapere-Te Waewae Communities, including Orepuki, are strong. In fact, their association stretches all the way across the west to the Fiordland lakes. Gloria's story has been told to us by her husband Neil's cousin, Christine Ridd. She tells us that Neil needs to be remembered as the wonderful devoted caring and talented man he was. Apparently, "Gloria was earlier a passenger in a car with her (then) boyfriend. Her kidneys were badly damaged. After recovering from surgery the outcome was she endured damaged kidneys, and was left with half a functioning kidney. The couple were later married. Gloria coped for a number of year's before going into renal failure. She went onto New Zealand's first ever dialysis machine for several hours a day for the rest of her life, hoping for a kidney donor, henceforth, a transplant. Husband Neil being a talented and skilled man in all things mechanical, learned how to operate this (what was then a very very technical complex machine) and traveled all over NZ setting up and educating other users and medical teams." What is really special about this story, is their ability to adapt to their life. "When they were comfortable living with these new medical requirements, they were able to continue living an active life such as holidaying in their crib (batch), in Home Street, Manapōuri, boating and fishing. Neil having built his own boat and named it 'Kiddo'," Christine continues. We are told they were, "An admirable couple indeed, Neil being your typical Kiwi man which could put his hand to anything, a man to be loved and respected. Gloria was a fun-loving and positive her cared for her Mum who eventually came to Orepuki to live with them after the tragic death of her husband at Queens Park." This last sentence is a tragic turn of events that also shaped Gloria's life, in the loss of her father, Peter Brookland. A Council worker in Invercargill, he was to die doing his job, in what has been described as Invercargill's worst Workplace accident. While at work on 20 January 1959, the 57 year old Peter Brookland had been undertaking work on a pump for an artesian bore at Queens Park gardens. On descending a ladder into the 12.2 metre well, he was to fall to the bottom after collapsing on the way down, for reasons initially unknown, but thought to be gas related. Even more tragically, his workmate at the top went for help, but while he was gone, two more of the work team descended and were also taken out. Then, yet another person was to succumb, one of the firemen called in to rescue the bodies, was to also die after for some unknown reason, taking off his breathing apparatus. None were able to be revived. The deaths of the four men shook the city and surrounding areas. And Gloria's mother Sylvia, was left husband-less. This is how she came to be living with Gloria at Orepuki. KALLIN/KALLEN CONNECTION: Not much has been found out about the Kalin family, except the following... In 1900, John Kallin married Florence Mortimer, they had these children: 1901 - John Frederick Kallin 1902 - Ellen Florence Kallin 1903 - Sylvia Wilhelmina Kallin 1905 - Minnie Kallin 1906 - Albert (Bert) Charles Kallin 1910 - Ivy Myrtle Kallin 1917 - Thora Rose Kallin (and maybe more) In 1935, Sylvia Wilhelmina Kallin married Peter Brookland Sylvia (née Kallin) and Peter had Gloria Florence Ann Brookland in 1936. We believe that Gloria was an only child. Sylvia (née Brookland) married Ivan NEIL Herrick This couple had no children. Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of Gloria Brookland who married Ivan NEIL Herrick, or also the Brookland family and especially the Kallin or Kallen family during the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page. Note: these entries are compiled with information provided by donors with the records, from locally reported news, from national and occasionally international reports in publications, from personal records made by the people themselves - such as their electoral enrollments, wills, war records etc., also from government and council held records such as births, deaths and marriages or cemetery information, and lastly, from community memories, such as those passed on by friends, family and contemporaries. It is not always possible to verify memories from others, so please let us know if you believe we have any incorrect information. If you believe that any public or personal record information quoted is wrong, if you can provide proof of any alternative fact to us in a document showing evidence of the correct details, that would be very helpful to us. Thank you.