Newsletter 49 - May 2020
From Clan Chief of Ayson (the 9th) - Hugh Francis
Dear Clan Members,
Well it has been without doubt the most epic experience for all of us during the Covid19 lockdown, and like us you would have some interesting family stories to relate. Unfortunately, as you know it is going to take a considerable time for our beloved country to get its economy moving again to the impetus required. However overall, it is certainly much better off than most other countries due to what I believe is our strong astute leadership.
I do hope your families are well and have come this far without any great dramas as we have done. It was nice last Thursday when Covid Level 2 started that our two daughters drove up from Wellington for hugs, tears and hot scones. One does not realise how much a family is missed when you are unable to visit.
By now my daughter Treena and I would have been touring China for 16 days, but alas not to be. Even though we now have a credit note to December 2021 travel still does not look likely – then if the company goes under our money might be down the drain! This is a typical sad story like many of those you know who are on a similar “Slow Boat to China!”
Clan Ayson business continues as ever, and the latest is that the Executive have agreed on the criteria for Life Membership and an Award of Appreciation Recognising Achievement. This I am very happy about as there are many deserved who meet the criteria (please see below).
On a personal note I was recently stunned when I colleague of mine said he had heard my Father talking on Radio NZ – well my Father had died in 1996! Indeed, my friend was correct because we tracked down the podcast and had a listen. As you can imagine it was quite an earie feeling to hear the voice of one’s Father as if coming from the “other side.” My father was one of the first Wild Life Rangers in NZ working initially as a deer culler for the Internal Affairs Dept; then later retired from being Chief Ranger, Hawkes Bay and Curator of the Fish and Game Hatchery at Greenmeadows – Napier. He became well known for breeding the first Kiwi in captivity and also his book – Wild Life Ranger.
So, if interested check the 1980 interview on: https://bit.ly/2TarF3E
I hope you are still interested in checking out our Family Tree ancestry site: (http://www.clanayson.nz/family-tree) as I am keen that the facial profile photos of your family and ancestors are inserted along with important dates and stories. Please get onto this now as later is too late – time is ticking on rapidly. If in doubt how to do contact Lindy, Dot or myself.
A personal plea - please pay your subs now that were due on 31 Mar 20. Of 628 names on the database it might astonish you that only 38 last financial year paid their dues. So, if this applies to you it would be appreciated that you pay including arrears, and additional donations are very welcome please.
Lastly, a huge thank you to Lindy for putting this Newsletter together in the usual professional manner; and, for her and Dot Johnson for keeping the Website, Face Book and Family Tree up to date – all very time consuming.
To all of you go safe, go well.
Yours Aye – Hugh
Life Membership is awarded to any Ayson Clan Member who in the opinion of the Executive has given significant longstanding commitment and contribution to the Clan.
Award of Appreciation. (Recognition of Achievement):
An Award of Appreciation is presented to any Ayson Clan Member; or member of the public, who in the opinion of the Executive has given significant service to the Clan; or, has achieved outstanding success in their chosen field that contributes to society at a regional or national level thus enhancing the Clan’s reputation.
Nominations and the reasons for each of the above awards must be sent to the Executive for approval by the majority. The “Award” will be a framed certificate.
Email: Hugh Francis: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Breaking News!
An order has been placed for the Ayson Clan Badge that should be delivered about the 25 June. The badge is the same design as the original and has an increased diameter of 5mm to enable an enhanced presentation.
The brilliant cost is expected to be $5/unit including postage for those who have paid their subscription. Also, please consider buying a badge for each of your siblings and your children where applicable – this kind gesture might just foster interest in membership now; or, at a later date. These can be worn on your lapel or on your favourite hat/cap.
When paying your sub please state the number of badges required. See separate Subscription form on the back of this newsletter for bank detail.
A Wee Trip to Bonnie Scotland
Louisa Medlicott (1.1.3) is a Clinical Psychologist and an Executive member of Clan Ayson.
In August last year, my friend and colleague Katie and I left Dunedin’s wintery climes and made our way to Scotland. We had a five-day conference to attend in Glasgow so, of course, we decided to add in a wee holiday as well. Well, if I had been a doubter about climate change (I’m not), heading to Glasgow would have firmly set me right! It was almost consistently in the low 30s! I was so not prepared for that, particularly not with clothes I had packed, so it was such a shame that I had to go and visit some of the clothes stores to supply myself with more appropriate attire.
We spent two days right in the centre of Glasgow at a lovely AirBnB on Queen Street directly opposite the Museum of Modern Art. This location also provided us with great access to George Square and to the Buchanan Street shopping district. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Tea Rooms as well as visiting some of the alluring shops – the Kate Spade store was fantastic and a little dangerous! George Square was also an excellent place to catch the hop-on hop-off bus around the city, which had stunning street art, reminiscent of Dunedin. The Ho-Ho bus took us to Kelvingrove Museum (where Dali’s Christ of Saint John of the Cross and the hanging head installation were great attractions), the University, as well as other fantastic places, most particularly Mackintosh’s home. Of course, with the Ayson Clan being a part of the larger Mackintosh Clan, I had a wee moment of appreciating the connection with this incredible creator.
We also went on a day long “Outlander” tour, which was fantastic!! If anyone is an Outlander fan, going to Midhope Castle (Lalybroch), Castle Leoch (Doune Castle – which was also Winterfell in season one of Game of Thrones), Cranesmuir (Culross), Falkland, Blackness Castle (Fort William) and Linlithgow Palace was fantastic. Our guide Stuart was really informative, and he managed to entertain all 13 women for the entire day long tour.
Sadly, we had to move from the bustling centre of Glasgow to the area where the conference was held at the Scottish 
Event Campus (SEC), down beside the River Clyde. The centre has amazing architecture, particularly the large “Armidillo” auditorium. It worked incredibly well for a very large conference and while the actual conference content was a bit of a let down professionally, it was a fantastic place to build or reinvigorate professional networks. We went to a fantastic restaurant, Alchemilla, one night, and would highly recommend it if you are interested in fantastic flavours and fresh local foods when in Glasgow!!
After the conference finished on the Friday, we got a rental car and popped over to Edinburgh for a weekend, having a stop at the stunning Kelpies, and we arrived in Edinburgh right in the middle of the Festival. It was amazing! So many people and events. We had booked to go into the Castle first thing on Saturday morning, and just as well we had booked! The hoards were phenomenal! I had been to the Castle a few times before and had never seen Lawnmarket and the Royal Mile as choked with people, except for a very cold Hogmanay in 1990-1991. As we were at the Castle relatively early and we did not need to wait to get tickets, we were able to get to see the Stone of Scone and the “Honours of Scotland” without too much of a crowd. We enjoyed a morning coffee and snack at the tea rooms at the top of the Castle and by the time we came out from there the queue to get in to see the Honours was crazy! Thank goodness I only needed to imagine, not experience, the stuffiness of the wee narrow spiral stairs with hot and sweaty people in front and behind!
After leaving the Castle we wandered down Lawnmarket and the Royal Mile, dodging and weaving between the throngs heading up the hill. We watched some street performers, but pretty much headed down towards Waverley Station. We hadn’t booked to go to the Tattoo in time, but we were lucky enough on both nights we were there to enjoy hearing the blasts from the cannons and fireworks.
On the Sunday morning we got up early and heading towards Glenshee. It was a bit of a juggle getting out of Edinburgh but once we were on the road it was lovely. We had a drive around Perth and agreed that it would be a fabulous city to live in if we were to choose to live in the Northern Hemisphere, and then we went to Scone Palace. We enjoyed looking at the amazing antiques inside, as well as Moot Hill (aka Boot Hill) where nobles used to swear loyalty to the Scottish King at the Stone of Scone and looking in the lovely wee chapel, and finishing the tour with a scone and coffee.
Then off to Glenshee and Corrydon! It was a lovely drive to get there, up hill and down dale but, unfortunately, we could not get any further in to see our ancestral home than the gate. We had tried to get hold of the now late Jean while we had been in Glasgow but she was not available, so all we could do was take photos of the gate and from the road. It was still fantastic to see it, even from that distance. Across the road and in the background is Corrydon Lodge where holiday accommodation is available.
We then drove to Dundee and stayed at Sleeperz Hotel directly opposite the Dundee V&A Design Museum and the Cutty Sark. Perfect location! Dundee was a lovely city, really arty, with lots of fantastic restaurants – such a shame we were there on Sunday and Monday nights as all the good ones were closed those days! We had a lovely morning at the V&A and particularly enjoyed the design galleries and the Rennie Mackintosh oak room restoration. We then went up to the ruins of Arbroath Abbey and had a good wander around there, before meandering around the city and the art collective – another dangerous thing to do!
The next day we drove up through the Highlands to Inverness. We stopped at the Culloden battlefields. So large and barren, and so incredibly sad. Found the Mackintosh stones and had a moment thinking about how different the world would have been if the French gold had reached Bonnie Prince Charlie in time.
Before getting into Inverness we took a detour and went down to Tomnahurich Bridge and onto a Jacobite Cruise to find the elusive Nessie. It was an excellent cruise with great commentary, stopping at Urquhart Castle, and having a good chance to find the wee beastie. Unfortunately for us she was clearly having a snooze so, sadly, we did not get to prove her existence.
We stayed at the Royal Highland Hotel, which was a lovely grand old lady of a hotel, for the night as it is right beside the Railway Station. The next morning, we were up early to get on the train down to Gatwick so we could head home. Fantastic journey going down the Highlands, into the Lowlands, and then through England.
Slight anxiety during most of our trip was that we were flying through Hong Kong, right in the middle of the protests and associated riots there. There had been many flights disrupted and cancelled during our holiday. While we supported the protestors right of protest, we really hoped we would not be delayed too much. Luckily, we arrived on the day of financial protests, with pressures put on banks instead of on the airport, so we only suffered a relatively short delay, with a 9 hour stopover becoming a 12 hour one – really good end to a fantastic holiday!
Louisa
Clan Secretary for Christchurch, Lynley Capon. (1.1.3) (on right)
If you have an Ayson clan book, you can read the story of the friendship between the Shaw family and the Ayson family who owned adjoining properties in Glenshee, Finegand and Corydon respectively. It is a wonderful story of a firm relationship which continued all the way to South Otago in 1853. Now let’s jump forward 161 years.
In 2014, my husband, Peter, and I were working in NE Thailand in a very poor province called Kalasin. A team from one of our supporting churches in New Zealand came to visit and we struck up a close friendship with a woman on this team called Fiona. She returned to stay for a week with us in 2015 and when we returned to live in New Zealand in 2017, we spent a few days with her in her home in Porirua.
There was a rugby international game on TV while we were at Fiona’s and as both she and I weren’t interested in rugby, Peter went off to another person’s place to watch it, leaving us together watching Britain’s Got Talent. An Irish group were dancing, so I told her we’d discovered my father had Irish roots, but that his lineage was very vague. However, I knew all about my mother’s side of the family who came from Glenshee in Scotland. She looked at me in surprise and said that her family also came from Glenshee, and she got up and rushed to get her Shaw clan book. Her maiden name was Shaw.
We read the story of how the Shaws came to Warepa and when Douglas Ayson and all the children made the trek to the new Corydon, the Shaw family showed hospitality to them. A road which still exists today, The Shaw Track Rd, was cut between the two properties of Corydon and Finegand so that they could easily visit each other. Every Saturday, the Aysons would go over to the Shaws and stay the night and join in worship at the newly built punga chapel. Her great grandfather and my great-great grandfather were officiating deacons at the first service held in this chapel.
We laughed so much at the discovery that an Ayson and a Shaw had become great friends before even knowing the close link our ancestors had had 160 years earlier.
Only a week ago I was at a church combined meal and was sitting beside a woman I’d never met before and in the course of conversation I said I came from Invercargill originally and she said she came from South Otago. I then told her my ancestors also came from that area, specifically from Warepa. Her mouth dropped open and she exclaimed that was exactly where her family had a farm and she had gone to Warepa school. She had been in a class with my mum’s flower girl, Jean Dodd, daughter of Eileen Dodd, nee Ayson.
These kinds of connections are so wonderful and make me realise what a rich heritage we share.
2020. We did a trip to Thailand leaving on March 13 as at that point there had been no directives to stay home. Within a day of arriving everything changed of course! We managed to see almost every precious friend before we had to hurry home. We closed our bank accounts, took asparagus seeds to the community project hit by floods last year and saw our next-door neighbour and former home. The trip home meant a very early morning taxi ride the one-hour journey from our former hometown to the Khonkaen airport - no problem changing flights there - then trying to change flights in Bangkok. It was surreal to see the usual hectic airport so empty! We managed to get flights after 24 hours having had a night at a nice hotel near the airport and help online from our son on NZ. Of course, we needed to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in Christchurch but within a few days the country was in lockdown anyway.
My sister Kath was on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, so she had 4 weeks total in isolation, two on board and two more at Whangaporoa.
Lynley
Mary Spooner {Ayson 1.3.7) sends best wishes and good health from Australia.
Like all countries our main news to follow is the corona virus which has devastated so many countries. I feel we in Australia as well as New Zealand are the lucky countries compared to others in the world.
Fortunately, all my family members have been safe and are well. We have been in isolation up until today 13th May, we can now visit but not stay with family and friends, so Bob and I went down to visit my brother Stewart on the family farm, Bonny Bank near Elmore. I usually go down almost every week to help a little as he has 100 hens plus pens of squab pigeons which some 60 to 100 are marketed each week for table pigeons in restaurants. Both my sister Lois and I help out and it is always a pleasure to go back to our childhood home. Our son Scott is an army man stationed at present at Holsworthy in Sydney. His wife and three children are in Wodonga (beside Albury) where they have their family home. Our daughter Cheryl and partner Iain have their home in Adelaide, so we being in Echuca are in the middle. We usually go to Adelaide by bus as it is so cheap and more relaxing as it is eight and a half hour trip. We had the good fortune to have a visit from
Bevin and Colleen Watt last July 2019. It was so lovely to have them and hopefully we will have them stay a little longer next time. I was intending to come to New Zealand this last March as fortunately I have both Ayson and Hazlett ancestors in my family. I love to go fishing with my Ranfurly Hazlett, and last visit I was not very successful in that department! Unfortunately the virus stopped all travel plans.
To all the Ayson families I wish you good health.
Kind regards
Mary Spooner
Photo shows Mary with her sister Lois Harris (nee Ayson) and brother Stewart Ayson. Lois came to the gathering in Gore for the launching of the book in 1990. Stewart came to the reunion in Dunedin with Mary.
Otago Daily Times. Wednesday 29th January 2020
The families of women killed in the Seacliff Mental Hospital fire are calling for a law change to allow them to access their relatives’ records. It has been more than 77 years since a fire swept through Ward Five of the asylum, near Dunedin, killing 37 of the 39 female patients living there.
Despite many decades having passed, the family members of those killed are still battling to access their medical records.
Di Buchan lost her aunt Grace Low, of Balclutha, in the December 1942 fire.
Miss Low was 19 when she was committed to Seacliff.
‘‘My mother was only 12 at the time, and she remembered her sister being dragged out of the house, screaming,’’ she said.
Ms Buchan wanted access to her aunt’s records to learn more about her family health history, and to pay tribute to her.
She had also hoped to include information about her aunt in a book she wrote about her family, but was unable to do so.
‘‘When I was writing the book*, I realised there’s still this great cone of secrecy around mental health.’’
She had approached Archives New Zealand but was told to go to the Southern District Health Board.
The SDHB refused, saying the records were suppressed for 100 years.
Many other families had hit a similar brick wall. Ms Buchan wanted a legislation change, to allow families better access. The SDHB did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
A privacy commissioner spokeswoman said there had been inquiries over the years from people seeking access to the medical records of deceased family members, but that was not directly covered by the Privacy Act.
Generally, unless the person seeking the information was the executor or administrator of the deceased estate (or their representative) they did not have a right to the health records.
People could request the information under the Official Information Act — but then it was up to the agency in question to make a decision.
* Triumphs, Tribulations & Tragedies is the story of three generations of the Low family. The author, Di Buchan grew up in Alexandra and like her great-grandparents and every generation of her family since, she spent her Christmas holidays in Balclutha and Kaka Point. For thirty years she was a social and environmental researcher working on major projects throughout New Zealand and the Pacific. Her Wellington-based company was called Corydon after the Ayson’s farm at Warepa, south of Balclutha. She inherited an addiction to volunteering from her great-grandparents and her mother as well as a love of gardening. She now lives in Otaki in a two-acre garden full of roses near the beach. Her first book Sun, Sea & Sustenance: The story of the Otaki Children’s Health Camp was published by Steele Roberts in 2017. Copies of both books can be ordered directly from Di (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Price $35.00 plus postage.
Di Buchan ( 1.9.3)
From Ingrid Vollweiler in Wanaka.
Ingrid Vollweiler, who won the Ayson essay competition $1000 for a scholarship when attending the Tokomairiro High School in 2005, keeps in touch.
I would like to thank you all again for the scholarship! It really helped support me as a Dunedin Scarfie!
My life story since 2005...
After finishing my four-year Physical Education degree I went on to study a Masters of Physiotherapy at Queensland University and proceeded to work in Australia for two years then travelled South America for six months. I returned back to my parents sheep farm and worked in Balcutha as a physio for two years then moved to Dunedin and worked as a physio for Back in Motion for 2-3 years. Whilst at Back in Motion I started to specialise in Pelvic Health Physio and have returned to Australia numerous times for more training in this. I now work for Pelvic Solutions, a specialist pelvic health physiotherapy clinic based in Wanaka.
What is pelvic health you may ask?? it is rehabilitation and prevention around pregnancy and post partum, prostate cancer, pain conditions such as endoemtriosis, sexual abuse victims or pain with intercourse, spinal cord injury clients and any one with chronic hip, back or pelvis pain.
Outside of work I ski and ski tour, tramp, run, mountain bike, rock climb, yoga, read, draw, paint and try to keep my vegetable garden alive!
Ingrid. https://www.pelvicsolutions.co.nz/who-we-are/ingrid-vollweiler/
National Secretary Notes.
It has been interesting to read Lynley’s story about her friendship with Fiona, a descendant of the Shaws.
When forming our Clan in New Zealand research regarding whether the Aysons belonged to Clan Shaw or Clan Mackintosh was undertaken and you can see the outcome and formal welcome to the Mackintosh Clan confirmed in our Ayson book or on our webpage: https://www.clanayson.nz/the-aysons/history/23-heritage.
The historical similarities can be seen on both Clan websites.
From the website of CLAN MACKINTOSH.
Clan Mackintosh is descended from the late 7th Century King Ferdach. The name originated in the 12th Century when Shaw, son of the Earl of Fife, assumed the name “Mac-an-toisich” which means “son of the chief”. In 1163 King Malcolm 1V granted Shaw lands around Inverness, in gratitude for the loyal military service of the Mackintoshes to Scotland’s Crown.
By the marriage in 1291 of Angus the 6th Chief, to Eva the heiress of the Clan Chattan Confederation, the leadership of this powerful alliance passed to the chiefs of the Mackintoshes.
Scotland’s Highlanders have long been renowned for their fierce fighting nature and the Mackintoshes have well proven their highland blood. The Mackintosh Clan has fought in almost every battle in the Wars of Scotland, from the victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314, to their loyal support for Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden in 1745. At this, the last battle on British soil, the Mackintosh regiment led the fatal charge with great courage against the Redcoats. To this day, the tragic field of Culloden is marked with a grave-stone to each of the Clans who fell there, but so numerous were the Mackintosh casualties that their massed graves are commemorated by three gravestones.
Clan Flower: Wortleberry
From the website of CLAN SHAW
Farquhart Shaw, Shaw ‘Mor’, was leader of a sept of the Mackintosh from the Rothiemurchus area. It is believed that the lands and stronghold of Rothiemurchus were bestowed upon Shaw ‘Mor’ in 1396 for leading the Chattan Confederation to battle on the North Inch Perth. It is possible, however, that these lands were received as early as 1226.
The Shaws are an ancient Scottish clan, which played a considerable role in Highland history, and which traces its ancestry to the old Earls of Fife and thus the royal line of the Scottish kings. Initially, prior to the general adoption of surnames and, specifically, the use of the name Shaw for that purpose, the Shaws were the first Chiefs of Clan Mackintosh. The Clan name derives from Shaw “Mor” “Coriaclich”, great-grandson of Angus (6th Chief of Mackintosh) and Eva (heiress of Clan Chattan (a large confederation of Highland clans)). By tradition, he led the Clan Chattan contingent to victory at the famed Clan Battle of the North Inch at Perth in 1396 and was, as a reward, given the lands of Rothiemurchus, which became the first “seat” of the Clan. He is numbered as the third Chief of Clan Shaw. The lands of Rothiemurchus (site of the well-known castle Loch-an-Eilean), were sold and lost to the Clan in 1539.
Clan Flower: Wortleberry
Facebook: It is pleasing that our Facebook page now has 79 in the group. We would love to see any old photos you may have or to hear about important family times and achievements. Facebook belongs to you and is your place for daily interaction
Biographies. As all of us are getting older it is important that we record the biographies of our grandparents and our parents. It will be wonderful for our grandchildren if they can go to one source to see their own family line and the story of those who forged the foundations for who we are today.
Our web page only has a total of 27 biographies so far and when you consider that Peter and Alexander produced 122 grandchildren (one of whom could be your grandparent), then we are well short. Please take some time and write up the biographies for your family, your parents and your grandparents. We are so lucky to have our book The Ayson Story which continues in our web site. It is our responsibility to record our grandparents and parents’ story. Please send your biographies and photos to email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subscriptions: We have only had 38 people pay their subscriptions for 2019-2020 and a big thank you to those who did. We have always set our subs to be low hoping that it is not a hardship for you and this is our only income. Our annual expenses cover grave restorations and upkeep, web pages, newsletters, bereavement flowers, so we are well short for last year. Our communication database numbers 628 members so we do hope you can help us out for this year please. Donations at any time are very much appreciated. We will soon be starting to look ahead to our next family reunion and building our bank balance will be necessary.
Thank you. Lindy Daniell (1. 13. 4)
Caroline English (1.4.5) from Auckland
I have been the Clan Ayson Auckland Branch Secretary for a number of years. Now as the years have rolled along it is time for me to step down and allow others to take up the role.In 1953 my father took me to a Clan Ayson gathering in Dunedin. That was the first I remember. Being the Auckland Secretary to the Clan has given me an opportunity to communicate and meet with so many people from all over the country and enjoy many and varied activities. Few families have a rich recorded history and continued social engagement such as Clan Ayson. William Ayson, son of Peter and Douglas, in 1937 wrote the book ‘Pioneering in Otago’ describing the early history of the Aysons and their lives in New Zealand. From then successive generations have continued to celebrate and enjoy our shared heritage. I look forward to welcoming the new secretary/team and I am sure that we will all give them our wholehearted support.
Caroline has previously also held the role of National Secretary and has organised many Auckland area gatherings.
A big thank you from us all Caroline.
Achievements.
Peter Ayson QSM. For services to the community
For Peter Ayson, the fact he would receive the Queen’s Service Medal this New Year is not a reward for him, but for the Otautau community as a whole.
Mr Ayson was born in the rural Southland town and has spent many of his 85 years alive volunteering in a wide range of roles — in fact, he still does.
"I may have been a bit one-eyed but I’ve always regarded Otautau to be a great place to live."
After the men’s membership of the town’s bowling club fell, he continued to undertake maintenance as green keeper for the women’s branch which enabled the club to remain active.
While it had not been an ambition of his to volunteer in so many ways, he said when there was a space to fill on a committee or board, it was his responsibility as a citizen to do something.
Some of his roles in the community included his organisation of the IHC's rural appeal collections from 1966 to 2006 and being chairman of the Otautau Scouts Committee from 1965 to 1969.
He had served as president of the Otautau Lions Club, the Otautau Jaycees, and the Otautau Bowling Club.
He was chairman of the Otautau St John Area Committee between 1988 and 2019, during which time he led fundraising for the purchase of a health shuttle for Western Southland for those in need of transport to medical facilities.
He was a member of the committee that oversaw the refurbishment of the Otautau Town Hall. He became secretary and treasurer of the Otautau Athletic Society Trust in 1986 and the Otautau Returned and Services Association in 2007; both are roles he has not given up.
He was most proud of the life memberships he had received, which included the Otautau RSA, Otautau Bowling Club, and Western Bowls Sub Centre. Mr Ayson was also on the Southland District Allocations Committee for 12 years and was an Otautau Medical Trust member for 12 years.
Otago Daily Times December 19th 2019
George Street Normal School pupil Beth Elder proudly displays the gold medal she won for gaining New Zealand’s top mark in the recent University of New South Wales International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) year 5 science exam. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
‘Is it real gold? Everyone keeps asking me that.’’
Beth Elder thinks it is funny she has won a gold medal for gaining the top mark in the recent University of New South Wales International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) year 5 science exam; the thing people are most interested in is whether it is real gold or not.
For the record, Beth said she has no idea if the gold is real.
The thing that was more important to the 9-year-old George Street Normal School pupil was that it was a recognition of her hard work and outstanding academic ability.
She said she did the ICAS English exam last year because it is her favourite subject, and she was delighted to gain high distinction — a mark placing her in the top 1% of candidates.
‘‘It was fun.’’
This year, she decided to test her knowledge of science by sitting the ICAS science exam, and was ‘‘thrilled and a little surprised’’ to receive the top mark for New Zealand in the exam.
‘‘I didn’t even know there was a gold medal. I thought high distinction was the highest you could get.’’
Now that she knows how to win one, she will be aiming to win more in the future.
She said the science of success was to sit as many practice exams as possible.
George Street Normal School principal Rod Galloway said ICAS exams had been offered for 18 years in many New Zealand schools, annually attracting more than 150,000 entries.
Pupils at his school had gained top marks in ICAS science, computer skills, mathematics and spelling in the past, and this year had been another excellent academic year for the school.
“The combination of naturally able children, high quality teaching and strengths-based learning enables our children to succeed,’’ he said.
‘‘Beth is clever, hard-working and humble, and I think she has many strengths which she uses well.
‘‘I was very pleased that she participated in these exams because it’s not compulsory — she chose to do that — and this is the result. It’s a lovely outcome for her.’’
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
[Beth is descended from Douglas Duncan Ayson (Davidson) who was the first born of the clan in NZ just six weeks after her parents Peter and Douglas plus 10, landed at Otakou Dunedin]
Peter Ayson (1.6.5) gives back to Waikato
University of Waikato alumnus and original Blues Award recipient Peter Ayson will help two talented students get one step closer to achieving their dreams at the Wallace Group Blues Awards this September.
In 2016, Peter decided to give back to his university, sponsoring two new ‘Emerging Talent’ Awards at the University’s annual Blues Awards. The 1974 Athletics champion considers himself lucky to have received a high-quality education, so is proud to give back to the University of Waikato to help future generations of students achieve their goals.
“My degree was the key that opened the door to many of the opportunities I received throughout my career. Giving back to the University is just my way of repaying a debt I feel I owe.”
The two Emerging Talent awards, one for sport and one for the creative and performing arts, recognise first-year students who show a promising career in their chosen discipline. Peter enjoys helping students who wouldn’t normally be acknowledged.
2016 recipients, Holly White and Jonathan Mayer, were recognised for their respective talents in cycling and playing the organ. Peter has enjoyed staying in touch with Jonathan and following his progress since receiving the award.
Jonathan is extremely grateful for the support he has received from Peter, which has inspired him to achieve his goals more than ever.
“Peter’s support has motivated me immensely to aim even higher in the years to come,” said Jonathan. “Most of the financial assistance has gone into savings, however some was used to purchase a camera which I have used to record my organ music with, making it available for my relatives overseas to enjoy, as well as other music lovers on YouTube.”
Peter is inspired by the talents of the students who receive the Blue’s awards, and embraces the growth in the range of recipients.
“It’s been wonderful to see the Blues Awards grow from sport to creative and performing arts. I just totally embrace that and want to encourage it.”
Peter looks back fondly at his student years, remembering the University of Waikato for its inclusiveness and camaraderie. Despite joining the New Zealand Police Force at the age of 19, Peter was able to complete his university study, often simply putting a jersey over his police uniform before heading to lectures.
“I loved it! I was totally accepted by all of the other students and staff,” Peter said.
Since graduating, Peter has had a successful career, working for the New Zealand Police, government intelligence and security, as a lecturer at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and as a consultant in Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and Algeria.
When he visits the campus now, Peter is proud to be an alumnus of the University of Waikato. He recalls the beauty of the campus when he was a student, and marvels at the development which can be seen throughout the University today.
“I can still remember the trees around the lake being planted. I look at them now and think it’s such a beautiful place. I am consistently blown away by the University; it makes me very, very proud.”
Peter is an original Blues recipient after he broke the New Zealand 400m (Under 19) record in 1974 and won the NZ Junior 400m and NZ Universities 400m championships in the same year. He has remained a successful athlete, winning bronze in the 400m (M61-65) at the 2017 World Master’s Games.
Peter recently announced the launch of his new scholarship, the Peter Ayson Undergraduate Scholarship in Health, Sport and Human Performance, which will aim to assist students who have not attended secondary school in the past two years and who are intending to enrol full-time in an undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Health, Sport & Human Performance.
Peter (1.6.5) is Owner/Director of the Devonport Palms Rest Home in Tauranga and his Uncle Trevor Ayson was previously a Sub Chief of Clan Ayson from 1970 to 1985.
Congratulations
To Rosanna Marie Elizabeth Buchanan-Brown (1.3.2) who received her sporting award "2019 Metropolitian Club Rugby-Womens Player of the year 24.7.2019
Playing at halfback for Otago Spirit which won the Farrah Palmer Championship Cup. 27.10.2019
Obituaries
Murray Alexander Ayson 01.10.1944 – 28.02.2020
Farmer, artist, singer, Christian and family man.
Murray was born in Balclutha in 1944 to parents, Eric and Molly Ayson who farmed in the once-remote district of Slopedown, Kuriwao between Clinton and Mokoreta. Murray lived in Slopedown throughout his life until retirement in 2002. As there was no school bus in the area, he began his early primary schooling by correspondence for two years, then one year lived in a caravan in Clinton with his mother Monday to Friday, both returning to the farm at weekends. Most of the remainder of primary years, Murray boarded with a neighbouring family that lived closer to the schoolbus route and the children all biked down the gravel road together to connect with the schoolbus. High School education was boarding at John McGlashan College, Dunedin where Murray gained a trophy in smallbore rifle shooting. But his heart was in the hills and on school-leaving age, he headed to the farm to climb upon a tractor and begin ploughing paddocks. He remained farming on the ‘Garthowan’ property until retirement.
Murray farmed sheep, wool and beef cattle. He gained several awards and trophies with his Simmental cattle, both ‘on the hoof’ and ‘on the hook’. Latter years, 500 cashmere goats replaced the cattle due to weather conditions. He was an active member of Royal Dunedin Male Choir. Otago Art Society and on retiring to Mosgiel, Murray and Joan became heavily involved in a big building project at Mosgiel Presbyterian Church which boundaries the Taieri College. $1.2 million dollars and it opened debt-free!
Before Murray passed away he and Joan were compiling a beautiful full colour book which is called 'Paintings from my Palette'.
To order your copy contact Joan at <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> Hard Cover books $95; Soft Cover books $65; Postage $10 per tracked bubble bag. 100 selected paintings, one image per page with text on opposite page. A4 size, 228 pages.
All proceeds from Murray's book ($30 per book) will be going to The Cancer Society for early detection and treatment of pancreatic and gastro-intestinal cancers. ($6500.00 has been raised already)
Murray is shown with his last completed painting. Mt Talbot and the Upper Hollyford River. (on the way to Milford Sound).
Photo taken by Joan at the Otago Art Society in February 2019 when Murray was the 'artist-in-residence' every day for two weeks. The OAS has its premises in the Dunedin Railway Station. The OAS Inc is New Zealand's oldest art society.
Phyllis Mersa Ayson
Dearly loved wife of Trevor Maurice Bruce Ayson (1.6.5). Phyll passed peacefully away on Friday 8th May 2020 at home with her family at her side. She will be remembered for her loyal support and involvement in Clan Ayson since her marriage in 1953. Trevor and Phyl rescheduled their marriage date by a week in 1953 as it clashed with the Ayson reunion being planned. Phyl was from Waimate and a Cantabrian all her life. She supported Trevor and his father Bruce in the family hardware business (which later developed into Ayson's Mitre 10 in Beckenham).
They moved to Levin after the Christchurch earthquakes and settled next door to their daughter Andrea and family. So their bubble during Covid 19 included the two households. Phyl was a strongly family orientated woman and loved nothing more than a visit or a chat with her children and grandchildren. She had a sharp mind and a quirky sense of humour that will be missed by all who knew her.
Photo of Trevor and Phyl at the Palmerston North Ayson gathering in 2015.
Death Notice: AYSON, Phyllis Mersa:
Aged 89 years. Dearly loved wife of Trevor for 67 years, much loved mother of Bruce, Paul (deceased) and Andrea. Mother-in-law of Jian-Ling, Sue and Larkin. Cherished Grandmother of her many grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her.
Dominion Post
Jean Lindsay, Glenshee Scotland.
This message was sent to Jean’s family.
“From Clan Ayson of New Zealand. We are deeply indebted to Jean for her kind attention in looking after our members who had come all the way from New Zealand to the Valley of Glenshee, to pay homage to our ancestors who had prayed at the Church and lived in the area of Bingeon, Cray and Corrydon before most of them emigrated in 1852.
It was certainly appreciated that Jean always took valuable time out to ensure we were pointed in the right direction and also regaled us with the history of the area. All those who had met Jean could not say enough about her goodwill and the tremendous help received; and, who over the many years really became a valuable link and part of our Clan.
We are also very grateful that Jean assisted in having a plaque placed on the wall outside the Church denoting the departure of the Aysons from the Valley.
RIP Jean – you will never be forgotten.
Clan Ayson Badges $5.00 each. Pay to bank: BNZ Gore-02-0922-0177953-000
with your name, reference "badge"
Email your deposit receipt and delivery details to email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.