Be Our Guest entry: Letter, Trevor Noonan
Maker
Noonan, Trevor
Object detail
Brief Description
Letter to the Be Our Guest competition by Trevor (Terry or Pom) Noonan. He writes about his memories of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
Terry was aged seven at the time of the earthquake. He was at Pakipaki School and was ordered outside along with the other pupils. The headmaster and teachers told them to link arms and march up and down the tennis court. Two water tanks had spilled. Parents came to take their children home, some by car and some in horse and trap. A relative, Margaret Coghlan, arrived to take Terry and other family members, Malcolm McDonald and Collie Coghlan home. When he got home he saw his Granddad Henry Brooker lying dead. Terry's grandparents Margaret and Henry Brooker had brought up Terry and his sister Shirley Magnussen (nee Noonan), then aged four, since their mother had died in 1926. They were also raising Malcolm McDonald (aged twelve).
Henry Brooker was a meat inspector at the Pakipaki Borthwick's Freezing Works. He was one of four people to die on 3 February 1931 at the works. Many were injured, including losing limbs. Henry Brooker was killed instantly when he was hit on the head by a metal frame from which meat carcasses hang. He had returned inside to get his pipe. Terry mentions the two other men who also died at the works, Bert Dyer and William Love. The trains were still able to run and the head stockman Bill Coghlan and his son Willie Coghlan loaded the train with sheep to take them to the works near Masterton.
Margaret Brooker was the proprietress of the catering facility at the works. The family lived in the cookhouse at the works. After the earthquake they lived under railway tarpaulins that were draped over fences. The road south was constantly busy, day and night. Later they received three Bell tents. Other family members came to stay because they were short of money and work. Within 24 hours of the earthquake, representatives of the Borthwick family arrived to survey the damage. The damage to the works meant the place eventually closed down. About twelve houses were removed within six months and were put on large trailers pulled by traction engines to Gascoigne Street (behind the racecourse) in Hastings.
Terry's grandmother purchased the house they lived in and moved it to Mutiny Road, Pakipaki. She pursued an insurance claim after her husband's death which was concluded at the Privy Council in London. Her lawyer was a Mr O'Reagan. She didn't receive any money until 1938 and it was less than other married women received, because she had a job and was not totally dependent on her husband.
Terry's sister Margaret Shirley Magnussen (known as Shirley) also entered the Be Our Guest competition. She saw her grandfather die when the wall collapsed. She was 4 years 9 months at the time of the earthquake. They had cleaned out the freezer that day and Shirley was playing in what she called the snow.
Terry was aged seven at the time of the earthquake. He was at Pakipaki School and was ordered outside along with the other pupils. The headmaster and teachers told them to link arms and march up and down the tennis court. Two water tanks had spilled. Parents came to take their children home, some by car and some in horse and trap. A relative, Margaret Coghlan, arrived to take Terry and other family members, Malcolm McDonald and Collie Coghlan home. When he got home he saw his Granddad Henry Brooker lying dead. Terry's grandparents Margaret and Henry Brooker had brought up Terry and his sister Shirley Magnussen (nee Noonan), then aged four, since their mother had died in 1926. They were also raising Malcolm McDonald (aged twelve).
Henry Brooker was a meat inspector at the Pakipaki Borthwick's Freezing Works. He was one of four people to die on 3 February 1931 at the works. Many were injured, including losing limbs. Henry Brooker was killed instantly when he was hit on the head by a metal frame from which meat carcasses hang. He had returned inside to get his pipe. Terry mentions the two other men who also died at the works, Bert Dyer and William Love. The trains were still able to run and the head stockman Bill Coghlan and his son Willie Coghlan loaded the train with sheep to take them to the works near Masterton.
Margaret Brooker was the proprietress of the catering facility at the works. The family lived in the cookhouse at the works. After the earthquake they lived under railway tarpaulins that were draped over fences. The road south was constantly busy, day and night. Later they received three Bell tents. Other family members came to stay because they were short of money and work. Within 24 hours of the earthquake, representatives of the Borthwick family arrived to survey the damage. The damage to the works meant the place eventually closed down. About twelve houses were removed within six months and were put on large trailers pulled by traction engines to Gascoigne Street (behind the racecourse) in Hastings.
Terry's grandmother purchased the house they lived in and moved it to Mutiny Road, Pakipaki. She pursued an insurance claim after her husband's death which was concluded at the Privy Council in London. Her lawyer was a Mr O'Reagan. She didn't receive any money until 1938 and it was less than other married women received, because she had a job and was not totally dependent on her husband.
Terry's sister Margaret Shirley Magnussen (known as Shirley) also entered the Be Our Guest competition. She saw her grandfather die when the wall collapsed. She was 4 years 9 months at the time of the earthquake. They had cleaned out the freezer that day and Shirley was playing in what she called the snow.
Production place
Production period
Media/Materials description
A4 photocopied sheets; typed and printed.
Media/Materials
Measurements
In the Be Our Guest Folder No 2.: Height x Width: 298 x 210mm
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
03 Feb 1931
Credit line
gifted by Trevor Noonan
Other number(s)
m2006/27/91, 34942
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.