Last surviving commissioned officer of the Māori battalion has died.
He was a Dinkum Purler and in a Radio series of that name he speaks of his years growing up in the Chatham Islands, of his early Moriori ancestors and his time with Colonel Awatere at Casino during WWII and the horrors of that war.
I interviewed him just before the Millennium, and he was the most wonderful man, modest, unassuming, with a great sense of humour.
You can listen to the interview here:
On Wednesday, 13th of December my beloved book, For God Sake Saddle Me A Donkey, launched in written form at the Millwood Gallery, Thorndon and is available at leading book stores, such as Marsden Books and Unity in Wellington and Wheelers in Auckland or from me, send me an email please.
Thinking of our traveling partners: the Bicklers, Colin and Shirley and their daughter Rachel, and Vernon Wright, my first husband who could not be here. There is a picture of Nikki and Rachel in the book, Nikki was one and a half when we left New Zealand she came to the launch to help and sing the song. Continue reading Launched as a book at last – FGSSMAD
So many of you who heard the series on National Radio wrote saying, “Where can I find the book for FGSSMAD?”
It’s on the way, coming up very soon…
Keep an eye here for updates
Regards,
Dinah
Listen to the audio here on Radio New Zealand: Part 3 – Surviving the Gold Coast
We attempt to earn a little money at Brisbane nightclub with drastic results!
The Book of For God’s Sake Saddle Me a Donkey is coming.
Dinah Priestley tells how, in 1962, two New Zealand couples, each with a small child, decide to convert an ex-army truck into a travelling home, and drive it to England.
Listen to 27 Dec 2016 Part 2- The Overland Route
Listen to the audio here on Radio New Zealand: Part 1 – Peacocks and Pink Gin
Glad so many of you liked For God’s Sake Saddle me a Donkey. I’m currently working on the book illustrated with my cartoons. I’ll let you know when it comes out.
This episode recalls how our small group of travelling New Zealanders came to stay with the Maharaja of Bharatpur.
Radio New Zealand, National
Wake up with me, Dinah Priestley, travelling from Wellington to London in an accident-prone WW2 truck called Leviathan. Friends said to us “You are mad! Those toddlers of yours will be dead before you reach London.” But we were lucky.! We survived, with help from peasants and prostitutes, missionaries and maharajahs.
For God’s Sake Saddle Me a Donkey: Radio New Zealand, weekdays 6.45 a.m. from 26th December 2016, to 19th January 2017.
