One day in 1992 I was staying with my Auntie Bea, who was by then living in Whangamata, she and her husband Jack having moved there from Hamilton when he retired.
My office rang and said there was an enquiry for a CHAS type system 'just up the road' (at Pauanui).
As you can imagine the very next day I presented myself (in person of course) to see how we could help.
But first I have to relate the (only?) other occasion that made me really angry.
My favourite aunt (o.k my only aunt – but still my favourite) as she got older did need to spend some time at either Thames or Waikato Hospitals.
I always endeavoured to visit her on these occasions. I did have her Power of Attorney, which before agreeing to take it on sought legal advice which was basically that any decisions I had to make had to be in HER best interests.
This role I took very seriously.
One one occasion she had been in Waikato Hospital and was MOST unhappy, I was never really able to get to the bottom of just what it was, but the upshot of it was that she REFUSED point blank to ever go back to Waikato – Thames sure, but would rather die at home rather than be forced back there.
Unfortunately she subsequently ended up with an infected big toe which turned gangrenous and it needed to be removed. Thames could not do it so the only option was Waikato. Not likely – I'll just die at home then (remember I had to act in her best interests). Both her doctor and I both tried very hard to convince her – dying at home was becoming a serious possibility.
So eventually she agreed to go to Waikato provided she never had to go anywhere near Ward 14.
So off she went (and I went too) and she was put in Ward 9 (I think it was) the surgeon explained what they were going to do and WHY. At this stage she was being very well looked after.
BUT while she was away in theatre I was told that when she came out they would be putting her in Ward 14!!! Oh No You Won't !!
I was, as you can imagine even more angry than I had been with Pat in Christchurch. I said to my friend, does you phone take photos? Not all phones did in those days – no.
So please ring both TV1 and TV3 and tell them that I am going to lie down in front of the trolley to ensure they could not 'break the contract'.
“ Ward 14 is the general surgical ward and that is where she should be. We only put her in 9 as a special favour.” I said if she wakes up to find herself in Ward 14 she will die and I will personally see that each and
every one of you is charged with murder – it cannot be called an accident you have been warned.
Don't forget I have a loud, booming forceful voice particularly when I am as angry as I was then.
This brought all the rats (read Managers) out of the wood work.
“ Ward 14 is one of our busiest wards and sometimes patients don't always get the attention they think they deserve. What upset her last time?”
I just said let's wait until the news media get here eh?
This didn't find favour at all. All this carried out in my firm but fair (loud) voice!
The upshot of this was that they put her back in Ward 9, the operation was a success, and I don't think my lovely Auntie Bea ever knew just how much drama there had been!!
Incidentally my Cousin Barb, who at the time was in charge of Wellington Hospital A & E dept, when told of my antics instead of praising me as I had expected, said you are just the sort of family member we can well do without. Sorry Barb - TOUGH.
But back to Duck Creek itself.
This started a long involvement with our 'Little bit of Paradise in New Zealand'.
I was shown around the operation and determined that a genuine Wang 2200 system could be implemented pretty easily with only three terminals to start with but with plenty of room to expand as the operation grew.
Later that year daughter Kathryn (Kat) and I installed the system.
At that stage there were 5 'Swiss style' chalets, and also 7 'Spanish Rooms' – each with 4 generous bunks – shared kitchen and toilet facilities and a social room.
There was also a stunning houseboat moored on the man made lake.
A 'tennis house' overlooked the two clay type tennis courts.
There was also a horse trekking operation based on the property.
CHAS took care of all bookings, checking in and out and all the ancilliary tasks.
Duck Creek Brochures
Top – HARRY AND ME Bottom left – THE OFFICE Bottom – AMANDA AND ME AT DUCK CREEK INN
Over the next couple of years we built a licensed restaurant, added a 'witch house' (so called because of its witches hat shape) and a heated indoor swimming pool – the only one on the eastern side of the peninsular.
We also added 12 canoes to the mix rented them out by the hour and encouraged the paddlers to go upstream on the Tairua River towards Hikuai rather than risk being lost at sea if they went towards Pauanui. I am pleased to say we didn't lose anyone !!
All of this necessitated increasing the number of terminals and general grunt of the computer system – needless to say no problem.
So we ended up with terminals 'all over the place; including in the Duty Manager's so called flat!
By this time I had gradually become its General Manager, but based in Christchurch.
I then persuaded one of my programmers, who had done his apprenticeship as a greenkeeper to become Duck Creek's duty manager.
At that stage I used to come up each July, require all staff to take their holidays etc, and would often be the only person on the 250 acre property.
I would then come up again mid December – when were really busy – and stay until after Auckland Anniversary weekend at the end of January,.
Because the computer system was basically the same as ours back in Christchurch whenever I was away my office girl used to clear the p o. box twice a week, and put the entire contents in a big envelope and mail it up to me.
I trust you will see from the above just how well things were going and how well we were organised.
Yeah right- again.
Late 1996 the husband and wife owners separated and she wanted her equity out. Disaster!
Harry (the husband) then tried to get a business partner to invest to allow this to happen – it proved much more difficult than was expected.
The whole property was therefore put up for sale and was eventually bought in 1997 by a couple who wanted land to build an International Style Golf course.
They had no real interest in running the resort as such and in 1998 simply closed it down.
I did have the job of tidying up the loose ends once the sale was sort of completed – but Harry was able to keep ownership of half the resort lots not yet built upon. This has been an on going saga.
At this stage it looked like my continuing involvement with Duck Creek was well and truly over. Yeah right – again.
A stress related health scare in 2003 persuaded my doctor to lay it on the line.
“If you don't give up you may well not be here this time next year, Sell up, give it away if necessary, and get out of Christchurch completely – do you know anywhere you could go?”
You guessed it back to Duck Creek again.
Whilst not ENTIRELY true to say that the place had gone to the dogs, in reality it had.
I managed to rent one of the chalets from its new owner – another friendship which lasts to this very day.
I also managed to get a job driving the local school bus which I did for nearly 10 years.
But by this time I had both James and George living with me( see the chapter on James and George) and the Chalet wasn't really ideal for the three of us, so we moved to Pauanui itself
After a couple of years that house got sold so we were back to Duck Creek.
Once I gave up driving the school bus daily we were able to move to Mt Paku in Tairua until there the owners eventually wanted their house back too , so back to Duck Creek, different chalet this time (and I am still here).
The reality is that being 2hrs from Auckland, 2hrs from Hamilton and 2 hrs from Tauranga makes it pretty much ideal for me.