Thread: When men were men

Originally Posted by time out

A good title for your thread @Micky Duck.
This is one of the men that I will always remember as a “real good man” – Henry Irwin who lived in the bush behind Tokomaru just south of Palmerston North – he made his living from deer skins and ammo from tails. He packed the dried skins out in big bundles and down to the end of Albert Rd to catch a Newmans bus to Dalgety’s in Palmy.
Sadly – Henry lost his way in life after the war and became a recluse in the bush – he was a good friend to most of us hunters who bothered to visit him – he would always tell us where to get a deer.
Pictures around 1965 on the Tokomaru River.
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He was a character alright. I first met him when he was living behind the rubbish tip at Toko. He moved into an old house up in the farm. We would always drop in and give him a pair of shoes and some bread and milk. He had some great yarns. Strangled a couple of deer.

Originally Posted by Cowboy

He was a character alright. I first met him when he was living behind the rubbish tip at Toko. He moved into an old house up in the farm. We would always drop in and give him a pair of shoes and some bread and milk. He had some great yarns. Strangled a couple of deer.

I only new him when he lived up on the plateau.

On reflection those pics of him really are outstanding.

Its a generation nearly gone. Is your (step?) Dad still alive?

They really are. Yeah he's been working around the world and came back for the Covid era. Stayed on his yacht here in the harbor below my house. Flew out to Germany and then Sri Lanka for work just yesterday. Was nice to have him round to see my little girl grow from 3 to 5.
His dad,Ted Rout, has been gone a while now. After I posted that last post I had a look at the area on sat photos and see our old hut appears to be still there.
Such a nice time to grow up. I love how we used to blow the horn as we came up the drive if we'd been successful. The old girl would always have food ready to go. Just a nice time. Every one had pride and weren't ashamed of it.

Originally Posted by Cowboy

They really are. Yeah he's been working around the world and came back for the Covid era. Stayed on his yacht here in the harbor below my house. Flew out to Germany and then Sri Lanka for work just yesterday. Was nice to have him round to see my little girl grow from 3 to 5.
His dad,Ted Rout, has been gone a while now. After I posted that last post I had a look at the area on sat photos and see our old hut appears to be still there.
Such a nice time to grow up. I love how we used to blow the horn as we came up the drive if we'd been successful. The old girl would always have food ready to go. Just a nice time. Every one had pride and weren't ashamed of it.

I apologise - by your Dad I actually meant your GD Ted. He was a good man. Yes, wonderful times. So much simpler.
I would love to go back up the Toko. Too late now.
Great memories.
Ta for the pic. Looks bigger.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I apologise - by your Dad I actually meant your GD Ted. He was a good man. Yes, wonderful times. So much simpler.
I would love to go back up the Toko. Too late now.
Great memories.
Ta for the pic. Looks bigger.

Brings back some great memories of Ted Rout and Bernie Bowater – Bernie with the hind quarters and Ted beside his blue land rover. We did a few trips up Takapari Road following along behind the bulldozer each week or so. The road was like a cattle yard – we could walk through the leather wood like it was hardly there. Bernie and his family had a great hut up on the top near the road – on a track pushed through from the farm. They were both real good hunters – sadly Bernie had a heart attack and died at about 50ish.

Thanks for posting these pics mate. Ted was a real gentle fella full of 'good'.
I used to be scared sh@tless going up over the hills above tok in that land rover. Looked alot older when I was in it.

I just noticed the rifle against the wagon. Wonder if its this one. He gave me his old rifle many years back