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Note: Maureen Agnes Cairns Born: 20th of November 1929 Father: John Mill Cairns Mother: Marion Cairns.
Maureen was born at home at 26 Waltons Avenue Masterton. As a child Maureen was very helpful to her Mother and being the youngest of the family of four brothers and one sister she could hold her own. When she was hardly big enough to lift an iron she hit her brother Terry on the forehead with one " it seems that he could be very frustrating sometimes". Maureen had dolls and dolls prams. When a big earthquake hit Masterton little Maureen sprang out of bed and ran into her parent's bedroom and a dolls pram that was stored on the top of a wardrobe was found on her bedroom floor right where she had passed through her door. Maureen started School at St Patrick's Catholic School.
Maureen was athletic and could hold her own in the sprints at the St Patrick's Day picnics held at Solway Show grounds. She was average at tennis but on the basketball court she was top-grade. She often helped her brothers organize the harriers and she with a friend was made honorary members of the club one season. Maureen took up indoor miniature rifle shooting. A real "Annie Oakley"! It was at shooting that Maureen first met Bruce Oakly her husband.
She worked at the State Insurance Company in Lincoln Road Masterton, in an office position. When Maureen was to marry Bruce Oakly at St Patrick's Church Masterton, on the 30th of April 1955, her sister-in-law Pearl Cairns was engaged to make her wedding dress.
Bruce was an agricultural contractor and they rented a house in Gordon Street. Later they were to have a home built in Hobson place, Masterton. When the Oakly contractor business changed Bruce and Maureen went to work for Rod McKenzie on his farm at Kopuaranga and lived in the farm cottage. Malcolm Stuart employed Bruce to milk his dairy herd at Rangitumau and they shifted to his cottage. From there they took a similar position with Ross McKenzie in Rangiotu in Manawatu and became part of that community. Returning to the Wairarapa, Maureen and Bruce took up Share- milking at Kokatau, out of Carterton. They were part of that community and of the Carterton parish and family would visit them on the farm at Christmas times and Birthdays etc.
After being married for 10 years without having any children Maureen and Bruce adopted a daughter Melanie, and a son Tony. Shortly after the adoption of Tony, Maureen found that she was pregnant. Michael was born in 1968, and then another son Christopher was born. In 1970. Floods made things tough for the Kokatau dairy farmers in their early days on the farm. With the help of their growing family Maureen and Bruce fought back to have the unit in tip-top order.
Just when they were comfortable and thinking of moving into town again Bruce firstly was tossed by a bull and then suffered a terrible accident when he was tossed by a utility truck and trailer at the entrance to the farm. Bruce's pelvis was shattered and he was rushed to Masterton Hospital and then by helicopter to Wellington Hospital. It was touch-and-go as to whether he would survive the accident. Much to everyone's surprise and due to Bruce and Maureen's fortitude and prayers Bruce not only came out of Hospital but also was around to help plan the building of a new home in Kiwi Street. He can walk again, can look after his grandchildren, drive the car, fish, and play outdoor bowls.
Maureen and Bruce do not keep the best of health and both have had recent operations and constant trips to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment is very tiring, being quite a long drive from Masterton. During their visits to Hospital they sometimes call in to see Aline, Des's wife for a cup of tea and to catch up on family news. Since Des's death Aline has lived alone and is always please to have family visit. Children of Maureen and Bruce Oakly 1. Melanie Anne Born: 11 Mar. 1966 at Masterton. 2. Anthony Bruce Born: 11 Oct. 1967 at Masterton. 3.Michael Thomas Born: 13 June 1968 at Masterton. 4. Christopher John Born: 12 Feb. 1970 at Masterton.
Maureen Agnes Born: 20th of November 1929 Father: John Mill Cairns Mother: Marion Cairns, nee Allsworth. Maureen was born at home 26 Waltons Avenue. Her early childhood was a particularly happy one and her sister Kit who was thrilled to have a sister after being the only girl in the family spoiled her. Her big brother, Jock, always called her "his sweetheart" and she idolized him.
Waltons Avenue was a happy street with neighbours helping one another and the children all playing and sharing toys and games. Born near the end of the country's Depression Maureen did not suffer the hardships that her brothers and sister had
Maureen followed the rest of the family, at the age of five, to begin her education at St. Patrick's School, which was staffed by the Nuns of the Brigidine Order who had emigrated from Ireland. Leaving Primary after Standard six she began her Secondary Education at St. Bride's Convent. She enrolled as a Commercial Course student and received a superb grounding from the Nuns who spent a lot of extra hours helping her to prepare for Shorthand, Typing and Bookkeeping examinations. After leaving Secondary Maureen continued with Night -School classes at the convent and became highly certificated for the Commercial Labour market.
Her first job was with the firm of Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt - Surveyor Engineers. As she was the only female on the staff Maureen missed the company of girls and resigned to work as a Junior at the State Fire Insurance office - a Government Department. As she gained more and more Qualifications she became Secretary to the head of the Branch.
Maureen's mother had a great love of Poetry and delighted in teaching the children little stories and poems. Maureen also developed a great love of poetry and was encouraged by her Mum to recite for visitors little poems she had been taught. Maureen received Elocution lessons from the age of six with Kit doubling her on her bike to her lessons at the home of Mrs Patterson. Maureen also received Piano lessons from the age of eight but showed no talent and was never able to play without music. However her love of speech opened many doors for Maureen and in her teens, was in great demand to entertain at concerts, dances and parties. She competed with great success at the Annual Wellington Competitions, in the Speech and Drama division, the final time she competed winning the prestigious London Cup. Maureen became a certified teacher of Speech but found that the demands of her pupils were taking over the time she wanted to give to sport.
Athletics were another one of Maureen's loves and her Dad was always so proud of her certificates gained for the sprints at Athletic meetings. One piece of advice he always gave her at the starting line was " See the tape at the end of the track- keep your eyes on that and run straight for it as fast as you can!"
Maureen loved tennis and tried really hard but never succeeded- much like her piano playing! Outdoor Basketball - now Netball- was a great love of her life and she played as a representative of her Province several times. One of her fondest memories is of the day she received her N.Z. Outdoor Referees Exam results which enabled her to travel around the country refereeing at Tournaments- her Referees Badge is one of her prized possessions.
Maureen has maintained the friendships she made from Primers Class at school throughout her life and it was while she was picnicking with a group of theses friends at their favorite swimming hole in the Waingawa River south of Masterton that she caught the eye of the lad who was to eventually become her husband. Bruce Oakly was an outdoors man of the hunting, shooting, fishing kind. An accomplished Bike rider on grass tracks he was, nevertheless, not an accomplished swimmer. Maureen saw him sitting beside the swimming hole and presumed he was just shy so decided to break the ice and pushed him in the deep end. Bruce's cousin Dick called to her "He can't swim!" So Maureen dived in and helped him to shore. Their friendship started from there. Bruce introduced Maureen to anther love of her life - Smallbore Rifle Shooting- a sport they both loved dearly. Bruce was a first class Marksman with many trophies to show for his expertise. Arnold Bruce Oakly and Maureen Agnes Cairns were married in St Patrick's Parish Church Masterton, on the 30th of April, 1955.Their attendants were Bridesmaids: Faye Sullivan and Barbara Wootton, Best man and Groomsman Walter McDonald, and Alan Oakly. They rented a new house with a few acres at the top of Gordon Street, Masterton. It was being built as a retirement home for Mr. and Mrs. Hugh O'Brian who were Station Managers at" Brammerton". Bruce was working as an Agricultural Contractor at the time and Hugh asked him where he was going to live when he was married. Bruce said " We will rent a house" and Hugh asked if he would like to rent his house. Bruce accepted the offer and he and his Grandfather painted and prepared the house to have it ready to shift into when he and Maureen returned from their Honeymoon. They lived there for several years until they built their own home in a new sub- division at Hobson Place Masterton.
When Bruce and Maureen married in 1955 they both hoped they would soon be blessed with children, but this was not yet to be and it was on the 11th of March, 1966 that they were blessed by the gift of their adopted daughter Melanie Anne. On the 11th of October 1967 they were again blessed by the gift of their adopted son Anthony Bruce (known as Tony). Their joy knew no bounds! I soon became obvious that Melanie and Tony were not to be the total offspring of Maureen and Bruce and Maureen was delivered by caesarian section, on the 13th of June 1968, of Michael Thomas. You will say -enough blessings for this grateful couple but no - again they were blessed for the 4th time when Maureen was again delivered by caesarian section, on 12th of February, 1970, of Christopher John. 'Deo Gratias'
Later in the year of 1970 the economic situation of New Zealand really hit the Hill Country farmers and was so serious as to cause the farmers to cease any development work on their properties creating the situation whereby it was uneconomical to engage Contractors. Bruce and his 2 cousins, Ron and Dick agreed to dissolve their Partnership as Oakly Contractors and Bruce decided to go to Milking Cows. Rod McKenzie of Kopuaranga had a spare house and offered Bruce a job to milk his herd. They rented their home at 5 Hobson place and shifted to the country. Times were hard and working conditions harder so Bruce applied for and was appointed Herd Manager of Malcolm and Jean Stuart's Rangitumau Town Supply Herd. This was a very demanding job for Bruce but one he enjoyed and Maureen and the children were very happy there. When Malcolm's son came home from overseas experience we left there and traveled to the position on Ross and Molly McKenzie's farm at Rangioto, Manawatu. The children were never happy there and missed their friends and relations from the Wairarapa. Bruce made a very brave decision to apply to the Rural Bank for a loan to buy his own herd this was granted and he began to search for a suitable farm. After lots of Prayers they found a herd and owners, Beth and Roy Harrington, Prepared to take them on as 50/50 Sharemilkers at Kokotau, east of Carterton.
They sold their home at Hobson Place, brought the herd and shifted there on the 1st June 1977. They put their trust in God and prayed constantly for good Health for themselves and their Stock and God answered their prayers. They did not despair when floods came but trusted that they would pull through. It was amazing to see how the neighboring farmers pulled together to help one another- Hay and Meal was given and shared by farmers throughout the Wairarapa. Things were tough but they survived learnt a lot about generosity in adversity. Many times Keith would call in on his way to Martinborough to see his insurance clients and would drop off a packet of meat saying "picked this up as I passed the Butcher, at Waingawa!" Truly a Man in the ilk of St Vincent de Paul!
Life after that kept on the up and up until Bruce was tossed by their Friesian bull in 1990. The bull had been running with the heifers and Bruce was taking him back to his Paddock. As they approached the cowshed the bull turned on Bruce and tossed him over the gate into the cowshed where he landed on his head on the concrete floor. Bruce received a severe head injury and was hospitalized for a long period. The neighbour's pulled together and with their help they got through. Their next hurdle was when Bruce went down to the road entrance to pick up the newspaper. He was still about 10 yards from the road entrance when he heard the roar of a vehicle- a 4 wheel drive wagon with a double -axled trailer on behind shot out of control up the drive- picked up Bruce on the bull bars and tossed him through a row of trees, over a fence and onto the hill paddock next door. Bruce was very seriously injured and was flown by Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Wellington hospital where he hovered for a long time between life and death. Heaven was really stormed with petitions for his recovery and he came home 5 months later confined to a wheelchair. He fought valiantly to cope with his disabilities and was not abandoned by his Doctors. Professor Horne had an idea that he could make Bruce walk again and spelt out the dangers if he failed. He made Bruce come home for 6 weeks and then go back to Wellington and give his decision. They went back on the day and Bruce said " Go ahead'! Thanks be to God and the skill of Professor Horne and his support team Bruce is now able to enjoy life and has found that he is a" dab hand "at outdoor Bowls. Maureen and Bruce do not keep the best of health and both have had recent Operations. Constant trips to the Palmerston North Hospital for treatment are very tiring, being a long drive from Masterton. During their visits to Hospital they sometimes called in to see Aline Des's wife for a cup of tea and catch up on family news. Since Des's death Aline has lived alone and is always pleased to have family visit.
Children of Bruce and Maureen Oakly 1. Melanie Anne Born 11 Mar 1966 at Masterton 2. Anthony Bruce Born 11 Oct 1967 at Masterton 3. Michael Thomas Born 13 Jun 1968 at Masterton. 4. Christopher John Born 12 Feb 1970 at Masterton.
1929 Maureen Agnes Cairns 679
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