Tales of the Buller

End of Season 4.

Phyllis Phipps passed away this week in her 98th year. She was a treasured guest of this podcast and I wish to pay her tribute and pay my respects to Phyllis and her friends and family. The Buller has lost one of its best.

The podcast warmly welcomes Gary Bainbridge. Gary is a 4th generation coal miner and was born and raised on the Denniston Plateau. Gary tells fascinating tales of growing up on Denniston and what it was like at that time including working on the Incline and riding the wagons down to the middle break. Gary also shares tales of his times in mines up and down the Buller and also in the Grey District. His knowledge is extensive and his tales are fascinating and in depth. Welcome to the world of West Coast coal mining told by a true expert. This episode is entertaining and educational in every way. Enjoy!

The podcast welcomes the fantastic Marissa Stuart. Marissa was born and bred in Reefton and spent her high school years and more in Westport. Marissa shares some hilarious tales of life in Westport as a teenager and just what Westport was like at that time. Marissa owns and operates Bodyfix physiotherapy in both Nelson and Richmond and has been a physio to the All Blacks for many years. This episode is interesting and told with great humour. Enjoy!

The podcast welcomes the fascinating Howard Hill. Howard is Westport born and bred. He is a successful businessman, and an alumni of Cornell University in the USA. He was a member of the RNZAF which formed the foundation of his later success. Howard talks of his family and life growing up in Westport and the path he has taken through life. This is a truly interesting episode. Enjoy!

The podcast welcomes John Bennett, a resident of Carters Beach for over 65 years. John shares some history of his family, the local area and much more. In this fascinating episode we hear tales of Hermits with hidden gold, TB scares and nightmares, climbing into blowholes at Punakaiki, Bruno Lawrence and (wait for it) - Blerta! Enjoy!

The podcast welcomes Terry McDonnell. Terry is a well known figure in the Buller coming from an old Buller family and has farmed in this district for a long time, represented Buller at rugby, worked at the Cement Works and much more. Terry also shares going through a major health scare and how it was dealt with. A fascinating episode. Enjoy!

The podcast is very happy to present the first multi guest episode featuring generations of Buller Rugby. We welcome Gerald Hart, Thomas Stuart and Andrew Duncan, the current Buller Rugby CEO. Hear tales of history, rivalries and famous games. This episode is a must. Enjoy!

We kick off Season 4 with a very well known Buller native, Dan Moloney. Beginning his teaching career at Granity School in 1972 and moving to St Canice’s in 1976, Dan was principal at St Canice’s for 21 years. Following retirement Dan has been heavily involved in community work including a stint as President of the Westport Trotting Club and many other contributions. Most recently Dan has been Chairman of the Museum of Kawatiri. An interesting and accomplished man indeed. Enjoy!

I hope you all enjoyed that short season as much as I did. Thanks to all guests and all who have helped me along the way this year. We will take a short break now until early in the New Year. I wish you all a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New Year. Cheers.

Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #5. This episode has Jeff Richards talking about the early days of Carters Beach, the Gala and a 'famous' message in a bottle found on the beach. This is the last of the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tales - I hope you have enjoyed them. Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad) in 2021 Enjoy!

Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #4. This episode has Geoff Brunning describing a life in Carters Beach including playing with water cannons as a child, making flaxwood rafts and finding the wreckage of a ship up by Cape Foulwind. Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad) in 2021 Enjoy!

Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #3. This episode has Bernard Menzies telling tales of the early days of Carters Beach. These include the formation of the Carters Beach Top Ten Caravan Park and chasing calves for 10 bob at the Rodeo! Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad) in 2021 Enjoy!

Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #2. This episode sees Ken Hill describing life in Carters Beach in the early days and how the trail goes right past their family property. Ken and Jeff recount some amazing stories of the area the trail is now passing through and early times at Carters Beach. Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad) in 2021 Enjoy!

It is my pleasure to present some podcast episodes recorded in 2021 as part of the Kawatiri Coastal Trail project. The episodes in this short season were funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad).

Welcome to the Kawatiri Coastal Trail Tale #1. This has Jeff Richards and Bernard Menzies talking about the early days of Carters Beach and the Galas that were held there along with Rodeos and much more. Episode funded by Epic and recorded by Daimon (The Nomad) in 2021 Enjoy!

Bit of an abrupt end to the season here as I have had an interesting last month to say the least. Click the follow button on whatever Podcast platform you are using so you are notified when season 3 begins. Be happy and safe. Cheers.

The podcast welcomes Noel Palmer, a very well known and respected Buller resident from a very old Buller family. Born in the middle of the 1926 floods Noel tells some fascinating tales of growing up with no power for his first 21 years, of his father bringing the first tractor to Westport, rescuing stranded boats with a stumplifter and more. Enjoy!

This week we present a short anthology of poems by the magnificent former guest Phyllis Phipps. Phyllis has written poetry most of her life and we present a selection of these in this episode. The poems are read by Janelle Hooper of the Buller District Library. A big thanks to Janelle for doing such a wonderful job of this. Enjoy!

The podcast warmly welcomes a true Buller rugby legend, Rodney Dawe. Rodney was born and raised in Ngakawau and he supports the Ngakawau rugby club to this day. Rodney played 59 games for Buller and also played for the combined West Coast/Buller team against the Wallabies, Springboks and the Lions. Rodney was President of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1995 and he took the All Blacks to the 1995 World Cup. Needles to say this man has had a truly rewarding and interesting life. With no further ado, here is Rodney Dawe. Enjoy!