| HOOPER FAMILY |
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ALBERT GEORGE HOOPER (Pat) - Third generation
Born 30 September 1891. Died 3 October 1962
Pat married Violet Constance McClean.
They had 9 children - Bryan George HOOPER, Charles Henry HOOPER, John Gordon HOOPER, Mavis Rae HOOPER, Robert Neil HOOPER (Bob), Ronald Kenneth HOOPER (Ron), Lois Beverly HOOPER, Ian Douglas HOOPER, Raymond Albert HOOPER (Ray)
Pat was educated at Makarau School and worked for a time on the farm of Charles and Clara, doing occasional work with different members of the family while buying part of the family estate and additional land.
Pat married Violet Constance McClean.
They had 9 children - Bryan George HOOPER, Charles Henry HOOPER, John Gordon HOOPER, Mavis Rae HOOPER, Robert Neil HOOPER (Bob), Ronald Kenneth HOOPER (Ron), Lois Beverly HOOPER, Ian Douglas HOOPER, Raymond Albert HOOPER (Ray)
Pat was educated at Makarau School and worked for a time on the farm of Charles and Clara, doing occasional work with different members of the family while buying part of the family estate and additional land.
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During World War 1 Pat enlisted and served as a Camelier in the Imperial Camel Brigade in the Middle East. Pat was a signaller and received serious wounds. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for bravery while fighting near Amman, which is the capital of Jordan. John Robertson has written a book about their battalion, "With the Cameliers in Palestine". Pat is mentioned on page 170. Click on this link to read it http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Came-t1-body-d17.html Click here to see information about the medal http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/i/i18.html . The photo on the right is of Pat in uniform
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Taken at John and Jean's wedding 17 May 1952. Pictures are Ray, Charles, Lois, John, Mavis, Pat, Ian, Vi, Bryan, Robert, Ron
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Rangipai (Okoroire Railway Station):
In 1952 they all moved to the Waikato and settled on two farms at Okoroire Railway (now known as Rangipai) about 4 miles from Tirau on State Highway 27. Pat and Vi lived in the homestead. John and Bob and their families lived in two other houses on that farm and Bryan and Charles and their families lived in houses on the second farm. It was a unique family situation with three generations living in as an extended family. The family was known for it's hospitality, good food and fun.
Violet Constance McClean (Vi)
Violet was born 7 November 1903, one of 10 children - 9 girls and one brother, Joseph Archibald (born about 1897). Their parents were:
Agnes's parents were John and Eliza Curtis (nee Eliza Bayley) who were pioneers in the Maungaturoto area - Point Curtis is named after them *. John Curtis was born 5 June 1840 in Birmingham to John and Maryann Bailey - he died 11 May 1916 in Maungaturoto.
* A book has been written by a descendant, Hazel Williamson (nee Hazel Williamson) titled 'John and Eliza Curtis Family of Point Curtis: Pioneers of Maungaturoto, Pukekaroro and Kaiwaka'
- John McClean who was born in NZ about 1870 and died at Kaiwaka 25 Oct 1925.
- Agnes Beatrice Curtis who was born in NZ 29 December 1872, and died at Kaiwaka 22 May 1954
Agnes's parents were John and Eliza Curtis (nee Eliza Bayley) who were pioneers in the Maungaturoto area - Point Curtis is named after them *. John Curtis was born 5 June 1840 in Birmingham to John and Maryann Bailey - he died 11 May 1916 in Maungaturoto.
* A book has been written by a descendant, Hazel Williamson (nee Hazel Williamson) titled 'John and Eliza Curtis Family of Point Curtis: Pioneers of Maungaturoto, Pukekaroro and Kaiwaka'
Hooper Farms Limited
Pat and Vi established a company, Hooper Farms Ltd. The original farm was on State Highway 27 at Rangipai near Tirau. The farm was on the eastern side of the road between Langlands Road and Lake Road. Rangipai School was almost opposite the end of Totman Road.
Here is a link to a map http://maps.yellow.co.nz/#p=map&to=State+Highway+27,+Waikato,+New+Zealand.
The company later bought another farm at Gordon, under the Kaimai Ranges about halfway between Te Aroha and Matamata. Charles and Stella and Ian and Valerie and their families lived on this farm. http://maps.yellow.co.nz/#p=map&to=Gordon,+New+Zealand. On 3 July 1963 an NAC DC3 flight from Auckland to Tauranga crashed in the ranges near the farm killing all 23 people on board. Here are links to 2 articles written at the time of the 50th anniversary of the crash. http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/8863466/The-Kaimai-crash-50-years-on and http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8875664/Drone-of-a-DC3-rekindles-grief-over-husbands-death.
In 1969 work began on the Kaimai train tunnel which was situated at the southern corner of the Gordon farm. In 1970 the tunnel collapsed killing 4 men. You can read more here http://mitrou44.tripod.com/newzealandkaimaitunneldisaster/
Later the Gordon farm was sold, and a farm was purchased on Landsdowne Road, Walton.
http://maps.yellow.co.nz/#p=map&to=Waharoa,+New+Zealand
In later years the farms were all sold and the company was wound up.
Here is a link to a map http://maps.yellow.co.nz/#p=map&to=State+Highway+27,+Waikato,+New+Zealand.
The company later bought another farm at Gordon, under the Kaimai Ranges about halfway between Te Aroha and Matamata. Charles and Stella and Ian and Valerie and their families lived on this farm. http://maps.yellow.co.nz/#p=map&to=Gordon,+New+Zealand. On 3 July 1963 an NAC DC3 flight from Auckland to Tauranga crashed in the ranges near the farm killing all 23 people on board. Here are links to 2 articles written at the time of the 50th anniversary of the crash. http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/8863466/The-Kaimai-crash-50-years-on and http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/8875664/Drone-of-a-DC3-rekindles-grief-over-husbands-death.
In 1969 work began on the Kaimai train tunnel which was situated at the southern corner of the Gordon farm. In 1970 the tunnel collapsed killing 4 men. You can read more here http://mitrou44.tripod.com/newzealandkaimaitunneldisaster/
Later the Gordon farm was sold, and a farm was purchased on Landsdowne Road, Walton.
http://maps.yellow.co.nz/#p=map&to=Waharoa,+New+Zealand
In later years the farms were all sold and the company was wound up.
Pat and Vi's headstone
Pat passed away on 3rd October 1962 and Violet passed away on 30 August 1991. Both are buried at Matamata.
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Some of the family in later years
Back - Ray, Bob and Lois
Front - Mavis, Charles, Ron and John |
