Dad was born on the 8th of March 1931 to Archibald and Mary Robertson. He was one of 12 siblings - five brothers and seven sisters. His family lived at Hall Road in Manurewa. He went to Manurewa Primary School up to Form 1 and then travelled by train to Newmarket to attend St Peters School from Form 2 to Form 6. He passed School Certificate and University Entrance and then attended Auckland University for 1 year while awaiting entry into Teachers Training College. On qualifying as a teacher his first posting was at Pataua School in Whangarei for 2 months at which point  he was called up for Military Training for 3 months. He was then posted to Aka Aka School and in 1953 went to Kaukapakapa School where he spent 5 years.

 He married Mum (Thelma Webster) in 1954 and they lived in Kaukapakapa. I was born in 1957. We shifted to Glorit in 1958 where he was the sole teacher of 12 pupils at Glorit School. We lived in Bill Dicksons old farm house. My brother Murray was born in 1959. Also in 1959 Mum and Dad purchased the Kaukapakapa Store and Rural Mail Run, and shifted back to Kaukapakapa and lived on the Webster farm. We then moved to Peak Road. Wayne was born in 1963.

In 1964 we sold the Kaukapakapa Store and purchased Gandells Stationary Shop in Helensville, and moved to an old villa in Captain Street. In 1990 Mum and Dad built a new home on this site and moved next door. They sold the stationery and lotto shop and retired at 60 and thus began their many enjoyable years of playing bowls, trips to Aussie and visiting the many wonderful friends they had met over the years.

 In 2002 mum and dad moved from Helensville to Kumeu to a retirement cottage on Wayne and Vickys property. This was a great move for dad as he was able to pursue his love of gardening which he enjoyed right up till the end.

Dad was a multi talented sportsman. His love for sport started at an early age. When he was 9 he caddied at the Manukau Golf Club. Money earned was spent mainly on tennis racquets. When he was 12 he was allowed to join the Manurewa Tennis Club where many hours were spent with family and friends practicing. He could beat them all while still at school and achieved success in tournaments in Auckland. He represented Auckland as a Junior and Intermediate. In the winter he played rugby for school and also played for Otahuhu.  At 15 years he played his first senior game for Manurewa and from then on played for them for many years. He represented South Auckland District and Kaipara and was given a trial in Auckland for the All Blacks. He also played Table Tennis and Badminton at Manurewa until leaving there in 1951.

While at College he won the Kings Medal for Shooting, coming 1st in New Zealand, as well as representing School at Football and Tennis. His best tennis performance was defeat of NZ Davis Cup Rep in the Kaipara Open Final.

 

In 1959 Dad took up golf after throwing his football boots in the creek and getting his nose bored. He played at Helensville Golf Club at Rimmers Road and then was an original member at the new course in Peak Road Kaukapakapa in 1960 - well known now as Helensville Golf Club. He played for 17 years, during which time he served in many positions on committees through to President. His lowest handicap was 4. He won the Club Champs and got 2 holes in one. 

In 1975 he took up lawn bowls, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He has played this sport at National level and in 1984 Dad and his great mate Ivan Kostanich won the NZ National Pairs title, and in 1999 he made it to the finals of the National Singles. His bowling interest led him to embark on yearly trips to Aussie to compete in the many competitions held during the winter months. This quickly became a yearly trip and many enjoyable years have been spent in Australia playing bowls, socialising with new and old friends and spending time with Murray, Yoko and the children.

I’d now like to share some special memories about growing with Pat as our dad.

Dad named all three children after pupils, mum didn’t get a say on this one.

I remember in the early days of my schooling, dad gave me a piece of advice. That was about the subject of Maths. He told me this was the one subject you could get 100% in and that set the standard for me.

Weekends in the Robertson household were action packed. If the wind was right we headed to Muriwai beach with out great friends the Curreens, who lived next door and the Greigs, where we went contiki fishing and digging for toheroas.

Sports played a big feature in our lives.  Dad played golf when we were young. He took us eel fishing at the Helensville Golf Course where we sat with the sheep that were roaming freely and steered clear of the electric fences around the greens. We all played golf from a young age and many enjoyable times were spent with friends at the golf club.

One of his other sporting loves was tennis. Those that played against him describe him as a very crafty player. He would look one way and hit the ball the other. His serve always had a spin on it and you never new which way the ball would bounce. Dad said that if he had been born 50 years later he would have become a professional tennis player.

Dad you were a great father to us.  I’ll miss our chats, you popping in with a bag full of fresh veggies from your garden, and also the Christmas ham. You have enriched our lives with your wise words, your calm manner, and kind smile. We love you Pa and we will miss you forever. Rest peacefully in God’s wonderful garden. And finally in your own words Dad “Don’t fuss what will be, will be”.

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