One of the only things for sure in life, is that there will be change and the Waianakarua Garage is one of those things that is now in the past - though the building is still there.
Jim Robertson and Bert Bennett started the garage, Jim was a mechanic and Bert an auto electrician. They ran a workers' bus into Oamaru and it was well patronised.
It was a different era then. Those older cars and machinery, older style petrols and oils and the need to fix things. The Waianakarua Garage served the community and was an important service because their work was to a high standard - and practical.
When I came on to the scene, Bert had started the sawmill and had sold his share in the garage back to Jim (affectionately known as 'JR'). JR had a mechanic, Jim Jameson (Nobby) and a grease monkey, Reg Moses. Reg did not remain at the garage for long - a young fellow moving on, I supposed.
Nobby was a very good mechanic but was not qualified [people said that he did not like to study]. However his expertise was exceptional and he took the D6 apart completely and fully reconditioned it - track rollers and all! NZFS had its own workshops - Conical Hills Workshop - and we never trusted them even with a wheelbarrow! Most times things came from there, they needed to go to the Waianakarua Garage to be fixed properly!
On wet days local farmers congregated there for a yarn or minor repairs to bit and pieces they had now found time to have repaired. It frustrated JR and Nobby because they were not able to operate efficiently.
I managed to win the right to purchase our petrol there instead of going into town with a 200 litre drum.
When our sons were born, JR took money from the till and gave it 'to add to their savings'. He was a generous man.
My old Commer Cob station wagon would from time to time be covered in pig/deer blood and JR would wash it out with disinfectant, claiming that the vehicle stunk! Well I thought that the disinfectant was worse than the dog and blood smell.
Once after a grease and oil change, I took to the forest looking for pigs and noticed the oil pressure light had come on. I stopped the vehicle and dipped the oil - none. I rang JR telling him that maybe the sump plug was not tightened properly. He came and town the vehicle back to the garage - will I had hit a rock and torn the sump plug off completely!
Another time I lent the old Commer truck to some student foresters who were staying at Hampden - they rang to say that the gearbox had seized. Nobby to the rescue this time and he found the gearbox to totally dry, no oil whatever. I drove that truck daily and had noticed no problem.
Times changed and JR could no longer afford to keep Nobby on and he went truck driving for Hampden Transport. He met a tragic accident and was killed. Nobby had been a bit of a larrikin in his time and I know a story or two about him, but one time we were hunting together and I shot a very large deer. We were going to auction it off in the Hampden pub, so had to carry it a long distance to the vehicle. Nobby and Mick had their turn at carrying the animal across their shoulders and winking at each other they lifted it across mine. Well my legs gave out so the deer and I formed an untidy heap.
Later in the pub, after having sold off the deer, we enjoyed a few moments together. Constable Cruikshank came to talk to us - as was his duty - and we had a chat. During this chat, I had an urge to collect one of the silver buttons on his tunic and he laughed at the suggestion. I drew my Green River skinning knife, but thought better of it and just gave him a wide smile. Try the same thing today....
JR sold the garage to Robert Hutton who kept the garage running successfully for a number of years. Later Robert came to work for me on the forest and he enjoyed his time there until we all faced redundancy.
Robert managed to sell the garage as a going concern but all who bought it failed because of the changing times.
I am sad that the garage has gone and also some of the good people. I hope this serves to remember a little of that past.
Jim Robertson and Bert Bennett started the garage, Jim was a mechanic and Bert an auto electrician. They ran a workers' bus into Oamaru and it was well patronised.
It was a different era then. Those older cars and machinery, older style petrols and oils and the need to fix things. The Waianakarua Garage served the community and was an important service because their work was to a high standard - and practical.
When I came on to the scene, Bert had started the sawmill and had sold his share in the garage back to Jim (affectionately known as 'JR'). JR had a mechanic, Jim Jameson (Nobby) and a grease monkey, Reg Moses. Reg did not remain at the garage for long - a young fellow moving on, I supposed.
Nobby was a very good mechanic but was not qualified [people said that he did not like to study]. However his expertise was exceptional and he took the D6 apart completely and fully reconditioned it - track rollers and all! NZFS had its own workshops - Conical Hills Workshop - and we never trusted them even with a wheelbarrow! Most times things came from there, they needed to go to the Waianakarua Garage to be fixed properly!
On wet days local farmers congregated there for a yarn or minor repairs to bit and pieces they had now found time to have repaired. It frustrated JR and Nobby because they were not able to operate efficiently.
I managed to win the right to purchase our petrol there instead of going into town with a 200 litre drum.
When our sons were born, JR took money from the till and gave it 'to add to their savings'. He was a generous man.
My old Commer Cob station wagon would from time to time be covered in pig/deer blood and JR would wash it out with disinfectant, claiming that the vehicle stunk! Well I thought that the disinfectant was worse than the dog and blood smell.
Once after a grease and oil change, I took to the forest looking for pigs and noticed the oil pressure light had come on. I stopped the vehicle and dipped the oil - none. I rang JR telling him that maybe the sump plug was not tightened properly. He came and town the vehicle back to the garage - will I had hit a rock and torn the sump plug off completely!
Another time I lent the old Commer truck to some student foresters who were staying at Hampden - they rang to say that the gearbox had seized. Nobby to the rescue this time and he found the gearbox to totally dry, no oil whatever. I drove that truck daily and had noticed no problem.
Times changed and JR could no longer afford to keep Nobby on and he went truck driving for Hampden Transport. He met a tragic accident and was killed. Nobby had been a bit of a larrikin in his time and I know a story or two about him, but one time we were hunting together and I shot a very large deer. We were going to auction it off in the Hampden pub, so had to carry it a long distance to the vehicle. Nobby and Mick had their turn at carrying the animal across their shoulders and winking at each other they lifted it across mine. Well my legs gave out so the deer and I formed an untidy heap.
Later in the pub, after having sold off the deer, we enjoyed a few moments together. Constable Cruikshank came to talk to us - as was his duty - and we had a chat. During this chat, I had an urge to collect one of the silver buttons on his tunic and he laughed at the suggestion. I drew my Green River skinning knife, but thought better of it and just gave him a wide smile. Try the same thing today....
JR sold the garage to Robert Hutton who kept the garage running successfully for a number of years. Later Robert came to work for me on the forest and he enjoyed his time there until we all faced redundancy.
Robert managed to sell the garage as a going concern but all who bought it failed because of the changing times.
I am sad that the garage has gone and also some of the good people. I hope this serves to remember a little of that past.
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