Dear Uncle Rex

I have been thinking back to my youth when our interaction commenced. We had many family visits from & to the RDD family during our formative years when we got to know our cousins, as well as our special Uncle, of course. You were based in Auckland at that time whilst we were growing up at “Penwain”, Kio Kio.

After I moved to Auckland in my late teens I enjoyed the many social visits to Te Atatu. As well as your (& Betty’s) very considerable hospitality, you were very generous lending Margaret & me the Austin 7 when we could not afford our own set of wheels, for special occasions.

During our courtship & after SPANZ began operating I probably added to your airline’s economic woes by hitching rides to Masterton on a DC3 when you were the skipper.

In 1963 after a chat one day in your office in Anzac Ave I was introduced to Motor Specialties Ltd through Jack Johnston (Chairman, SPANZ) & had a rewarding career of more than 10yrs with that Company as a result.

I thank you for that introduction to JFJ & also for your wisdom that rellies should avoid working together. When we built our house at Pakuranga in the late 60’s we somehow, gratefully, inherited the concrete mixer that had seen loyal service building a large swimming pool at Te Atatu. It was somewhat the worse for wear but was rebuilt to serve many more years including being passed around the district of Waiuku in the 80’s.

From 1996 when we moved to Australia we enjoyed many stay-over visits from you both, initially at “Avalon” where we had many long discussions on matters Body Corporate, then at a rented house at “The Estuary” Coombabah (boules on the water’s edge) from 2000 until we built “Limetree” in 2003.

Over the years we have relished the many hours spent listening to your aviation stories from before, during & after the war & we came to appreciate your vast knowledge of the aviation industry.

SPANZ was obviously a very special time in your life & it is sign of the spirit that you engendered into that Company that reunions are still being held. The NZ commercial aviation industry will always owe a debt to SPANZ for giving it a good shake.

Aside from aviation we have thoroughly enjoyed all those times when we have chatted about your latest library find or your building manager. Since we sorted the world out on many occasions, in the evenings over a glass of red, I’m sure it is a better place as a result!
Our 2007 tour to Longreach to check out the Qantas museum and School of the Air, along with the flying doctor origins at Charleville was good fun and a long way to travel by car, but we were well entertained by you as our “navigator” ensuring there was never a dull moment with all those facts & figures of the various areas we were travelling through the outback. Our recent 1770 / Bargara break for your wedding anniversary was similarly enjoyed even though you were a little less chirpy for the return leg.

You have been a total inspiration with your ability to set goals and achieve them, whether that was in your working life, writing books, playing bowls (& attaining umpire status) or mastering the internet. You have achieved much, often against considerable odds.
Through you we have learned so much more about ourselves and those who have gone before in the Daniell & Donald families & we can count ourselves very lucky to have inherited a dose of those genes. With the loss of my Dad so young you may not realise what an important role in our lives you have played.

There is no substitute for close family relationships and we have deeply valued ours with you.

With deep affection,
Margaret & Graeme
October 2010