Our Dad (RDD)

Our association with our future Dad began in 1956 at Te Atatu, where he had almost finished building his dream home, at a time when he needed a live-in helper for his young family. We quickly became accustomed to a larger ‘family’ unit, including Colleen (10), Brenda (7), Kevin (6) and now Paul (5) and Karen (4). We began our schooling at Edmonton Primary and in ensuing years spent many school holidays getting to know the greater Daniell clan, involving visits to Penwain, Te Awamutu and the Wairarapa.

Our childhood was filled with happy memories. Outstanding were the infamous tyre-rolling episodes, which involved one of us climbing inside a discarded DC3 tyre while two or three others pushed it all around the yard. You were lucky if the tyre stopped in time for you to retain your lunch! Dad figured there had to be some good use for these castoffs, and we all agreed wholeheartedly.

In this way, Dad ensured there was always plenty of outdoor fun and he was always good for playing cricket and footy on the front lawn, and then later teaching us to play tennis on our new asphalt court. Who could forget the toil of the trusty old concrete mixer, which laid the foundation for the tennis court, the long battle-axe driveway and the swimming pool, all completed just prior to us all migrating to Australia!

In 1967 at the end of the SPANZ years, a new life began in Melbourne. By this time the family was completed by the arrival of a little brother Clifton who was 17 months old. Dad’s years with Ansett are well documented in his memoirs, as are his various escapades around Australia by air. All of us in the family enjoyed many overseas trips on a special fare due to RDD’s position in the airline industry. In those days we were fortunate indeed.

As teenagers and young adults we came and went often, as though there were revolving doors at our Lyric Grove residence, often bulging at the seams, always revered as the greatest family home. All due to RDD’s wonderful ability to innovatively create an environment for all of us that was safe and secure – never a dull moment with our Dad, Rekka! Mum, of course, found some of his schemes a little wild but always was a steady support backing him up.

In recent times it was a privilege to work with Dad on his books and to learn in more depth of his epic service during the war, and throughout his remarkable lifetime. He is an inspiration to all his children and grandchildren with his extraordinary attitude and zest for life.

RDD was a wonderful Dad, who loved us as his own, as we loved him. We have all appreciated and benefited from Rex’s special brand of wisdom, guidance and humour. We will miss him very dearly.

Karen and Paul