Bob Blackwood
A founding member of the Kāwhia Volunteer Fire Brigade, Bob Blackwood, celebrated his 100th birthday recently.
Bill Blackwood with two of his sons, Allan and Mick, on his 100th birthday. Photo: Jesse Wood
Now Te Awamutu-based, Bob said he’s had a happy life and had never been to hospital until age 96.
“I’ve had a strenuous few days celebrating my age. I’ve been very much honoured by so many people. I’ve had messages from the King and Queen and the prime minister,” Bob said.
“[The secret is] caring for myself physically. I was never ill and I kept active. It must be in my family bones because I had two aunties that were over 100. One was 104 when she died.”
The Camellia Resthome resident celebrated his century at the Te Awamutu RSA on September 21 with countless friends and family members, including relatives from Australia. Five generations were in attendance.
Bob is the father of four sons – Mick, Bill, Allan and the late Patrick – grandfather of nine, great grandfather of 16 and great great grandfather of two.
His beloved wife of 66 years, Ruth “Sis” (nee Gilbert), died in 2013, aged 89.
On Bob’s special day, Camellia staff put on a birthday morning tea.
“That was really nice but I’m a bit tired of parties now,” he said.
Bob was born in Hamilton on September 23, 1925, to Winifred and Robert Blackwood. After his mother Winifred’s death in 1936, Robert raised his son and three daughters.
Bob grew up in Waihi before moving to Pokuru and Hamilton, followed by seven decades in Kāwhia and the last four years in Te Awamutu.
He did well at Waihi Convent School and enjoyed playing sports – tennis, cricket and rugby.
“I had a lovely life in Waihi. My father looked after us very well,” Bob recalled.
“We managed to struggle through the recession in the 1930s. It was pretty horrible.
“The country went broke and everything seemed to go wrong until Michael Joseph Savage started the Labour government, found employment and had all sorts of processes going to get the economy going again.
“Between then and the war in 1939, things weren’t too bad. [During World War II] it was pretty run down.”
Bill’s love of cars is very obvious. Photo: Jesse Wood
Camellia Resthome staff put on a birthday morning tea for Bill. Photo: Jesse Wood
He loved cars and became a garage attendant in Waihi upon leaving school.
“I was always keen on motoring and I wanted to be a motor mechanic. The fellow at the garage wouldn’t organise an apprenticeship contract for me, so I left there,” Bob said.
Following the war, Bob moved in with his grandparents at Pokuru.
“I went to Craig Motors, the Ford dealers, and had an interview with Jim Craig. I told him I wanted to arrange an apprenticeship. Jim looked me up and down and said, ‘you’ve got a fortnight and if it doesn’t work, you’re out the door’. I was there for eight years and I loved it.
“I did all sorts of things. I was sent to the Ford factory in Wellington and would bring back new vehicles for customers. I had lovely workmates, they were great.”
Cars were, and still are, his passion – a love passed down to his sons.
A 12 month stay in Hamilton saw Bob work for Bedford and Vauxhall agents, Waikato Motors (now Ebbett Toyota).
“I met Sis on my very first visit to Kāwhia, when I still lived in Waihi. One of my friends’ family bought a bakery business in Kāwhia. I went to visit him and I met my dear wife,” Bob said.
“She was a lovely lady and we had a lovely life together.”
The Kāwhia Garage came up for sale and Bob took the opportunity to move there. He married Sis in 1948.
Bob owned the garage for more than three decades, retiring at 59 due to feet problems.
“I lived in Kāwhia for 70 years. My wife and I were happy living there. We lived by the school and looked out over the harbour,” he said.
Bob participated in many community positions and clubs including indoor bowls, outdoor bowls and the vintage car club.
He was a prolific photographer, producing hundreds of slides and photos, a great restorer of cars, a Citroen dealer in Kāwhia and fixing hydraulic Citroens was no problem for him.
Bob was a member of the Eagles Golfing Society and with 60 years involvement at Kawhia Golf Club, he became a life member there and a justice of the peace (JP) life member.
In 1957, he became a foundation member of Kāwhia Volunteer Fire Brigade and went on to be fire chief and a station officer, serving for 32 years.
Son Allan said his dad had restored many vehicles. He has two and brother Bill has two.
Since moving to Te Awamutu four years ago, he has time to relax and is enjoying life at Camellia.
“I’m very well treated here…and I’ll be here as long as I need to be.”
Bill Blackwood was grateful to receive his card from the King Charles and Queen Camilla. Photo: Jesse Wood
