Member Profiles

John Kenny (Sundance) BNZ Lautoka 1970-1973

Then & Now

After a 3 month holiday in Australia staying with Luigi (Ian Morrison) in Sydney and Sam Laird in Melbourne John returned to the BNZ Dunedin in 1974 as an Overseas Officer. However in June 1975 he was enticed over to Sydney by a tall blond Sydney girl and joined the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (CBC Bank) at their Royal Exchange Branch. He worked in numerous Sydney Branches before the CBC Bank was taken over by the NAB. He continued with NAB having a term in Corporate Banking and then remained in Business Banking until he took a retrenchment package in September 2003 after a total banking career of 38 years. He is still married to Christine, the tall Aussie blond whom he meet at the Cathy Hotel, Lautoka way back in 1973. They have two grown up boys and 3 grandchildren.. After the Bank John worked for Sharp Corporation, Sydney as a sales consultant selling LCD TV's and Multifunction Printers, a less stressful job than Banking and has since retired in 2013. Enjoys a bottle of Red. 

14/6/09 Christine & I had lunch with Lynden & Kath Penketh who have retired to Nelson, NZ.  We had not seen one another for 36 years and only got in touch a few months ago by email, courtesy of Leo Abbott and Tom Rowe.  John & Lynden worked together in the BNZ Lautoka 1972 - 1973. 

23/11/09 We caught up with Leo & Di Abbott who were in Sydney for the Christening of their Grandson. 

03/01/10  I spoke to Luigi (Ian Morrison) after 30 years and enjoyed reminiscing about our Lautoka days. Now living in Port Macquarie. Please see Ian's profile below.

 Leo & Di Abbott BNZ Lautoka 1970-1973 (Then & Now)

Post Fiji had a charmed run with time in Wellington as Bank's first currency trader (dealer) after training in Singapore, also travelled South America on Correspondent Banking.  Then they woke up and was transferred to Tonga just after opening of Bank of Tonga, to work under BNSW Management.  Survived 18 months there leaving with two children (Cameron & Rojene) to Auckland.  Short stint in Auckland then 3 years in Singapore opening Branch there.  Back to NZ and after disagreement with senior Management left Bank in 86 for a better offer as GM International with what became NZI Bank until it closed its doors when shareholding changed and didn't want a Bank.  Became CEO of an export consulting co-operative for next 6 years travelling globally, World Bank, Asian Development Bank etc.  After that a year as a head hunter, hated it, then on own consulting for whoever would pay.  During this time was Honorary Consul for Malaysia in Auckland.  Gave this up when a 3 year contract in Samoa was won as CEO of a small locally owned Bank there, National Bank of Samoa. Great fun.  Back in NZ since 2001 consulting on own largely into construction industry specialising in Management and Administration.  Still golfing badly.  Di still teaching well and keeping Leo in the style he is now accustomed to (doing housework).  We are travelling Europe & Australia a lot using home exchanging extensively and successfully.

Our son, Cameron together with his wife Rachel and our grandson Charlie are currently resident in Fiji at the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa which opened late May 2009.  Fiji beckons again...

Lynden Penketh BNZ Lautoka 1972-1974 

Lynden lives in Nelson. Photo with his wife, Kath.    

Lynden Penketh 28th April 2011 wrote:

Neville Key BNZ Lautoka 

Deceased Notice December 2012

Hello John,

Attached notice was in last nights Nelson Mail.

Neville spent some years at BNZ Nelson after Fiji and was transferred out to Wellington maybe in the early 80's. He may have left family in Nelson and had grown up in Picton which isn't that far away hence inclusion in our newspaper.

On my transfer to Audit in 1986 I was initially seconded to Group Properties for a few months to support a computer conversion and Neville was working for that division so I regularly ran across him. He became OC Bank car parks and moved to Wilson Parking when they took over.

November 2023

We organised a 50 year reunion of the staff who worked at Lautoka Branch 1970-1973 at the BNZ Auckland Christmas Lunch. 6 of us managed to make it and it was wonderful to meet Lynden again after 50 years. Lynden and I shared the BNZ Lautoka Mess with Tom Rowe who was also at the reunion.

Paul & Helen Hickford BNZ Nadia 1964-1968

Have just been having a very nostalgic look at your site (sent by good mate Leo Abbott) and think it's wonderful.  Brings back loads of memories.   Paul (Hickford) and I (nee Helen Paterson) met and married in Fiji in 1967 and we both worked in the BNZ in Nadi.   Paul then went on to Labasa and Suva, where we lived after our marriage at Nadi Airport.  My Mum and Dad were long-standing residents of Lautoka, Ba, Nadi and Suva.   Dad was with CSR and they were both Sydney-siders.    

We'd like to be included in your list with our email address if that's okay with you.  Paul arrived from New Zealand in 1964 and we left as a couple in 1968. 

31/07/2023

Note from Paul Hickford

G’day John

Helen and I are currently enjoying a three week holiday at Broadbeach. Great to escape Auckland’s mud and slush - not ideal conditions for golf. Four of us ex Fiji guys - Frank Bland, Russell Hormann, John Dickens and me - were planning a game at Warkworth earlier in the year but the weather intervened. Hopefully we’ll get to do it in summer as and when that comes to New Zealand.

Very impressed by your recent posts, especially old branch photos. Happened to see Nirmal Kumar in one of Lautoka staff in 1972. You’re possibly not aware that he emigrated from Fiji to Los Angeles and was on my staff at BNZ LA in 1988. When BNZ either sold off or closed down its offshore branches in 1990 I was instructed to wind up LA’s ops and return home. Thanks to Nirmal we accomplished a successful closure. All the rest of my 30 odd staff were interested in was getting their holiday pay and a reference before rapidly escaping the sinking ship.

I’ve since lost contact with Nirmal but expect he’s still living somewhere in California.

A few of our old Fiji mates have popped off since I last e-mailed  - Nat Fidler on 22 Sept 2022, George Reynolds in Cambridge and Peter Harnett in Tauranga. Caught up with Ron Watt and Richard Nicol at Nat’s post match gathering and had some good laughs.

Helen and I also had lunch with Leo and Di Abbott about a month ago. 

John, that’s it from me for now. Keep up the good work.

Cheers

Paul (Hickford)

Reply

Thanks Paul for your update and feedback. I sometimes wounder if the Website is worth keeping as I get very little feedback these days. I keep in touch with “Luigi” Ian Morrison and he says he checks in from time to time to have a look at the old photos, so I suppose the site is worthwhile keeping as a reminder of those early days in our lives and careers. Because I have a free Google site I do not have analytics to check on how many visits etc. So I will keep it going until I drop off.

Thank you for your info on Nirmal Kumar. Good to see that one or two of the staff we trained made the effort to emigrate and further their careers. Balvant Singh was another of the Lautoka staff to have a very successful Banking and Financial career in Auckland. Also your International Banking experience in the USA.

I still have a weekly golf game with our courses in suburb condition due to the great winter we have had. 

Come summer I may just get over for a visit to Auckland and then journey down to Lawrence to visit my brothers.

I will update the site on the passing of our colleagues.

Enjoy your stay on the Gold Coast.

John

November 2023

Paul, Helen and I (John Kenny) have been corresponding back and forth since way back in about 2010 and we finally met at the BNZ Auckland Retired Officers Christmas lunch together with several other Fiji expatriate members. It was great to met face to face and have a good chat. Thanks Paul. 

 Gary Townsend BNZ Labasa 1971-1973

14/10/09 Hi John,

Fiji is still a great place for a holiday and Lanette & I had a great couple of weeks R & R.  I asked two or three people in Nadi (including our regular taxi driver) if they could remember the BNZ building - no luck!  I couldn't remember either.  My first and only visit to the mess was in a drunken stupor after being taken from the plane on arrival and then to the Nadi Club.  Just about missed my plane to Labasa in the morning. 

By the way, I also left from Alexandra for Fiji - manager in Alex was George Wethey who later ended up in Fiji also.

Anyway, John, it would be great to catch up with you when you get to Christchurch.  Give me a call at home when you have arrived and settled in -  

Cheers and best wishes,

Gary 

Hi - Somehow stumbled on this web site. Yes I was in Lautoka 1974-77 at BNZ  and am now in Christchurch. Took early retirement in 1991 and still live in Christchurch. Can be contacted on .....and would love to catch up with some of the old team. Really so much has happened since I left Fiji do not really know where to start. 

A couple of Names to Add - Mark Clements - Lautoka 1974-77; Ron Wilkinson, Accountant Lautoka 1975-78; Gordon Paul, Manager BNZ Lautoka, 75-78 - Have copies of the 100 year Photos of both Lautoka and Nadi if you want them downloaded. Am sure more will come to hand as I start  reminiscing again - especially days and nights at the Club

Hello Wally

Great to hear from you and pleased you stumbled across our Web Site. Hopefully as time goes by we can contact all the members and keep in touch.

Lynden Penketh (LBJ) gave me your name so you most likely worked with him. Fred Davis was the Accountant there when I left. I have Lynden's email if you want to catch up with him.

Would welcome your photos of the old Branches and any other photos you can dig out of the guys you were with.  Also as you cast your mind back to the days and evenings we spent at the Northern club, all us guys in the white shorts uniform. Did you still have the Friday night spiking of the KEG in the grounds of the Bank. We used to rotate between the banks. There was such fellowship between all the Banks. We got on so well together I am sure we could have turned up for work at ANZ or BNSW done a days work and no one would have noticed. I am sure our systems were all the same. Jot down some of your thoughts and tell us what you have been doing since leaving Lautoka.

Thanks for the new members and hopefully we can get in touch.

Send me a photo of yourself then and now and I will update your profile.

John Kenny

18/10/09

Hi John and thanks for that - will dig some photos. You may not recall but I did meet you in Temuka when you returned and just before I left and you did your damnest to talk me out of it. I actually tookover your old room in the mess complete with poster of the Sundance Kid. Was actually the last in the mess as it was disbanded when LBJ and Tomasi Leilei left and I went into a flat up the hill in Qalito Place. Have only returned once since left in "77 and that was for a couple of days in '97 on the way to Hawaii. The town was quite derelict compared with our days. The club however was a time warp with Lepani still behind the bar. His first words were _ you have shaved your beard off". Bar was complete with Rob Southby and Conrad Murray - a part Fijian x Union Travel. Could go on for hours about the old days but my era was certainly not as colourful as yours when the mess was in its heyday.

If ever in Christchurch please look me up.    Sa Moce

Wallly

Details of the photo: The Expats in Lautoka are me, Bill Daly and Mark Clements while front Row is Ron Wilkinson, Accountant and Gordon Paul Manager. You will no doubt know a few in the Photo. One insert is Inoke Sevu and in the Back Row is old Wati - the long time cleaner and Market Agency escort. I am the only one who was able to get into the 100 year photos twice as I am also in the Nadi one. Can not recall the expats in Nadi. Any questions give us an email

Bruce Phillips (BP) BNSW Suva 1971-1973

18/12/09

 Gday Sundance,  Long time no speak. This is Bruce Phillips(BP) here. I was in BNSW Suva (1971-1973) and spent most of my time there except for a couple of short reliefs in Nadi. I was emailed your details by Ray Carle (Stacks) BNSW 1973-75) recently and have finally got around to checking in.

 I still keep in touch with Kevin Warner(KC), Bryce Mitchell(Ratu Mitchelli) Graeme Bowden, & Ray Carle even though it may only be once or twice a year.

 I will try to dig up some old photos after the Christmas/ New Year rush and send them through to the website

Have noticed a few names missing from the photos on the website that I may be able to help you with.

In the 1st photo with Leo Abbott standing on a chair the bloke on his left is Dick Britton (BNSW 1971-1973). Dick spent most of his time in Suva but did relieve a fair bit in Nadi & Lautoka

 In the 9th photo ....the one with a big crowd....Keith Speer (BNSW Suva 1970-1972) is on Chops' left with Bruce O'Sullivan (BNSW Lautoka 1972-1974....I think) on Chops' right with Larry Legge (BNSW Suva 1972) on Bruce O'Sullivan's right.   I was in touch with Dick Britton for many years but as so often happens we lose contact but the last I had heard of him he was still in Western Australia

 Just a thought comes to mind Sundance......do you remember that Easter when you & I, Stacks, KC, and Ken Caddy (he was only in BNSW Suva for a short time) brought mirth & merriment and lots of "Cleansing Ales" to a big part of Fiji.

                         Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year........Sa Moce   BP

(Reply)  BP, Great to hear from you after all these years. You are the first from BNSW to be in touch so I hope I can contact the other guys to find out what they have been up to.The old photos bring back floods of memories. Take a look at this one. KC, Ian Hamilton, Ken Caddy, BP. Alan Thorp (ANZ) and Haystacks. Photo was taken on Castaway, Queens Birthday 1973 and I think KC wrote this info on the back of my photo.You are a great bunch of guys.

Yes I vividly recall that Trip from Lautoka to Suva with you guys. I have never laughed so much in all my life, I had never seen the movie "The Adventures of Barry Mackenzie" but on that weekend you and Haystacks were taking off Bazza to a tee. I still recall Stacks reciting "Bazza Pointing Percy at the porciline" and you bouncing off him with all the Barry Humphrey classics. Talk about laugh.  Just thinking about it now is great medicine. I did see the movie some years later and realised where all the mirth came from, being a Kiwi I was not exposed to the Aussie Occaisims but you guys gave me a wonderful education that weekend.

I also remember Bruce Phillips being the centre of attention at the running of the Melbourne Cup. You must have been relieving in Lautoka and we had all gather round to listen to the Cup. As I recall BP loved a bet and you must have had your shirt on the Goondiwindi Grey because as the race progressed you became more and more excited, halfway down the straight you were up on the table and as Gunsynd passed the post you were pulling notes out and tossing them everywhere.  Just one of the things that stick in ones mind.  

Where is KC now. Back in 1975 he had a boat moored in Pittwater, Sydney and I went out with him a couple of times.I would love to get some photos from you to post on the Website and will put this one on now. When you are next in touch with any of the guys, please ask them to send me a line to let me know what they are now up to. Good chatting to you BP, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Sa Moce Sundance

Mike Snelling BNZ Labasa 1967-1970

18/12/09 Dear John, Many thanks for your phone call earlier today and the news of ex Staff Members of various Banks in Fiji. I was in Fiji from June 1967 until June 1970, I spent my first year at BNZ Nadi and the following 2 years at BNZ Labasa. A few names I can remember but I am not sure there current whereabouts, though all are living in New Zealand, Bryan Holt BNZ Labasa, Doug Cameron BNZ Nadi, Steven Wiltshire, BNZ Nadi and Labasa, Trevor Wilkes BNZ Labasa, Trevor King BNZ Labasa, Trevor Houlton BNZ Labasa, Ron Watts BNZ Labasa and Nadi. I saw on your list that Evonne Fong had passed away, I actually went out with her for a short period, I knew she had a Heart problem, very sad to hear .I am now retired, I spent the last 10 years working for the NAB after they took control of the Bank of New Zealand here in Australia. Many thanks for contacting me, looking forward to meeting you sometime in the future. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Mike Snelling

Ian Morrison (Luigi) BNSW 1971-1973

3/01/10 We caught up with Luigi who had 30 years with BNSW and was Manager Camden NSW before taking a redundancy package in 1996. He then owned a Mortgage Choice franchise and finally sold out to take a more relaxed life in the beautiful sea side resort of Port Macquarie. Married to Pat and has 2 grown up sons.

Ian has too many stories to tell here but names that come to mind are Bryce Mitchell BNSW Suva, Tim Marsden BNSW, Peter Devoy ANZ who married Tim Marsden's sister) John Boorman (Harry the Smooth), David Hartgill BNZ Suva, Matt Woodward (Stretch), some one with a nickname something like "Socks", John Smith Accountant Lautoka. Ian thinks John left the Bank early an had a bottle shop in Bondi many years ago. Bill Denise BNSW Lautoka. He tells the story that he was at a party in Manly and  there were a few NZ accents in the room. Ian yells out does anyone know Bill Denise? Someone yells back yes I know Denise. Bill was always a party goer. Gary Chambers BNZ Suva. Played the bagpipes at all the parties, Marty Roberts BNSW Suva. Has fond memories of our long weekend trips to Suva.

Ray Carle (aka Haystacks) BNSW Suva 1973-1975

February 2017

I have been living in Brisbane since 1986, after returning to Australia in 1975, to take up a position in Sydney.

Met my wife at Royal North Shore Hospital in 1978 – she a nurse and me a patient.

Married with two children.

Moved to Brisbane in 1986, after being recruited by Macquarie to set up their Queensland operation.

Brought a hotel freehold in Spring Hill, Brisbane in 1989 from Alan Bond (who owned XXXX at the time), and the Leasehold from Chris Johns the Bronco and NSW league player. With my business partner we set up the hotel as a “gay” hotel, the first of its type in Queensland and it is an iconic and well-known venue. We still own the property and still operate the hotel business.

Left Macquarie in 1991. Operated taxis from 1993 but since retired from that business in early 2017.

Looking forward to having more flexibility now and doing a bit of travel, but hotel still allows me to do 12/15 hours work a week – to keep the brain active!!

I remember Haystacks as the life of the party with a terrific sense of humor. He could tell some great jokes and took off Bazzar (Barry McKenzie to a tee).

Kevin Warner (KC) BNSW Suva 1973-1975

February 2017

Really pleased to get a telephone call from BP the other day to say he’d received an e-mail from you, as well as one from Hamiltonius.  I asked him to flick them on to me so that I might drop the pair you a line to explain myself as to why I’d not been in touch over the years! 

I now live in Tasmania but have been in touch with BP, Ratu Mitchelli, Dexter and Haystacks in recent years by visiting Queensland where the four of them live and having get-togethers of various sorts (weddings, 60th’s and so on).  For my part, while not all times in the Top Mess in Suva were perfect, the time I shared there with BP, Bryce, Dexter, Haystack and Hamiltonis was the best part.  I’ll go through a bit of our get togethers shortly but first of all, I give you a bit of a run down of what I’ve been up to since I left Fiji in January 1975. 

I returned to New Zealand for about 4 months leave after Fiji.  Bernie O’Farrell came down for a week’s holiday and we did a quick trip round the place and then Haystacks came down for a bit longer and we did a longer trip right round the country.  We often thought of applying for a Government literary grant in the form of an advance to write a book about our trip which, had it been published, would have most likely been entitled “Famous New Zealand Pub Crawls”.  Unfortunately, both the New Zealand and the Australian Governments claimed they did not have funds put aside for such ventures so we had to finance our drinking ourselves.  We caught up with Sundance at the BNZ Dunedin and you promised to come and have a beer with us after work (it was Friday night) but you failed to turn up.  Consequently we drank on and on, so much that we were just a little dusty the next morning.  We left Dunedin headed for Queenstown and passed through Lawrence.  You mention the place in your letter to Haystacks.  As we drove through, Haystacks suddenly yelled, “Stop! Back up!” So I did.  He had seen his first mini-tanker (a big beer keg permanently mounted on a trailer – I think he would have liked to take one home to Australia). 

I went to Sydney in May 1975 to work in Staff Training, in the Research area.  Not a bad sort of a job but the company was not quite as enjoyable as Fiji.  I was offered a relief back in Fiji in March 1976 to assist my successor.  It took me a split second to accept the job which was supposed to last just three months.  The Accountant, Suva was gracious enough to keep me on a bit longer, doing the island agency run. 

My (staff) job in Sydney meant I was able to whisper in the right ears regarding my wish to go to Tasmania and, as luck would have it, it was proposed to set up a training job down there coupled with some Premises work. I was asked about it in September 1976 and l got there a few weeks later. I met my wife Wendy in the Bank, we married in March 1983 (BP and Kent Birkett represented Fiji Division), and we took a four month spot of long service leave in Europe and Britain in 1985. 

Late in 1991, I became Manager Card Services, Tasmania and we moved back to Hobart.  Only lasted 16 months before Westpac’s dismal result in 1992 meant I was one of a number retrenched in January 1993.  But I went on to greater things as Secretary/Manager of my Yacht Club for eight and a half years and eventually  ‘retired’ in 2005, aged 57. 

Wendy has been retired ever since then, but I only lasted until 2010 when I decided I needed some part time work if only to get people contact.  A friend who owned a trucking/courier company took me on as a relief driver (I thought) but his idea was for me to be permanent full-time.  Suited me and I lasted until December, 2014 when I ‘retired’ again.  Then I had another spell from August until December last year until I ‘really’ retired.  All I do now is exam supervision at the University of Tasmania for 6/7 weeks a year. 

As far as being in touch with the other Wales Suva ‘Top Mess’ members, Haystacks and I flatted together in Sydney in 1975/76 before I went back to Fiji.  We stayed in touch and all of us plus other ex-Fiji Bank of New South Wales people attended Haystacks’ (and Anne’s) wedding in 1981 (I think).  Wendy and I did not see a lot of the others until 2006 (although Haystacks, Bryce and I attended BP’s wedding in Newcastle) when Bryce turned 60 and BP followed the next year.  Wendy and I have been going to Queensland most years since and we have seen Bryce separately (in Mackay), BP separately (in Bargara) but Haystacks and Dexter together in Mooloolaba.  By the way, these gatherings have all been with our wives so we are lucky the wives all get on and are prepared to listen to the same old repeated dribble and stories.    I have not seen Ian Hamilton since January 1975 but his e-mail was written just the way it would have been spoken 41 years ago!  

Ian Hamilton (Hamiltonis) BNSW Suva 1973

8th February 2017. I was very surprised to come across this site while looking at a few Fiji sites and amazed to see a photo of myself. I don't remember a photo being taken but I remember some of the weekend!

I would like to contact some of the BNSW blokes and notice you have email address for Bruce Phillips (BP).

Could you forward this on to him please.

Thanks in advance

Ian Hamilton. BNSW. Fiji 1973

Bill Denize BNSW 1971 -72 

Bill got in touch in February 2010.

"Hello from one Party Animal to another" "John Sundance Kenny.... how the hell are you"

"I have just found your web site on our days in Fiji…by share accident when I was “googling” something else.Not sure where to start but here is a little background since we last saw you and Christine quite some years ago in Sydney. 

After returning from Fiji Diane and I settled in Wellington and I have spent all my time here in Wellington (one of the fortunate bankers who didn’t need to shift). My marriage to Dianne ended in the mid 1980’s….I was never home and always at work I am afraid. We have two great kids, Megan (now 33years) and Shanon (31 years). 

Got married again in 1990 to Rae (both of us on second marriages) and Rae has two boys (Rob 38 year and Colin (34 years). 

I decided to give Westpac away in mid 1999 and opted to take an early retirement after having various Managerial roles within Administration, Branch and Commercial banking. Took a role with a large privately owned Company, Masterpet Corporation, here in Wellington as their International Shipping Manager. Spent 2 years at Masterpet before taking a job with ASB Bank here in Wellington running a commercial portfolio for them. Three years later I joined the Vidcom Group (my customers at ASB) as General Manager responsible for operations and finances. Sold that Group to TR Corporation Pty Limited (based in Melbourne) and stayed on for another 9 months as a director for the NZ Operation. I was made redundant when they transferred the accounting and finance to their NZ Head Office in Auckland. In this regard I had no wish to transfer to Auckland. Then joined Speirs Finance as Business Development Manager and then Speirs was taken over by Allied Nationwide Finance about 18 months ago. I am now Senior Credit Manager for Allied Nationwide Finance which is somewhat less stressful than banking.

I am still into my cars and for the last 18 years have held a national motor racing license and race my 1967 Morris Mini Cooper “S” in classic racing here in NZ. Most of my racing is at the Manfeild Race track near Fielding.

Rae and I had a trip to Western Australia (Perth) in late October last year and we caught up with Haydn and Esther Dunlop after having no contact for the past 30 years. We had a great time with Haydn and Esther who took us out and about visiting places of interest around Perth. You may remember Esther, she was on our staff (BNSW) in Lautoka. Haydn has retired and they spend a lot of their time traveling around Australia in their Toyota Campervan.

Earlier last year we had a telephone call from Leo Abbott and then Doug and Leone Richardson (ANZ) called in one afternoon for a cup of tea and a chat. It was great to catch up with Doug and hear of what he had been up to since leaving Lautoka".

The last I heard from Bill was that he is now the Practice Manager for a group of Solicitors in Wellington working 3 days a week.

Balvant Singh (BNZ Lautoka) Early 70's Fiji

14/2/2011 Hi John

Great to hear from you- it has been along time since we had a beer together !

If you have Earl Wilikinsons contact please email to me as I would love to write to him as well- he was a good Manager at Lautoka.

I have been in NZ for 24 years now- joined NZI Bank and worked in their Corporate Banking until it closed down. I then joined ASB as Head of their Credit & Risk Management team, then did a stint as Area Manager for Auckland before being appointed Senior Manager Business Banking for NZ. I left ASB in 1999 to join a finance company as GM Business Banking. Did that for 2 years until it was sold to Marac. I set up my own finance co after that- and here I am still doing that. It was going very well but the last two years has put some pressure but we are still in business.

Have three boys- two lawyers and 1 IT graduate. Eldest is in London with Rabobank in their legal team, middle one is Director of Tax with Deloittes in Auckland- he came back after 7 years in Sydney.

Youngest is still in Sydney- he is a Senior IT guy with Cocoa Cola Amatil.

I met Barry Muntz in Nov. at a social function and caught up with all the news from him.

If you are in Auckland at any time give us a shout- we can have a beer together.

Cheers Balvant

FIJI REUNION 40 YEARS ON

On 22nd October 2012 we held a reunion in Sydney where we met at the Bowlers Club for pre lunch drinks and a buffet lunch.

We had 14 attendees: Doug Richardson ANZ, Sundance (John Kenny) and Christine BNZ, Bill & Rae Denize BNSW, Haydn & Esther Dunlop BNSW. LBJ & Kath (Lynden Penketh) BNZ. Peter & Helen Devoy ANZ. Col Langford BNSW, Derek Ridley ANZ and Willy Lutke-Schipholt ANZ. We sent out over 30 invites.

It was a wonderful day. I had a folder full of A4 size photos and you can imagine the reminiscing that went on. A few stories were told that some could not remember (and best not). It was a lot of fun. In many ways it reminded me of being at the Northern Club, Lautoka on a Friday after work.

You will note in some of the following correspondence reference will be made to the reunion. If only all could have come?

Brian Oake BNSW Lautoka 1971-1972

18/9/12

John, many thanks for the invitation.

Janet and I live in Adelaide and we have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. I retired from Westpac (formerly BNSW) in 2000 and have been concentrating on travelling and trying to back a winner ever since. At opportunity I will update my profile on the website.

I will be in Melbourne and unfortunately unable to attend the Sydney Reunion on the 22nd October.

Hope you all have a great day.

Brian Oake

Reply

Hello Brian and Janet

Good to hear from you after all these years and to see that you are enjoying life after the Bank as we all are. I retired in 2003 but got bored after about a year and have a part time job with Sharp Corporation. Been there 8 years now. Pretty cushy sort of a job. Get all the time I need off. Christine & I also enjoy travelling and are coming to Adelaide in late October to do a 9 day tour of the Flinders Ranges, Lake Ayre etc. Looking forward to it.

I would like to take you back to Lautoka to 11th August 1971. My dear old mum (now passed away) kept all my letters I wrote home. They are absolutely fascinating reading. I was never a good story teller so my letters are matter of fact and I have spent hours going through them. One of them relates to your Stag Party Brian and I hope it brings back a few memories:

"Last night I went to a stag party for Brian Oake. It was great. Brian's a popular guy and there was a good cross section of the community there. Probably about 30, drinking telling dirty jokes and generally behaving in a stag manner. Then came the speech making and it was really hilarious. Everyone had his say at some stage and it was just one hilariously witty time from then on. I have not laughed so much for ages. As the night wore on and the second keg started to float, a crowd of women arrived. They said they were looking for their husbands and those poor blokes. I have never seen anybody rubbished as much as those chaps. Needless to say they sent those nagging creatures home without further ado. This added the spice to the curry and made it a night Brian will always remember. As for me, I awoke this morning very very groggy".

They were the days.

It is wonderful to see that you and Janet are still happily married.

Hope we can catch up some time.

 Col Langford BNSW Suva 1971-1972

5/10/12  Photo taken at the Reunion

I phoned Col and asked him where he was working 40 odd years ago. Then told him who I was. He can remember a boat cruise we did one Easter weekend to the Blue Lagoon Caves in the Yasawa Group.

Had a really good chat and he will be coming to our Sydney Reunion.

Col Lyons ANZ Suva 1971-1972

Fiji Reunion 40 Years On

Lots of familiar names from way back.

Just to confirm that unfortunately my flight to Darwin is on that day and I will be at Sydney airport for only one hour from 10.25 a.m. until 11.25 a.m.

Would have loved to have been at the reunion which I could see would be quite a day.

Regards, Col

Ray Murphy BNSW Lautoka 1971-1972

17/9/2012

Ni sa Bula Mr Sundance! 

John – Great to hear from you and thanks for the invitation. Unfortunately we have something on that weekend so regrettably I won’t be able to share a beer with you, much as I would love to be there. I would ask you to pass on my regards to all, particularly Luigi, Mandrake, Peter Devoy (who I shared a house with in Sydney for a few years) Doug Richardson and the Abbott’s. 

It has been a long time and I shall give you a quick snapshot of what’s happened for me over those 40 years. I was transferred to Adelaide with BNSW in 1977, where I have remained. I stayed with the Bank for 48 years would you believe, and only retired in July 2011. I spent most of my time in Commercial Banking in a range of roles and the last 10 years in Commercial Credit. I was lucky enough to transition into retirement by working 3 days a week for the last three years, providing coaching in lending skills. That was quite rewarding with no stress. I just got out of the lending game before the effects of the GFC started to hit.

I keep in touch with Brian Oake. We have lunch every 3 months or so and have done for some years. 

Along the way I acquired a wife – Ann and we have 2 kids both still at home. Sam who is 22  is in his final year of Commerce at Adelaide Uni. and Laura 20 is studying Urban and Regional Planning at Uni SA. She has just returned from an exchange program in Denmark. So – I am a pensioner still supporting a family!!! I am now paying for the folly of not getting married until I was 42. Ann has her own business providing bookkeeping services which keeps her out of my hair. I busy myself by playing golf a couple of times a week and I am right into Cycling. I am setting my sights on riding in the Tour Down Under Community event early in  the New Year. 

Retirement has not been boring so far. We try and take an overseas holiday every year. Spent seven weeks in Europe and Turkey last year, but nothing much this year. We are going back to NZ for a couple of weeks in November and will do some bike riding in the South Island. We don’t go back to NZ much these days since my parents died. For a period I was travelling there a couple of times a year in their later years. 

We don’t get to Sydney very often – probably twice in the last 7 or 8 years apart from those overnight business trips. The pace of change never ceases to amaze me. Sleepy old Adelaide has hardly changed since I came here 35 years ago. If you pass this way we would love to see you and perhaps take the opportunity to show you one of our wine regions. I would also like to know what you have been up to these past 40 years. So – keep in touch. 

Good luck with the reunion. I am sorry I can’t be there. Please let me know if it happens again. 

Kind regards and Ni sa Moce    Murf

 Peter Devoy ANZ Lautoka 1971-1972

19/09/2012 Peter Devoy's email to Ray Murphy

Hi Ray

It was great to get the news of what you have been up too.

At the moment I am in china returning next Sunday. I spent 10 days in HK with a mate and we caught up with a mate who works there. I have  been in Shanghai on my pat malone just doing the sight seeing bit. 

Whilst we were away Helen (Peter's wife) went to Fiji for a week to stay with Tim (Tim Marsden ( Mandrake) Helen's brother, and then returned to work. She is not keen on Asia. As you know I have been retired for some time however I do work 2 half days a week for a accounting firm. I am not keen but Helen thinks I should do my bit because she is working 20 hours a week. 

Can you believe at my age I am working as a tour director. I have taken a tour to USA and just returned in May from six weeks (35 people) in South America. The next tour I am doing is to Russia and Scandinavia in mid may next year. I have only 4 seats left so if you are interested I can send you the itinerary. 

We have spoken about my overseas bike riding and next February I am going to Burma for a 12  day ride. The knees have almost given up so I am doing this before I have both knees replaced. 

We are still living in Pyrmont and we will certainly see it out living in the area. 

Both our boys  have their own business working as tradesman.

I am keeping very active being a director on one public company and on many local committees and charities. 

I am running out of time as I need to go into Shanghai to see the lights across the river . 

I look forward to hearing from you 

Kind regards, Peter. 

Tim Marsden (Mandrake) BNSW 1971-1973, 1980-1986

13th January 2012  Bula John

Not sure that we have met but was at dinner last night with a couple of ex-Wales guys who by the way have had no island service, and I told a story about someone here in Sydney who 'googled' me and we did it again at the dinner table....long story but anyway I am in Sydney and would like to chat with you.  I am listed in the Fiji Conn. and worked in Fiji with the Wales/Westpac  '71/'73 and '80/'86 and am presently back there now and have been since 2002.  I am on leave and return to Fiji on 24th Jan.  How can I get in touch with you as would like to chat about the site etc...............look forward to hearing from you......cheers and kind regards................Tim Marsden

(The long story about Tim Googling his name is that this web site came up and under Ian Morrison I had Tim Marsden marrying Peter Devoy's sister. Ofcourse it was the other way round, Peter marrying Helen Marsden Tim's sister. It caused waves of laughter at the dinner table).

Ni sayandra Ratu Jone!

So nice to catch up with you yesterday...finally!  ..... and for your time spent..

So many memories hey........now you have a few more names to add to the list and wonder what responses you may get down the line.....

Shall keep in touch and if any more info. comes to  mind I shall forward on to you............take care....cheers and kind regards.........Timoci  (aka Mandrake!)  yes that was my nickname and given to me by Peter Devoy in my first week and am still called that today by many......and I kinda like it.....

22/3/2013

Mandrake called in for coffee today and we talked about the reunion last October. Tim is still living in Lautoka but has changed jobs. Still has their home in Sydney and spends time between the two.

Haydn Dunlop BNSW Lautoka 1972-1974

30/1/2011

Hi Sundance

Thanks for the email and tracking us down. We have maintain contact with Bill Denzse since we left Lautoka. He is the only one, although LBJ called in a few years ago and stayed with us for a week or so.

As you say a lot has passed us all by. I left banking in 1990 and ventured out in the business world, firstly with a bicycle shop and then a manufacturing business. We sold out three years ago and have been retired since then. Our business was very hard work but it has provided us with retirement.

We have two boys 30 and 25 and both have left home.

Prior to retiring we purchased a motorhome. We sold the business in July and stayed on until December 2007. We then traveled in the motorhome to Tasmania and then up to Sydney and Newcastle were we stored the van and flew home. We returned a few months later and wandered up to Gympie where we again stored it. Then we picked it up and drove back home in June 2009. After we were home for a few months I stripped everything out of the van and rebuilt all the furniture to make it more suited to our requirements.

In March 2010 we ventured to Europe for three months where we did a 15 day River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, fabulous, followed by a month coach trip around Europe. Then we did 28 days Great Britain coach tour, followed by a week in London and Paris before coming home. We had a really enlightening time.

We are soon to go a an ocean cruise to Japan, 42 days Cherry Blossom Cruise on the Sun Princess. We are going with my sister and brother-in-law

That is brief summary of where we are at. Cheers

Esther and Haydn

Reunion feedback:

From Haydn & Esther Dunlop

Bula Sundance.

We have finally arrive home after having a most enjoyable fortnight away.

We are so pleased that we were able to visit Sydney and catch up with so many expats from our Fiji days. We are very appreciative of all your efforts in arranging a memorable day and a great venue. Unfortunately there probably won't be as many attendants at the next 40 year re-union, me included. Besides being a few years older, wiser and fatter everyone still possessed the comradeship and free spirit. We thoroughly enjoyed a great day.

LaiLai aka Ian Lee ANZ Lautoka 1971-1972 

21/02/2015

 Hi John,aka Sundance no doubt even after 42 years.

I reluctantly joined the computer set. I don't have much use for it. However, it is certainly a good tool to keep in touch with old friends even 42 years on from those wonderful two years in Fiji.

Life has been a great journey since those days. Especially since I married Elaine. Our friends back in 1975 believed it would never last. Well, 40 years came around over the Australia Day weekend. I could never believe leaving the Bank after 21 years that I would live such a diversified life in and out of good, exceptional, and some ordinary business's.

After the Bank a chicken bar take-away set us up. Working hard put more savings away in two years than I could in 10/15 years. Even a fire and a hold-up didn't deter us. After the sale we took off to Europe for 4 months. We purchased the inimitable VW Combie Camper Van.

February 82 saw us arrive on the Sunshine Coast. We built our home and incorporated a restaurant into it. We kicked off Mothers Day lunches on the coast together with introducing BYO. Following sale I spent 84/85 in Real Estate. Learnt a lot about the area and met a lot of interesting people

We purchased a wonderful little cleaning business which we had for two years. Then a good gas business (in partnership). Lasted 1 month. (the ordinary one.) Partner bought our share.

The rest is history.

Thru a good friend in R/E in 1989 we purchased a very nice 4 acre property close to Caloundra 3 minutes to the golf course. Cost $62,000-00. A real bargain.

Built our Wedding Venue and opened in June 1990. We had very little competition. We just saw a market. We had a party every weekend and got paid for it.

Over a period of 5 years in conjunction with Rotary each year we held a fund-raising dinner for Wesley (cancer) Hospital. During that time the joint venture

(approx. 110 guests) with raffles, auctions, raised in excess of $100,000-00. Our venue did everything free of cost. Our staff gave their time Every penny earned

went to the cause. One of our conditions was that the funds went to an agreed upon purpose and not just to consolidated revenue

ROMAC (Rotary Overseas Medical Aid For Children) came to us one last time for help. They required $16,000-00 to repair holes in the heart for two young Vietnamese children. We succeeded. I believe it was one of the most rewarding things We (Elaine and I) have done. Elaine was always that tower of strength in the background.

It was a great partnership.

The biggest reward was receiving Rotary's highest award the "Paul Harris Fellow" for service to the community.

We sold June 2000.

Travel to the 4 corners of the globe took over with the exception of 2002 when we built a new home in Pelican Waters, Caloundra.

However, from 2003 my retirement days very quickly became busy. I took on volunteer work at Caloundra Golf Club. Wait for it. Water-proofing our course during big wet days (like we are experiencing at this very moment) constructing concrete paths thru wet areas. Did that for five years. Six years ago elected to the Greens Directors position on the committee. Apart from working in with the course supervisor in organising all the gambits of a golf course I have taken it upon myself to beautify the course with gardens on every hole. Caloundra is very fine regional course. It was good enough to feature the Queensland Open a few years ago.

I have just taken on another 2 years on the committee. That will take me to 76. By then I think I will have done my time and be totally satisfied.

 Steve Cunneen ANZ Lautoka 1971-1972

1/1/2015

Steve Cunneen

Hi Sundance,

Great to hear from you and yes I would love to catch up for a beer if I can arrange it when I visit Sydney, The visits are usually well organised catching up with my daughter and grand-kids in Helensburgh so that time is at a premium but I think that I will have some time in early Jan for some free time.

I hope to get to Macquarie Uni for a visit/consultation with a lecturer there so I will send you a message when I can arrange that visit, assuming that she will be at Uni that is.

Thanks for the news of lai-Lai, I was talking with Doug Richo recently and we wondered where the little fellow was and what he was doing. Golf seems to be high on his list still though I have no idea what club he is attached to.

I will send him an email to establish contact,

Thanks also for the news of Ian Morrison. It is wonderful to hear the old names gain and to bring back great memories of a special time in my life.

Happy New Year to you and yours and I look forward to catching up shortly.

 Willy Lutke-schipholt ANZ Lautoka 1971-1973

4/10/12  I phoned Willy and asked him if he remembered anyone from the BNZ Lautoka from 40 odd years ago. He mentioned a couple of characters, Chops and Sundance.  Well it is nice to know I am still remembered. 

We had a good chat and he will be coming to the reunion.

Hi Sundance

I nearly fell off my chair when you rang ! Thought you were in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Count me in and I am looking forward to meeting you and the others.

I tried ringing Derek Ridley a few times but was unsuccessful.

Catch ya

Willy

Derek Ridley ANZ Lautoka 1971-1973

 6/10/12

Derek N Ridley

Steve Cunneen advised the following information about Derek.

Derek Ridley's middle name is Nightingale as he is a descended from the family of Florence Nightingale though she herself never married. So with a Derek N Ridley on the electoral role it is a good chance it is the man from Fiji.

We did locate Derek who is living in Sydney and he attended our Sydney Reunion.

Doug Richardson ANZ Lautoka 1971-1972

Doug returned to work in the ANZ Sydney 1972-73. Married Leonie and has 3 children. Retired in the late 1990's and purchased a Newsagency which they had for many years. Now retired and enjoys numerous overseas cruises. Still lives in Sydney

Nat Fidler BNZ Nadi 1964-1967

January 2010  Ni Sa Bula,

Received your website page from Paul Hickford.

I was in Nadi with the BNZ from 1964 until 1967, you may wish to add my name to the list of members.

Reply:  Bula Vanaka Nat 

Good to hear from another expatriate BNZ banker. I trust you enjoyed your time in Fiji as much as I did. I arrived in Lautoka 1970 just 6 months after independence day and at the start of the tourist boom with Danny Costello's "Tai Island Resort" just getting off the ground. When I look back on it, it was amazing the amount of investment money that was pouring in to develop those resort lslands and we were the first beneficiaries.  We would get complimentary tickets to make up a crowd. However that soon changed as the popularity with the Australian tourists took off. It wasn't long before we were paying full fares, but worth every penny. Fiji certainly changed my life and career and steered me over the Tasman for good. 

Now tell me a bit more about your BNZ career. Where you went back to from Nada and where you finished up. Tell me what you are doing now, retired and enjoying life I presume.  

Sa Moce  John

Neil Harrison BNZ Suva 1972-1975

20/2/2010

Hello John,

Can you please add me to your list of people, if you are the one to be asking.

I worked at BNZ Suva from 1972-1975, also Bank of Western Samoa 1984-1986.

Am now retired and living in Tauranga. Spend a lot of time at our beach house at Whitianga.

Are you the John Kenny from Lawrence.

If so we have meet a long time ago either on a course or as a 90 day wonder in Wellington mid to late 1960's.

Yes, I am the John Kenny and it was 1966.

I can give you some names from Suva 1972-1975.

Peter Archer. Lives at Papamoa. Murray Beckman. Works for ASB Auckland

Ian Bougouis. Auckland.Noel Brown. Nelson. Gary Charteris.

Tim Dwyer. Still with BNZ Auckland. He and I joined same day 6/1/64

Ian Fortune. Christchurch. Earl Green ? George Hansen ? Chris Hill. Whangarei

Bob Hanrahan. Auckland. Ron Hussey ? Grahan Henderson ? Brian Hutchinson ?

Howard Johnson (deceased ?) Dave McCash (Hawkes Bay ?)

Terry Mander .Don MacDonald, Keith Morratti Auckland

Barry Muntz Tairua. John O'Connell Putaruru ? Dave Smith Deceased ?

John Williams Hamilton ? Brian Patrick ?

We didn't have a lot to do with the other bank guys but did go to movies at BNSW and spent time at the ANZ single mens mess just up the road from us on Forster St, between our flat and the Defence Club.  Some of them did play for the combined Banks cricket team but names have escaped me.

Rod Jepson (surveyor) also played for us and was a Fiji rep. A pommy solicitor by name of Peter Knight also played for us

Noel Brown and myself were very involved with the Lelean Old Boys rugby club as player/coaches and 1973 we won the Reserve grade and a spot in the play offs to Premier Level. Our Premier team also won that grade and there was no way one club was going to have two teams in the top grade.

Seems you must have been in Lautoka when I arrived 5/72.

I only ever got around there once, with McCash to deliver some cash. We stayed at the mess and I remember Tom Rowe and Russell Udy at the time.

Oct 1972 a group of us went to Labasa for the weekend and we stayed with Ivan Ashley (an Aussie) at the Malau timber mill.

Rapson/Townsend are two of the names I remember from that visit.

Andy Webster BNZ Suva 1975-1978

Andy and Margaret spent 3 years in BNZ Suva. They have 6 boys one of whom was born in Fiji. Margaret passed away when the boys were quite young and Andy raised them all by himself. He lives in Christchurch and runs a successful Financial Planning and Advisory business.

He has a passion for old vintage sports cars and has 3 or more MG's in his garage. Through his vintage car interests, Andy has met up with Bill Denize  and discovered their Fiji connections.

I worked with Andy in BNZ Alexandra prior to my appointment to Lautoka in 1970.  We did not meet again until 2010 when I was visiting Gary Townsend and Wally Hannam in Christchurch. They said they had a surpise guest who I should know. It was Andy Webster who I had not seen since 1970. To my surprise Andy had be transferred to Suva 2 years after I left. 

Bryce Mitchell BNSW Suva 1972-1973 

Deceased May 2018

31st July 2018 KC (Kevin Warner) wrote to advise the sad news that Ratu Michelli had passed away.

"As you know, the five of us Top Mess ‘East Coasters’ finally became aware of Hamiltonius’ (Ian Hamilton) whereabouts and we decided we would have a get together of the ‘Top Mess’ without any further ado. Haystacks was the promoter for a gathering in Tasmania because he had been down here in June last year, Anne and he had enjoyed their stay and rallied the Top Mess accordingly. However, while all were in agreement, Dexter was still working and could only spare a very short time but the worst thing was that Ratu Michelli (Bryce Mitchell) had contracted a brain tumour in September the previous year and was going downhill. Haystack and I re-caste the plans to make it easier for Bryce and the gathering was transferred to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for four days in late April 2018.

Obviously, we all wanted Bryce to be up to it and able to travel but about a fortnight before the day, Bryce’s wife Donna let us know that they had had to withdraw.

We still went ahead albeit with something of heavy hearts. We had lunch as a group one day, a Ladies Lunch with a Secret Mens’ Business gathering for the blokes at the same time and one night the formal ‘Mess Dinner’, speeches, slides and all. We did speak with Bryce and Donna on a couple of occasions over those days but it was pretty hard. Bryce passed away 12 May and BP and his wife Jan drove up to Mackay from Bargara (near Bundaberg) and represented us all. Dexter and I composed a memorial notice for the Mackay paper and a eulogy on behalf of the Top Mess which was read out at the funeral service.

But, on a bright note (with regard to the actual get together), it will most likely not come as any surprise to you at all that Dexter (Graeme Bowden) took out the ‘Drunks’ Award, by a HUGE margin, on the informal Sunday night of the get together (just like the Sunday picture nights in the banking chamber of the Bank of New South Wales, Suva). And he was the only one who had work ahead of him the next morning! It was a good gathering although too late for the group as a whole and confirmed with us all that we have to get on with it and do it.