Garry | Mt Roskill

“Garry, and I’m from Mt Roskill. I can think of one that just happened two days ago.

We were in the supermarket, and an Indian man and myself were wanting asparagus, and there were three lots of asparagus for, you know, $5 or something, and he managed to get in first, but he could see that I was also interested, and he took one bunch and gave me the other two, which you know, I was really impressed, because shame on me, I tend to think of Indians as being somewhat grasping, but here was someone who didn’t know me, never seen me before, but was very generous. It was a very generous gesture, you know? I thought that was really cool. Loved it.

You know that really broke a stereotype in me, and if anyone said; oh this is the way Indians act, I could say; well you know, I’ve got another story to tell where someone I’d never seen before gave me two bunches of asparagus and didn’t want any remuneration. So, I was impressed. 

I was brought up in the countryside in Hawke’s Bay on a farm. Great childhood experience. Came up to Auckland to study at university here. Architecture. In the process of being a student, I became a Christian and that’s really widened my perspective about life, and certainly in terms of generosity, rather than living just for me, thinking about living under God’s direction and thinking about other people as well.

I’ve got seven grandchildren. Two are teenagers, and two boys, 11 and 9, and then my daughter had triplets. They’re now six years old, so a very interesting experience. When they’re young, you’re the hero, and they get a bit older and suddenly just a quick cuddle and that’s it. So, I’m still a hero to my daughter’s kids. They like to be thrown around, swung around, all fairly physical active activities, and they’re very enjoyable. 

I think they’re terribly important. Actions speak louder than words. You can say all you like, but if you do something it breaks down boundaries and stereotypes and, how can I put it?  You know, there’s concrete evidence, examples that you can talk to people about. It’s probably that people are more interested in life experiences and real events, rather than just theories, you know? 

My kids, they’ve got five kids, young kids and Dad’s earning a living, and he’s got to support five kids, and mum’s busy, there’s a lot that a grandparent can do. Just going that bit extra, taking them to playgrounds. I like drawing and artworks, so doing artwork with them. One of the boys is prob, got a good build for running. I, I would like to train him up a bit. Take him to the swimming pool. Get them swimming. Get them active. Build huts. Do craft stuff with them. Things that Mum and Dad, you know, they’re focussing on the essentials, and there’s a big role for someone like myself who’s got a bit more time to input to develop their abilities sideways, physically and through artwork, and building stuff, and all that kind of thing.”