<strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>May</strong> 6 <strong>2021</strong> 18 NEWS • From page 17 “Things started to heat up, but I naively didn’t see just what danger I was in as a big line of protestors came towards me one way and the Red Squad was coming the other and I was in the middle. “Out of nowhere John came racing towards me and pushed me into the safe house. For a moment the photographer was off duty on the biggest story of the day to make sure his workmate was safe.’’ Being good at his job was only one facet of McCombe’s endearing personality. He was an incurable practical joker, who loved playing pranks on his colleagues, but he was also quick-witted and resourceful, as recalled by reporter Brian Cowley. “On the one hand, he was the consummate professional, charming and calming his nervous subjects with soothing banter and achieving the desired photograph by means of mutual co-operation. “<strong>The</strong>n there was the devil-maycare character who would startle the reporter accompanying him with an impromptu cameo from the McCombe playbook of crazy tricks.’’ Cowley remembers running late for a job and being amazed when McCombe drove across a busy Christchurch, avoiding all streets and traffic lights, zipping instead down alleyways and business access lanes. When they arrived, he apologised for their tardiness, saying Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Consummate professional with a devil-may-care character McCombe’s infamous picture of an eight-year-old Canterbury rugby fan prompted calls for the boy to be banned from Lancaster Park. the “traffic wasn’t with us’’, which, Cowley says, was no lie! Away from his work, Mc- Combe was a man of many interests, chief of those being his family. But he was also an avid hunter, fisherman, boatee, golfer (later in life) and a crack clay target shooter. How many colleagues knew he was the 1992 New Zealand clay sparrow champion shooter and a national clay target shooting representative while a member (and former vice president) of the Belfast Gun Club? Indeed, daughter Melody recalls a quote from North Canterbury artist Sam Mahon, in his book <strong>The</strong> Year of the Horse, about her father – “he went hunting with dad and wrote that dad was as artful with a gun as he was with a camera.’’ What they are more likely to remember are the many great times enjoyed at the McCombe’s homes in Tancred St – where plans for the infamous Media Club in Chancery Lane were first hatched – and later at Rockinghorse Rd, South New Brighton. After a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 left their two-storey South Shore villa unrepairable, the McCombe’s thought about buying land and starting afresh on the West Coast. Instead, through family circumstances, they ended up visiting Thames. As McCombe told the New Zealand Herald in February 2015, the four-year anniversary of the big quake, he and Cheryl spent the night in Whangamata and, on a whim, called a real estate agent and found themselves inspecting a lovely home overlooking the harbour. Impulsively – or was it instinctively? – they made an offer and a few months later began a new chapter in their lives in the Coromandel. McCombe said the speed of the decision stunned family and friends – “I think they must have thought we’d gone off our rocker a little bit’’ – but it proved to be “the best decision of our lives.’’ He joined the local golf and boating clubs and took a keen interest in environmental issues, eventually becoming an outspoken chairman of the Whangamata Harbour Care group, leading the charge on mangrove eradication. In a Facebook exchange (he ended up with three different pages) in June last year, Mc- Combe agreed it was a case of “paradise lost’’ in Christchurch but “paradise regained’’ in Whangamata. And it’s in that beautiful town, at the golf club today that friends and family will farewell the genial McCombe, a big man with a heart and a personality to match. McCombe is survived by his wife Cheryl, children Melody and Kevin, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Treat Mum at Park Lane Bring mum to Arvida’s Park Lane 65+ community for a Mother’s Day pampering session she’ll enjoy. Choose a complimentary pedicure or massage from Sensory <strong>The</strong>rapy, enjoy a glass of bubbles on us and be serenaded by a wonderful vocalist. <strong>The</strong>re’ll be a special menu celebrating mums at 5 Acres Café too. Pop in Sunday 9th <strong>May</strong>, 10am-2pm Call Tara on 021 489 784 or visit parklaneretirement.co.nz 35 Whiteleigh Avenue, Christchurch. An Arvida Living Well Community
Thursday <strong>May</strong> 6 <strong>2021</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> 19
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