Leading from the front issuu

HICKEY FAMILY MEMORIES
by jane hillier, nee hickey
Well, Uncle Pat Magill. What a fun Uncle you have been
to us all over the years and how we always love our time
spent with you. So much energy and always time to stop
and chat and have some fun; great qualities in this fastmoving
world.
We especially remember with fond nostalgia the holidays
spent with your family, and that you organised our
first ever camping holiday at Lake Taupo in the summer
of ’63 — ’64.
When we lived on the farm at Warea in Southern
Taranaki our father would have been tied to milking or
summer chores but we had moved into New Plymouth.
So, here we all were, our lot as green as grass to the
camping ways, being country kids.
Our dad Jim had never camped either, although he
said the smell of sun on the canvas tents took him right
back to his Second World War Air Force days in Burma.
But this was a real fun holiday together and we were
starting to like this outside world of tents and campfires
and the freedom of running a bit wild.
There were a lot of us girls with little Jes, and Pat, you
always found time to do things with young Jimmy, Rob,
the twins and Chris, which they remember warmly to
this day. It was an amazing time and we explored the
area, taking in most of the key tourist spots.
Then, there was the beautiful seaside home on the
beach at Westshore, Napier. Wonderful days on that
beach, fun in small boats, swims in the tide and beach
walks. And always, that relaxed fun atmosphere, great
kai and games and a houseful of eleven kids and four
adults!
Then came 21st birthday celebrations and more family
fun and memories. In between all this holiday fun,
Pat, you were ever busy forging a way into vital social
work and reform with youth. The Downtown Y, improving
YMCA facilities, programmes and general wellbeing
were now a huge focus in your life.
Most of us were busy enough, just with life and work
and bringing up children while Pat had the vision and
the courage to implement change where he could. And
of course this took him into the wider New Zealand social
justice scene where he still is considered a catalyst
for change in our Justice system.
Pat has opened our eyes to a different way of thinking
about the justice system. He has made us see that
prisons are not the answer and he has spent many years
crusading for a better, more enlightened alternative. It is
indeed a difficult journey and one which Pat with all his
heart continues to walk.
We love and admire your drive, your commitment and
your heart for youth and the disadvantaged, Pat. You are
a hero for our times and a true legend in our family.
God bless, from all of Tillie and Jim’s Whanau.
[NB: On Catherine’s side of the family, Tillie Hickey (nee
O’Donnell) is Jane Hillier’s mother and the middle sister
to Catherine.]
A big presence in our lives 251