Leading from the front issuu

SHARING PASSION FOR THE HIKOI
by jo magill
Pat Magill, my father in-law. You have been one of the
main back bones of my family, a presence there to lend
a helping hand at all the right moments.
An amazing and hands-on grandfather to all of my
children, Travis, Jerri, Liam and Zoe.
From collecting the kids from school and their out of
school activities to dropping off your famous crock pot
stew after a long day of work. I loved the connection you
had with my dad Abe, an unspoken admiration on both
sides was obvious.
In addition to our family connection, your passion of
using hikoi as a tool for personal reflection and healing,
had you interested in the Spanish Camino walk I
had completed. You introduced me to New Zealand’s
Te Araroa trail and the opportunities it had to give under
privledged kids a chance to experience something outside
their normal life. So that meant you and I creating a
new relationship as “Walk Mates”.
Some of those adventures are recorded on Facebook
page ‘Te Araroa Offers Hope’. I came to know you on a
whole new level, for example, your innovative methods
to secure sponsorship, at times was to print the company’s
logo on the t shirt, do the walk, then approach
them and tell them we have already advertised them!
The one walk I will always remember that just you and
I did, we got lost over farmland in the Kapamahunga
range on our way to Limeworks near Pirongia. Somehow
we both managed to stay calm and composed, but
I’m pretty sure you were scratching your head thinking,
“Shit she really doesn’t know what she is doing”. Thank
goodness after an hour or so, we saw a colourful movement
ahead. It was another Te Araroa trail walker — our
prayers were answered!
To this day, you continue to keep a close, loving eye on
me and my children and I love you very much Pat.
Arohanui
Above, painting, Ruahine Mountain Range by John Ruth; below, Jes, Pat and Jo Magill walking the Te Araroa Trail, in Auckland from
Torbay to Devonport — 21kms in total, a half marathon!
A big presence in our lives 255