Inventing Myself

Abstract

In November 1963, I was in Standard Two at Puhinui Primary in Papatoetoe, a suburb of Auckland. I'd just turned nine. In my end of year report my teacher, Miss Goulter, wrote that my "personal qualities continue to be excellent" and that I showed "a talent in Written Expression". I "made an excellent class captain" being "a very quiet and well-mannered boy who has a wonderful sense of humour". I got "on well with the other children" and was "very easy to work with". On 13 February 1964 the seven of us in my family flew from Auckland to Sydney in a TEAL Lockheed Electra. I still have the set of wings the flight crew gave me.