The Te Awaroa Museum, Helensville, was blessed to have the family of the late ‘Queen of the Kaipara’ Flora Thirkettle allow us to document them talking of their mother. Flora was a pioneering fisherwoman and had to fight for acceptance with doggedness and hard work. Tragically widowed, Flora was left with a young family of seven, no home or income;
“I had two choices; either go fishing or farming, both of which I knew a little about. I couldn’t afford to buy land, so fishing was the option I chose. I found this house for sale right on the creek (Kaipara River) off the harbour. It came complete with ‘Olive’ the launch, the dory, a pair of oars and two nets. I thought if I can get good enough at fishing, I’ll be able to keep up with mortgage repayments, which I did.”
Flora went on to raise her family, eventually earning the trust and respect of the local fishermen and becoming the first woman nominated to membership of the Kaipara Cruising Club - causing two men to resign. In 1963, the added distinction of being the only female seagoing member of the Coastguard in the world, was a role not unfamiliar to Mrs Thirkettle. Running her 26-foot launch ‘Olive’ on the treacherous Kaipara Harbour, she answered many calls for assistance. “Nowadays I don’t think any notice would be taken of it. There’s lots of woman skippers and deck hands around now”. (It is worth noting that as the times dictated, Flora always wore a dress, even whilst fishing).
Preparing for the Thirkettle family to visit took a village, thanks are due to Kaipara Tavern’s Andy Cummings and the crew from the Helensville Network Group for helping us move Flora’s dory from the barn to the ‘Kaipara Room’. Also thanks to Zach Stark from Wylde Creative and Helen Martin for producing something coherent from our efforts.
Above all, a huge thank you to Flora’s family for being so generous with their time and memories. Sons John and Reg, brother Ted, and daughters Cherry and Iris (seated), a grand legacy to her immense strength of character.
