I interviwed three people about my family heritage
Katrina Turkington
My Mum was born in Ipswich General
Hospital in Ipswich, Australia. She moved
to New Zealand in 2004 after meeting my
Dad in London when they were both on their
OE's. When she was younger she lived with
her younger brother, step dad, and mum in
a three bedroom, one bathroom airforce
house as her step dad (derek) used to
work for the airforce. On the weekends she
would visit her dad (my grandad) who lived
in a giant block of land by a river. She thought
this was good fun as there was lots to explore
with her brother and step siblings.
Katrina has christian beliefs and says that her
religion brings her peace and comfort
and hope when times are tough. When
Katrina was younger her hobbies were playing
tennis at Leichhart tennis club in Ipswich,
playing softball for her school, she played the
piano and took singing lessons.
When I asked her how she learnt about world
news she said her dad and step dad would
watch the news all night, it was all that was
on television so she had no choice. Kat is
beyond greatful because she has experienced
so much by having a loving family amazing
friends, having travelled so much,
having a career she loves, getting married
and having two children in which she adores.
Edward Turkington
Edward was born in Wellington, New Zealand
although he was born here he knows a lot about
the Turkington family heritage. Eddie grew up
in a typical three bedroom bungalo. He went right
through school in Wellington before moving up to
Auckland in 1957 to start work and join his
parents in which had already moved there.
Eddie is a catholic and used to be an alter boy,
he's been educated in catholic schools all his life
and tries to go to church every sunday. When
he was younger he played soccer and ran several
half marathons and two full marathons. He also
told me of the time he was once in the news for
being in a car accident on the harbour bridge. I
learnt that my great, great grandad wrote part of
the national anthum. Although eddie's life has
changed a lot since he was younger. But he still
can't use a computer.
Cheryl James
Cheryl was born in New Zealand in 1948. All of her
ansestors came over from Wales all except her
maternal grandmother who was of Irish decent. Cheryl
lived in Fiji from when she was 10-18 due to her father
getting a job with Fijian airways. When
she was younger she used to play netball and ride horses.
Throughout her life she has been to europe several
times and she remembers her parents being very adventerous.
Her earliest memory was her first day of school flower
picking with her friends. She now lives in New Zealand
and has had three children one being my dad. Comparing
her life now to her childhood alot has changed. Now she has
many aches an pains and remembers her childhood to be very
carefree, in which now life is so much different.
The Turkingtons coming to New Zealand
The name Turkington comes from Ireland.
James Mcdermot, his three children and wife landed in Dangdaville, New Zealand in 1865. They were five of the eighty eight passangers on board the Andrew Jackson from Ireland. My maternal grandfather already lived in New Zealand and was a foster child so we are unsure of how his ansestors arrived here. But his last name Turkington is Irish so he is believed to be of Irish decent. He was later to get married and have children. When his son grew up he got married to a Mcdermot and she took his last name (Turkington) they then had two children.
The Andrew Jackson
The James coming to New Zealand
My paternal great, great grandfather was born in New Tredgar, Wales and was a coal miner. When he had a son Kenneth James (my great grandfather) he didn't want him to go down in the mines so they immigrated to New Zealand by boat. My maternal grandfather was only nineteen when he came to New Zealand. He wanted to travel the world but when he was here he met my great grandmother and they got married. They later had two children one being my grandmother (Cheryl James) who went on to marry Edward Turkington later in life.
The James family
