What is one of your favourite trips that you’ve taken? What made it great?

I’ll always have to say going to New Zealand and meeting up with the family I didn’t know about. Margaret found them on the internet, she was looking for my father. I was a bit apprehensive at first as I didn’t think I had any siblings, let alone seven.

I was a bit numb when I found out, I suppose. It was quite a shock. Thankfully, Margaret did all the groundwork, as she does. That was a very awe inspiring, sort of a shattering thing to happen to a person. First to find out that you had more family, secondly to meet them and find people that look like you. That was pretty special.

I was so surprised, thinking that my father was from Australia and then finding out that he was a New Zealander. He was in the Air Force, and came over and joined our RAAF.

In the end, we went to New Zealand, and I took four of the kids with me. I was a bit sad Kevin didn’t go, I would have liked that. When we arrived Margaret arranged for the transfer off the plane onto a family coach - she travels in style, Margie Megs! We went straight to the hotel, got dressed and went to the bar, as my family does. And we found out that everyone in their family does the same thing!

Margaret spotted Fred coming through the door. I looked up and knew instantly: that’s my brother! He walked up to to the bar and asked “Are there any Australians looking for someone here?” Margaret brought him over to the table and he put us straight at ease. He loved playing tennis, like me and used to play for the All Blacks.

We stayed with Fred and Barb, who had all the family tree stuff that I was interested in. It was all on a big scroll that rolled right down the passageway. They had everyone around for the most magnificent barbecue, and it was just like a party at my place.

But the one I got along with the most was Phillip. The oldest and the youngest! Your mum used to say “it’s bad enough we have one, now we have two”.

I was so glad that Margaret did it when she did, because since then, Fred, Steven and Ivan have died. I was so glad not to miss out. I got to meet them all except one: Neil, who was born after me.

It put the last piece of the puzzle together. It completed my life because I finally knew where I was from and who I belonged to. It’s hard to explain the mental things that happen to you in a situation like this. For quite some weeks when I got back, I would think about it at night, in bed. I had a lot of feelings going on. Very positive feelings: wonderment, “how could this happen?” - it’s amazing.