The Wilderness Revisited

J.T. Diamond Essay Competition

The J.T. Diamond Essay Competition is held by Waitakere Library & Information Services and the West Auckland Historical Society to encourage an interest in, and the study of, West Auckland history. This annual event is named in honour of Jack (John T) Diamond, a man who spent a lifetime studying, writing and documenting the history of West Auckland and the Waitakere ranges.

Judging has commenced for the 2008 competition. The prize giving will be held in November and winning entries will then be added to this page. The planning committee would like to thank all of this year's entrants.

	About J.T. (Jack) Diamond
	2007 Winning Entries		2006 Winning Entries
	2005 Winning Entries		2004 Winning Entries

About J.T. (Jack) Diamond

Jack Diamond researched West Auckland history for over 60 years. He accumulated an extensive collection of photographs, books, newspapers, research notes and manuscripts.  Jack's research focused on the Waitakere Ranges and the wider West Auckland area, including Maori history, the kauri timber milling and brick-making industries and their workers, and pioneering families. He also explored roading, railways, buildings and vineyards.

Jack Diamond died in February 2001 at the age off 88.  Jack's extensive research collection was donated by his family to Waitakere City Library and Information Services, and it is available for use by the public at Waitakere Central Library.

J.T. Diamond Essay Competition 2007 Prize Winners

Best overall essay: Franich Jewellers Diamond Essay Prize

The 2007 overall winner received diamond earings, kindly donated by Franich Jewellers in Henderson.

The Bach by the Wharf: Cornwallis Beach - Mia Brown
Judges' comments: Quite brilliant! This talented young author has created a lasting testimony through this essay of the importance of this dwelling and its associated people and memories. An original piece of work with a resonance well beyond the personal to a larger New Zealand experience.

Memories category: Adult

First Place

Crown Lynn Potteries in the 1960s - Tony Goodwin
Judges' comments: Excellent. Gives a valuable insight into technical aspects of Crown Lynn, interspersed with personal anecdotes. An evocative, entertaining and interesting essay.

Second Place

Memories of a Huia Lass- Gwen Wilkinson
Judges' comments: Evocative in every way. An essay not only detailing a particular family, but which also brings to life a sense of the Huia Community in the 50s and 60s and connects through to the present.

Third Place

A Childhood in New Windsor - Sylvia Thomas
Judges' comments: Well written and nostalgic. A strong evocation of a bygone era with much local details well recorded.

Memories category: Student

First Place

The Bach by the Wharf: Cornwallis Beach - Mia Brown
Judges' comments: Outstanding. "It's got life, death and everything in between." Six generations and 100 years of family history, movingly documented in photographs and personal recollections.

Second Equal Place

Waikumete Cemetary: Photo essay with a quartet of poems - A'aone Malifa, Caitlin Turnbull, Kirsten Turnbull and Perry Wilton
Judges' comments: A creative and powerful piece of work.

Memories of Arahoe School - Emily Thompson
Judges' comments: Well written and makes effective use of personal narrative, as well as good connections between the past and the present.

Third Place

Caravans Galore - Jessica Thompson
Judges' comments: Splendid work. Delightful choice of photographs. An original choice of subject and a fascinating story. A real contribution for the record.

Historical Research: Adult

First Prize

A Man to Remember! - Cheryl Clarke-Jowsey
Judges' comments: A well written essay which documents changing land use and development of a well known area of West Auckland, it also tells the story of an extraordinary, but largely unrecognised individual, Bill Miller

Second Prize

There was no second prize awarded

Third Prize

There was no third prize awarded

Highly Commended

Steel Boat-building in Kelston at the Span Farm in the late 50s and 60s - Gerhard Breekvelt

Moderne Houses: New Lynn - Patricia Earl

Historical Research: Student

First Prize

The Roundabout: The story of a little community paper that thought big - Callum Doyle
Judges' comments: An original topic well researched using primary sources.

Second Prize

Dean Buchanan - Sian Loughran
Judges' comments: Based largely on correspondence with the artist, this essay demonstrates an enthusiasm for the subject and an appreciation of Dean Buchanan's artistic sensibilities interspersed with personal thoughtful comments.

Third Equal Prize

Organic Fame - Maisie Leigh Hamilton Murray
Judges' comments: This research into the founders of Phoenix drinks is original and interesting, and make a real contribution to the field. Wonderful questions, delightful answers and an authentic child's voice.

The Laingholm Primary School: The greatest little school in the universe - Sam Maree Wardell
Judges' comments: Well written and based on personal interviews this is a delightful piece of research.

Highly Commended

Ferndale/Carey Park - Alexander Redman and Sean Donald

Home of the Deaf Lovers: The Karamatura Loop walk, stream & valley - Alisha Hart and Kulani Nin

Techniques and Transport used in Historical Kauri Logging - Daniel Swann

West Lynn Gardens - Dikun Ong

Bob Harvey Mayor Extraordinaire: Our true Eco-Mayor - Ella Karreback

Church on the Hill - Jordan Curtis and Hannah Curtis

My Rugby Club - Kenny Malolo

Clay, Rock and Sand: The story of the Upper and Lower Huia dams - Lauren Woon

A Little Gem in Huia: The tale of a small farm and museum with big dreams - Mallory Doherty

Stutzes on Sand: A history of beach racing at Muriwai - Martin Boyle

A Brief History of Glen Eden Railway Station - Michael Boag

Mayor's Prize

The Mayor's Prize is awarded to the essay that vividly portrays personal memories.

Huia Camp 7th Auckland Boys Brigade - Tony Goodwin
Judges' comments: A strong sense of continuity from childhood to adulthood is described in this essay. It demonstrates the impact of early experiences in shaping an appreciation of the natural world, and in particular for the author's beloved Waitakere Ranges.

West Auckland Historical Society Prize

The West Auckland Historical Society Prize is awarded in acknowledgement of the author's considerable time and effort.

Shopping in Henderson in the 1930s - Jack Morris
Judges' comments: This 'walking tour' of commercial Henderson in the 1930s (Maurice Gee's 'Loomis'), is a valuable and well illustrated historical contribution.

The Bullock Trophy

The West Auckland Historical Society Bullock Trophy is presented to the school that has made a significant contribution in supporting the competition. The winning school keeps the trophy for a year.

Henderson Valley School

Judges' comments: This school submitted five entries and three received recognition, a first, second and highly commended. All were original topics and used original research. All have made a real contribution to the historical record for West Auckland. An excellent effort.

J.T. Diamond Essay Competition 2006

Prize Winners

Best overall essay: Franich Jewellers Diamond Essay Prize

The 2006 overall winner received a gold and diamond pendant, donated by Franich Jewellers in Henderson.

Aunt Dorothy's Memories of Sunnydale - Annemarie Endt
Judges' comments: This essay makes a wonderful contribution to the historical record, containing information that is simply not available from any published source. The author has married memories with some solid research and created a vivid description about family life in the early 1900's. The entire essay is delightful to read.

Memories category: Adult

First Place

Aunt Dorothy's Memories of Sunnydale - Annemarie Endt
Judges' comments: This very well written, descriptive essay creates an evocative picture of the period and the people. It draws on the memories of both the author and long time Oratia resident Dorothy Alice Davidson, known to Oratia locals as Aunt Dorothy.  

Second Place

Third Place

Bill Strid: Going Back in Time a Little - Marc Bonny
Judges' comments: This essay is full of both lovely personal tales and descriptive information on businesses in Henderson during the 1930's.

Memories category: Student

First Place

History of Crum Park - Caitlin Davey
Judges' comments: This essay combines well written historical information with amusing anecdotes to paint a picture of children playing at Crum Park.

Second Place

Third Place

Woodlands Park School - Alexandra Holt
Judges' comments: The author has made good use of dates, a brief interview and general information to produce a nicely written history of Woodlands Park School.

Historical Research: Adult

First Prize

Willie Sharp - Paul Thurston
Judges' comments: The research for this essay has been skilfully undertaken and a very readable and well written biography has been produced. It tells the story of Willie Sharp of Oratia who enlisted under his brother Gordon's name so he could fight in World War One.

Second Prize

Third Prize

Historical Research: Student

First Equal Prize

The History of Whatipu Wharf - Georgia Harris
Judges' comments: This essay is well written, well researched and uses a variety of resources, including a personal interview, to provide interesting and comprehensive information about the Whatipu wharf.

First Equal Prize

Third Prize

Mayor's Prize

West Auckland Historical Society Prize

J.T Diamond Essay Competition 2005 Prize Winners

To request copies of the essays contact Waitakere Library & Information Services.

Prize Winners

Best overall essay: Franich Jewellers Diamond Essay Prize

For 2005 the recipient received a gold and diamond pendant donated by Franich Jewellers of Henderson.

Emma Louise Joyce
Tenuous tenancies: a history of the Cornwallis baches
Judges' comments: A very polished essay that combined research with evocative writing. Everything about it was 'top class.'

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Tenuous tenancies: a history of the Cornwallis baches (Size 1030K)

Memories category

First Place

Dianne Cooper
Holiday memories: Piha in the 50s to mid 60s
Judges' comments: An evocative essay that created a strong sense of time and place with emotional resonance.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Holiday memories: Piha in the 50s to mid 60s (Size 18K)

Second Place

Dick Endt
A new life in New Zealand: fond memories of the clay-adobe house on Parker Road, Oratia
Judges' comments: A delightful read which created a clear picture of an historic building, now sadly destroyed.

Third Place

Glennys McGlashan
Memories of Te Atatu in the 1960s
Judges' comments: A well written and fascinating account of the often ignored subject of the life of women at home.

Highly commended

Mayor's Prize

Cyril Kelleway
A mini supermarket comes to West Auckland
Judges' comments: The writer developed a strong sense of time and place which created an appealing essay.

Historical research category

First Prize

Emma Louise Joyce
Tenuous tenancies: a history of the Cornwallis baches
Judges' comments: The essay contained a tremendous amount of research that was both well presented and an enjoyable read.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Tenuous tenancies: a history of the Cornwallis baches (Size 1030K)

Second Equal Prize

Nigel Brookes
From Green Bay to Gondwanaland
Judges' comments: A simple question was answered using an unique and informative approach.

Second Equal Prize

Carolyn Melling
The lonely grave
Judges' comments: An evocative essay that drew together research from a diverse range of resources.

Highly commended

West Auckland Historical Society Prize

Rob & Patricia Carr
Pinesong in Green Bay
Judges' comment: This essay crafted considerable research into an enjoyable read.

Children's Prize

Mercedes Bishop
History of West Auckland bush land
Judges' comments: The writer drew together some interesting concepts through a combination of primary research and secondary resources.

Copies of all the essays are available to view at the J.T. Diamond Research Room, Henderson Library.

J.T Diamond Essay Competition 2004

To request copies of the essays contact Waitakere Library & Information Services.

Prize winners

Amateur Historian

First place

Ray Ryan (of Porirua)
Winning Posts

Judges comments: This essay about one man's efforts to build a boundary fence through part of Centennial Park is a well-written anecdotal account. It touches on what makes life in West Auckland especially unique. The writer, a young boy at the time; recounts these days with his great uncle Horace Mobbs.

The essay, accompanied by photographs, combines personal memories with well-researched information and faithfully represents the pioneer spirit of yesteryear.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print this document.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

Winning Posts (Size 1532K)

Second place

David Peppiatt (of Henderson)
A Time to Die - How Destruction Gully got its name.
Judges comments: Any effort to document a pre-European history of Maori is ambitious. The accuracy of available resource material is totally reliant on the oral tradition as there were no written accounts. This means the lines between fact and fiction are often blurred. This has been acknowledged in the writer's preamble where he refers to several "quite contradictory accounts" found during his research. However, he settled for the two most probable versions to assist with his writing. The result is a thorough and well researched essay, with an impressive bibliography that documents the events leading to an infamous battle involving Te Kawerau a Maki.

Third place

Graeme Gummer (of Papatoetoe)
A Bach in the Waitakere Ranges in the 1930's.
Judges comments: This is an account of a visit to a remote Bach or shelter with the most primitive of facilities spread over a period of a few days. All the comforts of home were left behind and the writer took on survival mode at the mercy of his companion's knowledge of the area. A delightfully written, personal account of a time gone by.

Highly Commended

Winston Hansen (of Glen Eden)
Alf's Purpose, Alf's Way

Juliette Patterson (of Henderson)
The Man who brought a Special Sparkle and Unique Sound to West Auckland

Yvonne (Sally) Willmot (of Hobsonville)
Whenuapai Airbase, Up, Up and Away

Judges comments: These entries were chosen for a highly commended prize because they told their stories so well, with good backup research where needed. All delightful stories of unique characters and places in our West Auckland history.

Intermediate Category

First place

Thomas Brockwell-Parker (of Acorn Academy)
Travel Through Time
Judges comments: This entry contained original research with a wide breadth of well-written and logical progression. A well presented chronological history of the Glen Eden railway station between 1876 and 2004. It contained a good selection of photography to give further colour. Very well done.

Second place

Loi Fuimaono (of Acorn Academy)
The Old Methodist Church in Glen Eden
Judges comments: A very well researched and detailed essay with good resources and excellent use of oral history. This entry, accompanied by an excellent set of photographs, puts the resulting information to good use as a comprehensive history of the church since its early days in the old mortuary chapel at Waikumete Cemetery. Congratulations for the attention to detail while researching this topic.

Third equal

Siobhan Vanwaas-Doyle (of Glen Eden Intermediate)
The Story of the Cornwallis Wharf
Judges comments: Evocative writing style and good photographs that compliment the story. Much detail of the work needed to upgrade and rebuild the wharf. Covers the history of the wharf to present days.

Arielle Wakelin (of Henderson)
The Falls Hotel
Judges comments: This entry refers to many jottings and research, including work by Jack Diamond before updating the old buildings, as well as more recent history of its relocation and upgrade. It also covers the paid car parking system. This entry was well presented and thorough, with good accompanying photographs.

Audio / Visual

Krystle Barnes (of Te Atatu Peninsula)
Westie Winemakers
Judges Comments: Krystle's entry was the one that most fitted the criteria. There were some very interesting extracts and it was well researched. The whole presentation was well edited and thoughtfully put together, providing a good overview of a local industry.

West Auckland Historical Society - Bullock Team Trophy
(for a school project)

Glen Eden Intermediate
The West Auckland Historical Society presented this trophy to Glen Eden Intermediate for their excellent work and accurate portrayal of the on-going history of the area. This entry followed the spirit of Jack Diamond's work.

West Auckland Historical Society Prize (most promising essay and an acknowledgement of time and effort)

W N Bishop (of Glen Eden)
Memories of Titirangi
Judges comments: A lengthy account of life in Titirangi, this essay covers many topics which would all make good subjects for individual essays.

Mayor's Prize (presented to the essay portraying personal memories most vividly).

Annemarie Endt (of Oratia)
148 Edmonton Road
Judges comments: Memories that tell an immigrants point of view and first impressions when relocating to another country. It recounts the need to bring and build their house.