Back Standing L-R: Fred & Noeline King, Colin Alve, Mary & Jack Alve, Maree & Ivan Alve, Phillip Alve, Thelma & Russell Pedersen, Val Alve, Jean Alve, Joyce Alve, Hilton Alve and Alve Purdom. Seated L-R: Lila Purdom, Myra Jennings, Hazel Bailey, Thelma Avery, Gwen Davey, Rose Te Maari, Tis Emmens, Beth Evans and Meryl McPherson.

Alve Family Reunion Easter 1995

1995 Reunion Whole Group Pics

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1995 Reunion Organising Committee

L-R: Julianne Alve, Joyce & Val Alve, Maree Alve, Peter Alve, Ivan Alve, Terry Alve,
Theresa Flintoff, Phillip Alve, Thelma Avery, Gordon Alve & Christine Alve

1995 Reunion Reflections

Maria & Carl Alfe

Two Years of Planning
Two years of planning, the publication of, "Alve Road" - a history of the Alve Family - and travel arrangements by nearly 150 family members culminated in a family reunion during Easter Weekend 1995.

From the first gathering on Goof Friday evening (14 April) the tone was one of relaxed informality. The organising committee chaired by Gordon Alve had done an excellent job. "Highden" at Awahuri, the stately old homestead venue chosen, was the ideal setting  with its early 20th century flavour, its extensive lawns and gardens, accommodation, chapel and friendly family staff who catered superbly for the weekend.

Family members arriving found their registration packs filled with helpful information about the region, a list of all attending, creative name badges colour-coded according to family and with details of the events and meals each was registered for. Souvenir teaspoons, letter openers and king rings all  with carl's and Maria's  photo on were there for those who had ordered them and available for purchase for those who hadn't. In addition, famed, coloured photos of Carl & Maria (200m x 150mm). "Alve Rd" - AA miniature road signs - were also for sale.

Another of the weekend's highlights was the marvellous display of photographs grouped by families, and genealogical information that Peter & Julianne Alve had painstakingly mounted. They had done their homework well and many memories were prompted as this display was viewed. Many photos in this display were ordered by family members.

Officially Open and Formally Photographed

Highden

Saturday morning dawned brilliantly sunny and still highlighting the marvellous facility that Highden is. Soon after 10am Manatu District Council mayor Caryll Clausen formally opened the Reunion and movingly spoke of the good name  of the Alve's in the district. She mentioned their good relations with the Maori tangata whenua of the local Rangitane tribe and of their community-mindedness. Her husband was one of a Danish pioneer settler family who had farmed near the Alves at Rangitane.

Her welcome speech was followed by comments from Frau Annett Gunther, 2nd secretary from the German embassy in Wellington who was accompanied by  Frauline Cornelia Luck who had a week before arrived from Germany to work at the embassy. Annett and Cornelia stayed until mid-afternoon mixing with family gathered and tangibly reminding them of their heritage.

Brendan, the formal photographer, took over at that point and from his balcony camera position cajoled the family into a kind of ordered chaos as they gathered on the lawn outside for the whole group (140-150) family photograph. With 2nd generation family members seated in front, the crowd responded well to his, "look down-1-2-look up" command. After a 2nd generation photo, each family was formally photographed in order from Mary's to Dolph's descendants. Some light relief was found as three of Mary's grand daughters (Frank's girls: Pam, Kaye and Judi) insisted they be photographed back on to show off their special tee-shirts emblazoned with the words, "I'm Anna Maria Catherina's Grand Daughter."

Frank Busch's Girls L-R: Judi, Pam and Kaye

Afternoon - Lunch to Tea
Lunch was enjoyed inside and outside as people spread out , catching up with those they had not seen for a while, and meeting family who hitherto had only been a name or unknown. The afternoon passed quickly and then it was time to cut the reunion cake which had been made by Joyce Alve and iced by her daughter Christine Lockett. This was cut by the oldest grandchild of Carl and Maria present - Tis Emmens from Featherston and the eldest grandson present - Lisle Alve from Hastings. This cake was served with afternoon tea as the results of the Easter Raffle were announced. Jack Alve of Kimbolton took first prize and Levon Evans of Stoles Valley took the second prize.

The Banquet
The family dispersed to rest before the Reunion Banquet in the evning. Nearly 100 were present for this as Nelson Rangi of Kawerau ably gave the welcome speech with much story telling and levity. He spoke on behalf of everyone present as he warmly thanked the organisers for their efforts.

Nelson Rangi gave the Welcome Speech

After the main course, specially invited guest Mr Rolf Panny of Ashhurst gave the keynote address. Rolf, a first generation German-New Zealander is a retired lecturer in German studies (1971-1990) at Massey University. He contributed to, "The German Connection" published in 1993, writing of German settlement in the Lower North Island. Rolf movingly highlighted the hard working role of the family's pioneering women and paid special tribute to them. He also reflected on the difficult conditions that German emigrants left behind to come to New Zealand and other lands.

Terry Alve thanked Rolf for his informative and entertaining remarks and led those assembled in recognising Keryn Rowe's 38th birthday with singing, "For she's a jolly good fellow.". Keryn was the only family member celebrating a birthday during the weekend gathering.

Later in the evening entertainment was provided by Caroline Newson (violin), Maree Newson (piano) and Theresa, Caroline and Maree Newson accompanied by Peter Nicols (dancing). The rest of the evening, into the wee small hours was taken up with much reminiscing.

Women at the Tomb Easter Sunday

Easter Morning in the Chapel
Sunday morning celebrations began with chaopel thanksgiving service attended by about forty of the family.Ken Busch red his poem dedicated to Carl and Maria which is recorded inside the front cover of "Alve Road". Margaret Alve and Lila Purdom provided music. Jack Alve read the lesson from Psalm 139 and Russell Pedersen read the gospel story of the resurrection from Luke 24. Terry Alve in a short message noted and reflected on the important role women had in the resurrection story, echoing comments made by Rolf Panny the night before. He went on to develop the thought  that each one of us is important and precious in God's sight, regardless of who we are and what we have done.

Down Memory Lanes
After lunch, a bus tour departed for the Kelvin Grove cemetery on the northern edge of Palmerston North.There 40-50 visited the graves of about twenty five  1st, 2nd and 3rd generation descendants which had been marked with flags. This was followed by a stop at the Terrace End old cemetery where the restored gravesite of Carl, Maria Theresia, Anna, Charlie and Dolly Alve was visited and thoughtfully admired. The restoration work had been arranged and overseen by Jack Alve and family. Prayers were offered. While at this cemetery the gravesite of Theresia, Bert and William Simmons was viewed. They are the only other Alve descendants buried at the Terrace End site.

The bus tour continued on through the ring road at Massey University with commentary by Phillip Alve. The tour paused at the Opiki Hall for afternoon tea which had been prepared by Val and Joyce, Ivan and Maree Alve assisted by their daughters Theresa Flintoff and Christine Lockett.

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Then it was over the Manawatu River to the former Alve farmland at Rangitane. Time was spent viewing the remnants of Henry's and Val's cowshed and yards and at the Alve Road signpost were several photographs were taken.

The tour continued through Rangiotu where many of the family attended school. At Pyke Road Alve Purdom indicated the sites where his family and the Simmon's lived. Thence it was over the Oroua river and through the Kairanga district back to Highden at Awahuri after nearly five hours on the road!

Easter Full Moon over the Tararuas

It was a poignant moment as darkness fell to see a huge Easter full moon rising languidly over the Tararua Ranges in the east as the bus arrived at Highden.

Farewell
A final meal of barbecued sausages and steak closed a weekend reunion that will be long remembered by those who attended for many things, but especially for its friendliness that reunited us in the bonds of family.

Terry Alve - 22 April, 1995

Joyce and Val Alve in a Reunion Conversation with Jean Jennings (right front). Noeline King and Ivan Alve are in the background.

A German Perspective
by Rolf Panny
A Transcript of the 1995 Alve Family Reunion Keynote Address

Rolf Panny

[Greeting in German]... so I have just addressed you in the language of Carl and Maria perhaps updated to the 20th century ... [further remarks in German]. Carl and Maria are saying to you through me, "We are glad that you are all here together. We would not have dreamt that  that this would be the result of a sudden and probably unwise decision at the time."
Today we would say that it was the most wonderful thing they have done because none of your faces would be here. And of course they come from a country that is the home to the Brothers Grimm and their story is almost like a fairy tale, it really is. If somebody had written this as a fairy tale it would have ended also on the line that Carl and Maria lived happily ever after had they not died. And I think that's an important consideration, that their life in the early days was not always happy. In fact it was very, very hard and Mrs Clausen whose husband was Danish would also tell us that many of the emigrants from Germany and Scandanavia were told at the start that forty acres were waiting for them in New Zealand. Now tell me, if someone said to you today, "You can have forty acres in Canada, or, you can have $500,000 to start a new life in America" you'd have to think twice.Can you imagine at this moment what must have gone through their little heads before they decided to  leave behind a very fond, a very wonderful existence somewhere in a country that is so beautiful. 

Agger Reservoir in the Bergisches Land

Look at the pictures on the wall that I was able to put up this morning. It is right  next to the German industrial heart and yet the industries over there can smoke away all they like, but on this side of the land, "Bergischeland" - paradise - it's like a fairy tale and so I want you to know if you go there, and some of you will, then take along Grimms' fairy tales and compare the fairy tales to the lives and practices of the people over there that have stayed the same for the last 800 - 1,000 years, and that I think is the point we make: Carl and Maria... because people in those days couldn't imagine what this was - New Zealand - Neueseeland - so far away that the trip took four to six months. And remember that those who left were considered by most of their neighbours as failures, escaping, not bearing the hardship of life that was theirs when they were there because they must have been farm workers, labourers, hard working and under very strict laws.

Towns & Cities in the German Bergisches (Paradise) Land Region

Imagine an underfed farm worker  goes out into the neighbouring woods and he poaches a hare or a deer. Have you ever heard that the penalty for that was capital (punishment). That was during the time when the landlords and the owners of the land had the law on their side and they were absolutely cruel. So Carl and Maria did the right thing because they came to a land of favour - I'm quite sure of that.
However, having said all that, I don't wish to bore you with any more detail. I have to thank Julianne for causing me the hardship of being with you tonight. She wanted to learn German because she said to me, "I'll be going there one of these days because I'm an Alve." I have done some research into the German families over there in Marton and the Rangitikei... and I want you to know that in the next few years I would personally work to help you contact and get in touch with those families: the Poppe and the Neumann families - anybody living on Neumann Line! In the Rangitikei there are three dozen German families. The Poppe family on their own - they came in 1860 - they left a legacy of seventeen children all alive. And the Nitscke and the Friedrich families were happily settled in that area. So watch out because I am sure that Terry will hear from me or I'll hear from Terry. These families are all waiting to get in touch with one another. It just takes a person to do the leg work; a person to do the contacting. They have gatherings like this one and they would like to know who are the other families?
So enough said about that. I would like to especially recognise Ivan, I've visited him in his home. I'd like to recognise Phillip, we had some wonderful conversations. I'd like to recognise most of all Terry - we spoke communicationally - I couldn't stop reading. I just turned the pages and turned the pages and in that way, I may not to have been able to talk with all of you, but I have met you all in the book. Terry that was an absolutely fantastic achievement and I must say that it's better than many academic books that I've read in my lifetime.
Let me just take two minutes because from some of the work I have done researching the families, I came upon a realisation that some of you, most of you I hope will share. Because allow me tonight to pay tribute to  the pioneering women of your family. For without their courage, their hard work and their suffering, your family would not have prospered to the extent it has. A woman in the early days of colonial life was considered as part of her father's or her husband's property - part of their goods or, if you like, his chattels! She was subject to his wishes and demands and had no independence. You remember the two German diplomats this morning. They heard you talk about our forefathers and they turned to me and said, "What about your foremothers?" Very perceptive I thought!

Maria Theresia Alve (nee Moellers) 1856-1942

So great work. Great love forever for "she" had none of the labour-saving devices we know so well today like automatic washing machines, gas or electric stoves, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners,you name them. And to be sure, there were no supermarkets and no day care centres - a family of seventeen! In the colony of the 19th century, families were large and their homes had no bathrooms, sinks or indoor toilets. The toilet was a tiny shack at a distance from the house referred to as the "dunny." Put yourselves for a moment in the picture of a house full of young children. Bathing was in a portable tub or else it was a sponge down in a basin out in the garden. Washing of clothes was done outside in a tub for which hot water had to be carried from a firebox. The introduction of coppers and ringers in the 1880's was real progress. Even the clothes lines weren't as strong as they are today, often snapping under the weight so that everything had to be washed and starched again. Ironing was never easy. The most advanced irons long before the electric ones were the "Potts" brands. If anyone knows anything about Potts irons, which are small and solid with detachable handles to pick them up from the hot stoves....
There was always bread to be baked, butter and cheese to be made, bacon to be cured and meals to be cooked. At the height of summer the range had to be fired up for the fruit to be prepared, to be preserved and the jams to be made. Imagine doing it in the small and dark kitchens of the household. Women dug the gardens, grew the veges, milked the cows, cleaned the house, and taught the children the three 'R's', and soon more children were under foot. If mother was not a good seamstress, nobody had much to wear. Materials were scarce and unaffordable, so clothes were patched and mended and passed from one child to the next.

Women nursed the sick, the elderly and the accident cases offering, without benefit of doctor's advice but always, and I've heard that word before, but always without complaint. And on top of all they were expected to help on the farm with the clearing of land, and ploughing and sowing whenever an extra farm hand was not available. At nights when their husbands would relax after a hard day's work, the women did their mending, their sewing, their knitting by the light of home-made candles which, I am told, smelled awfully. Or they were sitting underneath the whale-oil lanterns until at the end of the century when kerosene lamps replaced them and gave them a better light.
Over the years conditions improved however, but many of the families whose stories are told so lovingly in your family almanac, "Alve Road," also had their casualties and their tragedies. The pressure on some of them proved to be just too much. At certain times as on this Easter weekend when we are gathered as a happy and healthy MacAlve clan, your caring thoughts must surely go to those whose lives were cut short because, at times, conditions were too hard for them to bear. Nevertheless they remain part of your heritage.
We know that  ever since the days of Carl and Maria arriving on these shores in the second part of the nineteenth century, the menfolk of the Alve family have been on the move always looking for better jobs or greater opportunities. That's the important part of Carl's and Maria's legacy as told in the pages of the Alve family history. But all that time the women who lived and worked alongside their men gave them support and courage, enduringly and unselfishly so that perhaps today we may say, "They were the unsung but the real heroes of your family." And to them I propose to give greetings tonight.
[Applause]
Thank you very much. Thank you Terry. Thankyou for allowing me to be with you. It's a real joy.
[Applause]

1995 Alve Reunion Guests with Organisers
L-R: Terry Alve, Rolf Panny, Annett Gunther, Cornelia Luck and Gordon Alve

The Cover of "Alve Road" - a History
of the Alve's to 1994 - published for the Reunion.
Regular Manawatu River floods were
a feature of life at Rangitane for the Alve's.