| Notes |
- An autobiographical note written for the 2009 Walkley family reunion. The note is published in the Reunion 2009 Book
Lois was born on Dec 7th 1941 on PEARL HARBOUR DAY. This was the day during the World War 2 when the Japanese attacked the USA Navy at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. This action resulted in the USA and their Allies entering WW 2.
Her parents were Francis Ross & Dora C.E. Walkley residing at 14 Arapuni Avenue, Onehunga, Auckland. Marion Roberts [nee Walkley] was her God mother.
Lois lived with her parents and travelled around New Zealand visiting her many relatives.
She attended Te Papapa Primary School, Manukau Intermediate in Royal Oak, and then Seddon Memorial Technical College, which was then located at Wellesley Street in Auckland City.
Lois became a seamstress and Pedicurist
She met her husband Brian Alan Wheeler who came to New Zealand from the UK in 1954. He went to live in Dargaville with his parents, Alf and Jessie Wheeler.
Brian was born inn 1937 during WW 2. He experienced the bombing in England by the Germans and saw London and Liverpool burn. German prisoners of war lived near where they lived.
Lois and Brian were engaged on the 22nd November1963; the day that the USA President Kennedy was assassinated.
Lois and Brian were married in Auckland on the 4th of the 4th month [i.e. April] at 4pm in 1964.
By choice and good management they did not have children. This enabled them to build 4 yachts, 3 of Ferro Construction and the 4th yacht was made of steel. [This one they still possess - it is a 42 feet Gaff Rigged Schooner.] and travel the world like "free spirits" to their heart's content"!
In 1964 they lived aboard their first yacht "Arethusa 1" at Panmure. "Arethusa 2" was built in Kingsland, then Lois & Brian went to live on Waiheke Island for 4 years. They returned to Auckland and moved west to live at Riverhead.
Whilst living there, Brian built their 3rd yacht, the "Pacific Wanderer". He also built his first Jeep from an Austin A 40 Van chassis. When the "Pacific Wanderer" was launched, Lois & Brian lived aboard in Auckland and in Whangarei. In those years, they sailed up and down the coast and in and around the Hauraki Gulf.
During the 1970's they met Tiana a 12 year old heart patient at Greenlane Hospital. Tiana came from Niue Island. The NZ Government under Norman Kirk at the time sponsored her trip to NZ. She had suffered from Rheumatic Fever many times and her heart valves were seriously affected. Sir Brian Barrett Boyes operated on Tiana. 3 plastic heart valves were implanted. Lois and Brian with the help of Ross and Dora convalesced Tiana. She returned to Niue however 4 years later she was back again to NZ. Brian & Lois again took her under their care. Tiana lived with them at their home in Riverhead. Sir Brian operated again in 1981, but was not able to save the aortic part of her heart. Tiana died in July 1981, the day Princess Diana & Prince Charles were married.
In the midst of caring for Tiana, in 1975, Lois was diagnosed with a rare disease called Dermatomyositis which nearly took her life! Her immune system shut down and 5 different cancer cells were discovered. With the help of Auckland Hospital Medical team, Lois was helped and today 2009 is back under their care - being in remission of "DTMYS"
In that same period of time in 1976, Brian had 3/4 of his thyroid removed and during the late 1980's while in Australia, had 2 melanomas operated on. Because of these incidents, Brian decided to take Lois for a long vacation in the Pacific Islands, their most favoured place for seeking peace and relaxation. During their life together, they would have visited about 40 to 50 odd islands! When living in Fiji, they travelled by ship to the Southern Lau Group. They flew to these islands again in 1989-90.
Francis Ross Walkley died in 1989 leaving Dora to live in their home closely monitored and assisted when needed by John and Lois. Dora was able to live there until she died in 1991. Lois and Brian returned to Auckland.
Whilst living in Auckland during the 1990's, Lois and Brian had over 30 Japanese home stay students. Knowing these students enabled Lois and Brian to plan some very memorable visits to Japan. A tour of Peace Park in Hiroshima was their "high light".It was a sad place to visit. The memories of the Japanese 1941 Pearl Harbour attack on the Americans, and the American 1945 nuclear bomb attack on the Japanese at Hiroshima. Japan, America and the rest of the world does not want to see war like that again!
In 2008 Lois & Brian returned to NZ and are now residing in West Harbour, Waitakere, Auckland in their "Acacia Cottage 11" - Brian being 72 and Lois 67.
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1941 - 2017 (75 years)