Working at Okato
I was fortunate to land a job at Okato College (now Coastal Area School) at the same time as we bought the lifestyle block at Hurford Road.
Okato was an isolated rural township half an hour down the Surf Highway from New Plymouth, where Margaret's family had lived for a few years when she was small.
The popular saying was that you had to live in the district for thirty years before you were accepted, but I had an advantage through Margie.
The first term (term 3, 1979) was fine, but by the end of term 1 in 1980 I was beginning to feel unhappy.
For the first time in my life I found myself struggling with my teaching work. I still don't know if this was a symptom or a cause of my approaching cancer, but by the second week of Term 2 I was depressed and not coping at school. Home was fine, but the stresses of the farmlet may have contributed to my gloom at school.
Fortunately a clear-sighted inspector realised the situation, recommended a visit to the GP and I was given three months on sick leave. I was clinically depressed, saw nothing but darkess ahead of me, and found it difficult to see a way out of my lack of confidence at work. Being at home was in contrast positive, and comforting.
I had already applied for a Social Work job, which eventuated in October. As you will see, I never regretted my change of occupation, and never had a moment's depression about my new work.
Meantime I was able to concentrate on the farmlet and on spending time with Matthew, who was by this stage three months old.
Okato was an isolated rural township half an hour down the Surf Highway from New Plymouth, where Margaret's family had lived for a few years when she was small.
The popular saying was that you had to live in the district for thirty years before you were accepted, but I had an advantage through Margie.
The first term (term 3, 1979) was fine, but by the end of term 1 in 1980 I was beginning to feel unhappy.
For the first time in my life I found myself struggling with my teaching work. I still don't know if this was a symptom or a cause of my approaching cancer, but by the second week of Term 2 I was depressed and not coping at school. Home was fine, but the stresses of the farmlet may have contributed to my gloom at school.
Fortunately a clear-sighted inspector realised the situation, recommended a visit to the GP and I was given three months on sick leave. I was clinically depressed, saw nothing but darkess ahead of me, and found it difficult to see a way out of my lack of confidence at work. Being at home was in contrast positive, and comforting.
I had already applied for a Social Work job, which eventuated in October. As you will see, I never regretted my change of occupation, and never had a moment's depression about my new work.
Meantime I was able to concentrate on the farmlet and on spending time with Matthew, who was by this stage three months old.
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Matt and I on a trip to the mountain
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It took altogether about three years before I felt at home in Taranaki; once I was working in the city, meeting plenty of other adults every day, and in a more positive work environment, I became more comfortable. Shifting from a place you are totally involved in all aspects of life as I was in the Bay of Islands proved to be one of the most stressful changes in my life.
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Matt learning to mow the lawns 1981
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Terry on one of his visits to Matt
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And with me
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