ISLAND BLOCK: Land of Promise. This book tells how a small, scrubby island in the middle of Waikato swampy wetlands, develops into a closely knit farming community. Heather tells the story of how her dad, Bruce Murray, in 1934, wins a ballot for a farm in the Northern Waikato. With several other farmers they begin to develop their land into productive dairy farms. With young families on the way, a one-roomed school is built and becomes the hub of the district’s activities. This story is typical of the history of many small New Zealand farming communities. It was written in 2019 to commemorate 85 years of settlement. It was self published as a A4 sized coffee-table type book.
Email: hebron716@gmail.com
Writer: Heather Vincent