Family shower praise, BBQ on Dannevirke campground

Members of the extended Chapman family with the barbecue they gave to the Dannevirke Camping Ground in the Lower Domain. Campground manager Kim Spooner is second from right.

When 96-year-old Betty Stratford (formerly Chapman) became ill and then died her family found solace and comfort in a place special - Dannevirke's camping ground in the lower Domain.

"Mum was born at Mangatera and lived her whole life here and this place [the Domain] was our playground," her daughter Jenny McNicol (nee Chapman) said.

The extended Chapman family made the camping ground their base during the eight weeks they visited their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and again at the time of her funeral and they couldn't speak highly enough of the facilities and manager Kim Spooner.

"It's lovely to see the camping ground thriving. It's a huge asset for Dannevirke," Jenny said.

"The council needs to understand what a great job Kim does and everyone I've spoken to has had nothing but good to say about this camping ground."

Her brother Alan Chapman told the Dannevirke News he was amazed by the number of people who had praised the facilities during his camping-ground stays.

"So many were only planning on staying one night, but decided to stay on," he said.

"Manager Kim Spooner is wonderful."

During the past eight weeks the family have spent a lot of time coming and going, from as far afield as Papamoa and beyond.

"It's been like coming home. Sad, but we've come together at a place with great facilities and a wonderful host in Kim," Jenny said.

The family links to our town have been strong, with Jenny and Alan's dad owning a fabric shop in Dannevirke which their mother ran until she retired 35 years ago.

"Our great-grandparents were original Scandinavian settlers here too," Jenny said.

"I loved the Domain, it was where we went to Guides and Scouts and I remember swimming in the river and catching kura. We've seen the trees grow too.

"Our nana and grandad Chapman lived in York St, so this whole place was our playground."

Jenny, who lives at Lake Rotoiti, taught at Dannevirke's old Hillcrest School and often took students on field trips to the Domain.

"In 1969, our dad a Rotarian, helped build the big A-frame cabin here in the camping ground, so we've a real connection with this place," she said.

Sadly, their mother was their last connection to Dannevirke, but the younger family members decided the camping ground would be a cool place for a family reunion and will be back.

Only two family members living in Melbourne were unable to return for Betty's funeral, but they were extremely pleased with the generous donation their family had made to the camping ground.

"We noticed how many people stay here and there is only one barbecue, so we've donated another one," Alan said.

"We know mum would have appreciated the gesture."

Camping-ground manager Kim was overwhelmed by such generosity.

"I'm a bit blown away," she said.

"The family also donated some furniture for our cabins, it's something which hasn't happened before."

Mrs Stratford was a much-loved mum and mother-in-law to Jenny and her husband Malcolm, Alan and his wife Pam, a beloved nana to her four grandchildren, Lisa, Christopher, Joanne and Mark, and a special great-nana to her 12 great-grandchildren.