New Zealand seemed to fit those parameters, and the country had an assistance programme to bring veterinarians to the country to fill needy positions in various areas.
At that time there was an opening for a veterinarian in the Far North, Kaitaia, and I applied knowing that most likely most other New Zealand veterinarians did not want to go to Kaitaia, but I said to my wife, "Let's have a go."
Barbara was a nurse at the local hospital and worked with Dr Tree, Dr Young and Dr Parks, and with head matron/nurse Sister Gibson. We both loved our time in Kaitaia, made life-long friends and learned many life-long values that I still try to practise today.
Heath Harris was the senior veterinarian in Kaitaia, and Jack McDiarmid was the other veterinarian, serving all of the Far North from the Mangamuka Mountains to North Cape.
My experiences with these two men were pivotal and very positive in my work as a veterinarian and becoming part of whatever community where Barbara and I have lived the remainder of our working lives.
Some of the other influential people on our lives were the Bert and Zena Fryer family, the Kitchen family, Lindsay and Rita Atkins, Ken and Pat Macpherson, the Mate Radich family, and of course Heath and Winnie Harris and Jack and Jackie McDiarmid, my veterinary colleges.
There are really too many to list here, as the community was very special and supportive to both Barbara and me.
Peter Jackson has interviewed and written about the special relationship that we maintained with Heath Harris and his family over the years.
Kaitaia was a quiet, happy service town with late night shopping on Friday nights, when the ladies got out one of their best frocks and the men sported a sharp wool tweed sport coat, and even a tie.
After the shopping several would stop in at the Kaitaia Pub garden bar or at someone's home for a pint and socialising with teachers, farmers, 'chippies,' 'sparkies,' doctors, veterinarians, headmasters at the local college and many others.
Lots of thoughts, values and community needs were discussed at these gatherings, and often these were the starting point for a co-operative event in the Kaitaia area.
An example of this co-operative spirit was the very strong and cultural involvement of the community with Kaitaia schools, from the primary schools through to Kaitaia College.
Some new features in teaching North American basketball and officiating were shared with the then phys-ed instructor at Kaitaia College, Mate Radich.
At that time it was reels of film and voice tapes on reels or cassettes from the US, but it all worked to make Kaitaia a better place for all.
We thought that Kaitaia College was so good that we sent our daughter there for a year of schooling, and she will say today that that experience made her a different and better person.
I also had some special veterinary equipment, shipped by a slow boat from the US, that was well utilised in the kikuyu grass poisoning study in the Far North.
The town at that time had a great spirit of co-operation.
The good news for all of us is that co-operation will always win out over conflict, as those in continual conflict will eventually eliminate themselves, although it may well take some time for this to happen.
We all want to see a time when there will be respect and co-operation between all the various factions now living in Kaitaia.
In the short term, I feel that there needs to be a greater respect for each individual and his or her needs, as well as the presence of visible law enforcement that can help put a stop to the property damage, vandalism, hooliganism, gang activity and robbery.
These issues and events continue to go on in the town, with most people (business and residents) that I talk with feeling they have to accept such activity.
Two policemen on horses with a well trained police dog will bring respect and order to the town.
It will take years to re-establish trust, respect and a co-operative attitude, but it can and must be done.
Town leaders must demand some extra and special police protection, as well as other societal issues like meaningful jobs and improving the education of the average young person growing up in the Kaitaia area.
I must agree that the policing part of this approach is a rather harsh and short term solution, but Kaitaia must get the vandalism, robbery and threat of robbery, and general hooliganism under control, and then start working on making Kaitaia a great community of co-operation and supporting each other again.
Don't give up. It can and will happen. Kaitaia has definitely seen more that its share of conflict over the past several years, so time to move on and heal.
Many people will view this as a bit of nostalgia and wishful thinking but I feel that if we can keep in mind that co-operation will eventually overcome conflict, we will be okay.
It is one of the laws of nature. Those in conflict will eventually eliminate themselves one way or another.
NEAL CALDWELL
Ohio
