Really sad to learn of his passing. Ewen is from Oratia. He lived in Glengarry Road next to Victor Sunde and for a time worked in Sundes orchard. When I was Principal of Waitakere College, in his then capacity as Waitakere City Councillor, Ewen would attend various school functions, including our annual Arts and Cultural Awards evening with Ewen making the odd public joke or two at my expense (like shooting fish in a barrel, I guess). His partner was a teacher of drama and Ewen was keen for her to secure a teaching position in West Auckland. Very sadly she became seriously ill with cancer and died some years later - I remember meeting him at some West Auckland function last year and him sadly telling me of her death. Ewan ticked all the boxes as a real westy: born in the west, lived in the orchard lands of the urban/rural fringe amongst the other children of migrants ( the Dallies, the Dutch and him of Scottish origin) and schooled in West Auckland -not like some pseudo-westy wankers, who think that West Auckland schooling is not up to meeting the requirements of their precious progeny. Ewens comedy routines were centred on his brilliant observational humour of the emerging decidedly distinctive westy sub-culture of black jeans, long hair, dope-smoking, metal music, heavy drinking, driving cars with large engines. All of this underpinned by much irreverence and a healthy disrespect for figures of authority. I know that he was chuffed as a West Aucklanders to have gone to Bruce McLaren Intermediate School (a school named after a son of West Auckland that went on to become one of the most influential motor racers and designers in the world). Ewen used to joke that the motto of the school was objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they really are. Now, I don t know what the motto of the school really is, but I think that theres something deep, meaningful, funny and insightful about Ewens suggested motto - just like Ewen Gilmore, really.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:36:54 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015