Frank Cathcart

By Dene Gwynn

My family on my mothers side is Irish. Ireland is a country far from here. It is a small poor country.

My great grandad was Frank Cathcart and was born in Antrum, Northern Ireland on the 15 Nov 1907.

( Sorry for poor quality )

My family on my mothers side is Irish. Ireland is a country far from here. It is a small poor country.

My great grandad was Frank Cathcart and was born in Antrum, Northern Ireland on the 15 Nov 1907.

( Sorry for poor quality )

He started his working life with his father as a carpenter. The first thing he built was a outside toilet that fell over.

When he was 17 he started to think about travelling. He originally planed on going to Canada, but a friend said he would pay the trip if he went to New Zealand as there were better opportunities.

He started his working life with his father as a carpenter. The first thing he built was a outside toilet that fell over.

When he was 17 he started to think about travelling. He originally planed on going to Canada, but a friend said he would pay the trip if he went to New Zealand as there were better opportunities.

He had a choice of travelling by plane or boat. He had an extreme fear of flying and did not trust planes. So he picked boat.It was the SS Samaria.

He suffered 3 months of hell on that boat. People caught the scurvy and other diseases, so they died. He saw bodies being thrown overboard.

( The shipping log )

He had a choice of travelling by plane or boat. He had an extreme fear of flying and did not trust planes. So he picked boat.It was the SS Samaria.

He suffered 3 months of hell on that boat. People caught the scurvy and other diseases, so they died. He saw bodies being thrown overboard.

( The shipping log )

He finally arrived here with only 10 shillings in his pocket ( in today's currency that is 1 dollar ).

He then travelled to labor exchange to get a job. They gave him a job at Tokanui as a farmer.

He finally arrived here with only 10 shillings in his pocket ( in today's currency that is 1 dollar ).

He then travelled to labor exchange to get a job. They gave him a job at Tokanui as a farmer.

He was riding down the road on a horse and saw a woman with a bicycle on the side of the road. He stopped and she said it had a flat tire so he helped her change it. They got married in 1936 in Wyndham.

During the next few years he took jobs around South and West Otago, then in 1944 he purchased a bush section at Otapin. It had been milled and was covered stumps and old logs ideal for rabbits.

He was riding down the road on a horse and saw a woman with a bicycle on the side of the road. He stopped and she said it had a flat tire so he helped her change it. They got married in 1936 in Wyndham.

During the next few years he took jobs around South and West Otago, then in 1944 he purchased a bush section at Otapin. It had been milled and was covered stumps and old logs ideal for rabbits.

Frank started trapping the rabbits as sheep were competing with rabbits for feed. Rabbits were winning. He got 10 pounds for his first 100.

He brought a farm and named it Rata Park. It was named after the Rata trees that appeared every 3 years. In the early 50's a block just above it was for sale so he bought it. 300 acres.

Frank started trapping the rabbits as sheep were competing with rabbits for feed. Rabbits were winning. He got 10 pounds for his first 100.

He brought a farm and named it Rata Park. It was named after the Rata trees that appeared every 3 years. In the early 50's a block just above it was for sale so he bought it. 300 acres.

He did a lot of work for Lora Station. It was an hours ride on horseback through the bush. They used to breed their own horses. Frank went to help muster the horses as they wanted to get rid of the stallion.

He liked horses and broke in lots. There was a black mare that he liked. It had not been handled before so he tied it between 2 drafts and bought it home that way.

He did a lot of work for Lora Station. It was an hours ride on horseback through the bush. They used to breed their own horses. Frank went to help muster the horses as they wanted to get rid of the stallion.

He liked horses and broke in lots. There was a black mare that he liked. It had not been handled before so he tied it between 2 drafts and bought it home that way.

After 25 years of hard work on his farm he died suddenly in December 1959 at the age of 57. He was in the paddock with his son John ( my Grandad ) and said he didn't feel well. John told him to go home but noticed he had stopped half way.

John took him the rest of the way. They called the doctor but he died before the doctor got there.

After 25 years of hard work on his farm he died suddenly in December 1959 at the age of 57. He was in the paddock with his son John ( my Grandad ) and said he didn't feel well. John told him to go home but noticed he had stopped half way.

John took him the rest of the way. They called the doctor but he died before the doctor got there.

Once he was buried, lots of hard work and planing made it possible for Mrs Cathcart and the whole family ( 4 children ) to run the farm until John could take over.

( Family tartan )

The End

Once he was buried, lots of hard work and planing made it possible for Mrs Cathcart and the whole family ( 4 children ) to run the farm until John could take over.

( Family tartan )

The End