Memorial To Tanya Burr, killed 15 September 2002

Uncle Russell's Photos

Russell boarded with us from 1981 when I bought my home until about 1993 when he finally got round to moving into the nearby house he had purchased a year or so before. Consequently, Tanya and Kieran grew up with him very much as an everyday part of their lives. This was especially the case if they wanted money or presents - when a doting (or perhaps a 'mug'!) uncle is very handy to have around. 

As a result, both kids wangled their way into a number of unusual trips around the region and even to the South Island for a couple of weeks in January 1997. This, of course, did not mean they always got through that trip without arguing and throwing the odd tantrum when too many days in a tent got the better of them. Tanya was so fed up by the time they disembarked from the ferry at Wellington that she started walking home to Palmerston North (about 100 miles!) while the others waited for Russell's ute to be unloaded. She thought they would soon pick her up, but the Hutt Motorway is such that when they finally spotted her, they couldn't stop and they had to travel some distance to turn before being able to go back for her. By that time, some man had stopped and offered Tanya a lift - to her horror - and when Russell and Kieran pulled up alongside her once again she hopped straight in without the slightest hint of hesitation.

These photos are from Russell's album. He often gave away surplus photos to Kieran and kept the better ones for himself, so there are some similarities between both pages.

Tanya watching the sunset at Foxton Beach in the late 1980s. Russell likes taking sunset photos.

Tanya learning to ride a quad bike on 3 July 1994 on Terry's farm on No. 1 Line, in the Pohangina Valley. Mt. Maharahara is in the background. Uncle Warwick and our cousin Peter are at right.

Tanya resting (probably rather brassed off) during an exhausting trip up the side of Kapiti Island on 23 April 1995. Other photos on this website provide more detail of the trip

Kieran and Tanya alongside the Rangipo Intake alongside the Desert Road, during a day trip they and Russell took to see Mt. Ruapehu throwing up steam etc., on 30 September 1995 - which was Kieran's fifth birthday.

Tanya and Kieran at Kaikoura, where whale-watching had not been high on Tanya's list of interesting activities. January 1997.

Tanya and Kieran alongside the Fox Glacier, January 1997.

Tanya and Kieran in Lake Mapourika in January 1997, just before or after Tanya dunked him.

Tanya trapped by Russell with camera in Norway, 17 August 2002, just after the wedding.