We were married at Saint Patricks Bascillica in Dunedin in 1961. Our first home was at 'Hopefield' in Shannon an area just to the East of Middlemarch till 1969. In that time our three sons Larry, born (23/6/1962) Stephen (17/5/1964) and Greg (20/4/1967) were born at the Maternity Home in Mosgiel. Some great times were had at 'Hopefield'. Remember the snowfalls in which the drifts were so bad sheep had to be dug out of the snow (we always carried a piece of Lino to use as a sled) and the kids could not get to school, no power for days. The creek that flooded washing out the bridge, so a car had to be left on the main road side. We drove to one side then walked a plank to get to the other vehicle. Our young brothers and sisters would stay over and our children loved it when they did, there would be all sorts of activies shooting, swimming & picnics. We could receive a Television signal before the Maniototo, as it happened the All Blacks were playing in Britian so a contingent of Maniototo Friends would drive over the Dunstan Trail to our place for the tests. The first programme we saw was the 'Beverely Hillbillies' through the snowy screen and 'Mr. Ed'. T.V started at 6 o'clock at night I remember us sitting with tea on our knee watching the test pattern till the news started... Lawrence played rugby and Carol played Hockey for Strath Taieri for a couple of seasons. Larry and Stephen went to the little Shannon school we had to take them by car and cart Greg in his bassinette. We moved back to the Dougherty home farm 'Garrawaye' in Gimmerburn on the Maniototo in 1969 (The year the men landed on the moon). Paul was born in the Maniototo Hospital Ranfurly on the 8/12/1971. All the boys went to the Sacred Heart school in Ranfurly, now named Saint Johns (where Steves children Charles and Tia now go) and secondary at the Maniototo Area School. In 1990 we moved into Ranfurly where we still live with Lawrence going out to Garrawaye each day. Stephen is the 5th generation Dougherty to Farm Garrawaye. Larry lives at Clyde, Greg Hawea and Paul in Ranfurly. We are so lucky to have our Family living close to us, we have such a great time following all their sports and activities.
Des Dougherty, Bernard Dougherty.(Grooms brothers) Lawrence and Carol. Rena Evans, Wendy Evans. (Brides sisters) incidently wendy has been married to Des for 44 years.