Bertha Darroch Profile
Darroch is pronounced Dar-ro
David Mackey Darroch was the son of a well respected Scottish boat builder James Walt Darroch and his wife Margaret Mackey. James and Margaret were noted as being Presbyterian on their death certificates.
David (Davey) married Drucilla Frances Vida Meiklejohn in 1881, daughter of John Meiklejohn and Charlotte Cordelia Alley. The Meiklejohn’s were of Scottish descent and before emigrating to Canada, Drucilla’s grandparents surname was Mucklejohn.
Both families were shipbuilders, master mariners, farmers and builders. Davey Darroch built the first scows, brigantines, and schooners in his Whangateau yard which were to have a significant impact on the development of New Zealand. One of these scows is the ‘Jane Gifford’. She is berthed at Warkworth Wharf after being faithfully restored for trips around Mahurangi.
David and Drucilla Darroch had 13 children; 7 girls and 6 boys. Bertha Hazel was the seventh child to be born by the couple on the 7th of February 1892, and her sister Daphne Vida was the youngest of the family, born on the 28th of May 1906.
They lived at Dacre’s Claim in Big Omaha, Mahurangi and the children attended school at Big Omaha.
Bertha started Big Omaha School on the 18th of Nov 1897. It was recorded that she left on the 31st of July 1908, the reason being ‘Destination to Practice Teaching’.
Bertha was an assistant teacher at Awanui School in 1911. She worked there for four and half years. In 1916 Bertha was employed as an assistant teacher at Ponsonby School in Auckland.
She joined the HPB Lodge of the Theosophical Society in October 1921.
Her sister Daphne joined in 1933 and took up a position as a teacher for 19 years. Another sister - Janet Ruby who married Rev Nicholls, was also very much involved with the Theosophical Society.
Bertha worked for 32 years as Principal at Vasanta Garden School.
Bertha died on the 29th April 1979 and it was stated that her religion was Liberal Catholic. She was cremated at Purewa crematorium on the 1st of May and her ashes scattered. Daphne had died 2 weeks earlier on the 12th of April.
David Mackey Darroch was the son of a well respected Scottish boat builder James Walt Darroch and his wife Margaret Mackey. James and Margaret were noted as being Presbyterian on their death certificates.
David (Davey) married Drucilla Frances Vida Meiklejohn in 1881, daughter of John Meiklejohn and Charlotte Cordelia Alley. The Meiklejohn’s were of Scottish descent and before emigrating to Canada, Drucilla’s grandparents surname was Mucklejohn.
Both families were shipbuilders, master mariners, farmers and builders. Davey Darroch built the first scows, brigantines, and schooners in his Whangateau yard which were to have a significant impact on the development of New Zealand. One of these scows is the ‘Jane Gifford’. She is berthed at Warkworth Wharf after being faithfully restored for trips around Mahurangi.
David and Drucilla Darroch had 13 children; 7 girls and 6 boys. Bertha Hazel was the seventh child to be born by the couple on the 7th of February 1892, and her sister Daphne Vida was the youngest of the family, born on the 28th of May 1906.
They lived at Dacre’s Claim in Big Omaha, Mahurangi and the children attended school at Big Omaha.
Bertha started Big Omaha School on the 18th of Nov 1897. It was recorded that she left on the 31st of July 1908, the reason being ‘Destination to Practice Teaching’.
Bertha was an assistant teacher at Awanui School in 1911. She worked there for four and half years. In 1916 Bertha was employed as an assistant teacher at Ponsonby School in Auckland.
She joined the HPB Lodge of the Theosophical Society in October 1921.
Her sister Daphne joined in 1933 and took up a position as a teacher for 19 years. Another sister - Janet Ruby who married Rev Nicholls, was also very much involved with the Theosophical Society.
Bertha worked for 32 years as Principal at Vasanta Garden School.
Bertha died on the 29th April 1979 and it was stated that her religion was Liberal Catholic. She was cremated at Purewa crematorium on the 1st of May and her ashes scattered. Daphne had died 2 weeks earlier on the 12th of April.