David BAWDEN Obituary

Remembering you on the third anniversary of your passing. Sadly missed on this day.

A candle lit in your memory at Christmas and in hope as we pass into 2018.

One year ago since you passed. Greatly missed.

David Bawden

David was a gentle and loving man who was greatly respected and loved by those who were fortunate enough to know him.

He was born in Hasting on 16 November 1939, Nelson and Mary's first child, and he grew up in Whitehead Road.

David attended Mahora School and then Hasting Boys' High School from 1954 to 1958 where he was a keen sportsman playing rugby and cricket in the school's second fifteen and second eleven respectively, He was also a keen shot. However, where he really excelled was academically, his clear ability taking him down to Victoria University of Wellington in 1959 to study accounting.

After graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Commerce, David worked in an accountancy firm in Wellington completing his chartered accountancy exams.

In late 1963 David shifted back to Hawke's Bay and he worked as an accountant at the Hawke's Bay Meat Co, first as assistant accountant and then as CFO.

In 1977 he moved to Poverty Bay where David and my mother would remain for the rest of their lives. He initially working at McCullochs and the for Corsons. He stayed with them until the early 2000s before moving to the Gisborne Regional Council where he became an integral member of the Finance Department. His role at the council was perhaps the most fulfilling of his accounting career and he made many good friends in the 10 years that he was employed there. He somewhat reluctantly retired in 2012 when his myeloma returned.

David was a strong conservationist working with Kiwi Rescue and various other conservation organisations. He loved the bush, lakes, the sea, New Zealand's endless skies. Simply he loved New Zealand. He adored Waikaremoana and Anara Bay where many a happy summer was spent camping. He was never happier than when exploring the East Coast and Poverty Bay beauty.

In a civil capacity he was always willing to assist with money matters and gave many, many people help and advice in sorting out their financial matters. For more than 20 years he prepared the accountants for the Gisborne Bowling Club, although he was little interested in bowls. As my mother noted in her writing:

When we were at Te Karaka, people gradually found out that Grandy was an accountant and hey started asking him for help with documents of various kinds and in particular with their tax problems. We had two orange trees on our front lawn but at first we never got any of the fruit because they were all taken when we were at work. Grandy helped several individual Mongrel Mob members with their tax returns, we found them civil and polite, and from then on our property was left alone and we got to eat the oranges.

In the last twelve months, David struggled to come to terms with the loss of Margaret with whom he had shared a much joy. She was his greatest friend for 40 years.

David was a man that was much admired and loved. He will be missed by many but he leaves a fine legacy in his beloved children and grandchildren.

R.I.P

Sorry to hear of the loss of your father - thinking of the Bawden family at this time - David was one of my bosses at Hawkes Bay Farmers' Meat Co. Ltd, when I worked in the Typing Pool and also was the Telex Operator - my deepest sympathy - Jenny White