9576
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Description Photo of Doris and Aaron's celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1979. The following is an extract from the Bay of Plenty Times.and I quote _x005F_x000D_
"Keeping themselves and their family busy is one of the reasons Mr and Mrs A.B. Woodcock of Tauranga believe they have had 50 years of happy marriage. Mr and Mrs Woodcock were married in Auckland on August 3 1929. Mrs Woodcock was born in England and emigrated to New Zealand shortly after the first World War broke out. She met her huband while on holiday in Auckland, working as a butcher's boy. Mr Woodcock delivered meat to the address at which Mrs Woodock was staying, Though the couple lost touch for a number of years they met again by accident in the street (in Frankton). After marrying during the depression, Mr & Mrs Woodcock moved to Tauranga where Mr Woodcock had been offered a job as a baker. They settled in 9th Avenue and considered themselves well out in the country. Mr Woodcock worked for many years in a bakehouse behind the site (then) occupied by Woolworths. During the second world war he was classed as being in an essential service and stayed in Tauranga. Labour was short during the war and one of Tauranga's undertakers often helped out in the bakehouse. Mr Woodcock was captain of the Tauranga auxiliary fire service during the war. Ill health forced him to give up his job as a baker and he worked as a butcher for some years and later for Heatons Transport. In 1954 Mr ( and later Mrs) Woodcock began working as drivers for the St Johns Ambulance and continued in the service for 12 years. They provided a 24hour service with all emergency ambulance calls directed to their home till the Tauranga automatic telephone exchange was installed. They have two sons and four daughters and two great granchildren. "We are very proud of our family" Mrs Woodcock said. "We consider our happiness is due to keeping busy and keeping our family busy too. Parents should always take an interest in their children's activities and always know what they are doing." Mr and Mrs Woodcock celebrate their golden anniversary with a luncheon attended by family and friends from as far afield as Auckland and Taupo. Among the guests was the only surviving member of the original bridal party, Doris' uncle ( Albert Baden. P White) who gave Doris away. End of quote from Bay of Plenty Times._x005F_x000D_
My brother Gordon at the age of 11 joined the St John's Ambulance as a cadet and later joined the Senior Division. In his late teenage years he became relief driver every second weekend. It wasnt't until a year later when they discovered that Gordon should have had a passenger licence that his father Aaron took over as driver with Gordon as assistant until he qualified and gained the necessary licence. His mother at the time was a member of the Women's Division and 6 years after her husband began driving, she too started driving._x005F_x000D_
It was at the Golden Wedding celebratory luncheon that a local policeman paid tribute to Doris and Aaron.The police had been called to an accident in the Kaimai ranges where a young scout had stepped on what he thought to be solid ground only to find it was scrub overhanging a cliff. The policeman spoke of this little 5foot lady, waist deep in water wading through the water to bring the lad out. Sadly the boy died._x005F_x000D_
One accident they attended had a happier ending. Following a car crash a three year old was taken to a house nearby unbeknown to Doris. After putting the injured in the ambulance, they were about to drive off when someone said, "What about the little girl in the house?" Had the bystander not made the comment, the child may not have survived. All the wee girl was worried about was getting blood on her new dress that she had been given for Christmas that very day. Doris visited the child later, and was pleased to see, that following a blood transfusion, she was on the mend. Doris said it was one of the best Christmas presents she'd ever received. _x005F_x000D_
Quoting from another B.O.P. Times clipping with the heading "Ambulance driven by a woman."_x005F_x000D_
Auckland ambulance drivers must have received a shock when they saw a snall woman step out from the cab of a Tauranga ambulance, after transporting a patient to Auckland._x005F_x000D_
The ambulance driver, Mrs D. Woodcock, who is one of the few women ambulance drivers in New Zealand, explained that her husband shares the work with her. There are two ambulances in Tauranga and one of them has almost become the "Woodcock" one as Mrs Woodcock's son Gordon, drives in the weekends. There must always be someone within reach of the telephone at home, as Mr and Mrs Woodcock are on call 24 hours of the day.The furthest trip north has been to Kawakawa, and the furthest south Wellington. Practise night is on a Tuesday and Mrs Woodcock attends each week. Her 17 year old daughter Betty, is in the nursing division, and her son Gordon joined as a cadet when he was 11." end of quote. Second son, Harry was also involved._x005F_x000D_
From the B.O.P. Times dated 3 November 1965 headed "Woodcock's make last call. Quote " The Woodcock's answered their last call (yesterday) when they drove the ambulance to collect a little girl who fell out of a car near Tauriko and took her to the Taurang hospital. Mr Woodcock had been driving the ambulance since 1954, and Mrs Woodcock first got her licence in 1960. They explained when (the journalist) called, the job involved the whole family, for the phone had to manned 24 hour a day, 7 days a week."We're now going to have a rest and a proper nights sleep, and at Christmas we will be able to do as we like." said Mrs Woodcock. Those involved included the next door neighbour Mrs Fisher. Mrs Woodock said "She would like to pay high tribute to the police and traffic departments for their close cooperation at all times, and also the doctors and staff at the hospital for the encouragement and assistance given. Living in Taurang for so many years they got to know so many people. The Woodcock's have travelled some 94,454 miles since taking over the ambulance Auckland, Kawakawa, Putararu, Taihape, Palmerston North and Wellington. Looking back they decided that their biggest contribution to Tauranga was the fact that they put their interest of their patient first at all times. (end of quote)_x005F_x000D_
My (Iris) memories of the "ambulance" days were, the dances held in the Ambulance hall on Cameron road to raise fund for St John's, along with regular fund raising Fairs, and I am proud of what my family, (parents, both brothers, Harry and Gordon and sister Betty ) devoted to the Tauranga community over the years. At both of my parents funerals, as a tribute, an ambulance was parked outside the church from which they were buried,
"Keeping themselves and their family busy is one of the reasons Mr and Mrs A.B. Woodcock of Tauranga believe they have had 50 years of happy marriage. Mr and Mrs Woodcock were married in Auckland on August 3 1929. Mrs Woodcock was born in England and emigrated to New Zealand shortly after the first World War broke out. She met her huband while on holiday in Auckland, working as a butcher's boy. Mr Woodcock delivered meat to the address at which Mrs Woodock was staying, Though the couple lost touch for a number of years they met again by accident in the street (in Frankton). After marrying during the depression, Mr & Mrs Woodcock moved to Tauranga where Mr Woodcock had been offered a job as a baker. They settled in 9th Avenue and considered themselves well out in the country. Mr Woodcock worked for many years in a bakehouse behind the site (then) occupied by Woolworths. During the second world war he was classed as being in an essential service and stayed in Tauranga. Labour was short during the war and one of Tauranga's undertakers often helped out in the bakehouse. Mr Woodcock was captain of the Tauranga auxiliary fire service during the war. Ill health forced him to give up his job as a baker and he worked as a butcher for some years and later for Heatons Transport. In 1954 Mr ( and later Mrs) Woodcock began working as drivers for the St Johns Ambulance and continued in the service for 12 years. They provided a 24hour service with all emergency ambulance calls directed to their home till the Tauranga automatic telephone exchange was installed. They have two sons and four daughters and two great granchildren. "We are very proud of our family" Mrs Woodcock said. "We consider our happiness is due to keeping busy and keeping our family busy too. Parents should always take an interest in their children's activities and always know what they are doing." Mr and Mrs Woodcock celebrate their golden anniversary with a luncheon attended by family and friends from as far afield as Auckland and Taupo. Among the guests was the only surviving member of the original bridal party, Doris' uncle ( Albert Baden. P White) who gave Doris away. End of quote from Bay of Plenty Times._x005F_x000D_
My brother Gordon at the age of 11 joined the St John's Ambulance as a cadet and later joined the Senior Division. In his late teenage years he became relief driver every second weekend. It wasnt't until a year later when they discovered that Gordon should have had a passenger licence that his father Aaron took over as driver with Gordon as assistant until he qualified and gained the necessary licence. His mother at the time was a member of the Women's Division and 6 years after her husband began driving, she too started driving._x005F_x000D_
It was at the Golden Wedding celebratory luncheon that a local policeman paid tribute to Doris and Aaron.The police had been called to an accident in the Kaimai ranges where a young scout had stepped on what he thought to be solid ground only to find it was scrub overhanging a cliff. The policeman spoke of this little 5foot lady, waist deep in water wading through the water to bring the lad out. Sadly the boy died._x005F_x000D_
One accident they attended had a happier ending. Following a car crash a three year old was taken to a house nearby unbeknown to Doris. After putting the injured in the ambulance, they were about to drive off when someone said, "What about the little girl in the house?" Had the bystander not made the comment, the child may not have survived. All the wee girl was worried about was getting blood on her new dress that she had been given for Christmas that very day. Doris visited the child later, and was pleased to see, that following a blood transfusion, she was on the mend. Doris said it was one of the best Christmas presents she'd ever received. _x005F_x000D_
Quoting from another B.O.P. Times clipping with the heading "Ambulance driven by a woman."_x005F_x000D_
Auckland ambulance drivers must have received a shock when they saw a snall woman step out from the cab of a Tauranga ambulance, after transporting a patient to Auckland._x005F_x000D_
The ambulance driver, Mrs D. Woodcock, who is one of the few women ambulance drivers in New Zealand, explained that her husband shares the work with her. There are two ambulances in Tauranga and one of them has almost become the "Woodcock" one as Mrs Woodcock's son Gordon, drives in the weekends. There must always be someone within reach of the telephone at home, as Mr and Mrs Woodcock are on call 24 hours of the day.The furthest trip north has been to Kawakawa, and the furthest south Wellington. Practise night is on a Tuesday and Mrs Woodcock attends each week. Her 17 year old daughter Betty, is in the nursing division, and her son Gordon joined as a cadet when he was 11." end of quote. Second son, Harry was also involved._x005F_x000D_
From the B.O.P. Times dated 3 November 1965 headed "Woodcock's make last call. Quote " The Woodcock's answered their last call (yesterday) when they drove the ambulance to collect a little girl who fell out of a car near Tauriko and took her to the Taurang hospital. Mr Woodcock had been driving the ambulance since 1954, and Mrs Woodcock first got her licence in 1960. They explained when (the journalist) called, the job involved the whole family, for the phone had to manned 24 hour a day, 7 days a week."We're now going to have a rest and a proper nights sleep, and at Christmas we will be able to do as we like." said Mrs Woodcock. Those involved included the next door neighbour Mrs Fisher. Mrs Woodock said "She would like to pay high tribute to the police and traffic departments for their close cooperation at all times, and also the doctors and staff at the hospital for the encouragement and assistance given. Living in Taurang for so many years they got to know so many people. The Woodcock's have travelled some 94,454 miles since taking over the ambulance Auckland, Kawakawa, Putararu, Taihape, Palmerston North and Wellington. Looking back they decided that their biggest contribution to Tauranga was the fact that they put their interest of their patient first at all times. (end of quote)_x005F_x000D_
My (Iris) memories of the "ambulance" days were, the dances held in the Ambulance hall on Cameron road to raise fund for St John's, along with regular fund raising Fairs, and I am proud of what my family, (parents, both brothers, Harry and Gordon and sister Betty ) devoted to the Tauranga community over the years. At both of my parents funerals, as a tribute, an ambulance was parked outside the church from which they were buried,
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PeopleAaron Ball Woodcock (1932-1970)Part of Photograph CollectionCommunity contributions
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Doris Woodcock and husband Aaron. Pae Korokī, accessed 25/05/2026, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/9576
