Dear all,
I had a very enjoyable (but tiring) weekend at the New Zealand Shell show,
which was held this past weekend in Auckland. It was busy, I met lots of
new people. Being a small and isolated country, New Zealand does not have
all that many shell people, but their enthusiasm more than makes up for
their small numbers. We all know some of them, apart from those on the list
(hi Barbara, Neville) some of the more famous names are Bruce Marshall and
Alan Beu as professionals and collectors Mike Hart, Nick de Carteret, Kevin
and Judy Burch and many more (sorry guys). And although they now live in
Australia, professional malacologists Winston Ponder, Bill Rudman and
Richard Willan are New Zealanders, too. And then of course there is Walter
Cernohorsky. Walter worked in the Auckland Museum for years, most of his
collection is in the museum. He is best know for his series Marine Shells
of the Pacific and his papers on Indo-Pacific Mitridae and Nassariidae
amongst others. Wes Thorsson contacted Walter about weeks back and reported
on this list that Walter was now no longer interested in shells and was
surprised at the fact anyone in the shell world still wanted to know about
him. The feeling this left me with was one of sadness, and I imagined him
as a frail, somewhat bitter old man. I don't know how many of you were left
with the same impression.
So I must confess it was with some trepidation I arranged to visit him at
his house in Auckland last friday. When the car drove into the motel
grounds I immediately saw I need not have worried. He is a healthy-looking,
happy senior citizen, very much active and part of life. We immediately
found something to talk about and did not stop for the rest of the evening.
Although he no longer works on shells, he keeps his mind very active with
his new-found passion for heraldry. What surprised me was the passion with
which he spoke about his work in shells and his memories of trips with
Tucker Abbott, and meeting the greats of the shell world. They were
obviously memories dear to him. He does not regret his decision to quit
working on shells. After all, people move on.
He asked me to say hello to all those on the list who inquired about his
wellbeing, which I am very happy to pass on. He was, in his professional
carreer, and is now a most remarkable man.
Patty Jansen
Bookshop: http://www.booksofnature.com
Publishing and info site: http://www.capricornica.com
Capricornica Publications/Books of Nature
P.O. Box 345
Lindfield NSW 2070
Australia
ABN 39 003 916 210
phone/fax: 02 9415 8098 international: +61 2 9415 8098
mobile 0412 865030
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
|
