100 years and more to go for Alf Rendall

Alf Rendall and his publishing team. Photo: Sharnae Hope.

A man with a big persona and an even bigger photography reputation is celebrating 100 years today.

Longtime resident and highly respected photographer Alf Rendell, whose 100th birthday was on Thursday, is celebrating his lifetime achievements with friends and family at the Tauranga yachting Club.

His daughter says it's great to see so many people come a long to celebrate his special day.

But in normal Alf behaviour, he insists 'Age is just a number.”

With his driver's licence just renewed for another two years and still as smart as a tack, it's not surprising he has lived until 100.

Alf was 8 months old when his parents shifted from Whakatane to Tauranga in 1918.

Apart from three and-a-half years serving in Fiji and Tonga, before shipping out to New Caledonia during World War II, he has lived his whole life in Tauranga

He recalls the wet plate technology used by his father who travelled around the country taking photographs and found his love of photography through helping his father after leaving school during the Great Depression.

Having survived the depression and another world war, he captured several historic moments through a folding 120 Zeiss Super Ikonta camera from the open rear cockpit of a Tiger Moth biplane.

In 2015, with the help of friends, he compiled a book called Rendell's Tauranga - Historic Tauranga From Above, which features some of these aerial photos of Tauranga and surrounds, taken between 1946 and 1956.

The book became a publishing success when it hit Tauranga bookstores around Christmas 2015, quickly selling its first 2000-copy print run.

"It's was so much better than I visualised. People who saw the book for the first time said it brought back memories,” says Alf.

Alf now spends his time helping at the Te Puna Quarry Park helping out we he is needed.

He will be planting a Kauri tree in celebration of 100 years at the Te Puna Quarry Park on Tuesday, November 7 at 10am.

Alf and Simon Bridges.

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4 comments

...and many more!!!!

Posted on 04-11-2017 17:11 | By my penny's worth

Happy Birthday Alf!!!


A real gentleman

Posted on 04-11-2017 22:04 | By The Caveman

I hope he enjoys a many more years in the town that has been his home for longer that 99.999% of the rest of us.


Passion

Posted on 05-11-2017 08:24 | By overit

this man has a passion for life. Imagine everything and all the changes he has seen. Well done Alf and I love looking at your photos in Sunlive.


Happy Birthday Alf!!!

Posted on 15-11-2017 15:17 | By Bruja

Oh the changes you must have witnessed and the memories you must have! It is extremely appropriate that you are planting a Kauri. Many more birthdays I wish you and good health! xo


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