A Dunedin stalwart is heading north, leaving behind an engineering career and work in the community of more than 40 years.
John Henderson (75) and his wife, Ellen, are moving to Wanganui to help raise their granddaughters, aged 4 and 6.
As the years went by "the call of family'' became stronger.
"We'll be more use to our daughter up there and it's a chance to try new things and see different places. We are looking at it as an adventure.''
Wanganui was also more central to other family members, he said.
Born in Invercargill, Mr Henderson knew he wanted to be an engineer from the age of 8.
He was determined to follow in the footsteps of grandfather Matthew and father John.
He moved to Dunedin to board at Otago Boys' High School in 1954.
"I've been in Dunedin ever since ... I've had some great times.''
He joined the Dunedin City Council as an engineer in 1959 and retired in 2002.
One of his first council jobs was to replace a Dunedin Town Hall tower with an aluminium "meat safe'' dome.
One of his last engineering jobs before retiring was as the Dunedin Chinese Gardens Trust design manager.
"That was a great job.''
The several organisations of which he is a life member include the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, Dunedin Cricket Club and Otago Cricket Association.
He was on the board of New Zealand Cricket from 1985 to 1995.
He was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2005 for services to cricket and the community.
He was president of the Rotary Club of Dunedin from 1999 to 2000, governor of the Rotary district, south of Timaru, and an eight-time Paul Harris Fellow.
He served on the St Paul's Cathedral works committee and was a board member of Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society of Otago and Pact.
Mr Henderson was guest at a "thank you'' dinner organised by fellow members of the Pact trustees last night.
