4th generation Stewart Islander Bruce Hopkins chats to 3rd generation Islander Colleen Hopkins - his mum.
During a break in Auckland for his son's wedding and to get his health sorted, Bruce Hopkins caught up with another ex-Stewart Islander; his mum Colleen. They talk about her early life, meeting and marrying his dad and what it was like to raise four kids on a small and isolated island.
Bruce Hopkins Trail Diary - Week 12, 28 December 2017 - 1 January 2018
Auckland
"Mum came down for the wedding and she brought me some more of Dad's ashes...sorry about that, Ma!
"And I've got some more of brother Doug's ashes, too.
"I'm walking them back to Stewart Island where my mum, Colleen Hopkins, was born a third generation Islander, making me, my brother Doug and my sisters Lynley and Wanda fourth generation islanders!
"It must have been an unreal experience growing up there.
"I just want to say thank you to the many people who've approached me and said thank you for sharing this journey and my story. Thank you so much, guys, it's humbling. It's a privilege to be doing this.
"Yeah, thanks for that Bruce. I've got to get myself all cleared up for the isolated and very challenging sections of the trail still to come. I thought I've already done some bloody challenging bits but wait, there's more!
"Catch you later."