Words to the family and friends of Bill Thompson
I was saddened to hear of the loss of a friend who had welcomed me into his life and the
great times we had with his late friend Kevin Martin. I have known Bill since the early 2000’s
as Kevin introduced us on my first trip to Martins Bay. These trips became a regular event
and for the first 5 or 6 years it consisted of:
• A 10-hour drive from Nelson to Te Anau
• The great smile and excitement as Bill answered the door.
• Customary “Fish and Chips” in the Lounge with The Cat. Bill couldn’t believe that
the Cat welcomed us too!
• Stories since the last trip and an early night before we headed to the chopper at
Milford.
• Our time at Martins Bay was always entertaining trying to get a word in!
• On our return the final meal generally at Vern and Maggie’s. (when they were home)
The times at Martins Bay and getting there were always fun times. The drive to Milford from
Te Anau with a quick stop at the hanger to see the mighty Wapiti and his antlers, the big
Green Cray Boat and the 300, this aways prompted some stories on the drive into Milford.
We were lucky to experience a brand new “hunting lodge” to stay in – Bills “Pride and Joy”
he loved having us and all his visitors there to provide an outback experience in comfort.
It was a pleasure to help build the new shed that was to house the quad and new generator
the time mixing the concrete and Bills attention to every detail.
Reading the visitors Book was always interesting and over the years it was evident that
there was a core group that visited Bill regularly. The “Twins”, “Jackie”, “Wanye” and
McKenzie to name a few. The stories of their hunting experiences or their tripping around
the lake were always a talking point. Bill loved telling us stories and thoughts about the
“Yogi Bears”.
Bill always welcomed my friends on our trips, this allowed them to experience Bills
Property and the luscious hunting experience, two of these I know Bill talked about
regularly: Nigel Hodge “Hodgie” and Brian Austin. I know both were saddened to hear of
Bills Passing.
Bill loved his camera and the photos he took of flowers and landscapes were always
discussed. His face always had a smile when he talked of his times with “Jackie” when they
tripped around, and we always heard stories about the opossums trapped and other
adventures.
OFFICIAL
One of the reasons for our first trip to Martins Bay was for “Kev” to confirm some of his
memories and Bills hunting stories, as Kev always wanted to publish a book. It was
entertaining sitting on the sideline with Bill rattling off the stories and at times Kev getting a
word in. The detail and memory of these past experiences was mind blowing. We heard the
same stories year after year, and they really changed it was always a great time
remembering the past.
Bill and the family welcomed me into their family one Christmas and Myself and Lee (my
wife at the time) enjoyed the hospitality of the family. This I believe was the first time I meet
McKenzie; Bill loved the opportunity to have McKenzie at Martins Bay and it was wonderful
to see the respect McKenzie had for Bill, and the way “Bill” showed McKenzie how to hunt
and climb. Bill always had to be in front and it was always a competition to be first up the
hill or first home. Bill always had that quirky grin on his face when you finally made it.
In the later years when Kev became less mobile we tendered to Fly to Martins Bay from the
Cascade and we would meet Bill at the “Lodge”, I loved doing the cooking and was always
happy to be called the Camp Cook, I made sure they didn’t go hungry, Bill always put on a
couple of kilos.
Bill loved the deer that hung around the house and we always looked at the footage he
gathered on his wildlife cameras. The times that the neighbors visited or we visited them
was always a highlight for Bill, some crayfish and fresh fish supplied by Ron Anderson and
his boys.
That’s just a few of my memories and with that I say Rest in peace my friend we will meet again
Andrew Murphy , Derby Western Australia
