'Tom Mckenzie'

This page is dedicated in loving memory of
'Tom McKenzie'
(Thomas Malory Seaver McKenzie)
If you would like to add something please email me.

Patsy Thedens, Dave Young & Tom. Photo: Delwyn Leitch

Above: Pam Harwood, Tom and Pauline Parke at Mainland Show. Photo: Delwyn Leitch

Above: Tom at Brooklands RDA Arena, Nelson. Photo: Unkown

Tom & Kokiri War Cheif. Photo: Delwyn Leitch

Tom & Westland War Cheif. Photo: C Couston

Tom and Westland War Cheif, Kokiri Arena, Dodson. Photo: L Currie

Below are readings from Tom's celebration of his life.

A Cowboys Prayer

Oh Lord, I've never lived where churches grow.
I love creation better as it stood
That day You finished it so long ago
And looked upon Your work and called it good

I know that others find You in the light
That's shifted down through tinted window panes,
And yet I seem to feel You near tonight
In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains.

I thank You, Lord, that I am placed so well,
That you have made my freedom so complete:
That I'm no slave of whistle, clock or bell,
Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall or street.

Just let me live my life as I've begun
And give me work that's open to the sky;
Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,
And I won't ask a life that's soft or high.

Let me be easy on the man that's down:
Let me be square and generous with all.
I'm careless sometimes, Lord, when I'm in town,
But never let 'em say I'm mean or small!

Make me as big and open as the plains,
As honest as the hawse between my knees,
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze!

Forgive me, Lord, if sometimes I forget.
You know about the reasons that are hid.
You understand the things that gall and fret;
You know better than my mother did.

Just keep and eye on all that's done and said
And right me, sometimes, when I turn aside,
And guide me on the long, dim, trail ahead
That stretches upward the Great Divide.

By Charles Badger Clark.

This was read by one of Tom's daughter's.

Our father was the teacher at Kokiri School,
He married Dorothea at Oamaru.
Of that union there came six,
two brothers, four sisters and a grandkid mix.

Yo, ho, ho, the wind blows free
Down on the farm at Ko-kiri.

He worked all day and he worked all night,
A teacher and a farmer, with no rest in sight.
The kids, the wife and the weather too,
It's enough to make a man need a drink or two.

Yo, ho, ho...

His mother left him money to spend on himself
So he brought a Dyna truck and fitted a shelf.
A place for this horse and a place to cook
A bunk at the end of the day to read a book.

Yo, ho, ho...

A man on a farm needs something to do,
for himself, so he saddled up a horse or two.
An arena round the corner was his sort of gold,
His Appaloosa stallion sired a few foals.

Yo, ho, ho...

He travelled the horse shows in his Dyna truck
He was short on words, but what he said stuck.
In the minds of many he was a champion too,
Western riding trophies he had in plenitude.

Yo, ho, ho...

Now the time has come to say goodbye
And put Tom McKenzie on the pyre.
As he goes you may spare a thought
For the legacy that Tom McKenzie brought.

Yo, ho, ho the wind blows free
The ghost of Tom rides fancy free.

Gail Newton
Ode to Tom (an amazing man)

Early one morn, Tom McKenzie was born
A man well versed in English was he, A master of the horse anyone could see,
I named a horse after him of course,
...No longer will we see him rein his horse,
Ride like the wind and slide to a stop,
Run and Roll Back and Spin like a top,
Chase that cow for the perfect run his smile said it all; this is so much fun,
He always did have those classes won,
The sun has now set on our dear friend Tom, May he always be in our hearts and minds, As we Endeavour to go on.

Tom thanks for being my mentor, friend & allowing me to share in a part of your life.

Liz Currie
A Good Man Gone

The folks of Federation have lost a favourite son,
And the ache will always linger when the morning work is done.
He lived his life for western riding, he loved to ride a horse.
As well as a life very long, he lived for his sport of course.
Watched him ride a few years ago now, he beat us all with sass.
He went home with more than one ribbon and put Chief out to grass.
When that entry gate opens, you'll no longer see Tom.
The world won't look as shiny - another good man gone.

The lyric's to this song were found on the web. I recognize some of the lyric's but Tom may have changed a few over the years. :-)

THE WILD WEST SHOW

Chorus: [sung by all]
We’re off to see the Wild West Show!
The Elephants and Kangaroo's.
In all kinds of weather
As long as we’re together
We’re off to see the Wild West Show!

Verse 1: all verses are spoken, not sung.
Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the Ooh Ooh Aah Aah bird!
All: Oooooh! Fantastic! The Ooh Ooh Aah Aah bird?
Leader:The Ooh Ooh Aah aah bird is a rare bird found in Australia! It has three foot legs but four foot testicles, so every time it lands it says, “Ooh! Ooh! Ahh! Ahh!”

Chorus

Verse 2:
Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the gee-raff!
All: Oooooooh! Fantastic! The gee-raff?
Leader: The gee-raff from Africa is the only animal that can walk into a bar and say, “The high balls are on me!”

Chorus

Verse 3:
Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the Warthaf’k’arwy tribe!
All: Ooooh! Fantastic! The Warthaf’k’arwy tribe?
Leader:This is a tribe of four-foot pygmies found in Africa that walk through the five foot grass shouting, “Where the f**k are we?”

Chorus

Verse 4: Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the Orangutan bird!
All: Ooooooh! Fantastic! The Orangutan bird?
Leader: The Orangutan bird is also found in the mountains of Africa. It’s left ball is made of steel and it’s right ball is made of copper. Every time it lands, you hear “oRANG, uTANG”

Chorus

Verse 5: Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the rhinoceros!
All: Ooooooh! Fantastic! The rhinoceros?
Leader:The rhinoceros is the richest animal in the world! It’s name is from the Latin - rhino meaning ‘money’, and ‘sore ass’ meaning ‘piles’. ‘Piles’ of ‘money’.

Chorus

Verse 6: Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the Ker-aye bird!
All: Oooooh! Fantastic! The Ker-aye bird?
Leader:The Ker-aye bird lives north of the Arctic Circle. Every time it comes in to land on the ice it says “Ker-aye, Ker-aye, Ker-ayest it’s cold!”

Chorus

Verse 7: Leader:Ladies and gentlemen! In the far ring we have the Winkywank bird!
All: Oooooh! Fantastic! The Winkywank bird?
Leader: By some strange pattern of evolution, the nervous system of the bird’s eyelids is connected to its foreskin. Every time it winks, it wanks and every time it wanks, it winks!

Chorus and much drinking.

Placed on FB by Barb Clouston

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
...I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
- Mary Elizabeth Frye 1932

A poem provided by Angela Sawyers.
Let me tell you folks
Who have gathered here today
That I'm a proud and thankful cowboy
Who has just passed away.

...I know it's hard
But, please don't cry
Fer I'm now ridin' Gods trails
High up in the sky.

The hoss I'm ridin' now
Don't spook, buck or kick
Fer God stables perfect horses
And now I have my pick.

Lord, please forgive me of all my sins
Fer I haven't been perfect
But I know that he who believes in You
Forever wins!

I have lived a good life
A cowboys dream come true,
Thank You Lord,
Fer I'm now ready to ride into eternity
Me, my horse, and You.

Below are some memories shared by those who were privileged to know such a wonderful man and horseman.

Dave Young
Tom you left a huge footprint you can be proud of and you sure cut a trial to make it easier for many of us to follow. As much as we tried to get you into jodhpurs they weren’t your thing. Tom we will miss your diligent guidance all these years, along with your dry wit, not to mention a drop of your whisky. All the best on your last trail Tom. We will meet you a base camp, keep the coffee hot.

Pam Webby That is sad news but thanks for posting that as just the other day going through photos was wondering about Tom. He was a great person with a lot of patience and kindness.

Tania Tones Lawrence I remember Tom when he was teaching at Runanga school. As a kid I thought he was sooo scary! Lol, little did I know. Great teacher & a great horseman. His wife also. She would read books to us at school, we just loved her. Wonderful people that are together again.

Delwyn Leitch Many a good night round the campfire with Tom after shows listening to his stories and songs. He will be missed

Pip Hateley he never needed a loud speaker when he conducted training, such a booming voice! He sure showed us up if we were being soft, and the way he explained things was so easy to understand, a true teacher till the end. An amazing man with so much to share and teach, will miss him heaps.

Karyn Outen (nee Harwood) The time i best remember is at Motueka showgrounds..him and Theresa Brown!!!! Party Party!! RIP Mr McKenzie..u were a man of many talents...there were some great times.

Dave Young Rest in Peace TOM you were an inspiration to us all 25 years given to NZWRF for the benfit of many. His memory will live on.

Ngaire Poole Rest in peace Tom.

Foster Price Dear old Tom, wish I'd known him as a young man, I bet that deep, knowing chuckle was great then too !! RIP.

Mary McCormack tom the days we all joined you at the maruia western show days and the entertainment at night was worth going to i had more fun in thoes days as we took the whole family and you were a great entertainer

Mel Webby i was pretty young but i just remember when he was around (the same feeling with bill) that i was in the presence of someone who was great, who had so much knowledge and i had an amazing amount of respect for them both.... forever in our hearts xxxand that cheeky laugh of his too!

Susan Marriott-Farr In the good old days - with NWPR after a show - I remember being at Patsy's place for a few drinks etc. discussing all sorts - and Bill and Tom with their awesome stories and jokes - some of which would turn the air blue!! good times, good stories with good friends - sadly some of whom are no longer with us - memories. Rest in Peace you dear man - your knowledge and wisdom will be greatly missed - xxx

Rochelle Tasker I remember a show at Maruia and we were all sitting around a clump of burning blackberry :-). Tom started singing the Elephants and Kangaroo song. I can't remember the correct name of it but boy, I don't think I have laughed so much! Oh and the whiskey! Tom you gave so much and asked for so little.

Val Chamberlin RIP TOM you are one of a kind.It has been our priviledge to have been counted amongst your friends. Val & Mark

Amelia Anne Cook Thanks for all your encouragement Tom... RIP

Swan Michel it was a privilege to meet you Tom. RIP

Tinika Gillespie He was such such gentleman.

Mary Knowles yep a real privilege I still remember one of his show's at Te Anau .... impressive

Angela Sawyers Rest in Peace Tom, you will be missed by many.