10 Dec 2014

A Tribute to Tanya


The courage that my mother had, went with her and is with her still
Rock from New England quarried, now granite on a granite hill.
The golden brooch my mother wore she left behind for me to wear.
There is no thing I treasure more, yet it is something I could spare.
O if instead she'd left to me that thing she took into the grave,
That courage, like a rock, which she has no more need of, and I have. 
                                              
                                                                     Edna St. Vincent Millay

This poem is in memory of my beloved daughter, Tanya Bocking who died 11 years ago on December 10th.
It was written to a mother, but it could easily be to a daughter. Tanya had great courage . It defined
 her life, and was at the core of her being. Courage, love for her friends and family, and a deep sense
 of. justice. The world cannot easily spare such people.

That day, 11 years ago, was the nadir of my life  Having known her and loved her, we had to get used
 to life without her. She was  a great teacher, and a huge influence. I was privileged to have brought
 into the world such a woman.

So give a thought for her today, a person so  brave and fine that her example lasts after she has gone.

Diana Morris

27 Jun 2014

Commercial

By circumstances unknown, perhaps somebody knew somebody, but in 1975 if I recall, Tanya was cast as a Russian princess in a cinema cigarette commercial. I vaguely remember it was only going to be shown in New Zealand and that was shot at the Directors' Institute in a lush panelled clubroom. Tanya's role consisted of being one of a royal family in a framed photo on a desk of the set filmed in close-up; a common exposition device. There was a film camera doing a complicated dolly-shot and a still photographer using a 10 x 8 plate camera to get the 'billboard' version.  I remember the 'prince' in the photo was very sweet and quite gay and the Grand Dame wasn't at all posh and sat patiently between takes doing her knitting.



26 Jun 2014

A few more photos 69-77




1969
1975 Alberta, Canada with 'cousin' Alison

1977
Back row: Alison, Johnny, Tanya, Diana, Claudia
Front row: Nat, Audrey, Jago, Michelle