Doll 22: Aidan Brennan

Aidan is the 10th child and 5th son of Silas and Grace Brennan.
To escape the poverty and injustice in Ireland,
Aidan emigrated to New Zealand with his younger brother, Kennedy, in 1886.

Aidan wanted to work quickly,
so he headed north to the kauri forests.
He worked felling and hauling kauri logs.

In 1888, he met and married Marama.
They settled in Rawene.
They had 5 children:
Henare b.1889
Raniera b. 1890
Wiremu b. 1892
Rangi b. 1894
Mere b. 1895.

3 of their sons left Rawene as fernleaves to fight at Gallipoli in World War 1.
They all died at Chanuk Bair, Turkey.

They moved to the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland after World War 1,
to live with Mere and Josef Pavlovich.

The teardrop template is quite evident
in this figure.
The shoulders slope up to a graceful neck and head.
I stretched the legs.
Long narrow arms are buttoned to the shoulders.
They are made from that Kiwi icon -
Swandri!

For reflection ...
Aidan helped in the destruction of native forests.
What is my attitude towards conservation of native trees and plants?
How do I contribute to their restoration?
What is my understanding of the relationship between our environment
and the need to be good stewards?