Kennedy Brennan was born in 1866,
the youngest child of Silas and Grace Brennan.
He emigrated to New Zealand in 1886
with his brother Aidan.
Kennedy was an adventurer.
he did not want to work alongside his brother in the kauri forests.
Instead he wanted to see the famous pink and white terraces, near Rotorua.
However, before he arrives,
Mt Tarawera violently and unexpectedly erupted on June 10th, 1886.
It was reported,
"Just after midnight on June 10 1886, Mt Tarawera rumbled into life.
Earthquakes shook the area, violently waking people from their sleep,
and growing stronger and more powerful.
By 2.30am the Mountain had ripped open across the summit domes,
erupting ash and volcanic rock high into the night sky.
A hail of large stones began to rain down on the village of Te Wairoa.
A strong wind blew as people hid from the falling debris or ran for their lives,
frightened by the deafening roar and the smashing of windows.
Over four terrifying hours rocks, ash, and mud bombarded Te Wairoa,
ending more than 150 lives
and destroying the famed eighth wonder of the world,
the Pink and White Terraces."
Kennedy was disappointed but rallied in to help after the disaster.
Always an entrepeneur,
he established an hotel to cater for the influx of visitors
after the eruption.
He met Hinemoa Te Taiawatea and they married in 1887.
They had 4 children:
Silas b. 1889
Marama b. 1890
Roimata b. 1891
Rewi b. 1893
For reflection ...
How do we deal with disaster?
How can we see the positives in a dark situation?
How do we deal with disaster?
How can we see the positives in a dark situation?