Gerry Wake
Gerry Wake. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Nothing escapes Gerry Wake’s eagle eyes.
The Te Awa resident can often be seen sitting in his mobility scooter on the temporary Cambridge Road cycle/pedestrian path watching the traffic go by and the contractors go about their work.
At 99 years old Gerry can be forgiven the luxury of wasting time but he should be careful about taking a snooze.
As The News was taking the English-born former insurance salesman’s photo outside the retirement village, four people in a golf cart could be seen speeding towards him.
It carried his friend and fellow Te Awa resident Max Brown with Te Awa Lifecare general manager Mandy Hudson in the driving seat and two staff members in the other seats ready to revive him.
They had been told he had collapsed in his scooter out on the road.
“No I’m only speaking to this journalist,” the care home resident told them.
Gerry will be 100 on October 25. He emigrated to New Zealand from the village of Ingrave in Essex, England in 1962 with wife Joan, who died in 1984. Their three children – Suzie, Cheryl and David all live in New Zealand.
Gerry has his views on the orange cones and the progress of the work outside but given the concern being shown by Mandy and her team, he headed back in from the sweltering heat into the village.
But most days he can be seen outside the village and available for a chat.
