Giving to Others

 

Jocelyn Hicks behind the cake stall at the 2020 Tauranga Historical Society Garden Party
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, Private Collection

Earlier this month we gathered at The Elms to acknowledge Jocelyn Hicks and her considerable contributions towards heritage in the Western Bay with the posthumous awarding of the Tauranga Centennial Heritage Award 2020. Jocelyn, who passed away on 23 November, was remembered as a dedicated advocate for the preservation and communication of history. It was a wonderful celebration of Jocelyn’s life and achievements, culminating in Western Bay Plenty Mayor, Gary Webber, presenting the Heritage Award to Jocelyn’s husband, Robin Hicks.

The absence of Jocelyn’s self-described “gift of the gab” was keenly felt by everyone who attended. In looking for Jocelyn’s ‘voice’ I came across this wonderful Bay of Plenty Times article published in January 2005. It reminds us of just how much Jocelyn loved history and giving to others.

Jocelyn has a mission to accomplish. Some people might think history lessons are boring - but Jocelyn Hicks is working hard to change this perception. The Bay woman strives to make history interesting while passing on the stories of a large piece of Tauranga's heritage, The Elm's Mission House.

It was because of this dedication, hard work and perseverance to preserving the historical site that the Pahoia woman was nominated as the Bay of Plenty Times Unsung Hero. Through her work at The Elms, the 67-year-old former teacher is working towards eliminating any perception that history is boring.

"I want to do everything I can to educate people, while keeping them interested."

A task Mrs Hicks, a kiwifruit orchardist, is working on thanks to her role as the director of guiding at the Mission Rd site.

"I want to illustrate regional history's importance."

Three days a week, the self-confessed history nut spends hours examining the remnants of the mission and reiterating her knowledge of the site, which dates back to the 1830s. Mrs Hicks said: "People just don't realise the significance of the site until I tell them."

Others, she said, did not even know it was there.

"This is really disappointing being that the house is regarded second to the Treaty House at Waitangi."

It is because of the Bay's lack of historical knowledge that Mrs Hicks spends every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday educating those who walk through the gates. While Mrs Hicks spends countless hours a week traipsing the mission's grounds as a visitor guide, she also spends numerous hours fulfilling her duties as the guiding director.

"There are rosters to do, guides to train and then there's re-training," she said.

Her passion for history also meant that during the cruise-ship season she rarely had a minute to spare.

"Working in with cruise-ship tours takes a lot of organising, she said. "It's a busy job but someone's got to do it," - and it just so happens Mrs Hicks loves her role.

While she admitted the job required a love of people, the greatest advantage, she said was having "the gift of the gab" - a trait she attributed to spending 30 years as a teacher. But, she said being the guiding director had its down sides.

"There is no rest for me, I have to work Easter Monday and Boxing Day."

Ironically Mrs Hicks said she clearly remembers visiting Mission House as a child.

"My parents brought me here a few times," she said, while looking at the displays around her.

Even back then, she said the home's owners, the Maxwells, used to invite people into their home for tours.

Julie Green, Ana Hicks, Brittany Fowler, Angela Fowler, Robin Hicks, Garry Webber, Penny Hicks, Robert Hicks, and Astrid
Image courtesy of Lee Switzer, Private Collection