The first son but second child of William and Susan, born on the 1^st September 1873 (birth certificate number 1873/28186) in Mangawhare an area in the northern Kaipara region, I believe in the town of Aratapu. (Aratapu is a small town on the west bank of the Wairoa River, just north of Tokatoka and was primarily there due to its sawmill).

We don’t know why but he went by the name Jack, perhaps so not to get mixed up with his Grand Father or his half uncle and the many other cousins and half cousins bearing the same name.

Like others in the family with Maori blood in their veins, he was also known as Hone (Maori for John) Haira. I can only assume Haira has been translated from Stanaway. I have only found this surname mention for John and his younger brother Alexander when they played for the 1908 NZ Maori Rugby League team who toured Australia.

The earliest mention of John is from the New Zealand Herald on the 18 June 1883 which describes the following event;

“Master John Stanaway, Aratapu, on June 2, met with rather a serious accident, which might have led to worse results than are now feared. He was running from a drunken man whom he had been teasing and in order to help himself along took hold of the tail of a horse that was going on ahead of him. He knew the horse, and believed it to be harmless. The rider, however, suddenly stopped the horse, and before Stanaway was aware, he received a kick from the animal just above his eye. He screamed a few seconds, then became insensible. He was conveyed home by two men, and, thanks to the careful nursing of Mrs Ludlow, aided by Mr. Mason, he is now progressing favourably.”

This incident does not deter the young John from horses it seems that he becomes a skilled horseman. Again in the New Zealand Herald on the 18 December 1893 he came 4^th in a horse jumping competition. John and a Mr Wallace were sent back over the fences, to enable the judges to come to a decision in awarding the third prize.

“There were 13 competitors accepted for this, which proved one of the most interesting contests of the day, and a really fine exhibition of jumping was shown by many of them.”

The Auckland Star on 7 September 1899, mentions John playing rugby for Aratapu where he scores a try against the Batley football team in Aratapu’s 11 to 4 win.

The Auckland Star on 10 August 1900 listed the Auckland “B” Rugby team to play a match against the Northern Wairoa representatives in Aratapu. John is listed as playing on the wing.

The WH newspaper on the 13 April 1901 we have John at a athletics met in New Plymouth held on the Easter Monday. Records show he was in two races the 120 yards and the 220 yards. In the In the Sheffield Handicap of 120 yards he comes second in his heat and progresses to the final.

“The final was an exciting race all through, the judges having great difficulty in deciding, so close were the placed men together. J. Stanaway was declared the winner ….. time, 11.3-5 seconds….. The 220 yards proved a good thing for Stanaway, Cole again being second, and Gilmour third. Time, 23 seconds.”

Again in the Hibernian sports day on St. Patrick’s Day, March 1902 John enters the following races, 100 yards open, 200 yards handicap and the 300 yards handicap – the results unknown. (Auckland Star 13 March 1902).

As well as athletics John enjoyed is rugby, he managed to make it into the Aratapu representative team to play a friendly trial against the Ponsonby District senior team in 1903. The New Zealand Herald on the 25 April 1903 list J Stanaway in the forwards.

We have recorded in The San Francisco Call on April 10, 1904 John is listed as part of a party of professional athletes passing through on their way to the Summer Olympic Games being staged in St. Louis. It is not clear if John went onto the 3^rd Olympic Games.

On 13 July 1904 at the age of 31, John marries Eliza Millar at the house of James Miller (her father) which was in Otahuhu marriage cert No 1904/16744) John is listed as a Mill-hand. Eliza was the daughter of James Miller and Caroline Jarvis and was born in Otahuhu. James Miller was a contractor.

The Auckland Star on 21 December 1904, lists John in being awarded his jockeys licenses.

By 1905 (according to the 1905-1906 Electoral Rolls) the newlywed couple have moved to Clarence Street, Ponsonby in Auckland. His occupation is listed as a Mill-hand – not surprising as this was the main source of work back in his home town and we would assume that he would have worked as a mill-hand there also – mills would have been not far away in Freemans Bay, where at that time, on or about the location of Westhaven there were a number of timber mills.

The couple had their first child this year, Lennise Jarvis Susan (Susie) Stanaway, born on the 4 December 1905 (Certificate number 1905/5189) in Ponsonby, Auckland. The birth was proudly announced in the Auckland Star on the 6 December 1905. John is listed as a Mill-hand.

Along with this move to Auckland it allowed John to play rugby league for one of the newly formed clubs. He played for the City District Football Club.

As well as athletics, rugby and rugby league, John also enjoyed bowls playing for the Ponsonby Bowling Club, and was a founding member of the Pakuranga Hunt Club.

On the 15 October 1907 their second child is born, Jack (Kumura) Stanaway (Certificate number 1907/19417) in Ponsonby, Auckland. John is listed as a Mill-hand.

By 1908 John and his younger brother Alexander (back row left) were selected to be part of a professional Maori football team to tour Australia. This was to be the first Maori Rugby League team formed and to go on tour.

Notably on this tour John scored a try against the Australian side. John was thirty five by the time of this tour, and by this time his playing days were coming to an end. He soon after this tour turned his attention to refereeing as the new game became established. He did accompany two further tours but this may have been as an official or as part of the coaching staff.

At Ponsonby United’s first AGM on 30 July 1909, Jack was elected to the club’s executive alongside James Carlaw (the first Chairman), Charles Dunning and Arthur Carlaw.

Jack became a referee in the Auckland Rugby League competition. On 25 June, during a club game, he sent off Albert Asher. The rest of the City Rovers side walked off in support of Asher. Asher became the first player to face the ARL judiciary, who cautioned him.

John was to referee of the first test match played on New Zealand soil, at the Auckland Domain Cricket Ground when the Great Britain Lions toured in 1910. He also controlled the Lions matches against Auckland, in which his brother Alexander played.

In that same year, 1910, John attends his younger sisters, Ida’s wedding and is part of the wedding party. (Refer to Ida’s wedding photograph, his daughter Lennise was a flower girl).

By 1911 John and Eliza have moved to Portage Road in Otahuhu, Auckland (according to the 1911 Electoral Roll) his occupation is listed as a “Yardsman”. In 1911 he helped set up the Otahuhu Rovers club, becoming their first chairman.

The 1915 Otahuhu Football Club annual meeting, mentions three Stanaway brothers, John is part of the selection committee and his brother Alexander and Montrose are both and the club committee (Auckland Star 24 March 1915).

With the outbreak of World War 1 most able body men were required to serve in either active service or on the reserve roll. John in 1917 was listed on the Reserve roll D Second Division Auckland. He never saw active service.

Interestingly in the 1919 Electoral Roll has John and his wife still at Portage Road, Otahuhu, but this time his younger brother Alexander and his wife are registered at the same address – we do not know why this is.

Tragedy strikes on 24 May 1922, his dear wife Eliza passes away. It is not known if Eliza was buried or cremated, no records could be obtained.

On 23^rd December 1931, John James Stanaway dies at the age of 58, he is buried with his mother in the Otahuhu Cemetery area 2 plot 220 (Death Certificate number 1930/6202). His obituary in the New Zealand Herald reads:

“MR. JOHN JAMES STANAWAY The death occurred at the Auckland Hospital yesterday of Mr. John James Stanaway, at the age of 58. Mr. Stanaway, who was born at Dargaville, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs William Stanaway, of Northern Wairoa. He was well known in Auckland sporting circles, having been and All Black forward for many years, and champion sprinter and hurdler of the Dominion between 1880 and 1890. He accompanied the All Blacks on the very successful Australian tour in 1907 and again in two subsequent occasions. At the time of his death he was coach for the Newton Football Club, of which he was a life member. He was also prominent in cricket and athletic circles. Apart from his interest in those spheres, Mr. Stanaway at one time engaged in horse-training, and was one of the original members of the Pakuranga Hunt Club. Mr Stanaway was a widower, and is survived by one daughter, Mrs L. Castle, of Otahuhu, and one son, Mr. Jack Stanaway, of Auckland.”

Ellen (Helen), his older sister appears to have been very fond and close to her nearest sibling, his headstone has a message from her on it stating “Always remembered By Ellen”, and in 1932 she inserts an in memory notice.

“STANAWAY – On December 24, 1930, Jack Stanaway…. Sweetest memories fond and true. – Inserted by his loving sister, Ellen Diver, Rotorua.”

Note that the year was not correct, it was the same for the Obituary she placed the year earlier.