However,
near the southern tip of the North Island one can find a small
enclave where memories of this Austrian alpine village are cherished.
Busch Hansei, a nickname given because he was a gardener, left
Austria in 1956 to find work and adventure. He settled in New Zealand
and apart from a brief period back in the old country, has lived
there ever since.
Now
90, Hans is hale and hearty and still caring for his garden as well
as himself. His living room is hung with pictures and mementos of
Embach, the Maria Eland chapel and a school skiing outing in 1936. He
was an enthusiastic skier and Hans has fond memories of outings and
people he skied with.
When
we visited him early one morning, he soon brewed up a strong coffee
fortified with a dose of schnaps. No longer able to make the journey
back to Embach, a surprise visit was „like Christmas...no, better
than Christmas“ even though he had not known us before. It was
enough that we came from “his” village.
Now
we are back in snowy Embach, away from the warm summer antipodean
sun, and are able to bring news to Hans' former friends and
neighbours of his yearning for Embach and his pleasure when he
receives phone calls or news by post. Busch Hansei is something of a legend in the village.
Despite
the many years he has been away and the great distance between Embach
and New Zealand, gardener Hans has not forgotten where his roots lie:
firmly planted in Embach's soil.
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| Still a keen gardener at 90, Busch Hansei and visitor |
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