This Family Tree is a history of our family for our children and grandchildren.
I am Rena (Irena) Burgess and Jim (James) and I have 5 children, Julie, 
Gayleen, Grant, Christopher and Steven. We have 13 grandchildren Brooke & Tom 
Watts, Alice & Grace Thomson, India & Mia Power, Surrie, Austin, Benjamin, 
Logan, Billy (William) Greer, Macy, Louis & Jordan Burgess and one great 
grandchild 
Leilani Burgess.
Jim & I both come from large extended families so there are many ancestors & 
relatives that eventually I hope will all have their history recorded on this 
Family Tree.
Jim entered the butchery trade on leaving school in 1953. He worked for 
several Hamilton businesses & eventually owned his own business which 
was "Hillsdale Butchery" in Ellicott Road for approximately 10 years.
Rena left school also in 1953 & worked at the Bank of N.Z. in Tauranga for 18 
months until she commenced her General Nursing Training at Waikato Hospital 
graduating in 1959.
We have lived in Hamilton in New Zealand since we were married in Jan. 1960 & 
our 5 children were all born in Hamilton. They all went to Fifth Avenue 
Primary School & onto Peachgrove Intermediate. Julie & Gayleen attended Sacred 
Heart Girls College & Grant, Chris & Steven attended St. Johns College in 
Hamilton.
On leaving school Julie & Gayleen completed their Nursing training at Waikato 
Hospital graduating in 1982. Grant completed a Technicians Certificate at the  
N.Z. Electricity Department, Chris did an apprenticeship with the N.Z. Railways
& qualified as a Electrician. Steven studied at Lincoln University in 
Canterbury & obtained a degree in Valuation & Property Management.

Julie married David Watts in 1983 & they have 2 children - Brooke & Thomas 
Watts. They later parted & Julie remarried David Thomson & they have 2 
children - Alice & Grace Thomson. Gayleen & Mark Power lived in Perth, 
Australia for 11 Years & then came back to N.Z. to live in 1998. They have 2 
children - India & Mia Power. Gayleen also has a elder daughter Surrie Burgess.
Surrie has a daughter Leilani Burgess who is our 1st Great Grandchild. 
Grant, Chris & Steven travelled overseas extensively & worked in London for 
approximately 5-6 years. They eventually all came back to N.Z. to settle. 
Grant & Dianne (Laird) have 2 boys - Benjamin & Logan Burgess. Grant also has 
an elder son- Austin Burgess. Chris & Jackie Burgess have 2 daughters - Greer 
& Macy Burgess & a son called Louis. Steven & Karen Burgess have 2 sons 
William (Billy) & Jordan Burgess. 
Jim's Dad was Tony (Gladstone) Burgess & was born on the 13th Oct. 1896. He 
died on the 26th April 1975. He was a builder by trade & built the home at 119 
Rimu St. Maeroa in 1932. The family of 9 children & their parents lived there 
until they were all married & the property was sold in 1995 after the death of 
Mary Burgess. Tony served in the 1st World War in the Rifle Brigade in France 
from 1917-1919. He married Mary (Josephine Mary) Dempsey on the 26th December 
1928. Their children were Ron, Ken, May, Tony, Jim & Tui (twins) Mary, Anne & 
Peter. Mary Burgess (nee Dempsey) was  born on the 1st August 1903 & died on 
the 9th May 1995 at the age of 92.
Rena's Dad was Ivo (Albert Ivo) Curle. He worked in a bank initially & then 
went dairy farming & worked in many areas of the Waikato District.He was born 
on the 20th November 1904 & died on the 13th February 1953 at the age of 48 
years. He married Rena (Ellen Irena) Ferguson on the 5th June 1929. They had 6 
children Ivo, Doreen, Jean, Albert, Rena (Irena Ferguson) & Rex. Ellen Irena 
remarried Ivan John Lionel Rowe in 1956. She was born on the 30th March 1907 & 
died on the 11th June 1982 at the age of 75 years.