80,000+ Books in-stock in NZ ๐Ÿ“š

Echoes of a Wendon Valley Boy

Reflections from a remote corner of New Zealand in the 1960s
Brief Description
In the Wendon Valley of Southland, life in the 1950s and 60s was shaped by land, weather, family and community. It was a hard place to make a living, but a rich place to grow up. In Echoes of a Wendon Valley Boy, Doug Miller reflects... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Echoes of a Wendon Valley Boy. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Growing up in Southland's Wendon Valley in the 1950s and 60s, Doug Miller reflects on farm life, fishing, boarding school and the characters who shaped him. Humorous and affectionate, these stories honour ordinary lives and a vanishing rural New Zealand โ€” told from one remote valley, but resonating far beyond it.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In the Wendon Valley of Southland, life in the 1950s and 60s was shaped by land, weather, family and community. It was a hard place to make a living, but a rich place to grow up.

In Echoes of a Wendon Valley Boy, Doug Miller reflects on his childhood and teenage years with humour and affection. From farm work and fishing to boarding school days, local characters and a large extended family, these stories capture the texture of rural life and the people who defined it.

Written decades later, the book is also about identity and the importance of recording ordinary lives before they fade. Doug writes not to romanticise the past, but to understand it, and to honour the people and place that shaped him.

This is a thoughtful and quietly powerful portrait of a changing New Zealand, told from one remote valley but resonating far beyond it.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781991436023

Publisher: Mary Egan Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2026

Country: New Zealand

Imprint: Mary Egan Publishing

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 230.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 328

About the Author

Doug Miller grew up in Wendon Valley, a small, close-knit farming community near Gore, where he was shaped by the values of hard work and community that defined rural New Zealand in the 1950s and 60s. Though school held little appeal and he left without qualifications, Doug proved that ambition finds its own timeline โ€” he later returned to education and earned three university degrees, going on to build a distinguished career as a Civil Engineering consultant in Wellington spanning more than three decades.

His work took him around the world, with international travel a rewarding thread woven throughout his professional life. Doug has been married to Deidre for over 50 years, and together they have a daughter, Sandra, and a son, Brent.

In his younger years, Doug enjoyed cricket and rugby, and has maintained a lifelong passion for fishing and horses.. In semi-retirement, he has channelled his energy into environmental advocacy, playing a meaningful role in developing regional and national rural waste management programmes.


More from Biography & Memoir

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.