Moe mai rā, Papa Scotty🤍
Written by Ana Ung
It almost feels like Papa came into my life by chance… I was working at a call centre, and on one of my days off I decided to attend a bokashi composting workshop.
After the bokashi workshop I got talking with Therese Mangos who facilitated. Something I never stay back to do, due to shyness. Right off the bat, and knowing I already had a job, she offered me a composting role at the Papatoetoe Food Hub. And it wasn’t too long before that, Papa Scott had to retire from Roscommon School due to covid, and made himself at home at the same Hub, as their new everything-man after falling in love with their boil-up.
At the drop of a hat, I left that call centre job and took this chance with Therese. I had never even heard of this food hub, so it was a really lovely surprise when I showed up that same Saturday. There I met Raju Ramakrishna who was PFH’s lead and he gave a quick tour of the outdoors. Garden boxes were neatly positioned on what were once netball courts, planted with a mix of herbs and veges. But what caught my eye in particular was this one box filled to the edges with the most stunning display of calendulas I’d ever seen.
Then I got a peak inside the Food Hub cafe, and it was then that I met Papa Scotty for the very first time. He was having a cuppa tea. I greeted him politely, just as I was taught, but even with my friendliest smile and most respectful demeanor, I sensed Papa felt off. It seemed as if I didn’t make a good first impression and it had me thinking “oh no, is he one of those grumpy old fellas?”…..
Papa Scotty, photos from Roscommon School
But on my first day of actual mahi, I realised that he was just genuinely worried about my safety. He was always asking about what gear I had, “Do you have this?”, “Did they give you that?”, “Where’s your apron girl?!”, huffing and sighing. Without even knowing me, he was already advocating for me to make sure I had all I needed to mahi safely. And that’s just how Papa was. He was about doing things the ‘right’ way - the most effective, but always safe. This was one of many ways he showed his care.
Papa Scotty and Ana take a selfie after planting Papa’ s flower patch together.
My role at PFH was Compost Manager and Garden hand. I looove growing plants, and it turned out Papa absolutely loooved gardening too, specifically flowers. That stunning display of calendulas? They were Papa’s babies. We had a lot of conversations by that bright bed of yellows and oranges. It’s highly likely that we were tending the calendula bed when he first mentioned his late wife Maria and about all his whānau up north. His 2 most favourite topics. He had a beautiful twinkle in his eye whenever he talked about them.
Papa Scotty pretty much took me under his wing, I must’ve felt like a granddaughter to him and he certainly felt like a grandpapa to me. He was always looking out for me, always telling me to slow down, take it easy, “hometime soon”, thinking of my daughters and I, saving us produce, picking us boxfuls of passionfruit, giving me a hand whenever I needed and even when I didn’t.
Back left to right: Raju, Kristian, Sera, Kathleen. Front left to right: Papa Scotty, Ana, Therese.
He was the papa many of us never had, and was a special bonus papa to many others. A man of immense integrity, humility and mana. Self-appointed health and safety officer, hāngi master and jack of many trades. Lover of flowers & gardening, a cuppa tea and a good yarn. He was generous with his time and care. A man like no other. I got to meet this bright gem Papa Scotty all because I stayed back at that bokashi workshop to talk to Therese and because he decided to try a boil up at the food hub then just never left.
Therese Mangos- “I would always hear Papa before seeing him, as he would always whistle while he worked. It was a comforting sound. I first met Papa at the Papatoetoe Food Hub and I knew then he was a kindred spirit...He had a love of fixing things, growing flowers and vegetables, and problem solving. No problem was too much. His hands and mind were always busy. He loved his cuppa T and a good yarn. Thank you Papa for being such an amazing pou for PVA, sharing your stories and personally, giving me a new love of zinnias. Okioki mai rā i roto i te aroha!”.
Candace Weir- “Papa Scott's work ethic and kindness was an inspiration. He bought a special ahua to our team hui and events. His smile and humility will be missed. Rest up now Papa Scott. Aroha nui.”.
Lourdes Parehuia- “I will miss his smile and coming to Boundary, knowing he was around the corner. The mauri he brought to the whenua is not gone. Mauri ora Papa!”.
Sera Schwalger- “I loved Papa being part of the team he just bought another dimension to the team that felt right & complete. He was also an amazing handyman, 90s still tinkering & fixing stuff that most people would throw away! I always got ‘your too good girl’ for delivering a cuppa & biscuit. I think all work places would benefit from someone like Papa xx Rest in peace sweet papa xxx”.
Destiny Harris- “Even though I have only been a part of the team for a short time. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know Papa Scotty. He was always so welcoming! My 2nd day coming in and he was showing me around the whole of Boundary. We had a cup of tea & a biscuit together. Finding out we’re both from the Far North! Hahah. I feel very privileged to have known him in the window of time we had. He was loved by many. I wish him safe passage onto his new journey beyond xx”.
Kathleen Ng Shiu & Fiona Leaupepetele- “remember papa digging up the kumara!!!!”.
Our dearest Papa, you are sorely missed. We feel so lucky that we got to have you in our lives for a short but sweet time. You will forever be in the PVA whānau, our papa.
Rest now in paradise Papa Scotty. Say hi to your darling Maria for us. 🤍
