Loading
BS![]()
author
Brian M. Sinclair
Brian Mowlem Sinclair was born at Palmerston North, New Zealand, in the World Depression year of 1928. The date of his birth happened to be Friday 13th of January. Because of certain superstitions ...view moreBrian Mowlem Sinclair was born at Palmerston North, New Zealand, in the World Depression year of 1928. The date of his birth happened to be Friday 13th of January. Because of certain superstitions some folk consider this day to be unlucky but he did not take this into consideration,- in fact,- perhaps,- in his case he probably felt the contrary. Like many children, he suffered an early childhood trauma when his parents were hit by a misfortune which definitely had its effect on his inner being and mental approach to life, resulting in a feeling which, without knowing it, he was on his own and from that moment would have to fend for himself. He worked with the British Petroleum Company and was able to put himself through university to become a graduate civil engineer. It was at this point that he realized he was living in a total welfare state which was the result of the socialism that evolved as New Zealand began climbing out of the Great Depression. The only chance for engineering employment was with the Government where he could see no future. Many other NZ graduate engineers of that time were leaving the country, mostly heading for Australia or Canada. He decided to go in another direction,- to South America,- completely unheard of and not recommended. He was really “quitting the welfare state”. He describes his travels and adventures as he moved through Central and South America to end up in Brazil with not a penny in his pocket. Luck was on his side as he gained early employment which included a lot of experience and responsibility. Within a short time he got into business with a partner which never worked out and was soon completely on his own. He enjoyed considerable success as a construction and consulting engineer working on projects throughout Brazil as well as Central and South America and other countries. He was nominated the first ever Honorary Consul and later Consul General in New Zealand’s history and tells the stories of that 15 year tenure-ship. He never regretted leaving New Zealand but always retained close connections with the country of his birth.view less