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Saviour was known to all as "Sammy". He arrived in Wellington August 1956 with another young man from Zurrieq, Tony Zammit who still lives in Upper
Hutt today. He stayed at the immigration Hostels then called Trentham Camp and mixed with many different nationalities who all came together for a better life and employment. Sammy's first job was with the Wellington Harbour Board, however he didn't settle long in that job before he went on to Dunlop's in Upper
Hutt. That too was short lived as Sammy's Dream was to work for himself in his trade that he had achieved back in Malta as a Stonemason. So to get a foot in the door he worked for Romax Cement in upper Hurt and soon after he went out on his own as a stonemason. He did a lot of his work through Cement products then located in Lower Huff.
In 1957 while living in the hostel Sammy met a wee Scottish girl Chrissy who in 1960 he married and took no time in starting his family. Before either of them knew it they had 7 children, 3 girls Clare, Melita, Maria and 4 boys Tony, John, Andrew and Samuel.
Sammy believed in hard work, he worked his trade for many years on his own making fireplaces and doing many different stone structures. One in particular we remember well was the Air New Zealand Building that was in Vivian Street. He put in a tender to build a large stone wall at the front of the building, however all other firms tendering were large firms with a large labour force and the job had a time frame for completion. No one thought he could possible do it.. Sammy won the job over the larger firms and to there disbelief he also got the job finished in the time required. He was very proud to have achieved this as others said it couldn't be done. That in itself was always one of his greatest motivators, proving others wrong.
In 1981 he started Solid Fuel Heating with his 2nd son John in Upper Huff, little did he realise then that this was just the start of it. Before he knew it his sons Andrew and Samuel soon followed. Maria his youngest daughter also got involved and so did Tony. To keep his family employed and out of trouble he soon realised that he would have to expand, so Solid Fuel Heating Wellington and the Kapiti Coast was established. Sammy wasn't just content at selling
woodburners he also put his hand at "Inventing the perfect
Woodburner" which took up many long hours in his work shop.
In 1983 he returned to Malta after 27 years to see many family and friends. After Chrissy died in 1987 he went back every 2-3 years.
Sadly he died in 1997 after a short illness and his memory is with each one of us, his Children and Grandchildren every day. Recently my brothers said that as a craftsman Stonemason his memory is still very much in the minds of many people in the Wellington area. They have come across people who often say that Sammy had done some excellent work in their homes many years ago.
From his daughter MARIA LONGSTAFF: Dad made a good name for himself by working hard, building a business, adding onto the family home and building 2 sets
of townhouses. Obviously time was not his own. My sister Claire and myself decided to buy one set of these and have redecorated it ,the other will also be renovated. These townhouses are a constant reminder of dad and all he achieved.
From the editor and friends: Sam left in all who had the pleasure of making his acquaintance a legacy of holding a respect for our country and a strong belief in our religion that will never be forgotten, always smiling always a gentleman, left following in his proud footsteps a very nice family of seven children.
Sammy Zammit
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