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ANTOON
(Antonius Johannes Pierre)
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ANTOON VERPLAK
BORN: 02/10/1943 (Nijmegen) Immigrated to New Zealand in 1962, hence to Australia in 1965. RESIDENCE: 55 Crowleys Lane, Glenlyon, VIC, Australia. OCCUPATION: Company Director, Software Developer http://www.auscompanies.com/en/41292846356/VERPLAK-ANTONIUS MARRIAGES: Arlene Wagner Merilyn Agad (Mayette) Margaret |
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Recording of "The Best Things In Life Are Free" ('The Lodge', a very popular upmarket resort in Hanmer Springs, New Zealand, with Dean Howe, Stan Kid, Noel (singer) and drummer Ross. We performed there every Friday and Saturday night. Mostly old-time jazz.
Other regular venues were 'The Copper Cat' in High Street, Christchurch. Michael came from time to time (good place to score... lol), but Trudy and Topy never showed up. They were not interested. |
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SINGLE PLAY RECORD FROM TONY AND THE TWANGERS
Antoon's musical career, including: The Blue Rockets (Nijmegen, Netherlands) The Javelins (Copper Cat, Christchurch, New Zealand The Lodge, Hanmer Springs, New Zealand Tony and the Twangers (Christchurch, New Zealand) And other groups he was with. A couple of instrumentals... Dew Drops (YouTube) The Beetles Morning March (YouTube) |
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Antoon's meditation rock (Glenlyon, Victoria, Australia).
Photo taken shortly after acquiring the property. Michael's property was adjacent to this one. Many improvements have been made since then, including two ponds, driveway to the house which overlooks the large pond, clearance for a visitor's log cabin, and many tracks and trees. |
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Antoon's farm shed (18m x 8m).
Five bays, two secured. It houses the tractor and some other implements, and secured workspace. |
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The Big Pond. Now also used by the Kangaroos who come to drink late afternoons.
It leads to 'Sunset Boulevard' and the other entrance to the property. |
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The road home, chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... |
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Life Experiences
Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, China, Cambodia. Immigrated to New Zealand, hence moved to Australia. Other countries visited include Russia, England, Hawaii, Belgium, France, Spain. Education - Kleuter Klas / Bewaar School (Kindergarten) - Lagere School - Hogere School - UTS (Uitgebreid Technische School / Technical College) Werktuigbouwkunde (Civil Engineering) - UTS (Uitgebreid Technische School / Technical College) Electrotechniek (Electrical Engineering) Diplomas (Netherlands) - Fiets Diploma (Bicycle Riding) - VVV Diploma (Vereniging Voor Veilig Verkeer) Traffic Rules Diploma - Godsdienst Diploma (Religion Diploma - Catholicism) - Type Diploma (Type Writing Diploma) Diplomas (Australia) - Overcoming Ups and Down in Life (Scientology Course Diploma) - Basic Study Manual (Scientology Diploma) - Starting a Successful Marriage (Scientology Diploma) - Success through Communication Course (Scientology Diploma) Employment Netherlands - Albers TV Service - Henk Albers (trying to light the potheater in workshop) New Zealand - Scrap Metal detector (one day job - arranged by Michael) earned his first 1 NZ Pound - Sheet Metal worker at a Domestic Appliances factory - Melhuish Radio - Frank Melhuish (assembling and hiring out TV receivers) Australia - Various jobs as Sheet Metal worker - Radio Technician at Standard Telephone and Cables Pty Ltd - 3 years - Commenced TV hiring busines full-time - T/A Lanver Electronics - T/A Television International Pty Ltd - Partnership with Leopold Feld T/A All Suburbs Video Rentals - Two Video Movie Rental Stores - Software development and marketing T/A Point Of Hire - Partnership with Religion Grew up as member of the Catholic Church Joined Iglesia Ni Cristo (Philippines & Australia) Took keen interest in Bible Studies Other interests Music (Bass Guitarist) - The Blue Rockets (Nijmegen, Netherlands) - The Javelins (Christchurch, New Zealand) - Tony and the Twangers (Recording group) - Guest musician at The Lodge, Hanmer Springs (12 months) - Recorded various self-composed music (Christchurch) Computer software development (MASM and Visual Basic) - Point Of Hire (Appliance rentals) - Point Of Service (Appliance servicing) - Point Of Reception (Staff locations) Carpentry (made most furniture himself) Business and General Law Astronomy Electronics Landcare (Member of Glenlyon Upper Loddon Landcare Group) Ohh... by the way... Trudy argued that Antoon was not interested in anything... |
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ABOUT ANTOON:
DE KNECHT In Pa's werkplaats: Piet Tournij: Kom hier Toon, nou moet je eens heel goed luisteren, want ik heb je iets te vertellen... wat je voor de rest van je leven goed onthouden moet... Antoon: (komt dichtbij)... Ja? Piet Tournij: Het leven is rot. NON-COMMITTAL Earlier in his adulthood he found it extremely difficult to commit to any girl, causing difficulties in his first long-term relationship with Margaret. As growing up children we were always taught negative stuff and our parent's example was no help. We were always told not to do this and not to do that. CHILDHOOD BULLYING There was considerable bullying in this family... including from his own mother and one school teacher (Meneer de Graaf). Antoon remembers well when he woke up one morning with a blurred vision. In the following months eyedrops were prescribed and Ma made it clear that wearing glasses was not a good option and one time she told him "If your girlfriend also wears glasses and you want to kiss then "de twee brillen ketsen tegen elkaar". Not surprising he developed issues with glasses. Ever since he avoided girls wearing glasses well into adulthood. Then Meneer de Graaf once said in the classroom "Als Verplak ooit een mooi meisje tegenkomt, is iemand anders hem allang voorbij" (laud laughter in the class). Topy similarly bullied her younger siblings ("Doe maar gewoon dan doe je al gek genoeg") and continues to this day, especially on occasions when Antoon stayed with her in Christchurch. When Antoon asked her to discuss this behaviour and quoted some of the issues, they were sees as complaints, got rebuked and told to stay away forever. Topy seems terrified to get feedback. LEAVING HOME Certainly Antoon was unprepared in terms of education and social/relationship skills, aside from only knowing some basic school-English. What he learned at the ULO and UTS was very helpful with his hobbies, but of little relevance to his line of work later. The issue with leaving home at age of 18, is that you also leave your childhood friends and eventually become estranged from them. Sure, new ones are made in the new country, but they do not share the same values or culture. Trudy argues that understand English is enough for a good future. CAREER Antoon enjoyed a musical career starting with 'The Blue Rockets' in Nijmegen, Netherlands, then with various groups in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the long run he considered that leaving New Zealand was a mistake and in recent years wanted to return to Christchurch to be closer to his sisters, but they didn't make him feel very welcome. In Christchurch one regular and very popular venue was 'The Copper Cat' in High Street (upstairs where we sneaked in rum to mix with the Coca Cola, as long as Adam didn't see it). Chicks galore, and Michael also came from time to time and scored. We shared some very funny stories. Trudy and Topy did not show any interest in Antoon's activities (never came to look). Funny thing... one time Trudy challenged Antoon that he was "not interested" in anything... Antoon started out as a 'Sheet Metal Worker' but had to learn the trade by trial and error (however, his UTS education were a big help). Half a dozen jobs later he started a job as a 'Radio Technician' for STC (Standard Telephone and Cables Limited) in Sydney. Although never got schooling in that field, he had basic knowledge of electronics. Some ten years on, in Sydney Antoon started an Appliance Rental business and later added a couple of video movies rental stores. Consequently he associated with other people in business and things were going well. Also became software developer, marketing the system to other companies in the same business (appliance rental, and later service business). He gradually started buying real estate and one time owned 7 properties. THE VISA SCAMMER But then got cut down by his visa scammer wife. Although she failed to get what she wanted, just the legal costs (and the dirty games played by her evil lawyer pricks) killed the business, and was forced to dispose of most properties (with foresight). Also had to liquidate the Family Trust to pay the lawyers. However, Topy claims "The Family Law is fair" (people who have little to do with family law will generally say that). A little later Anton came to him, asking if he could have some money from the Trust to buy a car. Sorry son... had to liquidate it because of Mayette's action and those of your mother, who actively supported Mayette with drummed up affidavits. Until then Antoon always had been on good terms with Margaret. Merilyn (Mayette) was an extreme backstabbing anti-social person, happy to destroy a man's life, AND TO SELL OUT HER CHILD'S FUTURE just for a few dollars in her pocket (which got her nowhere). You can read the full story by clicking the link below. http://www.verplak.net/ex-wives/merilyn/merilyn.html Antoon would have liked more education before leaving the Netherlands, such as commerce and company law. But things are different in Australia and New Zealand. After the break-up with Arlene, Antoon regularly visited places in China and South East Asia. China is a fascinating country with industrious people. Places visited include Shenyang, Fushun (Liaoning) at -20c, Guiyang, Zunyi, Xiping. One day he hopes to visit the icecastles in Harbin (even colder). In Cambodia he met Sorphea from Phnom Penh and visited other places including Siem Reap (Angkor Wat and many other ancient fascinating temples). |
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Second visit to Siem Reap, at the local market where you can buy fried grasshoppers, crunchy spiders etc. :) :)
Angkor Wat was fully explored, as well as a number of other great temples. The King's Palace in Phnom Penh is also fascinating. Visiting the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and the S-21 Prison in Phom Penh, will leave you with an unforgettable impression. |
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CHILDHOOD FRIENDS:
Nico Daanen, Nijmegen) School friend Hennie Peters (Nijmegen) School friend. Sjef Soyer (broer van Annemieke Soyer) Also associated with The Blue Rockets Members of The Blue Rockets |
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Het valt allemaal wel maar niet mee... Toen ik een kleine jongen was, zei Piet Tournij (in de werkplaats) tegen mij: "Toon, kom hier, ik heb je wat te vertellen wat je van je leven nooit vergeten moet." "Het Leven Is Rot" |
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CHILDREN AND THEIR ACTIVITIES
Anton (Anton Michael Verplak)
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