Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Miscella

Lot 2574    SESSION 9 (9.30AM WEDNESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER)    Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Miscellane

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au

J.R.MCKENZIE Ltd., c1940s, Christmas Greetings wall plaque or plate, in silvered base metal (103mm). Fine.

Sir John Robert McKenzie was one of seven children of Scottish immigrants. John was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1876. His father was a customs officer. After leaving school at 13 and working odd jobs for some years, he enlisted in the Victoria Bushmen's Regiment when the Boer War broke out in 1899. He served nearly two years in South Africa and was invalided home in 1901.

In 1905, he set up a 'fancy goods' shop with his sister Ella in Collingwood Melbourne. The business was so successful that a second store was opened within a year. The Melbourne shops were sold to a competitor, and the pair established businesses in Tasmania and Sydney. After a holiday to New Zealand in 1909, John transferred his business there the following year. The first McKenzies store was opened in Dunedin and the business grew rapidly.

By 1980, when the business was taken over, there were 75 stores and 1800 staff; McKenzies was a household name throughout New Zealand.

In 1949 John McKenzie was recognised for his contribution to public welfare when he was made a Knight of the Order of the British Empire. Sir John died in 1955.