NEW ZEALAND 43°18’29.7”S 172°41’57.2”E
JULIE CHANDELIER
“Every moment I spent with Nancy was an opportunity to decompress from the noise of our complex societies; she helped me remember life’s simplest things.”
throughout our lives , we only meet a handful of people who leave a lasting impact on us. Nancy Meherne was one of those for me. At 92 years old, Nancy was still surfing at her local break in Christchurch, New Zealand, making her one of the country’s oldest surfers, if not the world’s. This is the story of her legacy and impact on her local and broader surfing community, including younger generations who looked up to her as a role model. I had the privilege of meeting Nancy in May 2021 at her favorite beach, Sumner. Despite the winter cold and grey weather, Nancy was out there. She was wearing an out-of-season short-sleeved summer wetsuit and preparing to star in a short film about her. As I captured behind-the-scenes stills, her shy “hello” instantly sparked my curiosity and affection for her. Her seemingly frail-looking body amazed me, yet her physical and mental strength was evident. Joining her in the water, I watched in awe as she confidently headed into the waves, holding her foamy from the 70s. Before heading in, she told me she was looking for the “strong waves” over the “little ones that stop too quick” because of the “energy they bring.” Watching her catch wave after wave with unrelenting enthusiasm in 14-degree water was humbling. All of the sudden, the nonagenarian looked like a happy child. After meeting her that day, I reflected on Nancy’s story and realized its impact on me. I wanted to know more about her and her secrets to good physical and mental health. So I decided to embark on a personal photography project documenting her life. Over the next 12 months, I spent precious moments with her cultivating a bond, resulting in a true friendship blossoming. It was essential for me to build a safe relationship with Nancy and get to know her personally, so I would often meet her without my camera to ensure she also felt comfortable in my presence. She regularly invited me to her house for a warm cuppa or to cook lunch, using fresh greens we had just harvested together from her vibrant garden. I also joined her in the water a few more times for a surf. I documented her daily activities, from tending to her garden or dancing to classical music in her living room and cooking. Every day, she had to “move.” I learned that Nancy had been a vegetarian for most of her life, diligently adhering to a sugar-free diet imposed by her mother on her and her siblings since before she turned 10.
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MOTHER VOLUME TWO
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