Kirsten Lindholm Andreassen

The Beginning: Denmark – New Zealand

Elandra was born as Kirsten Lindholm Andreassen in Odense on the island of Fyn in Denmark, September 1st, 1943. This was also the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. At the time of her birth, Denmark was under German occupation and life was grim.

Paul Andreassen, Kirsten’s father, was a visionary man and resolved to take himself and his family to a place where they would find a better quality of life. He worked night and day, through weekends and holidays until he had saved enough to get his family out of the cold of Denmark. In his search for a land of warmer weather and better opportunity, he chose New Zealand.

Settling in New Zealand was no easy task for the Andreassen family, none of them spoke English. Paul Andreassen got a job and, for many years, worked just as hard as he had before leaving Denmark. After buying some land, Paul built a beautiful home for the family. Later, because of his real estate investments, Paul was able to retire before he reached the age of fifty.

Kirsten stated school not being able to speak English but, by the end of her first term, found herself at the top of her class. A place she would stay for the rest of her school life. As well as being an outstanding scholar, she became an expert ballroom dancer winning awards with the highest marks ever given in New Zealand. She also traveled to Australia as part of a team that won the world formation ballroom dancing championships.

After graduating from Otahuhu College (a classmate, David Lange, was later to become prime minister of New Zealand) she enrolled at Auckland University, majoring in languages.

At university, she became a member of the university dramatic society and acted in a number of plays. She also was asked to model and found herself in the New Zealand newspapers and on television advertising shampoo and other products.

While she found the casual, open lifestyle and the lack of pretentiousness in New Zealand to her liking, she developed a strong desire to experience the old world culture of Europe. To see the famous painting, the classical architecture and learn about her European roots. Perhaps in answer to this desire, Kirsten met and  married a young professor from England named John Betts, who lectured in Latin and Greek at the University. In 1966 he left to take up a post at Bristol University in England. A month later, Kirsten left New Zealand by ship to join him.

To be continued….