Eric William MacIntosh was born in August 1908 in the little country town of Lumsden, Southland. After the family shifted to the family farm at Waimahaka, he joined the Post Office as an Exchange Clerk and Messenger before transferring to Bluff in 1931. This is where he met his future wife, Violet Bailey. Eric was posted to Pukerau in 1935 for a year, and then to Invercargill, where they were married in August 1936. Older sister Dorothy was Violet's bridesmaid. They moved into a brand new house in Margaret Street where they remained for the rest of their lives. Their house was one of the first to be built in their street.

Eric continued working for the Post Office until his retirement in 1967 after fourty years of service, the last five years as Supervisor. He was a well known entity around the Post Office, not the least for his pipe smoking. He was affectionately known as “Old Smokum Pipe”. His musical talents were also much admired. A long-time member of the Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band, his bagpipes were on call for many special occasions. He would often be asked to play the piano as well. He played the slightly unusual button accordion as opposed to the usual piano variety. In addition, he was self-taught on the banjo mandolin.

It is a wonder that he had time to prepare and maintain both a vegetable garden and one for flowers, but that is what he did. His flower garden was always full of colour, while the vegetables were many and varied with fruit trees and gooseberry bushes.

Sons Eric Robert and Colin Frank came along in 1937 and 1938, with daughters Maureen Grace and Nola Jean in 1940 and 1942 before husband Eric saw service in the armed services during 1943-44. Son Evan Brian was born in 1945 followed by a promotion to the First Division of the Post Office which required a transfer to Wellington. Two years later, it was back to Invercargill where son Donald John was born in 1950.

Violet and Eric were a team from beginning to end, with Violet providing a happy caring environment for her family and Eric happily supporting her in every way. Their attitude to life was to make the best of what you have.

With their passing came a realization of the great legacy they left for us. A respect for others was central to their way of life. Eric would often say, “If you can't say something nice about someone – don't say anything”. And a positive outlook can make an ordinary life into something special.