Ian Robert Wyllie

Ian Robert Wyllie was born at La Rochelle Maternity Hospital, Dunedin  4-10-1935. He was educated at Outram Primary School then East Taieri Primary. He then attended King Edward Technical College for three years (1950-1952) where he followed the building strand and where he played rugby, was a member of the school rowing eight and was a prefect. He then obtained an apprenticeship with W.H. Naylor a large Dunedin based construction company in 1953. He gained his Trade Certificate in 1955 which meant he only needed to serve 4 years instead of 5 for his apprenticeship.  He did his Compulsory Military Training from January to March 1954. He  continued with the company until 1961 when he  started his own joinery and carpentry business based on the workshop he had built up at 110 Gladstone Road. Early in his career wooden external joinery virtually disappeared so it was necessary to diversify doing shop fittings , kitchens etc. He continued this business until he retired in 2000 and Gladstone Road was sold.

Ian was a keen photographer and built a darkroom in a shed at Gladstone Rd where many developing and printing sessions were held. He joined the Taieri Camera Club when first formed in 1956 where he held several positions until it closed in 2005. He joined the Dunedin Photographic Society in 1964 and is still a member. He has held many positions since joining the committee in 1972 including President in 1975 and is now the Patron and a Life Member. He was President of the New Zealand Photographic Society in 1984/1985 and has been a judge of many photographic competitions.

He became involved with the Taieri Dramatic Society from 1958 -2000, starting by taking photos, later being involved with back stage. He served on the committee with a term as President. 

He was a member of the Mosgiel Railwayline Beautification committee from 1995 until it closed and the caretaker of the Mosgiel Coronation Hall from 2000-2002 and on committee until 2018.

He lived in Argyle St, Mosgiel from 2000 - 2018 before moving to Chatsford Retirement Village in 2018.