Dr Fran

4/21/2021

A short break from our regular stories for me to say Congratulations!
I got to watch my best friend and business partner Fran Tyler graduate with her doctorate in philosophy yesterday.
It’s sort of my fault. I recommended her for the job at Massey University teaching many years ago and all these years later this is the result. (She definitely thinks it's my fault!)
Since then we have gone through all the usual stuff, job changes, family losses, weddings and trips along with writing for an academic textbook and cooking - mostly dumplings - together.
And then last year COVID and the idea to start the business that is now Genealogy Investigations.
Most nights we have a (telephone) drink together, moan about our days, talk about triumphs and question our own sanity.
We have put families in touch with each other, traced out family histories, worked out who adopted parents are, found beneficiaries of wills and had fun hunting down the stories we tell here.
A big part of that is Fran’s determination and research skills gained the hard way, through working as a journalist, doing her own family tree and now her doctorate.
So, to Dr Fran Tyler - a huge congratulations. No matter how many times you doubted or told me you didn’t want to do this anymore, I always knew you would get there.
You can read more about Fran's research here:
www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=9429104F-FB71-41CF-BD06-3F5B1A2E4262

3 Comments

HELEN HADLAND

10/2/2024 05:54:28 pm

Very Impressive Fran! Congratulations and very pleased you're working on the de Roo family.
Regards
Helen Hadland

tophatters.co link

4/1/2026 06:11:45 am

This is such a heartfelt tribute—not just to an achievement, but to a shared journey that clearly runs much deeper than any single milestone.

What makes this especially meaningful is that it isn’t simply about the doctorate itself. It’s about everything that surrounded it—the years of persistence, the moments of doubt, and the quiet determination that carried Fran through to the end. Achievements like this rarely happen in isolation, and your reflection captures that beautifully.

There’s something really special in the way you describe your partnership. It’s not just professional, and it’s not just personal—it’s that rare blend of both. The kind where conversations shift effortlessly from work to life, from frustrations to celebrations, from serious research to dumpling-making. Those are the relationships that tend to shape not just what we do, but who we become along the way.

Your comment about it being “sort of your fault” adds a lovely layer of humor, but also highlights something important: how often our paths are influenced by the people around us. A recommendation, a bit of encouragement, or simply believing in someone at the right moment can set things in motion that neither of you could have fully predicted at the time.

What stands out most, though, is your belief in her—even during the moments when she doubted herself. That kind of steady confidence, especially when someone is deep in the difficult middle of a long journey, can make all the difference. It’s often easier to keep going when someone else is holding onto the certainty that you’ll make it, even when you’re not so sure.

It’s also inspiring to see how that same determination has carried into your shared work. The stories you’ve uncovered, the connections you’ve helped rebuild, and the histories you’ve brought to light all seem to reflect the same persistence and curiosity that fueled her academic journey.

In a way, this achievement feels like both a culmination and a continuation. A recognition of everything that’s been built over the years—and a foundation for everything still to come.

So yes, congratulations are certainly in order—but so is appreciation. For the work, the resilience, the partnership, and the many moments—big and small—that made this milestone possible.

Jessica link

4/1/2026 06:13:03 am

This feels like more than a congratulations—it reads like a snapshot of a partnership that’s been built over years of shared effort, humor, and persistence.

What stands out is how naturally the doctorate fits into the story you’re telling. It’s not presented as a sudden achievement, but as something that grew out of everything that came before it—the journalism, the research, the late-night conversations, the doubts, and the determination to keep going anyway. That kind of achievement carries a different weight because it’s earned slowly, piece by piece.

There’s also something really genuine in the way you describe your dynamic together. The mix of professional collaboration and personal connection—the calls, the shared frustrations, the small routines—paints a picture of a working relationship that goes far beyond business. It’s clear that what you’ve built together isn’t just about the work itself, but about the trust and understanding behind it.

The “it’s my fault” line adds a nice touch, but it also hints at something real: how often the direction of our lives is shaped by the people around us. A single suggestion or opportunity can ripple outward in ways we don’t fully see at the time. And years later, those moments become part of a much bigger story.

What’s especially powerful is your recognition of the moments when she wanted to give up. Those are often invisible from the outside, but they’re a huge part of any long journey. Acknowledging that—and pairing it with your steady belief that she would get there—makes the achievement feel even more meaningful.

It’s also clear how much of that same drive carries into the work you now do together. The patience, the attention to detail, the willingness to dig deeper—those are the same qualities that underpin both academic research and the kind of investigative storytelling you’re describing.

In the end, this doesn’t just celebrate a title—it celebrates everything behind it: the persistence, the partnership, and the years of showing up, even when it wasn’t easy.

And that’s what makes it feel so well deserved.

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