Overview Ruth McDonald was born in Hawera in 1911. In this interview, Ruth gives details of her father's family, the Dews. She recalls schooling at Ruawai, moving as a result of her father's occupation as cheese factory manager and living at Kakapuku (near Te Awamutu). She married William McDonald in 1930 and drove from the King Country to Southland to live. She lived at Wrights Bush cheese factory and then at Lochiel, managing the Northope dairy factory. She describes the closing of these factories...

Abstract Interviewee: Ruth McDonaldInterviewer: Ailsa DawsonAbstracter: Ailsa Dawson Interview Date: 25 May 1998 PLEASE NOTE: THE TIMINGS IN THIS ABSTRACT RELATE TO THE ORIGINAL TAPE VERSION OF THE RECORDING AND NOT TO THE DIGITIZED VERSIONSide 10.00 Introduction of RUTH and identification of tape. DEW family members.01.00 SCHOOLING:- RUAWAI PRIMARY SCHOOL is described by RUTH, the subjects and interests she learned. Use of...

Overview This interview was commissioned by Women's Division of Federated Farmers for a project entitled Pioneer Women. In this interview, Ann talks about how her family came to New Zealand from England on the Scimitar. She talks about early life in Lowburn, in Central Otago. Ann went to school in Invercargill and then she worked at Mt Pisa Station. She talks about rabbitting, farm life and her large family.