Overview In 1965, as Te Anau faced a surge in population due to two major government construction projects in the district, John Donaldson saw an opportunity to set up his own pharmacy business in the town. A lean-to built onto another shop on the main street was the start of a 31-year tenure as Te Anau's pharmacist during which time he was also involved in the community's first ambulance service as well as its high school and local council. All of these topics are discussed through the interview during...

Abstract Interviewee: John Donaldson Interview date: 18 October 2006Interviewer: Morag ForresterTape counter: Sony TCM 939Tape 1 Side A004: States he is JOHN MALCOLM DONALDSON and that he was born in 1936 in CHRISTCHURCH adding that he grew up in the SPREYDON district. 012: Replies that he was the only male child in a family of SIX and names his SISTERS as PAULINE, BETTY, JUDITH, ALISON and DENISE....

Overview The son of a shearer who worked in the Te Anau Basin during the 1940s, Cliff's first introduction to the district was in 1945. Since then he has developed extensive knowledge of the deer-run hinterland as well as the craggy coastline of the southern fiords where he spent many years both as fisherman and tourism operator. In this interview, Cliff remembers traditional skills such as blade-shearing and oyster-catching as well as forming a small tourism business in Doubtful Sound. He also talks...

Abstract Interviewee: Irene Barnes Date recorded: 2 August 2006Interviewer: Morag ForresterAbstractor: Morag ForresterTape counter: Sony TCM 939Tape 1 Side A006: States she is IRENE ROSSLYN BARNES (née ALLAN) and that she was born 1938 at the cottage hospital in BLUFF.016: Says her FATHER was ROBERT ALLAN, born in 1899 in the WEST COAST town of DENNISTON, WAIMANGAROA and that his ancestors probably came from...

Abstract Interviewer: Morag ForresterAbstractor: Morag ForresterTape counter: Sony TCM 939Tape 1 Side A006: Gives his full name as CLIFFORD HENRY BARNES and that he was born 1934 in INVERCARGILL.015: His PARENTS, he says, moved from INVERCARGILL to a farm block at GREENHILLS in 1935 so that was where he and his siblings were brought up. 018: Replies that his FATHER was ALFRED HENRY BARNES who came from SEDDON near BLENHEIM in...

Overview A resident of Manapouri for more than forty years, Irene has played an active role in the community, initially because of her parental involvement in the local schools and later as a local government representative. In addition to bringing up their five children, Irene also worked alongside her husband during the years he operated his own charter boat tour guide business in Doubtful Sound. Latterly, as well as local government issues she was also a representative on the Guardians of the...

Overview As a young teenager, Colin left school to pursue his ambition to become a farmer. Starting out at Lynwood Station as a farmhand, he eventually worked on various large properties throughout the southern South Island; mustering, shearing, ploughing and learning first hand what farm work involved. By his mid-twenties, he was married with a young family and on his own small farm back home in Greenhills. The family moved to Castlerock and eventually to the Lillbum Valley where for more than...