ALISTAIR DONALD MACKAY

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen

Abstracter: W. Brent Coats

First Interview: 22 April 2011

DISC 1: TRACK 1

00:00 Interview introduction

00:31 ALISTAIR DONALD MACKAY born in 1927

00:37 Interview agreement

01:23 Father DONALD MEREDITH GORDON MACKAY – Born TAPANUI 1895 Paternal grandfather ALEXANDER MACKAY – Paternal grandmother ANN (sp?) – Both from SCOTLAND - Details

02:34 FATHER educated TAPANUI DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL – Became SURVEYOR – Served in FIRST WORLD WAR – Lost eye - Gave up surveying – Became CHIROPRACTOR in AMERICA with brother – Brother practiced in GORE – Father went to GLASGOW – Married - Explains

03:22 Chose CHIROPRACTORY due to wounds – Uncle ALISTAIR ROBERT (BOB) disabled – Father was Sergeant – DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL - Explains

05:42 Father arrived in SCOTLAND – Ancestral family from ROGART in Highlands – Explains

06:38 Self born in GLASGOW – At primary school beginning of WW2 Carried gas masks – AIR RAID procedures – Describes No one scared – “probably an adventure” – Mentions blackouts 09:07 Sport at school – Mentions

09:57 Semi-rural home – Mentions

10:12 Threat of INVASION – Family returned to NEW ZEALAND – Mother and children EMIGRATED – Father not allowed to leave - Explains

11:58 Met New Zealanders on train – Told mother GORE had “icebergs” and “polar bears” – Humourous recollection MINES in ENGLISH CHANNEL – Unable to sail - Six weeks in LONDON – Describes

13:53 Returned to GLASGOW – Sailed in convoy – Zigzagged through ATLANTIC – Lifeboat drills – Landed at PANAMA - Describes

15:00 End of Track 1

DISC 1: TRACK 2

00:00 Local ladies HELPED children – Sailed PACIFIC Passenger ship RANGATIKI – Ship weapons and crew – Describes

02:54 Family farewell in GLASGOW – Last time Self saw father - Mentions SIBLINGS – Self is oldest – 3 sisters 1 brother – Describes FATHER KILLED in CLYDESIDE air raid - Mentions

05:19 Receiving NEWS of father’s DEATH – Mentions

05:49 Ship DENIED ENTRY to AUCKLAND PORT – WELLINGTON to GORE – Details 07:05 Family HOUSE – Adapted to CHANGES - Describes FINANCIALLY independent – Mentions

09:29 DIFFERENCES for Self – Comparing childhood in SCOTLAND to GORE – Biking –

10:53 Recalls seeing wounded from DUNKIRK Differences between NZ FLORA and FAUNA – Describes

13:18 Difficulty with ACCENT – Mentions 14:04 Memories of VISITING SCOTAND – SLUM area - Describes

End of Track 2

DISC 2: TRACK 3

00:00 … Visiting ROGART – Family CROFTERS – Describes area

01:25 Interest in FARMING at OTAMA DISTRICT – STANLEY DOWNS farm – Enjoyed farm work at young age – Describes

03:52 Describes FAMILY RELATIONSHIP to farmers – Details Holiday visits - Mentions

06:14 Details SIBLINGS’ CAREERS 07:05 Job at GLENURE farm – Describes

07:53 SHEPHERDING at GLENURE – SHEARING for decade in BALFOUR - Describes BLADE SHEARING

11:00 AMBITION for farm – Shearing WAGES – Explains

13:21 ACCOMMODATION – Caravan on section – Describes

14:57 SAVING to buy farm

15:00 End of Track 3

DISC 1: TRACK 4

00:00 …SAVING toward farm

01:16 First farm on OTAGO PENINSULA – Improving farm at DUNSANDEL – KAPUKA farm – Describes

04:19 REHAB farms for VETERANS – Won KAPUKA farm in BALLOT – Explains

06:28 DIFFERENCES between OTAGO, SOUTHLAND and CANTERBURY farming – Describes

07:47 CULTURAL differences between regions

08:40 SCOTTISH culture in Southland – Differences in farming between SCOTLAND and NZ – Washing sheep – Explains

10:45 Early rural COMMUNITY SPIRIT – SOCIAL functions – Describes Recalls story of farming community working together Welcoming and leaving PARTIES – Describes

14:15 Impact of DAIRYING on rural communities – Describes

15:00 End of Track 4

DISC 2: TRACK 1

00:00 CHANGES in farming practices – Branding sheep – Describes

01:46 Changes at KAPUKA farm and community - Describes

02:56 Farming on PEAT land – Original FOREST Impact of peat on GRASS – Regrowth was “staggering” – STRIP GRAZING – Describes

05:28 Self ENJOYED FARMING – “It was the ultimate” – Mentions

06:06 ATTITUDE of townspeople to farming Recalls story of early friendliness – Describes

07:49 RETIREMENT – Son bought farm – Retained interest in farm – TREE planting Describes

10:51 Active through YMCA and swimming – Mentions

11:31 AFFINITY to Scottish roots – Scottish Societies Children’s affinity to roots

13:17 Joined ST ANDREW’S SCOTTISH SOCIETY – CEILIDH society – SOUTHLAND SCOTTISH COUNCIL – Details 14:47 PURPOSE of SCOTTISH organisations 15:00 End of Track 1

DISC 2: TRACK 2

00:00 …Importance of MAINTAINING CULTURAL ROOTS

01:12 IMPACT of early SCOTTISH settlers – Describes 02:20 ST ANDREWS SOCIETY concerts

02:46 SCOTTISH HALL – RESTORING damaged TARTANS – Fundraising TARTAN collection in Hall – Describes

04:32 SOUTHLAND SCOTTISH HALL COMMUNITY TRUST – Future plans for Trust – Former use of Hall INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL’s ownership – Petition to retain Hall – Threat of demolition – HERITAGE rating – Explains

07:40 MEMBERS of Scottish Council – ALISON GORDON, ERIC SWAIN, JIM (sp?)

08:46 Ratepayer’s PETITION against demolition – Mentions

09:05 TARTAN and CREST collection – World’s largest – Hall’s design for crests - Explains

11:40 Crest MOTTOs – TURNBULL, MACKAY – Describes

13:35 ORIGIN of Hall crests – Placement and size – Describes

15:00 End of Track 2

DISC 2: TRACK 3

00:00 Number of SOUTHLAND CLANS represented by crests [Interviewee shows photograph of crests in Hall] Crests DESIGNED by HARRY WELSH – MCINTYRE family crest – Mentions

02:21 Scottish ACTIVITIES promoted – Popularity in SOUTHLAND Local HIGHLAND DANCING and PIPING – Describes

04:44 Continued CONNECTION with SCOTLAND – Future of Societies - Mentions ROBBIE BURNS dinner – Dinner SPEECHES

06:54 Local BURNS CLUB and BURNS CIRCLE ROBBIE BURN’s writings – Explains

08:22 Example of Broad Scots accent – Describes Self did not learn bagpipes – Mentions

09:52 TRACING wife’s PARENTS – Mentions Explanation of CLANS – Mentions

11:20 Competed in MASTERS GAMES – Athletics and swimming - Won 180 medals over 14 years - Enjoys meeting others - NUMBERS and AGES of competitors – Future competitions – Describes

15:00 End of Track 3

DISC 1: TRACK 4

00:00 Interest in WRITING – Wrote novel – Joined SOUTHERN SCRIBES – Wrote short stories BEGAN with autobiography – Describes

02:17 Self describes his Scottish CHARACTER – AFFINITY to both NZ and SCOTLAND – NZ is “something special” – Explains Enjoys SOUTHLAND better than other regions

14:54 Raised in PRESBYTERIAN church – Bible class – No longer attends church – DUNSANDEL Presbyterian church – Describes

06:40 Reasons for Self joining Scottish Societies – DELEGATE to Southland Scottish Society Purpose of CEILIDH SOCIETY – Scottish-themed items Self made Life member of ST ANDREW SCOTTISH SOCIETY – Describes

09:22 Future of SCOTTISH HALL – Past uses for concerts

End of Track 4