H0132 Beryl Eileen Madge Lindsay

Interviewer: Janice Templeton

First interview: 17 October 2007

Abstractor Judith Christie

TRACK 1

00.45 Born 5 July 1912 at home in ROXBURGH with MIDWIFE in attendance. Older sister GWEN eight years older, and younger sister DRINA two years younger. Father’s name JAMES THOMPSON, Born ROXBURGH. Father a RABBITTER, then SHEEP AND COW FARMER. Married JESSIE THOMPSON-CAMPBELL, born HINDON on 8 December 1880. Mother lived in MARTINS BAY as a child, then worked in a hotel. After marriage, parents settled in Roxburgh on town side of the river. Father’s mother lived towards MILLERS FLAT until she was 80 years old.

03.20 Visited GRANDMOTHER as a child, nervous about crossing BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER. Explains.

04.45 Parents OWNED A GIG, years later a CAR when moved to GROPERS BUSH. Younger sister born at Roxburgh, earliest memory the birth of her.

06.15 Attended SCHOOL – walked. Gwen attended SOUTHLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL and boarded with a relative.

07.00 Family shifted to LUMSDEN for eighteen months, and Gwen then went to GORE HIGH SCHOOL.

07.20 Moved to GROPERS BUSH 1920 or 1921. Walked to GUMMIES BUSH SCHOOL three miles away, and then RODE A PONY to school. Later a BIKE. Explains more about schooling. Drina spent last year of primary school at FAIRFAX school. Explains.

08.45 Started at RIVERTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL in 1925. POLIO EPIDEMIC, so CORRESPONDENCE CLASSES for some of the time.

09.30 House at ROXBURGH was part wooden, part stone. Explains. This house demolished, and bungalow built in 1919. Sold for £500.

10.15 Owned a COW and a VEGETABLE GARDEN. Lots of FRUIT in season. Purchased MEAT from BUTCHER and also a Baker in Roxburgh. Ate RABBIT.

11.00 Mother a good SEWER. Mother and her sister holidayed in STEWART ISLAND, so aunt’s newly married son came to look after family. Frocks were made for the girls. Cousin MAY used material to sew pants to go with the dresses – itchy. Explains. 12.50 GAMES played included ROUNDERS at school. HOPSCOTCH and MARBLES.

14.00 Attended CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL. Explains. A CAMPBELL AUNT JESSIE staunch CHRISTIAN who lived in LUMSDEN, and her daughter JEN was a friend of self. Aunt allowed them to sing on Sunday but had to be quiet. ANNIE HOPCROFT cleaned the Hopcroft shoes at MILTON FARM. Self’s family dressed in Sunday best. Visitors came - mother a great BAKER. Self helped with baking. Explains.

17.00 GRANDPARENTS lived in MIDDLEMARCH, AUNTS AND UNCLES in ROXBURGH. Father FIRST BOY to be born in family, four older sisters. Explains. Aunt with large family who lived in ROXBURGH near school.

18.00 GRANDFATHER died and grandmother remarried. First husband THOMPSON was a miner.

18.40 Moved to LUMSDEN. Lived on side street off the main street. BAKER at corner. Nice home with monkey puzzle tree. Father was still rabbiting in HOKONUI. Paid £400 or £500 to successfully clear a farm of rabbits. House in LUMSDEN was bought, family never rented.

20.00 FARM purchased at GROPERS BUSH – 99 YEAR LEASE. Another person FRANK KERLE interested, so went into farm together. Farm adjoined REEDIE’S farm. Older sister worked at home on 400 acre farm. Frank Kerle lived in a TWO BEDROOM HUT with a farm helper. Explains. Mother fed farm workers and contractors.

22.15 Some CROPPING, COWS at the start. MILK went to FAIRFAX DAIRY FACTORY by DRAFT HORSE AND CART in cans. Explains.

24.00 Self churned BUTTER after married after 1936. 24.30 GROCER AND BAKER from RIVERTON came to the door at Gropers Bush.

24.50 Left school at age 16 in 1928, remained at home until turned 18 years old. STUDIED general subjects – French, History, Geography, English and Arithmetic.

25.55 Wanted to go NURSING when 18 years old at OAMARU HOSPITAL, but in the meantime got engaged. Some regrets about that. 27.15 Met husband GRAHAM at dances including at THORNBURY. THORNBURY GLEE CLUB.

27.50 Bought clothing from account AT H & J SMITHS. Ordered frocks which would be sent out for choice. One dress made by dressmaker JEAN PLAYFAIR (?) Explains. 29.00 Attended FILMS IN RIVERTON – owned a car. Neighbours MR AND MRS CLEGG visited Riverton to visit MRS PRENTICE, MRS FLECK’S mother every Saturday and would take self and Drina to movies.

20.50 To attend RIVERTON HIGH SCHOOL, would bike to FAIRFAX RAILWAY STATION, catch OHAI/NIGHTCAPS train. INVERCARGILL STUDENTS changed trains at THORNBURY. Two carriages, one for boys and one for girls. Explains.

31.20 Did not need to milk the cows. Parents didn’t allow too much talk at dinner table. Explains. No CORPORAL PUNISHMENT from father, but mother did strap around the legs. Explains.

35.10 Older sister GWEN also voice of authority.

35.40 Attended CHURCH AND BIBLE CLASS at GROPERS BUSH. DONALD MCFARLANE conducted Bible Class – self walked to church. Said prayers at night. Retained FAITH throughout life. Husband same religion - was only three years old when MOTHER DIED, father did not remarry and raised a daughter and six boys. Explains. 37.30 HUSBAND’S FAMILY lived at WAINAIWA. Had housekeepers, and them husband’s sister took over looking after family. Self’s father-in-law Christian, took a choir at WALLACETOWN CHURCH.

38.00 Husband walked to school five days a week, sent to Sunday School for a while, but had enough when grown up so did not attend church. Encouraged self in faith. Explains.

38.50 First recollection of meeting husband GRAHAM at THORNBURY DANCE. Describes. Graham also used a THRESHING MILL, self saw him then when helped with meals.

40.00 ENGAGED at 21 years old after a year’s courtship. Three year engagement because times were hard – MARRIED at 24 years old. GRAHAM’S FATHER died of a heart attack. Had TWO FARMS, home one at WAIANIWA and one at WRIGHTS BUSH. Four boys to share two farms, describes sharing of GRAHAM’S FATHERS ESTATE. Self lived on home farm, formerly owned by ALISTAIR GALT.

42.15 COURTSHIP – met once a week. Graham visited at home on a RED INDIAN MOTOR BIKE. Also had a FAMILY CAR – FORD.

43.15 Self left farm, was working for MRS B J (?) WENSLEY in Invercargill – her 14 year old daughter Ruth at CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL. Helped with baking and cleaning, took Ruth out on her hospital bed to the gardens, went to the pictures. Explains.

45.00 Family had moved to a RENTED HOME IN YARROW STREET in 1933 during DEPRESSION. Gwen and David engaged.

45.40 Father went to ROXBURGH and carried on with RABBITING. MOTHER had DIED 17 July 1928 at age 48 while living at GROPERS BUSH. Self had just turned 16, left school. Mother died suddenly – explains.

48.00 Father was rabbiting in BLENHEIM when his wife died. Station in Blenheim owned by TODD HUNTER. Explains.

49.15 Explains what happened during the time self’s mother died. HAROLD OFFICER, MRS HOPCROFT AND MRS TAYLOR helped the sisters – broke the news. FUNERAL SERVICE at house, interred at RIVERTON CEMETERY. 52.40 GREAT DEPRESSION – father didn’t enjoy farming, preferred rabbiting. Elder sister did the housekeeping.

53.50 GWEN AND DAVID MARRIED in Invercargill 1 February 1933 at ST PAULS CHURCH. HUNTER MCKENZIE, ??? BURKE and two sisters were attendants.

55.00 Sister Drina lived with Gwen and David, self lived in with Mrs Wensley. FATHER remained rabbiting, DIED in 1948 in ROXBURGH. Lived at SHINGLE CREEK HOTEL. Father visited family regularly. Explains. 56.45 Gwen inherited family’s belongings, including silver tea service, furniture. Describes two LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS still on self’s wall.

End of Track One

TRACK TWO

00.0 Sports played – HOCKEY at Gummies Bush with length of gorse as a hockey stick. TENNIS at Gummies Bush School and at secondary school. Attended GIRL GUIDES.

01.40 After school activities – DANCES in school hall

02.50 Self lived with Mrs Wensley in THOMSON STREET until marriage. MARY WILKINSON made lace WEDDING DRESS. Drina a bridesmaid. NGARITA MCLEOD (now DIXON) from Tuatapere junior attendant.

3.50 Husband Graham also answered to name HAMMY. BEST MAN was brother Ron. Afternoon wedding service at RIVERTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH by REV ANDREW MCLEAN. Followed by afternoon tea in the hall.

5.35 HONEYMOON – travelled by car to CHRISTCHURCH, then returned to the farm. House at farm renovated by cousin HUNTER MCKENZIE. House layout described.

7.50 FURNITURE was paid for before possession. Describes furniture. COAL RANGE, then an ELECTRIC RANGE added.

9.30 Had HENS – helped with SHEEP at crutching time. Owned a COW, make own butter.

11.20 No FRIDGE but walk in pantry. SAFE with a net top store meat. Then purchased a fridge and freezer.

12.15 Expansive lawn. Men did the vegetable garden. Apple trees including Lynette Du Canada (?) and Coxes Orange. Gooseberry and currant bushes which were replaced by a shed later.

13.35 WWII started. Graham injured tending a threshing machine and in hospital, and had first finger amputated. Was in HOME GUARD, but unfit for overseas service. OZZIE, brother-in-law also classed unfit, so both worked on farm. RATIONING COUPONS used for goods in town – gave meat coupons back to butcher as able to home kill.

15.40 GROCER AT WAIANIWA DEANS, then Bill Jones, then FRED LEMIN who became good friend. With neighbours formed a PATRIOTIC SOCIETY – knitted for soldiers and sent parcels containing fruit cakes. Farewell functions held for men heading overseas. Memorial remains at Waianiwa. Describes ANZAC DAY SERVICES.

18.50 Daughter JOCELYN born 1941 at Riverton Maternity Home. DOCTOR FOSSIE. Delivered by NURSE ALLEN. Describes difficult birth experience. Delay in seeing baby. Difficulties with breast feeding, helped by PLUNKET NURSE.

27.00 Graham’s workmates on thrashing mill teased him about not having a family.

28.00 Self usually paid the bills and banked cheques in town.

28.20 Graham worked post retirement for cousin JACK MCKENZIE in the building industry.

29.30 Self latterly owned a cheque book. Started saving when working with MRS WENSLEY. Banked at SOUTHLAND BUILDING SOCIETY.

30.00 Sold farm in 1972 after 36 years. Thrashing mill and traction engine was sold to Cooks and purchased a tractor now at THORNBURY MUSEUM. Describes farm machinery and farm activities.

33.00 Outside interests included APW [ASSOCIATION OF PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN) and Institute. Describes activities. Made feather filled eiderdown, millinery classes.

34.40 JOCELYN attended WAIANIWA SCHOOL, then SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, ending up working in the office there. 36.00 Various functions at Waianiwa, school concerts, district picnic, dances.

36.50 Jocelyn caught NEWS BUS to school.

37.15 SWAGGERS came to house at Gropers Bush – billy filled up and given something to eat. AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH taken of house at Waianiwa – WHITES AVIATION.

38.15 Strong family contact with sisters – Sunday dinners together. 38.50 Took turns about hosting CHRISTMAS DAY with families. Took HOLIDAYS in South Island with Jocelyn. Cousins ANGUS AND EVIE MCKENZIE farmed at Isla Bank, shifted to Timaru, would holiday with them, then to Christchurch to friends. North Island holiday together. Also travelled to AUSTRALIA with the McKenzies. Describes.

42.20 TRAVELLED with REG CLARK (married to Mollie Russell) two years before Graham died. Reg went by sea, self and Graham went by plane to Los Angeles and then to Great Britain and the Continent, home via Hong Kong, Singapore and Perth Describes. Had 66th birthday in London.

46.30 Highlight of trip was TRACTION ENGINE DISPLAY in Coventry.

47.00 Graham remained well until a HEART ATTACK two years after return home, although had two coronaries, at 47 years and twenty years later. Latterly worked at GWD workshop.

49.10 Graham and self played BOWLS. Describes. MRS TOM GLOVER started up a Ladies’ Bowling Club. Self now a life member at WAIHOPAI BOWLING CLUB.

51.50 Involved in APW at ST STEPHENS CHURCH, TRAVEL CLUB at ELMWOOD, and WOMEN’S INSTITUTE at WAIKIWI with DRINA. Describes. Drina stopped attending when she started living at Peacehaven. Self still drives to activities.

Second Interview: 7 November 2007

Abstracter: Grace Roscoe

TRACK 1

00.0 Interview identification

00:28 Recalls photograph belonging to mother of outdoor gathering of ROXBURGH residents - Including parents - CLOTHING in photograph – Describes

01:17 Recalls sister GWEN - eight years older than self - in photograph holding a sleeping DOLL. Story of GWEN burning feet at friends of mother - Bakery Owners in ROXBURGH - Explains

02:47 Sister DREENA [sp?] rode horses. Story of an occasion of DREENA riding with an outbreak of boils – Recalls

03:28 DREENA [sp?] and self attended SCHOOL at GUMMY'S BUSH - 3 mile walk – Mentions

03:37 A PONY named Mickey was bought for riding to school - Recalls story of both falling off due to incident with truck - Recalls story of the pony's 'tricks' and reluctance to travel to the school - Kept in paddock near MILTON FARM farm during school hours – Describes

06:03 Self was eleven or twelve at the time and Dreena was nine or ten years old. Self left at twelve for SECONDARY School – Mentions

06:34 SCHOOL was half hour trip by pony - Left home at around 8.30 in morning - Recalls

06:50 SCHOOL had two TEACHERS when started - Headmistress was Miss SKOLT - also taught the older classes and Miss MACINTYRE taught the younger classes. Later a Mr BALLANTYNE and then Mr LEWIS – Recalls

07:46 STUDENTS at school included MOLLOYs, BERTIE and LESLEY BARRON [sp?], FINDLAYs - Recalls.

08:08 In senior years students included HAZEL and EILEEN HUMPREYS [sp?]- lived with Grandma HAMLIN - parents died from the FLU after the WAR. Older HUMPREY's [sp?] sisters out working and later married - eldest sister ALICE HUMPREYS became Mrs. STEVENS, CLAIRA HUMPREY'S [sp?] became Mrs BARRETT – Recalls

09:35 Other senior students were ISOBEL MELOY [sp?] - later married JIM PETERSON, HAMLINs, and KELLY's - HAZEL HUMPREY'S later married ALMA KELLY – Recalls

11:26 The CORMACK family lived opposite MILTON FARM - daughters WINNIE and RUTH CORMACK - were younger than self – Recalls

12:00 Self born in July and Aunt LOTTIE in May - same age. Story of Self and LOTTIE invited to meet new CORMACK baby – Recalls

13:02 Central Otago gold rush brought many CHINESE to the area - some stayed after - parents hired a man BRANDY HOT - did gardening - Recalls

14:45 Wider family gatherings - Christmas with HOPCROFTs and PANKHURSTs. Gifts

15. 30 Regular ' Turn-about' trips with family - trips to BELLVIEW on a Sunday - family would come to WAIANIWA - visits to sister DREENA and CHARLIE in WAIPANGO.

16:25 BRIDE GROOM - FEET BLACKENING - special event - recalls story own husband having his feet blackened by sister Lottie – Recalls

End of public interview – the remainder of the interview is for the family only