H0247 Betty Agnes McCrostie

Interviewer: Virginia Broughton

Abstracter: Judith Christie

SESSION ONE: 17th June 2016

TRACK 1

00:00 Recording identification

00:50 Born 1929.

End of Track One

TRACK TWO

00.11 EARLIEST MEMORY was when self was aged two – had nightmares about tractors and motorbikes. MOTHER brought cot in by her bed to comfort her.

00.50 Traumatic time before school. When three, travelled by boat to WELLINGTON. Father came from LIVERPOOL, he and his brother started BUSINESSES IN INVERCARGILL. Father and UNCLE TED played soccer. Father and Uncle MARRIED TWO SISTERS – the WALKER GIRLS. Self and family were travelling from Bluff to Wellington on holiday the year mother was pregnant with younger sister. Uncle Ted lived in Oriental Bay, having been transferred by COMMERCIAL BANK., where he worked his way up to Manager, then Manager of Melbourne, then Australia and New Zealand.

02.00 Arrived in Wellington, self was told there were 100 steps up to the house in Oriental Bay. Travelled over on ferry, slept on boat. Describes.

03.15 Taken to ORIENTAL PARADE BEACH to play. AUNT JESSIE warned not to go on the wharf. Self disobeyed, going to the end of the wharf. Describes

04.45 Lots of earwigs in the house in SYDNEY STREET, INVERCARGILL. Also remembers FATHER feeding the birds in the snow.

05.30 Stayed with AUNT BAB ON ELLES ROAD when younger sister was born. Went to see mother and baby. Cousins knew that her MOTHER HAD DIED after having the baby, and amused self with games. Describes. Then father arrived to say that mother had died. Taken to KARITANE to see the NEW BABY. Sister and self were allowed to name new baby, and called her JOYCE EVA.

08.30 Life was changed completely. Had a HOUSEKEEPER, AUNTIE WIN, who stayed for nine months, feeding the baby. Self went down to BLUFF to stay with AUNTIE JANE and UNCLE JOE DOYLE who owned the CRYSTAL STORES IN BLUFF, then stayed with AGGIE AND TOM who had a TOBACCONIST SHOP. Tom was HON T F DOYLE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. Also stayed with UNCLE JACK WALKER who was a BUILDER in Bluff – built the first wharf there. This all before self attended school. Had a happy time.

10.20 Self CONTRACTED MEASLES and was taken back to Invercargill to be looked after by Auntie Win in Sydney Street, five houses down from the Northern Tavern on the other side of the road. Lots of spare sections at the time.

11.20 AUNTIE JESSIE also came down to look after the children for a while. Self would run away and fell in a ditch.

12.20 Shifted to FULTON STREET, and had SEVERAL HOUSEKEEPERS.

12.45 BABY suffered from MALNUTRITION – grandmother from Bluff TOOK HER AWAY to live with Ted and Jessie, who had only one son called Bob.

13.30 HOUSEKEEPERS would let children stay up late at night – favourite hobby climbing up on top of a builder’s shed and jumping down. FATHER MARRIED one of the HOUSEKEEPER’S DAUGHTERS, who kept a tighter reign. Family then shifted to ETTRICK STREET.

End of Track Two

TRACK THREE

00.0 Lived in Fulton Street – father looked after the children. Self CONSTANTLY SICK. Describes.

01.15 BROTHER LAURIE and self travelled to Bluff by train at age five to visit relatives and was sick there. Describes.

03.20 Housekeepers sent children to GREY STREET HALL to Sunday School and fairs. Were given a penny a week in POCKET MONEY and spent money on jelly and cream.

04.10 Shifted from Fulton Street at age 6 after father married. Finished at WAIHOPAI SCHOOL at the end of that year and until then walked from there to new home in Ettrick Street.

05.25 Uncle Ted held NZ RECORD FOR 100 YARDS – when he came home for a holiday, self had first experience of sprinting. Loved sports, including at SUNDAY SCHOOL SPORTS DAYS.

06.50 Attended SOUTH SCHOOL.

07.30 RELATIONSHIP WITH STEP MOTHER sometimes difficult. Very strict, including cold showers, and forbidding talking to a boy next door. Hard years. Siblings also found it difficult.

09.40 Nervous about new school (SOUTH SCHOOL) in Standard One. Stepmother would make children wash mid-day meal dishes, then had to run back to school. In Standard Two, MISS POWELL as a teacher, who produced a play in ST JOHNS CHURCH HALL. Self played main role. Describes. Made lots of friends at school, including BETTY ROGERS. COUSIN GWYNETH lent self a tutu for the play.

12.50 MISS ARDER from EDUCATION BOARD visited school, took children for MAORI GAMES and other exercises. Self told father after that she was going to be a Drill teacher, father did not agree.

14.00 Went on holiday to ???, although first holiday cancelled because of POLIO EPIDEMIC. Accompanied father on his FISHING EXPEDITIONS. Took knitting, cards.

End of Track Three

TRACK FOUR

00.11 When on HOLIDAY, would tease sister Joyce. Lots of rain at NOKOMAI. Sisters would sleep in the back of the car, the rest in tents. Also went to GARSTON AND ATHOL in other years. With the WILSON FAMILY, BILLY STEAD (ALL BLACK), the HAMILTONS and the COOKS.

01.40 Father successful FISHER, would cook fish on primus stoves. When self nine years old, father purchased a HOLIDAY HOME IN QUEENSTOWN on the western terrace, then latterly purchased a house near the recreation ground. Describes.

End of Track Four.

SESSION TWO: 3 September 2016

TRACK ONE

00.00 Brother LAURIE five years older, sister MARGARET and younger sister JOYCE. When living in Ettrick Street, Laurie attended SOUTHLAND BOYS HIGH SCHOOL, then attended WAITAKI BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL was FRANK MILNER, all the boys called him “The Man” and had a great influence on Laurie’s life.

01.40 WWII commenced. LAURIE JOINED THE NAVY and went to PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND to train as an officer. Self’s father came from Liverpool, had a friend called BOB (BILL?) ESSEX who had worked with him and would visit NZ every year to fish – describes a secret code using fishing language. When Laurie went overseas on the THERMASOPHOLES spoke via code to learn about Laurie’s movements. Describes Celebrated LAURIE’S 21ST BIRTHDAY in absentia. Describes Laurie celebrated in Liverpool with relations.

08.40 Laurie returned from the war, used lots of naval idioms. Attended UNIVERSITY in 1948 and STUDIED ACCOUNTANCY. Had worked in H & J SMITHS before going overseas. Laurie was very interested in SKIING.

End of Track One.

TRACK TWO

00.00 [Laurie] finished ACCOUNTANCY AT OTAGO UNIVERSITY - stayed with MRS NEWMAN in St Claire in Dunedin. Wrote to family every week.

00.45 Laurie then worked with self’s father in REAL ESTATE. Father was secretary of the PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY, then one of the first SHAREBROKERS, then one of the first REALESTATE AGENTS in Invercargill and Queenstown.

01.25 Laurie loved SKIING – loved Garston skiing, and also skied at Coronet Peak. Suggested SOUTHLAND SKI CLUB build a hut at CORONET PEAK.

02.15 LAURIE DROWNED in 1950, when self was third year Phys Ed. Laurie had been shooting and fishing with DAVID POTTINGER at LAKE TE ANAU. The person who owned the boat was inexperienced, and Laurie slipped on the deck and fell into the water. Describes. Laurie’s body was found by PILOT BILL HEWATT.

06.00 The SOUTHLAND HUT ON CORONET PEAK was built as a MEMORIAL TO LAURIE, and a CUP in his name for SKI JUMPING was organized. Plaque remains to Laurie in the hut. Self’s father gave money for showers in the hut.

07.30 When Laurie went overseas in the navy, self was at holiday house. Laurie waved to them from the boat BEN LOMAND as he left for the war.

09.00 Self always wanted to be a PHYS ED TEACHER from the age of seven.

Large period of general talk

12.50 Roomed with BETTY HUNTER when in Dunedin. Laurie came in to room before third year started. Very keen for self to carry on with Phys Ed. Laurie encouraged self to compete for a running cup when she was a child

End of Track Two

TRACK THREE

00.00 Brother Laurie promised half a crown or five shillings if self won the running cup. Saw FUTURE HUSBAND at the race day, beat his sister in a race. Self had been at SOUTH SCHOOL but shifted to WAIHOPAI SCHOOL.

02.28 Future husband was at the competition, supporting his sister HELEN MCCROSTIE. Describes competition.

03.55 GRACE FISHER competed and broke her wrist during high jump, so cup was won on the countback.

04.30 Third year [at College?] not chosen for PHYS ED SCHOOL - interview in Dunedin [unclear if this is what is meant]

05.20 Applied for PA year, and went to WAIHOPAI SCHOOL as an INFANTS TEACHER. Then was phoned by Laurie while on holiday in Queenstown, had received a telegram saying selected for a third year at PHYS ED SCHOOL IN DUNEDIN.

06.29 When self was seven at Waihopai School, visited by a Phys Ed lady from the Education Board, Miss Ardar, taught pupils Maori games. Describes. Self decided then to become a Sports teacher.

08.40 After South School, attended Waihopai, won Cup, then started at SOUTHLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL. Self’s sister [Pause] At Girls High became very interested in gymnastics.

10.10 UNCLE TOM (HON T F DOYLE LAB) visited the school with the PRIME MINISTER HON PETER FRASER DURING WWII.

10.50 Remembers HYMN SINGING during the War, girls crying. MISS MAY, a teacher interested in Shakespeare, organized a SHAKESPEARE PERFORMANCE every year. Describes. ELIZABETH DEAKER (later Clarkson) was the Fairy Queen in MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM – self a fairy. Self also performed as BRUTUS ISCARIOT in the killing scene in JULIUS CAESAR Describes

End of Track Three

TRACK FOUR

00.12 More detail of amateur dramatics at Southland Girls High School.

00.50 Describes practicing on the BOX HORSE in the corridor at school. Self and siblings attended BOARDING SCHOOL in the last two years of school. Laurie attended WAITAKI BOYS SCHOOL, Margaret attended COLUMBA, then self, then Joyce, who was four years younger. Sports Mistress. NOELEEN GOULIE, was national champion of hurdling, and took self to Athletic Club.

02.50 Describes attending RACES at holiday place (Queenstown?), beating girls from Otago even though self barefoot and less experienced. Then second hand shoes purchased by father.

04.40 No box horse at Columba. CECILY SKINNER…. Tape ends

End of Tape Four

SESSION THREE: 10 September 2016

TRACK ONE

00.00 After Columba, lived in ST MARGARETS HOSTEL in Dunedin. Now Co-Ed. Attended a reunion in later years in Invercargill which the warden attended. “CASE OF THE PIKELET” when all physiotherapy students were expelled from St Margaret’s. Describes

04.30 Describes other escapades at St Margaret’s,

05.10 First year at St Margaret’s 1948, when RATIONING still in effect. Self in charge of butter and portioned it out. Had ALUMINIUM SAUCEPANS, collected MILK in them. Found that the milk reacted with aluminium.

08.00 Silent hours at St Margaret, with a break between 9.00pm and 9.30pm for supper. CURFEW at 12.00 midnight.

08.45 RETURNED SERVICEMEN in self’s Training College Section in 1948. Attended a dance, travelling by bus, and returned in Returned Serviceman’s car. Had to see ‘The Baron’ at St Margaret’s the next morning.

11.00 Self’s family owned a house next to property owned by JOHN WILLIE SMITH of H & J SMITHS – self’s house was bought for his daughter. Owned a DISHWASHER and there was a maid’s room.

12.20 First week at Training College in February. Medical conference on in Dunedin, and some attendees stayed at St Margaret’s, including DR BURNS WATSON. Went into his room by mistake. First year included lectures by KENNETH NORTH, learned about psychology and commanding attention. Went to NORMAL SCHOOL.

TRACK TWO

00.00 Attended demonstration lesson at NORMAL SCHOOL WITH KENNETH NORTH. Describes

01.50 In ATHLETIC TEAM IN TOURNAMENT against Christchurch. Trained in holidays in FIELDS ON BEATRICE STREET. Self in relay team was the last event, and decided the winner of the tournament. Won by Dunedin.

04.30 THREE YEARS AT TEACHERS COLLEGE, one month in TRAINING COLLEGE, one month in school. Four from each college – AUCKLAND, ARDMORE, WELLINGTON, CHRISTCHURCH AND DUNEDIN, chosen to attend Phys Ed in the third year. PHYS ED SCHOOL just started. Describes

06.20 MARGARET BARRETT, a friend, attended Phys Ed School. Married BERT BRANDT, a medical student. Describes.

08.30 TAUGHT IN NELSON. When ENGAGED TO GRAHAM, would travel to Christchurch to visit with Margaret and Bert. Describes incidences when Bert was a doctor, self helped with dressing an ankle injury.

11.00 Attended LECTURES ON ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY at OTAGO UNIVERSITY, plus lessons on gymnastics and dance. EMMY BELWOOD lectured in RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS with apparatus. Self taught rhythmic gymnastics in NELSON COLLEGE and SOUTHLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL. Describes.

12.45 Each year at College was a camp at TROTTERS GORGE near PALMERSTON. JACK KEARNEY, a lecturer in Third Year. Two PREFAB BUILDINGS on Training College lawn, one for Phys Ed, one for Arts and Crafts students. Students practised on basketball courts in bare feet. Describes End of Track Two

TRACK THREE

00.00 Travelled to RANFURLY and other places by night to PLAY MATCHES. Sometimes biked to matches. Describes.

End of Track Three

TRACK FOUR

00.00 Self in second OTAGO B ATHLETICS team, coached by YVETTE WILLIAMS, gold medalist. Yvette generous in passing on knowledge, including teaching the HITCH KICK – she was a member of the Otago Athletic team, and self was in DUNEDIN ATHLETIC TEAM. Describes

03.00 Self attended ATHLETICS CAMP IN TROTTERS GORGE, including orienteering, camping out. JACK KEARNEY was lecturer. Describes Got lost orienteering, had to send a search party.

05.45 When graduated, held a mock court, teased Jack Kearney about getting lost.

06.30 BROTHER DROWNED during self’s third year at Phys Ed School. Brother was on a hunting and fishing trip with friend DAVID POTTINGER. Describes brother’s drowning.

07.33 During third year, lectures with M E BELWOOD, modern gymnastics, plus ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY at Med School, including in the cadaver room. Describes Lectured in this subject by DR TROTTER.

10.40 MONTY DANIELS, a fellow student, attended a reunion self attended. Of self’s class of that year, ten of twenty students had died.

11.20 After finishing third year, father spend insurance money from brother’s death to TRAVEL WITH FAMILY TO AUSTRALIA to stay with family for several months – COOK FAMILY IN MELBOURNE. Travelled to Australia on the MONOWAI, returned on the WANGANELLA. Attended INTERNATIONAL CRICKET MATCH. Describes Big storm on the boat on the way back – self seasick.

14.20 Self PLAYED CRICKET in third year at Phys Ed School. 1950 – EMPIRE GAMES in AUCKLAND had been on.

End of Track Four

TRACK FIVE

00.12 COLLEEN MALONE was in self’s relay team in Athletics. Invited self to join cricket team. (Self nick named Cookie). Practised with BERT SUTCLIFFE and LANGFORD SMITH during lunch hours. Played in team against Christchurch cricket team and beat them. Describes Colleen Malone got a hat trick.

03.30 After third year, applied for two jobs – in Nelson, where AUNTIE JANE AND UNCLE JOE had retired to. 56 schools in Nelson and self was ASSISTANT ORGANISER FOR PHYS ED IN NELSON area. Worked from EDUCATION BOARD, TAUGHT SWIMMING in schools’ outdoor pools. Schools included TAKAKA and WESTPORT.

End of Track Five

TRACK SIX

00.00 Went to WESTPORT SCHOOL once a month. BAMBI WILKINSON asked to bring RHYTHMIC GYM EQUIPMENT. Attended a film in Westport set in South Africa about animals - got back to hotel and found a cat having kittens. Describes

03.15 Also went to TAKAKA AND MURCHISON SCHOOLS – found a tick in her bed at the hotel, and lots of earthquakes. Learned how to use FILMS to show students. Describes. Country children were great kids.

06.15 When in Nelson, skied at MOUNT ROBERT, complicated trip to get there. Describes Sometimes had to put SEALSKINS ON BOTTOM OF SKIS in deep snow.

09.00 Asked to JUDGE GYM CHAMPIONSHIPS at NELSON GIRLS COLLEGE. Invited to apply for job there as a PHYS ED TEACHER. Accepted, in part because of the trip over TAKAKA HILL, and started there in 1952. JO HURST was the other Phys Ed teacher, but left to get married – 600 girls which was challenging. Read Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Live.

12.15 Latterly met ex-pupil CUSHLA SQUIRES from NELSON GIRLS COLLEGE, who was NZ Champion Breaststroke swimmer. Was a very good lifesaver when at college.

13.20 HONOURS GYMNASTIC GROUP at the college. A girl called HAMILTON was very good at gym, wore her gym shoes down to a very thin sole so she could do the exercise on the beam.

End of Track Six

TRACK SEVEN

00.00 Big CONCERT at NELSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC, self helped with items from each class. Honours gymnastics performed rhythmic gymnastics.

01.0 Self presented a CUP FOR ATHLETIC SPORTS, which had stopped during WWII. Also involved in NINE A SIDE BASKETBALL. (now NETBALL). Describes. Six of the team got into Nelson 1st grade team. Self also captain of 2nd grade Nelson team.

06.10 Self would practice shooting hoops, and taught others.

06.55 Self also coached a HOCKEY TEAM at Nelson Girls College, was torn between hockey and basketball. NZ Hockey team came to Nelson, including ALAN ARMSTRONG, who took NZ team to OLYMPICS GAMES IN MEXICO. Took A team to a match, once had to play once to fill in for the team.

09.50 Purchased a BICYCLE when in Nelson, usually travelled in Education Department car, but also biked and then charged travel expenses.

10.30 Taught at NELSON SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS – PRE-RELEASE FROM BORSTAL. Describes One of the girls knocked out a teacher. In the end girls responded really well. Taught the girls there water ballet.

12.30 Self had a RECORD PLAYER, used music to teach gymnastics.

13.30 Had an assistant called MISS TOMLINSON from England. Taught the girls diving.

End of Track Seven

TRACK EIGHT

00.00 Describes diving. Pupil knocked out when diving, self had to save her.

01.45 At NELSON GIRLS SCHOOL, asked to become a HOUSE MISTRESS for boarders, but turned it down. Snowed in one year. DICK DUNCAN was trip leader when self went skiing – blown into a gully. Winds so strong and Dick Duncan, who had been a captain in the Army during the war, and would not let skiers go outside, as people could have been lost. Went to the toilet in a kerosene can. BEHAVIOUR OF KEAS described.

06.30 Always stiff on return to teaching after ski trips. Was given a HUMMEL FIGURINE by the pupils when left the school.

07.56 Christmas 1952, attended a concert in the recreation ground in Queenstown. Graham had returned from a tramp in the EARNSLAW, and sought self out. The following year, Graham asked self to go to a film on the conquest of Everest. Graham travelled to train from Invercargill to see self, who travelled from Nelson. BECAME ENGAGED.

09.55 MISS MAY, HEADMISTRESS OF SOUTHLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL offered self a position, but couldn’t start until a performance was completed that self had choreographed. Shifted in May 1954.

11.00 In element teaching at SOUTHLAND GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL, taught rhythmic gymnastics.

11.40 MARRIED in April 1955 at ALL SAINTS CHURCH, pupils formed a guard of honour. FRANCES AYTO, music teacher, brought them down to the church. Dinner and dance at ELMWOOD followed the wedding. Describes going away outfit, including an umbrella, which when she opened it showered her with confetti.

14.50 Taught until the end of 1955.

End of Track Eight

TRACK NINE

00.00 Self choreographed an item for school breakup. Self travelled up with hockey team to COLUMBA COLLEGE. ANNETTE FROBATH (NOW MATHIESON) was MATRON AT COLUMBA. LIVESAVING RACE carried out at Southland Girls High School. Describes.

02.15 ARTHUR KINGSLAND, who OWNED A BISCUIT FACTORY IN CENTRAL INVERCARGILL, was one of the lifesaving examiners when self went for a bronze medal in lifesaving. Self’s partner was BETH STOBO. Describes. Self was SECRETARY FOR ROYAL LIFESAVING organization for around ten years.

04.12 Self left at the end of the year, pregnant with Robert. Miss May contacted her about athletics, but self refused the job. Returned to judge the gym championships.

SESSION FOUR: 11 September 2016

TRACK ONE

00.00 SON ROBERT BORN on 25 August 1956, which was brother Laurie’s birthday. HOUSE WAS BEING BUILT ON CHELMSFORD STREET, shifted in two weeks after baby born. Graham got a front end loader to straighten up the section – quarter acre section, and planted garden. Shared right of way with another property.

02.25 GRAHAM AN ACCOUNTANT FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL. He looked after the family farm at SPAR BUSH FOR HIS BROTHER JACK when he was overseas in the war. Graham wanted to continue farming.

03.30 HAMISH BORN in December 1958. Went camping with tents in GLENDHU BAY - traveled in a Ford Prefect. Hamish in cot.

04.45 Robert was a very active baby, but Hamish was more placid, and sat on the beach at Glendhu Bay. However, he crawled into the lake when self wasn’t looking.

06.20 On return from the holiday, Graham left the County Council and went to work with self’s father in his REAL ESTATE office. Father bought farm at EAST LIMEHILLS and Graham loved working on the farm.

07.50 PURCHASED A SECTION ON ALBERT CRESCENT and lived there for 28 years. Lived in LEWIS STREET until the house was built. Two of the boys went to SOUTHLAND BOYS HIGH SCHOOL, two children went to JAMES HARGEST HIGH SCHOOL. LAURIEANNE went to ST JOHN’S SCHOOL.

10.05 When shifting into Albert Crescent, self discovered she was pregnant with LAURIEANNE. Describes design of linoleum.

11.20 GRAHAM SECRETARY OF SOUTHERN DISTRICTS SKI ASSOCIATION, and was in a ski team which went to Australia. When Laurieanne was eight months old, neighbours looked after her so Graham and self could go skiing at Coronet Peak. Robert was five and Hamish was over two.

12.40 Boys were small when born, so went to KARITANE to learn mothercraft. Pointed Karitane out to boys when travelling past. Describes. Hamish very good at skiing, and was better at it than Robert.

TRACK TWO

00.00 When Laurieanne was four, Andrew born. Laurieanne suffered from ASTHMA – cat needed to be euthanized because of it. Describes

03.00 Self’s father had a HOLIDAY HOUSE IN QUEENSTOWN, bought for $16,000 with a lake front. Did lots of skiing up there. House sold during the share crash for $190,000. Later built on – section sold for over $1 million.

05.15 When Laurieanne was three, returned to TEACHING AT JAMES HARGEST HIGH SCHOOL. Taught there for a year – prepared pupils for interpretive dance at end of year performance.

07.25 ANDREW BORN November 1965. When he was eighteen months old, returned to teach at ST CATHERINES, four mornings a week for seven years. BRIAN JILLINGS involved, working on standards of fitness for everyone. Nuns also took sports. MOLLY MCSORILEY took the running. Describes SISTER VINCENT WAS PRINCIPAL AT ST CATHERINES.

End of Track Two

SESSION FIVE: 14 September 2016

TRACK ONE

00.00 In 1960, self judged the MISS SOUTHLAND COMPETITION, then contacted by JOE BROWN and judged the MISS NEW ZEALAND COMPETITION in Dunedin. Stayed in the GRAND HOTEL. Fellow judged was a dentist living in Dunedin who had also judged Miss Universe. Programme listed requirements to be Miss New Zealand. Took the competitors to the Races. Standards for leg shape when in bathing costumes. Each competitor had to make a speech. LORRAINE JONES was selected as Miss New Zealand, and once stayed with self’s family. Describes

07.00 Describes incident where child Hamish was involved in a near accident, and Lorraine Jones was identified as his mother by policeman .Journalist FRED MILLER wrote article about it in the Southland Times.

09.30 LORRAINE JONES became an OPERA SINGER, lived IN ITALY.

10.00 When self finished teaching at ST CATHERINES, went to JAMES HARGEST HIGH SCHOOL to teach. Taught 4th form boys and went to BORLAND LODGE with them. Describes

13.30 Shopped for fishing tackle at ALAN WHITE SPORTS, and used it successfully at Borland Lodge.

End of Track One

TRACK TWO

00.0 Further description of catching fish, which was eight and a half pounds, pupils ate it for breakfast. Head of fish kept in science lab at JHHS

02.15 MR CURRY was another teacher who went to Borland Lodge, who had good control of the boys.

03.10 CAROL BAKER, another Phys Ed teacher, died having a baby, so self took over teaching role. Describes

05.40 Self bought a new evening gown from JULIE BRYCE AT FARRYS – gown had won the BENSON AND HEDGES FASHION AWARD. Latterly gave gown to the NEW ZEALAND FASHION MUSEUM IN AUCKLAND. DORIS LACONTE(?) was the organizer. Travelled in exhibition called AGE OF AQUARIUS. Describes

10.00 Self secretary and examiner of ROYAL LIFESAVING SOCIETY, involved in teaching life-saving skills at CONON STREET POOL. Shield presented by MISS GEDDES, who had taken self for lifesaving when at school. Describes

12.30 in 1979, asked to take SPECIAL CHILDREN AT SOUTH SCHOOL – class of nine pupils. Organised a combat course for the children to participate in. Used record Peter and the Wolf as music for children to act to.

End of Track Two

TRACK THREE

00.00 Information re pupil LISA GIBBONS a pupil who was not confident, but ended up MEDALING IN PARALYMPICS.

01.30 Self became FIELD OFFICER. JOHN HUGHES from Christchurch wanted self to become a Field Officer for Life Saving. Describes

02.30 Used a mannequin for Life Saving, including for breathing practice. BRIAN JILLINGS in charge of Phys Ed in Southland Schools, self took Life Saving in Queenstown and other country schools. Southland won prize for most people involved in Life Saving. Describes

06.00 MR WALLACE, CHEMIST in Invercargill supplied masks for each child life saving.

06.30 TAUTAPERE SCHOOL – taught infants life saving. Describes

08.00 Awards given for life saving, including BRONZE MEDALLIONS. LEILA STOKES and self awarded Recognition Badge from Royal Lifesaving Society, presented by MR HIGHET.

09.15 Also visited by MAYOR OF HOBART – MR PLAISTER(?) He stayed with RUSSELLMILLER, MAYOR OF INVERCARGILL. Describes

11.30 After lifesaving job, trained at schools – MIDDLE SCHOOL and SURREY PARK – people to become Field Officers.

12.30 Relief taught at different schools, including teaching PHYS ED AT ST JOHNS.

13.00 Examiner for gymnastic badges. Judged LAURIS MILLS going for Gold badge. Describes

TRACK FOUR

00.00 Self judged gymnastics, lots of gymnasts at OTAUTAU SCHOOL. SOUTH ISLAND GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – self attended course at YMCA to learn how to judge. Describes

02.00 Self also taught an extra subject – TYPEWRITING AT NELSON GIRLS COLLEGE. Sometimes MATHS. Attended Polytech evening class to learn typing. Describes

03.15 In the 1980s sat SCHOOL CERTIFICATE TYPING. MAUREEN FOX taught typing but was seconded to Principal, so self taught typing classes.

04.30 Taught Phys Ed to boys at KINGSWELL HIGH SCHOOL, including SIMON CULHANE, future ALL BLACK. Boys disciplined by GARY DAVIDSON. Describes Also took pupils for Soccer. More information about SIMON CULHANE.

08.20 When teaching at Kingswell, attended staff meetings at 8.15 am. Enjoyed working with staff there. BILL CLARIDGE, a teacher whose wife was having twins – nicknamed Cabbage. Self wore a red track suit – was called Fire Engine.

10.00 Pupils smoking cannabis. BILL VERRAL was Principal. Describes discipline process.

13.15 When self left Kingswell, was given wooden tray and a picture. MAUREEN FOX PRINCIPAL, AUSTEN BROOKS DEPUTY PRINCIPAL.

14.30 After Kinsgwell, self worked in GRAHAM’S OFFICE part time in Queenstown.

End of Track Four

TRACK FIVE

00.00 1987 SHARE CRASH. Self’s husband had taken over father’s stockbroking firm which after the crash amalgamated with other firm and became PEARCE, KNOX, MCCROSTIE. FAMILY MOVED TO QUEENSTOWN to run the office in Queenstown, so sold Albert Place, Queenstown holiday place, and moved.

01.30 Offered a job teaching in Queenstown, but decided not to work, played golf, learned Bridge, and in the 1990s became a consultant in NUTRIMETICS. Still has clients in Queenstown.

02.30 Purchased Queenstown home in PAMRAM(?) PLACE overlooking Kelvin Heights golf course.

03.15 SELF’S CHILDREN all lived in Queenstown at that time. Son Hamish was a ski patroller at age 19, also went to Canada to undertake avalanche training, then promoted to safety officer. Involved in retrieval of bodies after a Wanaka air accident. Son Robert worked for Tourist Bureau on leaving school, then went to Switzerland ski instructing. Hamish joined him there for a time. Describes

07.10 Hamish also worked white water rafting in the summer.

08.15 Robert broke his tibia in Germany, so worked in a vineyard in Italy. Describes

09.20 Son Andrew also keen on skiing and skied in the New Zealand Championships. Self was a flag watcher in the competitions.

10.10 All children were good singers. Robert chosen to be Kurt in the SOUND OF MUSIC. Hamish was The Artful Dodger in Oliver. LaurieAnne was the youngest child in THE MUSIC MAN, and one of the children in THE KING AND I. Was allergic to cats. Describes

13.30 LaurieAnne learned BALLET AND TAP DANCING. Robert trained in singing. He and Hamish sang in the FIRST CHURCH CHOIR. Related to the GILBERTSONS, who were also in the choir.

14.45 GEORGE LOMAS TOOK THE FIRST CHURCH CHOIR

End of Track Five

TRACK SIX

00.00 Describes actions of choir boys in church . Hamish and Robert attended Waihi School in Canterbury. Involvement in Timaru Church, including with Dugald Mathieson. Describes involvement. Sons participated in First Church Christmas Eve service.

02.08 Lived in Queenstown from 1989 until 2001 – husband Graham diagnosed with prostate cancer. Later died of it after shifting back to Invercargill in Kelvin Street on 2 January 2004. Describes.

03.15 Self lives happily in Kelvin Street, plays Bridge, in choir at All Saints, Nordic walking.

03.55 Self started playing bowls after breaking bones during other sports. Diagnosed with broken ankle bones when in Queenstown, so gave up skiing. At one stage wore a caliper. Also played golf. Describes playing bowls

07.00 Still selling Nutrimetics, plays Bridge, does lots of visiting.

End of Track Six

END OF INTERVIEW