CHARLES BRIAN PEARSON

Interviewer: Nancy Burnett

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:35 CHARLES BRIAN PEARSON born 11 January 1940

00:45 Recording agreement

01:22 At time of 1984 FLOOD family living at 9 RUSSELL ESPLANADE, OTAUTAU Family at home consisted of 5 children, self and wife

01:44 [OCCUPATION]: PVC Sales Rep for WINSTONE (South Island) LTD at LORNEVILLE (COOPER'S CORNER)

02:02 [COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT]: Deputy Chairman OTAUTAU COMMUNITY BOARD – Duties – Described TOWN HALL – RSA – Mentioned

03:20 Self aware of river characteristics – Amount of rain a 'warning'

04:07 Flooding warnings – Described JOHN O'CONNOR – Mentioned

04:31 Did not anticipate flooding of own home – Finished papering bathroom

04:51 CIVIL DEFENCE warning in INVERCARGILL

04:59 OTAUTAU warning system – Described

05:24 Self assisted Chairman of the time – Need to look after own home and family – Helped local residents

06:00 Chairman was Local Controller under Controller for WALLACE COUNTY PETER WATT (?) – Mentioned

06:44 Site of RUSSELL ESPLANADE – Explained OLD FLOUR MILL – OTAUTAU STREAM – Mentioned

07:20 In 1984 no FLOOD BANK between OTAUTAU STREAM and RUSSELL ESPLANADE

07:42 Own home flooded to about 18 inches (approximately 45cm)

07:59 Damage to own home – Described

08:58 Property affected by sewerage from other parts of town – Described

09:26 Use of borrowed wheat dryers – Described No damage to foundations

10:00 Few houses in OTAUTAU had structural damage – There was damage to wallboard (?) linings and floor coverings – Described

10:29 Collection of books destroyed

10:35 Gradual seepage of water and silt into home

11:06 Whereabouts of self and family at time of flood – Described Son at JOINERY SHOP – REDFERN – SMELLIE'S BRIDGE – LINDSAY PAUL – MARY and LIEMEN STREETS – Mentioned

12:25 Area covered by water – Described

12:54 [COMMUNICATION]: Unsure whether telephones working – Self knew whereabouts of family – except son. Movements of son – Described – KING STREET – NUTSFORD ROAD – NANTWICH STREET – GOLF COURSE – Mentioned

14:35 Photograph of truck in 'Flood Book' – ROGER BURNETT'S truck

14:55 Many people stayed at GOLF COURSE...

15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:00 … Movements of son (WARREN) – Described Whereabouts of family members – Explained

01:22 Community atmosphere – Described 02:40 [MEMORIES]: Incident involving POLICE – 4-wheel drive vehicle – male arrested in river – Described IAN WATSON – Mentioned

03:57 Armed offenders call-out in NIGHTCAPS – Police borrowed vehicle

04:15 NIGHTCAPS not flooded

04:38 Impressions of town (OTAUTAU) when flood waters subsided – Described MAIN STREET – Mentioned

05:20 Incident involving a man leaving hotel in MAIN STREET – Described. Failure to close hotel discussed for some time after flood

06:24 Own living arrangements after flood – Two caravans – Described 07:11 Flood in January – Moved back into own home close to winter

07:42 Hard to find builders – Demands in INVERCARGILL Bedding and furniture replacements a problem – Self made purchases at McGREGOR KERR LTD, GORE Not able to shop in INVERCARGILL – WAIKIWI flooded

08:06 Supplies of food items – Well organised – Explained RED CROSS – Mentioned

08:44 Support from volunteers and neighbours – Mentioned

09:06 Own cat missing – Sheep gone from paddock – Described. Cat located in MARY STREET

10:01 One surviving sheep found in coal shed – Described

10:37 Flooding of out-buildings on property – Described

11:19 1987 FLOOD – Railway line cut to release water and save school

11:42 Water just below flooring of own home – Reactions of self – Described

12:32 Access to own home initially denied – Self taken to collect electric razor Check of flooring – Described BILL JOHNSON (Policeman) – Mentioned

13:08 Post-flood effects on children and others – Described

13:40 FLOOD SCHEME – Extension of bridge – Mentioned Self Chairman at this time

14:07 Site of old FLOUR MILL (Video of event) – Described RUSSELL ESPLANADE – ALDERLEY STREET – Mentioned

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:00 Photograph of finishing of RIVER BOARD (members) – Mentioned

00:37 Chance meeting with man in INVERCARGILL – Bridge extension – Mentioned Brass plaque – Mentioned

01:09 FLOOD BANKS – APARIMA SCHEME WREYS BUSH – OTAUTAU – SMELLIES BRIDGE – Mentioned

01:59 Self Chairman when approval given for bridge extension – Benefits – Explained

02:18 After 1984 flood – Discussions regarding future of town (Otautau)

02:37 [PUBLIC EMENITIES]: New public toilets built after flood – TOWN HALL – RSA – Mentioned

03:28 Unsure number of house on MAIN STREET flooded – North side worst affected

04:02 End of Track 3