DOROTHY HOSKINS

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

TRACK 1

00:00 Interviewer identification.

00:35 DOROTHY ANN HOSKINS born 19 January 1939.

00:44 Recording Agreement

01:33 Parents – Father – JOHN NELSON (JACK) SUTTON. Mother – HAZEL IRIS JOHNSON. After marriage farm at ASHERS past WAIMATUA [between Gorge Road and Kapuka]. Lost in the Depression – father's attitude towards farmers.

02:30 Mother lost twin boys then had three children – CAROL, DOROTHY, JIM. DOROTHY had a twin that did not develop in womb. 03:37 Visit to Spiritualist Church. Close to older sister.

04:42 War didn't mean much to family. Father's brother went to war. Father turned down for health reasons.

05:29 No memories of father's parents. Father about 5 years old when his father died – mother died before the birth of JACK'S children.

05:51 Father's mother ANNA DARTEA from DENMARK. [shown as Anna Darka or Anna Dartea Neilson in Historical BDMs]

06:10 How CAROL and DOROTHY were named.

06:44 Father's father [Historical BDMs show as THOMAS WILLIAM SUTTON] Born in ENGLAND.

07:00 Some research on mother's family by brother (JIM).

07:12 Father had two sisters [LILY and VIOLET shown in BDMs] – two brothers WALTER and NORMAN – all lived in SOUTHLAND. HALDANE.

07:50 WALTER gave CAROL and self money – spent going to pictures Saturday afternoon when at BLUFF – Purchases

08:50 Movies where BLUFF TOWN HALL is now – Saturday Matinees

09:50 Move BLUFF to HOKONUI [between BROWNS and DUNSDALE].

10:20 [EDUCATION]: attended BLUFF – HOKONUI SCHOOLS.

10:45 Stayed with maternal grandparents during school holidays. INVERCARGILL picture theatres – MAJESTIC (present site of READINGS), REGENT (next to GRAND HOTEL building), EMBASSY (originally STATE THEATRE, just north of SPEY STREET on left hand side)

11:55 Maternal grandparents lived in INVERCARGILL. ALBERT and CAROLINE JOHNSON – ALBERT barber in DEE STREET near YARROW STREET AUNTY CLARE, lived with her parents, worked in shop for a time. Visits to barber shop.

14:02 ALBERT E (BERT) JOHNSON died early 1952. Wife lived until she was 92 (died 1985). AUNTY CLARE did not marry, died 2005. Lived at 8 JACKSON STREET. KELVIN'S GROCERY SHOP on corner [later GILMORE'S] …

15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:01 Butcher's shop between grocery shop and grandma's house. Telephone box. 00:35 Letter writing and courtesies.

02:05 Grandma (JOHNSON) from MIDDLEMARCH – CENTRAL OTAGO. Grandad (JOHNSON) from BLUFF. Grandma's parents from ENGLAND – maiden name COCKERELL. Family history books on COCKERELL and JOHNSON. Effects of upbringing on mother and grandmother.

04:40 Father spoke little of The Depression – farmed in partnership with UNCLE NORMAN. Farm disposal – Explained. ASHERS (SOUTHLAND) 06:12 Early childhood memories – feeding fowls at PARRETT STREET – BLUFF Moved to LIFFEY STREET (BLUFF) – pet hedgehogs INVERCARGILL 08:49 Size of families – Discussed. CAROL and JIM – Mentioned.

09:40 Recollection birth of JIM when living at BLUFF UNCLE NORMAN, CAROL – Mentioned. Memories of JIM as a child

12:07 Scaffolding around house at BLUFF as playing area. Later read lots of books – ENID BLYTON – Country Library Service – interest in ponies and horses. Christmas new book and small box of chocolates.

13:49 [EDUCATION]: Started school in BLUFF – first day events IRENE, DULCIE – Mentioned...

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:01 Trouble pronouncing own name – DULCIE, DOROTHY Did jigsaws at school. Shy child. 01:53 Memories of chores at HOKONUI not at BLUFF.

02.24 Father worked at OCEAN BEACH [Freezing works] then on the wharf [at BLUFF].

02:57 Moved HOKONUI aged about 9 years – not happy moving out of town. Lack of facilities – small two teacher school – one room - pupils in 'Standards' classes in church hall. Lived in house next to hall – lots of trees. Ruins of Dairy Factory – Described. JIM started school at HOKONUI. 05:10 Brother not included when girls went into town for holidays.

05:35 Father a rabbitter at HOKONUI for RABBIT BOARD Dogs and Ferrets – CAROL – children helped with rabbitting Bounty on baby rabbits ears. No pocket money at HOKONUI. Spending money when going to town for holidays. Pocket money at BLUFF Sunday School.

10:15 Father had about 20 DOGS – greyhounds, labradors, fox terriers, brown retriever, tasks. Trapping rabbits recapped – skins retrieved, meat not used at HOKONUI.

12:57 [FATHER'S WORK]: Rabbit carcasses collected HALDANE Work with RABBIT BOARD and farmers Half-draught horse 'Nugget' 14.27 Mother's activities included tennis – Women's Division [of Federated Farmers, now Rural Women] – collected stamps – penfriends...

15:00 End of Track 3

TRACK 4

00:01 Mother great reader – looked after family – no modern conveniences. Water heating methods at HOKONUI – Described. 01:00 Father had few hobbies – gardening – milk cow. Mother made butter.

01:44 Mother involved with penfriend clubs – wrote to many people including parents. Postcard from grandma. Phone at HOKONUI – grandma didn't have one in town. Biked from HOKONUI to BROWNS – travel by bus to INVERCARGILL. 04:02 Grandfather had a 1928 PLYMOUTH car. Became JIM'S first stockcar. 04:53 Recalls family members biking to BROWNS to catch the bus Skirt guards on bikes – Described. Overalls worn by children on farm – going to town or school wore a skirt.

06:27 HOKONUI SCHOOL

06:39 At HALDANE father worked for MONTY ERICSON stock work and rabbitting. FORTROSE, GORGE ROAD TRANSPORT – bus from farm gate to town about 1 ½ hours each way. Arrived Girls High School about 10am. Many country students – Tech – Girls and Boys High Schools stayed with grandparents or relatives – private board or boarded at hostels. Timetable arrangements at Girls' High on Monday mornings. 08:48 [EDUCATION] HALDANE SCHOOL. CAROL in Form 2 (Standard 6), DOROTHY in Form 1. Form 2 had about 5 pupils, Form 1 had 2.

09:36 Starting Girls' High School scary – Stayed with grandparents in town. Went home on Friday – bought lollies for family – brother was allergic to sugar – bought him licorice straps. WOOLWORTHS or McKENZIES to buy lollies MINTIES, MACKINTOSH TOFFEES, RUGBY PARK – Mentioned.

13:43 Conditions when living with grandma compared with living with parents... 15:00 End of Track 4

TRACK 5

00:01 [FOOD] Puddings – Vegetables home-grown by father. Grandma very small garden – bought most of her vegetables. Tinned peas, green beans, asparagus – Mentioned.

03:32 Mother and grandma did a lot of preserving and jam-making – Apple Jelly Preserves mostly fruit and eggs [preservative maybe what was known as “glass water” (sodium metasilicate) also a commercial substance “Ovaline” to coat the egg shell to keep air out] Preserved eggs – uses of the eggs – Described.

08:34 As older children chores on Saturday – Described. Chocolate Cake – Cheese Straws – Toffee – Fudge. Nearest shop at BROWNS five miles from HOKONUI. Cooking done on coal range 11:50 Simple meals included mutton stew – vegetable soup

13:04 At HALDANE milked two cows. Cream separator – Described. Mother sold cream.

15:00 End of Track 5



TRACK 6

00:02 Cream collected – provided extra money for mother – mother didn't milk cows. Self didn't like milking cows. 00:51 Children's indoor chores – allocation and sharing.

02:23 [BOARDING in TOWN]: Chores when at grandma's home – brass front doorstep. Unclear regarding payment to grandma for board. Home for cooked lunch.

03:45 FILMS shown in HALDANE HALL – travel by horse ('Nugget') and spring cart. Children rode 'Nugget' – bucked off trying to do tricks. Loved horses – never had one of her own

07:02 MOVIES at HALDANE – CLARK GABLE – FRED ASTAIRE.

07:37 BOOKS – ENID BLYTON books from school library – Boys' and Girls' Annuals for Christmas – Short Stories – Mary Begins... – Nursing – Air Stewardess – Adventure.

09:29 End of Track 6

TRACK 7

00:00 Interview identification

00:05 DOROTHY HOSKINS – second interview

00:38 Confirmation of Recording Agreement.

01:00 [EDUCATION]: Differences between Primary School and High School. Many changes – Class numbers – mixed to single sex – single room to multiple classrooms (e.g. Science – Art – Kitchen). [CURRICULUM]: Both girls took HOMECRAFT – English – Social Studies – Science – Core Subjects (Maths – and so on) – Homecraft – Cooking – Clothing. Thoughts of NURSING. 02:31 CLOTHING – making clothes – mending (patching and darning) – lot of theory before making a garment. Enjoyed Cooking – English – hated Clothing – Science completely new subject 3H1 (Form 3, Homecraft, Top Group) – middle of class – Art (bottom of class in Form 3 – improved over the years)

04:22 SCIENCE – simple chemical formulas – effects of heating water – mixing acid and alkali. 5th Form change from Science to Human Biology – Interested. 05:17 SEWING – disliked – not good with hands – full year to make a frock (lot of unpicking and resewing)

05:42 HOMEWORK – projects particularly Science – some Sewing. Supposed to be 30 minutes per night in 3rd Form – 1 hour in 4th Form – more in 5th Form – Varied depending on what was set by teachers or amount done in class.

06:34 Completed 6th Form – Endorsed School Certificate – two 6th Form classes. Very few in 7th Form – Leaving age 15 Courses – General – Professional – Commercial – Homecraft. Sister left as soon as aged 15 – unhappy at school.

07:49 Parents attitude to education – Explained. CAROL in wrong class – probably better in Professional or Academic – did BA in her 50s. Self happy in Homecraft course.

08:33 TRAINING COLLEGE in DUNEDIN – changed idea of nursing. CAROL on dairy farm then at THOMSON BEATTIE LTD (department store opposite CAMBRIDGE PLACE) on TAY STREET, INVERCARGILL – no talk of being a nurse. 09:00 Careers Teacher suggested HOMECRAFT TEACHER. Loved 'Manual' [Training] at HOKONUI – like to teach at WINTON. CAROL did train as a nurse.

09:37 TRAINING COLLEGE – Student Allowance – financial help from parents. Self in private board – CAVERSHAM. Difficulty meeting expenses related to course – no memory of course fee. Some students also did classes at university – may have paid fees

11:10 To attend TRAINING COLLEGE needed Endorsed School Certificate or University Entrance – be present at an interview by three people – medical certificate – written acceptance. Question about art work – response explained.

12.24 QUALIFIED HOMECRAFT TEACHER. During training had set subjects plus English – Science – Maths. First year at DUNEDIN – Second year CHRISTCHURCH. Cooking lessons at HOME SCIENCE KITCHEN – white smocks, hats, shoes (dress for teaching). UNION STREET.

13:42 Change to two years in DUNEDIN – intermediate school closed – space utilised for Homecraft students (kitchen – clothing – science) First group to complete two years in DUNEDIN – only facility in SOUTH ISLAND.

14.18 Number of girls from CHRISTCHURCH – WESTPORT – NELSON – two from SOUTHLAND. Some disappointed not going home – other happy to stay and socialise.

14:50 HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS – mostly female...

15:00 End of Track 7

TRACK 8

00:00 [TEACHING STAFF]: One elderly gentleman teacher – possibly for Maths. Two younger male teachers arrived – great excitement among girls. Women able to teach Maths and Science. BOYS HIGH SCHOOL – all men teachers until later on.

01:09 When at SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE – men and women on staff. Most subjects taught by both sexes.

01:25 HOMECRAFT TRAINING enabled women to be MANUAL TEACHER for Forms 1 and 2 for COOKING and DRESSMAKING (Boys did WOODWORK) HIGH SCHOOL or DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL – teach Science – Maths. Self never taught English – had to pass FIRST AID and HOME NURSING. NIGHTCAPS – Mentioned

02.45 Parents proud – probably surprised at DOROTHY leaving home for Training College. First romance – letter from mother – no detailed explanation of 'Facts of Life'.

04:01 While in DUNEDIN missed family – home in school holidays. Train travel – carriage for students Initially stayed with a relative of father (an older lady) – very difficult. 05:00 Accommodation Adviser arranged private board – lovely family – second home.

05:17 SOCIAL LIFE – relatively quiet for self – attended church in INVERCARGILL and DUNEDIN – BIBLE CLASS than Training College (Saturday socials – camps) – more social life through church. Many HOMECRAFT girls in hostels – busy social life. DUNEDIN TOWN HALL DANCES.

06:40 BIBLE CLASS – WESLEY STREET METHODIST – SOUTH DUNEDIN. Friendships retained. Most activities on Sunday – some during the week – Saturday nights – Friday night 'Get-Together' for games (eg Basketball) Reflection and comparison of 17 and 18 year olds then and now. Churches more important in those days.

07:49 FIRST LOVE – met through church – weight loss – nice but unrequited – remained friends.

08:31 Going to pictures in DUNEDIN – travel by bus – paid for self. No kissing on first date.

09:32 COURTING – going to films – Youth Group dances – no alcohol (under 21 not allowed in pubs – many students had alcohol). When teaching went into hotel once when under 21 – terrified of being caught.

10:49 RULES FOR TEACHERS – Dress Code expected (nylon stockings – frocks – trousers for female teachers) Frock incident at TECH – described. Many women teachers wore suits or costumes.

12:45 COFFEE SHOPS – MILK BARS – FLASH TEA ROOMS – described. Free biscuits – cheese rolls.

14:45 Two years at TRAINING COLLEGE – Two years PROBATIONARY ASSISTANT (PA year) – HOMECRAFT TEACHERS...

15:00 End of Track 8

TRACK 9

00:02 Term at INVERCARGILL MANUAL – term at GORE HIGH SCHOOL – term at SOUTHLAND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. After GRADUATION to SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE – difficult – little difference between age of self (teacher) and students – discipline not a 'strong suit' - Enjoyed three years.

00:51 Discipline deteriorated – did not teach for six months – to DUNEDIN – LEVIATHAN HOTEL as waitress. Return to INVERCARGILL to GAMAGES HAT SHOP (near REGENT THEATRE in DEE STREET)– loves hats.

01:31 Returned to teaching – LUMSDEN – involved 3 days at LUMSDEN – 2 days at QUEENSTOWN – travelled to QUEENSTOWN with Woodwork teacher (CLIFF).

02:40 Private board initially at LUMSDEN – TEACHERS' HOSTEL – 7 young women teachers – shared cooking – handy to school.

03:39 DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL (at LUMSDEN) – class for each Standard – seven or eight teachers in HIGH SCHOOL.

04:02 Didn't want to leave LUMSDEN – Woodwork teacher lived at GORE – call to meeting SOUTHLAND EDUCATION BOARD – married couple (homecraft and woodwork teachers) – pressured into going to NIGHTCAPS for one year.

05:42 At NIGHTCAPS not enough time for Homecraft teacher – taught Science – Maths. Was able to return [to LUMSDEN] – too many changes to staff – not ideal. Changed to two days NIGHTCAPS and three days WINTON at Manual – until marriage in 1968.

06:36 DISCIPLINE [of pupils] – strapped one girl once at NIGHTCAPS. Described. Never strapped another pupil. Other methods used – writing lines – detention .

08.17 CHANGES in STUDENTS – Big changes in children in 60's. SOUTHLAND TECH just starting change – especially 4th Formers – at high school 3rd Formers generally quiet – 4th Formers feel they know everything – 5th Formers doing School Certificate so more studious. 4th Formers ones to misbehave – some badly behaved – fighting – teachers called names. Teachers threw chalk – dusters. WINTON – mentioned.

10.38 SMOKING – Some did – some caught smoking in toilets.

10:53 Girl to doctor – stomach pump – Coca cola and Disprins (to get 'high'). Drugs not known.

11:22 Some ALCOHOL – remarkably different behaviour in country schools – lovely to teach. MOSSBURN – LUMSDEN – Mentioned

12:15 Feels not able to teach modern students – impossible task.

12:34 HOMECRAFT involved SEWING – taught step-by-step – pupil met in later years appalled that grand-daughter not being taught same skills. Garments – tailor tack – pin – tack – machine. Baking – ingredients carefully measured – less precise attitude now. Changed types of eating and clothing.

14:18 Conversation with another manual teacher – working out of garment student wants to make – doesn't matter if never worn. Dorothy feels should make something they would have pleasure of using afterwards.

14:47 FOOD in COOKING CLASS – simple things...

15:00 End of Track

TRACK 10

00:00 Need to teach basic food preparation – many students didn't know how to peel apples, potatoes.

00:11 COUNTRY CHILDREN – attended manual class for full day each term – usually made something they could eat for lunch – in afternoon something to take home. Other students had a morning or afternoon. Examples of skills taught – described.

01:01 FOREIGN FOODS – None taught – no microwave ovens – no food processors. Use of basic equipment – wooden spoons etc.

01:34 CLOTHING – Set things to be made. Manual training involved making apron and cap.

02:32 JOB APPLICATIONS – No CVs [Curriculum Vitae] – advertisement in GAZETTE. Application form to complete – generally no job interviews.

03:23 Met husband on YMCA Bottle Drive – both doing JUDO – car problems fixed by ALWYN and another person – followed to GRASMERE ESK STREET – WACHNER PLACE – Mentioned. BOTTLE DRIVE (fund raiser) – explained.

06:04 DRIVER'S LICENSE after age 21 – first car (VAUXHALL WYVERN) when teaching at LUMSDEN – much time taken travelling by bus and train. VAUXHALL VELOX.

07:14 JUDO – introduced by a friend – men displayed skills – purpose of break falls. Demonstration supposed to frighten women – women not discouraged. Lots of exercise for fitness – sore muscles – learned 'throws' – fighting. Started as an adult. Gained BLUE BELT. GRADES in JUDO – Red Tab (learner) – White – Yellow – Orange – Red – Green - Blue – Brown – Black.

09:20 'TEACHING' BLUE BELT – after school classes given by self at QUEENSTOWN and LUMSDEN SCHOOLS. Training at INVERCARGILL YMCA – Instructor not Japanese. 'BLACK BELT' from DUNEDIN graded members – highest local at the time Green Belt.

10:36 DAVID McDONALD – Black Belt – able to do local gradings.

10:47 Stopped doing JUDO due to BACK INJURY – loss of interest when left LUMSDEN and QUEENSTOWN.

11:14 ALWYN'S situation – Explained.

11:49 DATING – Pictures on Saturday night – Meal at restaurant in ESK STREET – CARPET BAG STEAK (fillet steak filled with oysters).

12:28 Self and ALWYN involved with JUDO until just before marriage – stopped when pregnant with daughter.

13:03 Self drove STOCKCARS – younger brother into cars – Granddad's 1928 PLYMOUTH not wanted by VINTAGE CAR CLUB (not old enough) – JIM [brother] inherited car – converted to stock car – an early member. 14:25 LADIES' RACES – encouraged to take part by brother – driver's license a few months old . Meetings – OTATARA – farm paddocks at...

15:00 End of Track 10

TRACK 11

00:00 [STOCKCAR TRACKS] – LORNEVILLE – RIVERTON – Mentioned. FIRST RACE – collision with tractor tyre track marker – cars not fast. Comparison of early stockcars with modern ones. Enjoyed involvement – rebuked for 'turning a woman over' – was never rolled herself.

02:00 Track oval – up and down hills – damage to cars (tie rods etc) – exciting.

02:28 DEMOLITION DERBY – everything allowed – last race of day – men only. Other events intentional collisions not allowed. 02:55 Participated in STOCKCAR racing for a couple of years – vehicle numbers allocated – shared brother's car – raced most Saturdays over summer.

04:01 STOCKCAR usually towed to events – didn't like being towed – difficulties maintaining tension on towrope.

04:22 ALWYN never saw her stockcar racing.

04:43 After MARRIAGE – typical domestic wife – stopped teaching – daughter born within a year – husband home for lunchtime meal.

05:28 Book-keeping for printing firm ALWYN was in – bought SOUTHLAND PRINTING and PUBLISHING 1975 – Office duties – worked most mornings with flexible arrangements. Later expanded business – printing ribbons and rosettes – labour intensive. A & P SHOWS – hundreds of ribbons – rosettes lot of work – large sashes special fringe attached.

07:54 POETRY – Standard 2 at BLUFF poem referred to headmaster – displayed in glass case in school corridor. At HOKONUI – loved writing stories – handwriting untidy – Mr EGAN (teacher) referred Story Book to School Inspector – Complimented. At HALDANE – not encouraged.

09:45 Little written for a while – some writing for church social evenings – man suggested attending Creative Writing with MAUREEN – more poetry written. Collection of poetry made into a book. Not kept all items written – poems for mother's birthday (mother carried one around with her).

11:09 CHURCH – attended from a young age – Sunday School – Church – Bible Class (not particularly enjoyed) – joined METHODIST CHURCH before going to TRAINING COLLEGE – importance of services lapsed for a time. Self METHODIST – ALWYN a DEACON in PRESBYTERIAN. ELIZABETH (daughter) christened in PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. BLUFF – HOKONUI – HALDANE – INVERCARGILL Knew few at St STEPHEN'S [Presbyterian church at WAIKIWI] now know most of congregation.

13.02 WOMENS INSTITUTE – name changed from COUNTRY WOMENS INSTITUTE. GRASMERE – a little like WOMENS DIVISION of FEDERATED FARMERS. 12 or so Institutes in INVERCARGILL (probably less now). Activities – Cooking Competitions – Craft Competitions. With GRASMERE group more than 20 years – takes part in competitions – holds Cooking Trophy at current year – different item each month...

15:00 End of Track 11

TRACK 12

00:03 Cooking includes – Gems – Scones – Jams – Deserts.

00:11 1984 FLOOD – own house not affected – sister-in-law on lower part NORTH ROAD rang not making much sense about water – three feet of water inside house. Sunny day after three days continuous heavy rain. SANDRA and children stayed at GRASMERE for few days. Checked mother in DRURY LANE – water underneath floorboards – not through house.

01:57 Owned a caravan – people in caravan – others sleeping in lounge – fun time (camping time). Water receded – SANDRA cleaned up her house (silt and awful smell) – dreadful thing.

02:36 Some GRASMERE INSTITUTE members flooded out – moved away – went through waist-high water to get out. Return to mother's home for tablets – armed police on guard at end of road – need to justify right to be there – scary situation.

03:47 SANDRA and family rehoused to vacant house WEST PLAINS ROAD to DEE STREET. Returned to NORTH ROAD when cleaned (mostly by SANDRA) – landlord did painting, carpets etc RED CROSS – CIVIL DEFENCE – Mentioned. Children airlifted by helicopter – couldn't get through water – boats picked people up from houses.

05:34 Flooding between GRASMERE and main part of town – not possible to go into town – bridge under water – local supermarket and grocery store accessible. 06:57 End of Track 12