Abstract of Freda GORTON, 2020
Item — Box: 1
Identifier: H01540002
Abstract
Freda Gorton
Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen
Abstracter: W. Brent Coats
Interview: 1 August 2012
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview introduction
00:30 Mother Ethel - Maiden name Morgan – Father was John Kyle – Lived in Dunedin - Eight Children – Marriage detail unknown – Describes
01:26 Self born in Mary Street INVERCARGILL – Dropped as baby – Named FREDA after maternal aunt –Named ETHEL after mother – Named May after another aunt – Describes
02:17 Grandmother Information from Aunt FREDA – Mentions
02:49 First home – CHELMSFORD STREET – Attended NORTH SCHOOL – Neighbourhood friends – Played on road until late – “Good days” – Describes
04:10 House fire – Cause of fire – Self and mother rescued – Brother born that night – Self aged over 4 – House later demolished – No phone in house - Describes
05:54 Schooling – Did not enjoy – Sport not allowed in family – Discusses
06:50 Chores – Self cleaned front of home – Beds, mopping - Mother back and kitchen – Learned to cook after marriage – Describes
07:31 First job – STRANG’S – Aged 15 – Had to buy bike – CAMPBELL’S BIKE SHOP – Payed half-crown per week – Describes
09:20 ABBOTT STREET house – Story about money in garden – Recalls 10:33 First wages – Gave money for board – Enjoyed ORETI dances - Bought dresses from REGENT GOWNS DEE STREET – Good atmosphere – Biked home late - Describes
14:07 Met husband at dance – Engaged three months later – Recalls
15:00 End of Track 1
TRACK 2
00:00 …Aged 19 when met husband
00:30 End of track 2
TRACK 3
00:00 …Husband apprenticed as mechanic – Enlisted underage during World War Two – Second time meeting him – Describes
01:43 STRANG’S – Making jellies – Filling spice tins – Making tins – Describes
04:14 Working environment – Conversations – Filling bottles with coffee – Employers – STRANG brother - Messrs DAVID, JIM, HAROLD, ROBERT – “Gentlemen” – JIM STRANG’S house – Describes
07:23 Other employees – Names of working areas – Enjoyable employment – Discusses
09:04 Wartime - Fear of invasion - Self and employees in wartime trench – Describes
11:50 Layout of STRANG’S – Currently WEA ESK STREET – Bottom floor packing – Second floor labelling - Top floor jellies – Various spices produced – Describes
13:42 Next employment – BING HARRISON’S – Produced caps and hats – Located south-side TAY STREET
15:00 End of Track 3
TRACK 4
00:00 …Opposite DIC - Mentions
00:26 Nylons from H and J SMITHS – Stocking ladders fixed – Enjoyed buying at SMITHS - Explains
03:00 Marriage – First Church – Bridesmaid stayed with Self – Polio during this time – Schools closed – Children disallowed from church – Elmwood Gardens reception – Discusses
04:35 Polio – Brother RAY contracted - Began with sore leg – Aged 4 years - Spent year in hospital – Irons on legs – Issues at school – Father massaged legs – RUSSELL WRIGHT friend – Describes
07:45 After marriage – Husband BRYAN moved to GORGE ROAD – Husband and JACK JONES built home – Bought 80 acres next door – Built new home – Describes
10:58 Building new house - Cousin-in-law and tradesmen built house – Boarded with family – Looked after men – Sewed friend’s wedding dress - Busy time for Self – Describes
13:25 Story about local scandal – Recalls
14:48 GORGE ROAD house – Six weeks to build
15:02 End of Track 4
TRACK 5
00:00 …RON FRAY (sp?) builder – Saved money for house – Sewing paid for carpet – Cut people’s hair – Describes
02:07 GORGE ROAD community – New Year’s eve – “First Footing” – Self got driver’s license – School pet day – Owned dry-stock steers – Story about steer Ether – Explains 04:16 Difficulties on farm – Self a “town girl” – Taught to lamb – Also owned garage – Self adapted to farming – Describes
06:45 Extended family – Nieces farmed during holidays – Story about daughter JULIE’s lamb – Recalls
08:32 Pet dog TIMOTHY – Mentions
09:13 GEORGE ROAD for 30 years – Present house 34 years – Lived in TOWOMBA AUSTRALIA – Two years – Child-minded JULIE’S children – Describes
10:27 Returned home 1984 – Own house rented out – Discusses
11:27 1984 flood damaging property – Recalls
12:50 Glengarry residence – Reason for move from country – Recalls
15:00 End of Track 5
TRACK 6
00:00 …Enjoys property – Mentions
00:56 GLENGARRY businesses – WOOLWORTHS, Chemist, Dairy, Garage – Hairdresser – THOMPSON’S SHOES – Butcher – Mentions
04:10 GLENGARRY community – Mentions
04:27 Employed sewing dresses – Recalls being hired – Enjoyed sewing with others – Business premises became FOVEAUX RADIO
06:20 Travels to Australia- Mentions
07:02 Sewing friends - Crib in RIVERTON – Mentions
09:19 End of Track 6
Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen
Abstracter: W. Brent Coats
Interview: 1 August 2012
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview introduction
00:30 Mother Ethel - Maiden name Morgan – Father was John Kyle – Lived in Dunedin - Eight Children – Marriage detail unknown – Describes
01:26 Self born in Mary Street INVERCARGILL – Dropped as baby – Named FREDA after maternal aunt –Named ETHEL after mother – Named May after another aunt – Describes
02:17 Grandmother Information from Aunt FREDA – Mentions
02:49 First home – CHELMSFORD STREET – Attended NORTH SCHOOL – Neighbourhood friends – Played on road until late – “Good days” – Describes
04:10 House fire – Cause of fire – Self and mother rescued – Brother born that night – Self aged over 4 – House later demolished – No phone in house - Describes
05:54 Schooling – Did not enjoy – Sport not allowed in family – Discusses
06:50 Chores – Self cleaned front of home – Beds, mopping - Mother back and kitchen – Learned to cook after marriage – Describes
07:31 First job – STRANG’S – Aged 15 – Had to buy bike – CAMPBELL’S BIKE SHOP – Payed half-crown per week – Describes
09:20 ABBOTT STREET house – Story about money in garden – Recalls 10:33 First wages – Gave money for board – Enjoyed ORETI dances - Bought dresses from REGENT GOWNS DEE STREET – Good atmosphere – Biked home late - Describes
14:07 Met husband at dance – Engaged three months later – Recalls
15:00 End of Track 1
TRACK 2
00:00 …Aged 19 when met husband
00:30 End of track 2
TRACK 3
00:00 …Husband apprenticed as mechanic – Enlisted underage during World War Two – Second time meeting him – Describes
01:43 STRANG’S – Making jellies – Filling spice tins – Making tins – Describes
04:14 Working environment – Conversations – Filling bottles with coffee – Employers – STRANG brother - Messrs DAVID, JIM, HAROLD, ROBERT – “Gentlemen” – JIM STRANG’S house – Describes
07:23 Other employees – Names of working areas – Enjoyable employment – Discusses
09:04 Wartime - Fear of invasion - Self and employees in wartime trench – Describes
11:50 Layout of STRANG’S – Currently WEA ESK STREET – Bottom floor packing – Second floor labelling - Top floor jellies – Various spices produced – Describes
13:42 Next employment – BING HARRISON’S – Produced caps and hats – Located south-side TAY STREET
15:00 End of Track 3
TRACK 4
00:00 …Opposite DIC - Mentions
00:26 Nylons from H and J SMITHS – Stocking ladders fixed – Enjoyed buying at SMITHS - Explains
03:00 Marriage – First Church – Bridesmaid stayed with Self – Polio during this time – Schools closed – Children disallowed from church – Elmwood Gardens reception – Discusses
04:35 Polio – Brother RAY contracted - Began with sore leg – Aged 4 years - Spent year in hospital – Irons on legs – Issues at school – Father massaged legs – RUSSELL WRIGHT friend – Describes
07:45 After marriage – Husband BRYAN moved to GORGE ROAD – Husband and JACK JONES built home – Bought 80 acres next door – Built new home – Describes
10:58 Building new house - Cousin-in-law and tradesmen built house – Boarded with family – Looked after men – Sewed friend’s wedding dress - Busy time for Self – Describes
13:25 Story about local scandal – Recalls
14:48 GORGE ROAD house – Six weeks to build
15:02 End of Track 4
TRACK 5
00:00 …RON FRAY (sp?) builder – Saved money for house – Sewing paid for carpet – Cut people’s hair – Describes
02:07 GORGE ROAD community – New Year’s eve – “First Footing” – Self got driver’s license – School pet day – Owned dry-stock steers – Story about steer Ether – Explains 04:16 Difficulties on farm – Self a “town girl” – Taught to lamb – Also owned garage – Self adapted to farming – Describes
06:45 Extended family – Nieces farmed during holidays – Story about daughter JULIE’s lamb – Recalls
08:32 Pet dog TIMOTHY – Mentions
09:13 GEORGE ROAD for 30 years – Present house 34 years – Lived in TOWOMBA AUSTRALIA – Two years – Child-minded JULIE’S children – Describes
10:27 Returned home 1984 – Own house rented out – Discusses
11:27 1984 flood damaging property – Recalls
12:50 Glengarry residence – Reason for move from country – Recalls
15:00 End of Track 5
TRACK 6
00:00 …Enjoys property – Mentions
00:56 GLENGARRY businesses – WOOLWORTHS, Chemist, Dairy, Garage – Hairdresser – THOMPSON’S SHOES – Butcher – Mentions
04:10 GLENGARRY community – Mentions
04:27 Employed sewing dresses – Recalls being hired – Enjoyed sewing with others – Business premises became FOVEAUX RADIO
06:20 Travels to Australia- Mentions
07:02 Sewing friends - Crib in RIVERTON – Mentions
09:19 End of Track 6
Dates
- 2020
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Conditions Governing Use
This material is copyright of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives. In accordance with agreements held with interviewees, it is strictly prohibited to reproduce (copy) oral history recordings, abstracts, audio extracts or photographs without prior written consent. Applications for the reproduction of these recordings and associated materials, in whole or part, must be made in writing to the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator, c/o Invercargill City Libraries and Archives.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Amundsen, Rebecca (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
