Interviewer: Kelly Haydon

Abstracter: Katie Mackenzie

28th September 2011

PART 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:51 HEATHER JEAN CULLEN born 1st April 1930

01:04 Father was JACK CAULDER (sp?), originally from MORTON MAINS Mother was OLIVE CAULDER, originally from MIDDLEMARCH

01:26 Born in INVERCARGILL, grew up on farm in MORTON MAINS – Describes

02:12 Went to MORTON MAINS SOUTH SCHOOL, MATAURA PRIMARY SCHOOL, and GORE HIGH SCHOOL – Details

03:19 Recalls reasons for wanting to become a TEACHER – School teacher lived on the family farm - School experience as a student – Describes

05:49 Experiences as TEACHER – Trained at DUNEDIN TRAINING COLLEGE

06:32 School placements at HIGH STREET, ARTHUR STREET, CORSTORPHINE SCHOOLS

06:45 Was at TRAINING COLLEGE from 1948 to 1949 – Also did varsity subjects English & Mathematics for pleasure

7:12 FIRST JOB - Teachers usually placed in schools in their home environment – 4 new teachers including self from MATAURA in 1950 – Self and 1 other worked at GORE MAIN SCHOOL – Stayed for 1 year – Pay rate – Lived at home but paid board - Funded studies with pay from Training College, own pocket, and help from parents

09:19 First day at GORE MAIN – Infant department, class of 31 x 5 year olds – taught alphabet, rhymes, adding & subtracting tables – Taught at WOODLANDS SCHOOL 1951 and 1952 – Stayed on a farm but came home every weekend – Started a GIRL GUIDE company - Impact on life of living & working in a small community – Describes

12:00 MARRIED PETER CULLEN in January 1953 at MATAURA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH on CARNA STREET (sp?) – Peter was eldest of 8 SIBLINGS – Parents IAN and BETTY CULLEN – Peter’s parents good friends with Self’s parents from 1939 – Self was involved with Cullen family but not with Peter as he was in the AIR FORCE, served in the PACIFIC – Self and Peter got together when he returned

13:13 Lived in a flat in EAST GORE after marriage – did relieving work at EAST GORE SCHOOL for 4 years

14:07 Started building current house at NORTH TERRACE in OCTOBER 1957 – DAUGHTER born 11th May 1958 – PETER and his MOTHER shifted from flat on HOTTON STREET (sp?) into current house – Section cost £50 to buy – Describes

16:14 NEIGHBOURS & NEIGHBOURHOOD – Details

18:10 Original name of current street was OUSE STREET – renamed as already an Ouse Street in East Gore – PETER, neighbours JACK DAVIDSON and BILL PEARCEY (sp?) alerted Borough Council – PETER suggested NORTH TERRACE off the top of his head

19:41 Recalls road was originally gravel, no footpaths – became tar sealed between 1958 and 1963 – Raised NORTON STREET at back of section about 15 feet

21:05 Biggest changes in street and specific memories of the community – Recalls Self and neighbours being in same boat building houses – neighbours would take turns improving each other’s properties and then have a party after – street barbecues – Describes

23:20 Started a FAMILY in 1958 – stopped teaching between children – JOAN born 1958, JOHN born 1963 – began RELIEVING again at EAST GORE SCHOOL about 2 years after John was born – would take John – End of 1968 asked to teach at ST MARYS CONVENT SCHOOL – Taught at ST MARYS for 2 years – Describes

26:54 Returned to teach at GORE MAIN SCHOOL – both children went to Gore Main School before Gore High School – worked at Gore Main School until 1981 – Work/life balance – Peter worked at the SMITH & RAYNESFORD (sp?) SPORT SHOP – Children would go to the shop office to do homework – Describes

29:50 RETIRED from teaching end of 1989 – had been at WEST GORE SCHOOL – Enjoyed working at each and every school – Retired to have time for travelling with Peter – MOTHER was alive at that stage, passed away 1990 – Had 10 years to go travelling – Had done a lot of travelling in New Zealand – Also went to Australia, South Africa, cruised around Pacific

31:54 End of Part 1

PART 2

00:18 Became involved with WOMEN’S CLUB and GORE PAKEKE LIONS – Joined Women’s Club after retirement, early 1990’s – Pakeke Lions were originally men only, but Self was asked to join – Describes

02:53 Still interested in NETBALL and watches games at local courts – First got involved at EAST GORE SCHOOL – Coaching and umpiring, on the committee – EXECUTIVE MEMBER on Women’s Club – PRESIDENT of GORE PLUNKETT MOTHERS - Describes

04:39 Not involved in STRIKE ACTION while teaching

05:15 Felt that teaching or nursing were the only careers open to women when at high school – Explains

06:46 Recalls - showing parents her teaching certificate after completing first year at Gore Main School – briefly considered becoming a nurse like her MOTHER but changed her mind – Mother was supportive as she had her own career – GRANDPARENTS had been supportive of mother in her career

09:12 End of Part 2