IRENE MARGARET KENNEDY

Interviewer: Joy Lietze

FIRST INTERVIEW: 4 JUNE 2010

Abstracter: Courtney Ellison

DISC 1: TRACK 1

00:00 Had two brothers in the AIRFORCE and wanted to join them but they wouldn’t let her. Mother had a cousin in INVERCARGILL who was going to TAPANUI as submatron of the girls hostel, so went to Tapanui. Housed workers at FLAX MILL. Went to Church every Sunday. Headmaster at the school was military man who would make them march. 38 women stayed there. Had PERIODIC DETENTION workers.

02:50 This was during World War II and she was 19 years old. Group was called the WOMEN’S WAR SERVICE AUXILIARY (WWSA, nicknamed “Wise women sleep alone”). Travelled by bus out to flax mill. Worked in white overalls. Had a khaki uniform with a hat. DRESS UNIFORM was ladies smock to the knees, which they wore to church. All the same rank and uniform.

05:50 Arrived in WAIPAHI on train and then came by railway bus to TAPANUI. Couldn’t believe the hills. The flax mill was newly started and was to produce LINEN for PARACHUTES, so connected to the WW2 efforts. Flax mill closed down at the end of the war. All of the old cottages out there which she lived in when married, but none remain now.

08:40 Lots of other staff at the Flax mill including men. Women did a lot of the heavy lifting too though.

09:45 Process undertaken at Flax mill described.

12:20 Hours of work and lunches described. Evening meal waiting for them when they returned from work. Made up songs, one about going up stairs and the seventh one squeeked.

14:20 Practice marching. Played basketball.

DISC 1: TRACK 2

00:00 Walks to WHISKEY GULLY and would bike to dances at CROOKSTON with dresses on the back of the bike. Cycled to 'The KUI' (WAIKOIKOI) – GORE

01:25 Wages weren’t much, maybe about $5 or $6. Parents would send extra money. Worked there for 4 years. Everyone stayed the whole time working there. Left and got married to RON KENNEDY in 1946, went to BLACK GULLY, then got a cottage at the Flax Mill.

03:58 Story of meeting husband described. Courtship described, going out to visit his father’s farm. Ron worked on the farm, then worked as truck driver at SAWMILL. Passed away 30 years ago. Was in hospital for two weeks, sent him home but they realized his brother was also in hospital and they sent the wrong brother home. Went back to hospital for a week and passed away. Two daughters were still at home, they were 10 years apart in age.

10:19 Friends from flax mill, kept in touch with NOELENE MCDOWELL, who moved to ROTORUA. One reunion was held in INVERCARGILL for workers, with 9 or 10 of the girls who attended. They have all passed on now. 86 years old now and lived in Tapanui more than 60 years. Stories of people asking for her recollections of Tapanui from earlier times.

DISC 1: TRACK 3

00:00 Description of town centre of Tapanui when Irene first arrived, different shops and banks identified. McCANN'S HOTEL now SEASONS Grocer – Butcher – COURIER office – BNZ (Bank of New Zealand) – NATIONAL BANK where THE GALLERY is – Dairy – IDEAL PRINT – SOUTHLAND SAVINGS BANK – POST OFFICE BANK

01:55 Trucks that bought in the flax to the mill briefly discussed. Father taught her to drive but wasn’t allowed to get her licence but went for it when she lived in Tapanui. Story of doing the licence test.

04:10 Thanks for memories Mention of COHEN (?) as owner of Flax Mill – Never heard of it. TAPANUI LINEN FLAX MILL

DISC1: TRACK 4

00:00 Work at POST OFFICE, got job through playing with BOWLS with the manager. Was only supposed to be a fortnight but ended up working there for 18 years. Hours of work, duties, and staff described. Story of hurting leg reversing her car so she couldn’t bike around. Was one of first posties in country to ride a scooter (purchased herself). Still called ‘postie’ around town sometimes.

06:20 Discovery of break in at Post Office – Described Conversation with Postmaster STUART STIVENS (Bike shop) – Mentioned Arrival of Postmaster at 8.30am – Delays in calling DUNEDIN

09:17 Arrival of police at 10am – Local and DUNEDIN Conversation between self and DUNEDIN detective Culprit never found Somewhere in ROXBURGH also broken into at same time

10:37 Arrival of car carrying 3 males – Two wanted entry into building – Self refused Police contacted JIM (Postmaster) – Mentioned 12:04 During MOTOR REGISTRATION it got very busy in post office, so would help out with that. On Saturdays she would take the car and her daughters would come with her. Story of helping out doing the postie run long after she had finished so the postie could have a holiday. JACK KILPATRICK – Mentioned

DISC 1: TRACK 5

00:00 Receiving TELEGRAMS and delivering them to people described. Cost of normal stamp was 20 cents. When she first started it would have been pounds and pence. Collected lots of stamps and passed them on to son in law.

02:08 Grandson held a party for her 80th birthday at the RSA.

04:00 For recreation did outdoor bowls and fishing. Gave up postie job when it got too much, leg got sore.

SECOND INTERVIEW: NOVEMBER 19TH 2010

Abstractor: Jean Hawkes

DISC 2: TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:53 IRENE MARGARET KENNEDY born 21 March 1924

01:02 Recording agreement

01:33 End of Track 1

DISC 2: TRACK 2

00:00 [EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES]: After school jobs – Walked to school

00:44 Two brothers older than self – Three sisters younger than self STUART (deceased) – CYRIL (lives in BLENHEIM) – EDITH (deceased) – THELMA (lives in BLENHEIM) – Youngest sister lives in AUSTRALIA

01:52 Attended BROWNS SCHOOL, SOUTHLAND – Two rooms Standard 6 (Now Form 2) then to High School – Did not go to WINTON Bus daily to INVERCARGILL – SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE AURORA COLLEGE (probably means Cargill College) – Mentioned

02:47 Father built old school – post office – many houses WINTON – GORE – HEDGEHOPE – WAITANE – Mentioned

03:44 Family dwelling – Described

04:29 Tour with brother – WINTON – BROWNS Met present owners of original family home

05:09 Brother left school – worked with father Became an electrician – S A GRAY ELECTRICAL LTD, INVERCARGILL

05:32 Enjoyed SCHOOL – Flag raising – Arithmetic – Spelling – Writing

06:44 Mother made school lunches

07:04 After school tasks – Two cows to milk – Made butter

08:03 Kept a few sheep

08:16 BAROA (?) LINE – Site of home Conversation with present owner of family home 08:46 Recollections of stainless steel in kitchen Mother's alteration to kitchen – Described

09:45 Coal range – Domestic chores – Open fires

10:12 Laundry facilities – Described

11:42 Happy childhood – Rabbiting

12:20 Regular visits by blind neighbour – LIONEL VOICE AUCKLAND BLIND INSTITUTE – McNAB – Mentioned

13:02 How Lionel made his way for visits – Explained He played a musical instrument – Gave children a love of music

14:40 Parents did not play any instruments – Self had banjo lessons – Father's reaction GEORGE FORMBY – Mentioned

15:31 Kept banjo when left home – Likes piano accordion Father played button accordion – Sing-a-longs

16:34 Self played BASKETBALL (NETBALL) – Positions explained TAPANUI – Mentioned

17:14 Family gatherings at Christmas – Described Bagpipes – Wind-up gramophone – Mentioned Mother was Scottish 'Flower of Scotland' – Favourite of self

18:50 MUSIC – Banjo – Piano accordion – Pan Flute Pan flute loaned to local man BEGGS, INVERCARGILL – Mentioned

20:26 Attended Sunday School at the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – Brother's reaction SWEENEY family, German – Brethren Self and siblings attended Brethren services

22:15 Self married by Rev SOMERVILLE in St PAUL'S, INVERCARGILL BROWNS – TAPANUI – Mentioned Bible for learning Scriptures

23:04 Mother's sayings – Repeated to own girls Father's advice – Read the fine print

24:03 Self's incident in lawyer's office – Described

24:26 Mother born in PAISLEY, SCOTLAND – Father born in NEW ZEALAND Mother aged 16 kidnapped by an uncle – Brought to NEW ZEALAND Mother's brother came to NEW ZEALAND Mother's death in 1957 - Explained

25:46 Father died in 1964 – Parents married in 1919

27:03 Father to TAPANUI HOSPITAL then to INVERCARGILL Sent to SEACLIFF MENTAL HOSPITAL – Brother followed in car Brought back to SOUTHLAND

28:36 GREAT DEPRESSION – Family not greatly affected

28:54 WAR YEARS – Time at FLAX MILL Two brothers in AIR FORCE – No overseas service – CYRIL asthmatic Own 21st Birthday at TAPANUI

29:57 PRIMARY SCHOOL at BROWNS – Mentioned Travel to INVERCARGILL for SECONDARY SCHOOL – Described SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE – General subjects plus HOME ECONOMICS

31:00 Self still interested in baking – Much given away

31:19 Maybe 2 years at COLLEGE before going to work Housework for lady in BROWNS – Moved to INVERCARGILL to work with family of HORACE SMITH (? surveyor)

32:15 Left the SMITHS to go to TAPANUI

33:23 Husband RON – Mentioned

33:38 [INTERESTS]: Fishing – Outdoor Bowls Daughters felt they were brought up on bowling green and riverbank [RIVERS]: POMAHAKA – MATAURA – CLUTHA – Mentioned

34:42 First fishing rod – Self saved to buy – Most equipment now given away Fly and thread-line fishing – Fished for more than 50 years

35:32 NOELENE (Daughter) has mother's bowls RUSSELL – CROMWELL – Mentioned

36:15 Self played Indoor Bowls in TAPANUI SCOUT HALL TAPANUI BOWLING CLUB – Mentioned

36:36 [FISHING]: MARGARET QUINN (nee HUNT) – Fishing companion – Incident at MURRAY KANE'S

38:44 Veltic lure preferred – Used for 12 pound (5.5kgs) fish that has been mounted Two others mounted – Brown Trout

39:24 Never ate own catch – If not asked for would be released

39:47 Incident on riverbank after one fish had been released – Described Fishing lesson given by self – People from DUNEDIN

41:35 Self had a lot of fun – Met lots of people AMERICANS – GORE – Mentioned

41:56 Preferred to fish when raining Had to give up fishing – Unable to drive car – Using crutches

42:42 Never written books – Has a diary with some details

43:12 Self has taught many children to fish Post Office Magazine article – Mentioned DOUG PELLOW – Mentioned

44:25 School Sports Day – each Wednesday – Fishing instruction TOM PEDLAR [Principal] – Mentioned BLUE MOUNTAIN COLLEGE – mentioned

45:12 Children's trips to river – Change of School Principal – Teacher to take over group 45:53 Children's request to self to take them – Dissatisfaction with school teacher Took children after school

46:38 Own daughters played while self fished – Later girls played NETBALL Girls did not want to fish or eat fish mother caught

47:22 Grandchildren spent time with self to go fishing GREG PETERS [NOELENE'S son] – LINLEY'S two, CARLA and MATTHEW – Mentioned MATTHEW to have the mounted fish

48:00 MATTHEW in BLENHEIM – Married with three children

48:13 GREG – No family

48:24 CARLA has two boys – Younger one walked when with self

49:06 Do's and Dont's for children when fishing – Explained Self wore waders for fishing

49:41 Fished with JOHN STIVEN – Trip to NORTH ISLAND – DEEP SEA FISHING

50: 09 Self walked the river – River conditions Never went after whitebait – Like to eat it

50:41 Fishing instructions to children

51:15 Self stepped in hole on river bank – Injury to knee (about 1991) Journey home – Described MORVA – Dr SNOW – KELSO SHOW – Mentioned Five year wait for surgery to knee

53:21 Dr SNOW also a fisherman

53:39 Incident in TAPANUI with KEVIN SAMPSON (Dr in GORE) DICK COOK – Mentioned

54:41 Duration of time at river sometimes related to health [asthma]

55:47 Adults sharing time with children CLIVE – SEAN – Mentioned

56:34 End of Track 2

DISC 3: TRACK 1

00:00 Reading from FISHING DIARY about exploits over about 50 years...

00:27 Missed fishing when broke leg in 1995 – 1996 leg in plaster used crutches Thanks MARGARET QUINN (nee HUNT)

00:58 1991-1994 – 153 Juniors taken out 1996-2000 – 82 – Total 235 children 01:14 Memories of children catching their first fish WILLIAM KIRK (?) – RUTH JAMIESON – Mentioned

01:42 Keep in touch with many people met on the river AMERICANS – Mentioned

01:56 Fishing incident involving MARGARET – Described

02: 35 Four years since going to river TONY – Mentioned

02:54 Visits to self by children taught to fish

03:07 TONY CAMPBELL married to PHILIPPA BREDSALL

03:23 Still sharing experiences with others - Not able to do as much with children

03:54 Fished in all weathers – Didn't like wind

04:59 BOWLING – Involvement

05:27 Apology to mother for lies told when going fishing instead of to bowls

05:36 Fishing first love – Watches bowls on television

05:50 Won many bowling 'things' – Lack of space on blazer – Championships NZ Championship – Self in last five or six OAMARU – CENTRAL (OTAGO) – Mentioned

07:03 Team members included NANCY KENNEDY (sister-in-law) Name on Bowling Club Honours Board

07:44 Recollection of request to play in men's team – Described

08:23 Outdoor bowling season – Spring and Summer

08:48 Fishing season – October to April Cost of fishing license $113

09:50 Bowls cost £40 ($80) – Today $200 to $300 Bowling uniform 10:20 Husband not interested in fishing or bowling

10:29 Photograph of group of bowlers – Discussed

11:01 Daughter (NOELINE) plays bowls Self played indoor bowls as well in TAPANUI SCOUT HALL

11:40 Photograph of fish – Mentioned

12:06 Quality of fishing in POMAHAKA RIVER

12:21 Sea-runner (trout) – Described MICHELLE KENNEDY'S SONS – Mentioned

13:03 Overseas students – STS (Student Travel Schools) Self an Area Representative SWEDEN – DENMARK – FRANCE – GERMANY – UNITED STATES NOELINE (daughter) is New Zealand Director RUSSELL (son-in-law) New Zealand manager

14:00 Several students stayed in TAPANUI area Responsibilities of Area Representative – Explained

14:35 Some students sent home – Many of present students children of professional people Comparisons made between earlier students and present day ones – Finances

15:50 New Zealand students leave in July for 6 to 12 months FRANCE – SPAIN – GERMANY – UNITED STATES – SOUTH AFRICA

16:24 Daughter spoke at conference in SWEDEN – Standing ovation Husband's reply to question “How do you manage to get host families for these students?”

17:34 Self often received requests for students from prospective hosts Students' families don't pay board – Now STS makes a contribution to host family

18:18 Students are here to go to school – Many expect to travel to other areas Students usually 15-17 years old

18:48 ANDERS – loved fishing – Conditions with original host family – Described Self became host for him – Phone call from own daughter BEAUMONT – Mentioned Meeting with host parents – Described Used student as farm labourer Facilities available to student in TAPANUI

22:00 Departure (from BEAUMONT) – Described Student stayed with self for about ten months

23:07 Fishing trips (with ANDERS) – Described

23:46 Thanks for stories in interview

24:00 At present time own siblings alive – Sister and brother in BLENHEIM – Sister in AUSTRALIA Not seen often enough

24:25 Community input – Especially with children Self would have liked to be in BUDDY PROGRAMME – Health doesn't allow it SEAN – CLIVE – Mentioned

26:18 Interviewer's thanks – Families reaction to first interview

26:18 End of Track 5