JESSIE YORKE (Mrs)

Recorded: 13 June 1990

Interviewer: Edith Ruddenklau

Abstracter: Unnamed (Retyped by Jean Hawkes)

NOTES: Jessie's death notice (July 1993) lists her children as IAN – JENNIFER – BRUCE - WENDY

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABSTRACT USES THE ORIGINAL TAPE TIMINGS

00:03 Introduction

00:12 Lived WAIKAWA across the estuary for 60 years

00:16 Self born 11 August 1903 at WINTON

00:21 [FATHER]: WILLIAM GORDON COSTER

00:22 [MOTHER]: LOUISA PINK

00:28 Self had 6 brothers – 3 sisters – One brother killed in World War One

00:56 [ANCESTORS]: Came from SCOTLAND in 1842 Land promised by Government never eventuated – Worked their way south

01:18 GRANDMOTHER lived with family in latter years – Always wore corsets and a little skull cap (among other things) – Always wore black

01:57 Parents had a dairy in NELSON

01:68 [FREEZER]: ICE MAN delivered block of ice alternate days – Placed in a box with Butter – Milk – Icecream

02:06 Shop at 17 Carlisle Street, NAPIER

02:13 [EDUCATION]: Two years secondary school One year Primary Assistant – Two years TRAINING COLLEGE, AUCKLAND

02:58 Self taught at MURIWAI BEACH SCHOOL for two years – Moved to QUARRY HILLS SCHOOL, SOUTHLAND – Sole charge – Paid Twenty one pounds and ten shillings (fifty dollars) per month

02:87 Met HAROLD YORKE – Married in St DAVID'S CHURCH, KHYBER PASS, AUCKLAND – 1929 Self wore white wedding frock – Very flash – Very short

03:66 Lived at WAIKAWA, SOUTHLAND – No road access – Children taught by CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL (Wellington)

03:93 Mother preserved eggs using waterglass (sodium silicate) in kerosene tin

04:27 Wedding present to self and husband – 12 hens

04:50 Cured bacon hung in kitchen

04:87 [LAUNDRY]: Done by hand – First WASHING MACHINE turned by handle

05:11 SOAP made in kerosene tin using mutton fat and caustic soda

05:49 [EDUCATION]: Started at age 6 years – WAITUNA, SOUTHLAND Teacher – RICHARD BLICK

05:87 Dinner gong

06:90 School lunch

06:71 Annual PICNIC

07:00 Religion

07:34 First pictures (movies) at KAPUKA – Three pence (about 5 cents)

07:88 NAPIER earthquake – 1931

07:98 [INTERESTS]: After marriage – WOMEN'S DIVISION FARMER'S UNION (became Women's Division Federated Farmers – WDFF – now RURAL WOMEN) Subjects from Home Science Extension in DUNEDIN

08:35 STOCK SALES – Three days travel each way

08:68 Nearest Doctor at WYNDHAM

09:00 Self played HOCKEY

09:41 Flu epidemic

09:71 INFANTILE PARALYSIS (Polio) – Schools closed

10:80 Self supported during DEPRESSION

11:54 Self describes WAR as a WASTE of LIFE 11:75 Used old (L) K G MILKING MACHINE – LKG (LAWRENCE KENNEDY GREENING)

12:70 Each district had a DAIRY FACTORY – Started many farmers

13:51 Self born in 1903 – Now in 1990 takes NO medication

14:26 A very private and caring lady

End of Tape