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Abstract of Joan Louisa WATSON, 2020

 Item — Box: 16
Identifier: H01710002

Abstract

Joan Watson

Interviewer: Jenny Campbell

Abstracter: Lindsay King

First Interview: 3 December 2007

DISC 1: TRACK 1

00.37 DOCTOR GEOFFREY ORBELL - self met him through husband before they were married - husband REX knew him through JELLICOE SEA SCOUTS - PIG & DEER HUNTING, DUCK SHOOTING with them - explains.

02.00 NOTORNIS/TAKAHĒ expedition.

02.16 The expedition day - NEIL MCCROSTIE, DR ORBELL, REX WATSON'S and Self - 3 am departure from TE ANAU BOAT HARBOUR - moored boat near entrance to GLOW WORM CAVES - no trail climbing up - 3.5 to 4 hours came to clearing - Followed DR ORBELL - Saw TAKAHĒ - caught two in flounder netting and took back to beach - explains.

04.44 Measured and photographed the birds then released them - describes.

05.01 Mentions TIME MAGAZINE quote - "We returned an ornithological ecstacy" - recalls.

05.17 Reported to the papers - published throughout the world - NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, LONDON ILLUSTRATED, TIME MAGAZINE - Headline news - All were busy writing articles - 19 November 1948 - Self 22 years old - explains.

06.27 Previous EASTER - NEIL MCCROSTIE, DR ORBELL, REX WATSON deer stalking at LAKE OF THE FRIENDLESS now LAKE ORBELL - REX saw footprints - DOC scratched the measurements on his pipe - Sent measurements to PROFESSOR MARPLES and DOCTOR FOWLER - they decided it was a HERON - DOC unconvinced - compared measurements with DUNEDIN MUSEUM specimen - convinced it was TAKAHĒ print - explains.

08.54 DOCTOR ORBELL - Good practitioner - loved by patients - Self kept in contact - describes.

09.29 DOCTOR ORBELL died recently aged 99 - explains

09.53 Learnt about the TAKAHĒ over the years - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION - celebrations - visits to BURWOOD - describes

10.21 DR ORBELL - interests - explains

10.45 Tying the birds up - recalls

11.17 Self wrote article for THE MIRROR - June 1949 - recalls

11.55 Another expedition - DR FOWLER, self and 9 males - studying the birds - stayed a week in tents - Self took notes for DR FOWLER - saw birds nests - 100 birds seen - describes.

14.16 CAVES - dry - explored - before opened to public - explains

15.00 End of Track 1

DISC 1: TRACK 2

00.00 Expedition with JACK SORENSON - entomologist - found PERIPITIS ? CENTIPEDE - details

00.48 Knowledge of TAKAHĒ - rumour - MRS MCKENZIE saw one at MARTIN'S BAY - rabbiter sighting - explains

02.22 Daily routine when camping - exploring all the time - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION organised - explains

04.14 Emotions felt by self - excitement - NEWSPAPERS phoned - recalls

05.00 Attitude to women - recalls

05.36 End of Track 2

Dates

  • 2020

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Extent

From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)

Language of Materials

English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository