Abstract of John Alexander (Jack) STIRLING, 2015
Item — Box: 31
Identifier: H02290002
Abstract
John Alexander (Jack) Stirling
Interviewed by Jane Craske
First interview: 1st April 2015
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview identification
01:50 John Alexander Stirling, known as Jack, DoB 3rd October 1927.
02:14 Father was William Stirling, born in the Wyndham District, parents farmed. He was 12years old when his parents moved to Waimahaka. Waimahaka School. He bought his own farm which is where Jack grew up on.
02.55 Mother Winifred Moria George. Married 1923, School teacher before they were married at Fruitlands School Central Otago and schools in Dunedin
03.00 Mother visited relatives at Fortrose EXPLAINS
04.00 Brother George 4 year older (deceased), 2 younger sisters, Wilma and Alison.
04.50 Father farmed at Waimahaka Shared implements with father. EXPLAINS
05.25 Farm called Alameda, Crighton Road, 2 miles from Waimahaka. Meaning of the name, EXPLAINS
06.23 Farm was 3401/4 acres.
06.25 Waimahaka School. 6 years old. Polio epidemic. Consequences. Home schooled for a year DESCRIBED
07.37 Polio epidemic, personal memories, DESCRIBED
09.20 Transport to school via the Dairy factory. DESCRIPTION
10.17 Teachers Miss Gilvert, single, Miss CP Rhodes, single, Senior room Mr George Kennedy. 6 years of Primary school
11.19 School house.
11.36 Lessons. More formal
11.15 Discipline leather strap EXPLAINS
12.57 Describes own experienced, Ref: TIGER MOTH PLANE, DISCIPLINE
14.16 Games at School explained ref: PONY PADDOCK
TRACK 2
00.13 Friends 40-50 children Crighton family, Smith family, Bob Frazer, store keepers son, Bob Carlaw, Blacksmiths son, Graham and George Fox
01.50 Railway Trains Waimahaka
2.45 Explained train timetable.
3.41 No bridge over the Mataura River only access to Invercargill through Wyndham.
TRACK 3
00.13 Explains after school activities. Ref; MAIL, STORE, BIG FAMILIES
02.25 Description of jobs at home Ref: RABBITING, MILKING COWS,
04.00 Describes dairy cows ref: JERSEY COWS, ARYSHIRE COWS, BULLS
05.20 Temperament of Bulls
06.10 Milking explained in detail. Ref MILKING COWS.
07.25 Help on farm.
07.50 Changed to sheep Ref: ROUTINE, MILK TO FACTORY.
Second Interview: 8th April 2015
TRACK 4
00.30 Explains difference in lifestyle Ref: NUMBERS OF SHEEP, COWS,
01.55 Romney sheep
02.30 Lambing in September
02.50 Tailing lambs explained.
03.46 Ear marked lambs explained in detail
04.50 Preparing the next winter's fed crop.
05.15 Crawler tractor 1927/8.
05.40 Worked with Horses.
06.07 Ploughing with 4 horses.
07.05 Disking and harrowing.
07.40 Ploughed 3 acres a day.
08.15 Cultivation of the farm crops explained.
09.00 Jack's Brother George. Ref: WORLD WAR 2 ARMY, AIR FORCE.
10.08 George, Jack's brother and his father built the Waimahaka Motor Garage.
10.54 How the Waimahaka Garage was built Ref; MALTHOID ROOFING
12.00 Shearing of sheep. Explained
13.50 Number of sheep shorn compared to today. 120 in an 8 hour day.
TRACK 5
00.21 Wool Brokers Wool sales.
00.54 Explains transport to the freezing works. Ref: STOCK TRAINS, LORNEVILLE SALES. FREEZING WORKS.
02.55 Explains Freezing works.
03.20 Rams going out Ref: HOLMS RAMS,
04.30 Control of stock on winter fed explained. Break fencing. Ref: MUD, OFF THE CROP AT NIGHT.
06.40 Explained Father and Mr G Kennedy, school teacher invention of an electric fence. Ref: ELECTRIC FENCING, MODEL FORD A CAR. PRE WW2, 1940.
09.50 WW2 effect on district, Men went away. Ref: PETROL RATIONING COUPONS, FOOD RATIONING,
12.25 Secondary School, train transport explained, Ref: SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, TAY STREET INVERCARGILL.
14.12 2 years at secondary school. Wanted to train as veterinarian but had to go to Australia to train then.
TRACK 6
00.21 Changes on farm after the War. Ref: MOTOR TRANSPORT
00.43 Price of wool. Ref: KOREAN WAR, GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. HIGH PRICES, POUND A POUND WOOL
03.05 Took over the farm in 1955.
03.30 Married in 1957 to Zada. Meeting explained.
Third Interview: 15th April 2015
TRACK 7
00.11 Main changes in the district after WW2. Ref: POPULATION INCREASE, GOVERNMENT RETURNED SERVICEMEN REHABILTATION SCHEME, BALLOTED FARMS. SCHOOL ROLL INCREASE, WAIMAHAKA SCHOOL, MERCANDILE FIRMS, NATIONAL MORTAGE FIRM, SOUTLAND FARMERS COOP, HENDERSON COMPANY
04.25 Stock agents. Drenches, draughted lambs. Compares with the system today.
05.51 Fertilizer on farm, Ravenborn first. Then a Southland factory was built.
07.00 Ingredience in fertilizer. Ref: SUPER PHOSPHATE,
07.27 Spreading fertilizer, explained. Ref: TRANSPORT FIRMS.
08.58 Top Dressing soon after the war. Ref: TIGER MOTHS, FLETCHERS, AUSTERS.
10.23 Frequency of top dressing. Lack of soil testing.
11.06 Enjoyed stock work, sheep.
12.27 Entertainment in the district. Annual district sports picnic in the school grounds.
TRACK 8
00.50 Rugby Football teams explained. Ref: TOKANUI, SOUTHERN STAR, MATAURA ISLAND, GORGE ROAD.
01.14 Saw mills, flax mills,
01.40 Dances, explained. Ref: BALLROOM DANCING,
03.44 Music provided by the locals. Names and instruments.
05.51 Types of dances Ref: WALTZ, TWO STEPS, SETS, QUADRILLS, GRAND MARCH.
06.50 Dances started a 7.30 to 8pm and went on after midnight. Early on liquor was banned so there was a bit of drinking going on outside. Light refreshment as a supper and drank water.
08.30 Lots of social gathering.
09.08 Types of cars. Ref: MORRIS 10, BIG AMERICAN CARS, AUSTIN SEVEN, ARIEL 500 MOTORBIKE.
11.29 Trip to Invercargill on the motorbike when the lights failed.
12.10 Sunday afternoon at Fortrose and the mouth of the Tokanui River explained. Ref: FLOUNDERS.
TRACK 9
00.57 Whitebaiting explained, lock gates, A very big catch explained . 03.45 Whitebait caught up the Waimahaka River an on Jacks farm Ref: WHITEBAITING
04.00 Eeling explained.
05.10 Shellfish at Fortrose not taken.
05.53 Met wife Zada, though a friend. Zada got a domestic position with the Goldens at Fortrose. Nursing training in Invercargill, Developed tuberculosis after nursing in that ward but recovered.
08.43 Married at St Andrews church in South Invercargill in 1957. Went away in a brand new blue Morris Minor car.
09.56 Zada was involved in Women's Division, Church groups, Home and School.
11.00 Finishing remarks.
13.28 End
Interviewed by Jane Craske
First interview: 1st April 2015
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview identification
01:50 John Alexander Stirling, known as Jack, DoB 3rd October 1927.
02:14 Father was William Stirling, born in the Wyndham District, parents farmed. He was 12years old when his parents moved to Waimahaka. Waimahaka School. He bought his own farm which is where Jack grew up on.
02.55 Mother Winifred Moria George. Married 1923, School teacher before they were married at Fruitlands School Central Otago and schools in Dunedin
03.00 Mother visited relatives at Fortrose EXPLAINS
04.00 Brother George 4 year older (deceased), 2 younger sisters, Wilma and Alison.
04.50 Father farmed at Waimahaka Shared implements with father. EXPLAINS
05.25 Farm called Alameda, Crighton Road, 2 miles from Waimahaka. Meaning of the name, EXPLAINS
06.23 Farm was 3401/4 acres.
06.25 Waimahaka School. 6 years old. Polio epidemic. Consequences. Home schooled for a year DESCRIBED
07.37 Polio epidemic, personal memories, DESCRIBED
09.20 Transport to school via the Dairy factory. DESCRIPTION
10.17 Teachers Miss Gilvert, single, Miss CP Rhodes, single, Senior room Mr George Kennedy. 6 years of Primary school
11.19 School house.
11.36 Lessons. More formal
11.15 Discipline leather strap EXPLAINS
12.57 Describes own experienced, Ref: TIGER MOTH PLANE, DISCIPLINE
14.16 Games at School explained ref: PONY PADDOCK
TRACK 2
00.13 Friends 40-50 children Crighton family, Smith family, Bob Frazer, store keepers son, Bob Carlaw, Blacksmiths son, Graham and George Fox
01.50 Railway Trains Waimahaka
2.45 Explained train timetable.
3.41 No bridge over the Mataura River only access to Invercargill through Wyndham.
TRACK 3
00.13 Explains after school activities. Ref; MAIL, STORE, BIG FAMILIES
02.25 Description of jobs at home Ref: RABBITING, MILKING COWS,
04.00 Describes dairy cows ref: JERSEY COWS, ARYSHIRE COWS, BULLS
05.20 Temperament of Bulls
06.10 Milking explained in detail. Ref MILKING COWS.
07.25 Help on farm.
07.50 Changed to sheep Ref: ROUTINE, MILK TO FACTORY.
Second Interview: 8th April 2015
TRACK 4
00.30 Explains difference in lifestyle Ref: NUMBERS OF SHEEP, COWS,
01.55 Romney sheep
02.30 Lambing in September
02.50 Tailing lambs explained.
03.46 Ear marked lambs explained in detail
04.50 Preparing the next winter's fed crop.
05.15 Crawler tractor 1927/8.
05.40 Worked with Horses.
06.07 Ploughing with 4 horses.
07.05 Disking and harrowing.
07.40 Ploughed 3 acres a day.
08.15 Cultivation of the farm crops explained.
09.00 Jack's Brother George. Ref: WORLD WAR 2 ARMY, AIR FORCE.
10.08 George, Jack's brother and his father built the Waimahaka Motor Garage.
10.54 How the Waimahaka Garage was built Ref; MALTHOID ROOFING
12.00 Shearing of sheep. Explained
13.50 Number of sheep shorn compared to today. 120 in an 8 hour day.
TRACK 5
00.21 Wool Brokers Wool sales.
00.54 Explains transport to the freezing works. Ref: STOCK TRAINS, LORNEVILLE SALES. FREEZING WORKS.
02.55 Explains Freezing works.
03.20 Rams going out Ref: HOLMS RAMS,
04.30 Control of stock on winter fed explained. Break fencing. Ref: MUD, OFF THE CROP AT NIGHT.
06.40 Explained Father and Mr G Kennedy, school teacher invention of an electric fence. Ref: ELECTRIC FENCING, MODEL FORD A CAR. PRE WW2, 1940.
09.50 WW2 effect on district, Men went away. Ref: PETROL RATIONING COUPONS, FOOD RATIONING,
12.25 Secondary School, train transport explained, Ref: SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, TAY STREET INVERCARGILL.
14.12 2 years at secondary school. Wanted to train as veterinarian but had to go to Australia to train then.
TRACK 6
00.21 Changes on farm after the War. Ref: MOTOR TRANSPORT
00.43 Price of wool. Ref: KOREAN WAR, GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. HIGH PRICES, POUND A POUND WOOL
03.05 Took over the farm in 1955.
03.30 Married in 1957 to Zada. Meeting explained.
Third Interview: 15th April 2015
TRACK 7
00.11 Main changes in the district after WW2. Ref: POPULATION INCREASE, GOVERNMENT RETURNED SERVICEMEN REHABILTATION SCHEME, BALLOTED FARMS. SCHOOL ROLL INCREASE, WAIMAHAKA SCHOOL, MERCANDILE FIRMS, NATIONAL MORTAGE FIRM, SOUTLAND FARMERS COOP, HENDERSON COMPANY
04.25 Stock agents. Drenches, draughted lambs. Compares with the system today.
05.51 Fertilizer on farm, Ravenborn first. Then a Southland factory was built.
07.00 Ingredience in fertilizer. Ref: SUPER PHOSPHATE,
07.27 Spreading fertilizer, explained. Ref: TRANSPORT FIRMS.
08.58 Top Dressing soon after the war. Ref: TIGER MOTHS, FLETCHERS, AUSTERS.
10.23 Frequency of top dressing. Lack of soil testing.
11.06 Enjoyed stock work, sheep.
12.27 Entertainment in the district. Annual district sports picnic in the school grounds.
TRACK 8
00.50 Rugby Football teams explained. Ref: TOKANUI, SOUTHERN STAR, MATAURA ISLAND, GORGE ROAD.
01.14 Saw mills, flax mills,
01.40 Dances, explained. Ref: BALLROOM DANCING,
03.44 Music provided by the locals. Names and instruments.
05.51 Types of dances Ref: WALTZ, TWO STEPS, SETS, QUADRILLS, GRAND MARCH.
06.50 Dances started a 7.30 to 8pm and went on after midnight. Early on liquor was banned so there was a bit of drinking going on outside. Light refreshment as a supper and drank water.
08.30 Lots of social gathering.
09.08 Types of cars. Ref: MORRIS 10, BIG AMERICAN CARS, AUSTIN SEVEN, ARIEL 500 MOTORBIKE.
11.29 Trip to Invercargill on the motorbike when the lights failed.
12.10 Sunday afternoon at Fortrose and the mouth of the Tokanui River explained. Ref: FLOUNDERS.
TRACK 9
00.57 Whitebaiting explained, lock gates, A very big catch explained . 03.45 Whitebait caught up the Waimahaka River an on Jacks farm Ref: WHITEBAITING
04.00 Eeling explained.
05.10 Shellfish at Fortrose not taken.
05.53 Met wife Zada, though a friend. Zada got a domestic position with the Goldens at Fortrose. Nursing training in Invercargill, Developed tuberculosis after nursing in that ward but recovered.
08.43 Married at St Andrews church in South Invercargill in 1957. Went away in a brand new blue Morris Minor car.
09.56 Zada was involved in Women's Division, Church groups, Home and School.
11.00 Finishing remarks.
13.28 End
Dates
- 2015
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Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Craske, Jane (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
