Interviewer: Nancy Burnett Abstracter: Jean Hawkes JOHN STUART 'BOGGY' McDOWELL

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:47 JOHN STUART McDOWELL born in 1955

00:54 Recording Agreement

01:26 Father: JOHN MERVYN McDOWELL – usually known as MAC or MERVYN Mother: MARY ETHEL GRUT Their children – DONALD GEOFFREY McDOWELL – BRUCE MERVYN McDOWELL – JOHN STUART McDOWELL – HEATHER MARY McDOWELL (Mrs VAN DER LEM) – JEANETTE RUBY McDOWELL (Mrs CLARK)

02:20 Father – Farmer from age of 13 – Attended SOUTHLAND BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL Required to help on farm at WALLACETOWN

02:55 Self born and bred in WINTON – Grandfather's farm at NEW RIVER ROAD, WINTON – Aged 7 when moved to BOGGY BURN WINTON GOLF COURSE – CENTRE BUSH – OTAPIRI – Mentioned

03:33 Attended OTAPIRI SCHOOL

03:42 Origin of name BOGGY BURN – Explained Dairy factory – OTAPIRI TRANSPORT – Mentioned Transport of whey for pig food – Described

04:14 Father originally dairy farming Grandfather's farm at WALLACETOWN – Stage coach WALLACTOWN to INVERCARGILL – Motorised bus service

04:46 More cows at WINTON – Some sheep

04:59 Milk cans taken to WINTON DAIRY FACTORY OTAUTAU – NIGHTCAPS – Mentioned Small communities – Dairy factory – School – Hall No hall for BOGGY BURN – Went to OTAPIRI

05:45 Self often goes to QUEENSTOWN – Some detours via BOGGY BURN Changes to scenery – Sheep versus dairy farms – Described

06:38 State of house and surrounds since parents left in late 1990's – Described Tennis court – mentioned

07:05 Reaction of mother on visit to farm – Described

07:21 [Happy memories] – School at WINTON – Moving to BOGGY BURN – Moving sheep House at BOGGY BURN – 'Long-drop' – Described Boys in separate part of old house Parents built new house – Arrival of JEANETTE 09:28 Perceived isolation at BOGGY BURN – Distance to WINTON Travel to CENTRAL SOUTHLAND COLLEGE – Described DIPTON – OTAPIRI – HEDGEHOPE – HOKONUI – BROWNS – WINTON – Mentioned

10:47 [PRIMARY SCHOOL]: Two years at WINTON – To OTAPIRI OTAPIRI pupil numbers – Two classrooms Bike journey to school – Described

12:07 Travel to school at WINTON – Described POWER STATION – Brother BRUCE – Mentioned

12:36 Accident in creek – Damage to school books – Described WINTON STREAM – Mentioned Actions of brother – Described

13:42 Four children biked from BOGGY BURN – Slower journeys home DONALD – JEANETTE – STEWARTS – Mentioned 'Crawlies' from the creek – Described...

15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:00 … GRAHAM ECKHOFF – STEPHEN HUNT – RAYMOND McKAY – KEN McKENZIE – Mentioned BOGGY BURN DAIRY FACTORY – LIMEHILLS SCHOOL – KAUANA SCHOOL – Mentioned

00:42 Wonderful memories of farm – Lots of things to do – Explained May have had resentment in teenage years – Explained Lambing beats on 300 acre farm – Described Hay-baling 03:10 Assumption that DONALD would take over farm – Self worked hard to please father As children a sense of isolation – Need to make own fun Tennis – NEVILLE HOSKIN – Mentioned Tennis courts – PORTER'S and STEVENS 04:47 After marriage found golf – Downsides of tennis including other distractions Self a very competitive person – Still a problem

06:29 Played rugby at various levels BOGGY BURN – LIMEHILLS RUGBY CLUB – Mentioned Attitude at high school towards boys who played hockey and soccer – Described Athletics – Mentioned Cricket well respected, with tennis as summer sports Rugby and Netball for winter A few played golf – self didn't understand it

08:12 Pupil at CENTRAL SOUTHLAND COLLEGE [new school opened in 1965] WINTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL – Mentioned

08:30 DONALD to SOUTHLAND TECH – Farm related courses Daily travel to and from BOGGY BURN – Described BRUCE attended CENTRAL SOUTHLAND COLLEGE – A scallywag Self not much better

09:58 Co-Ed school – Sports trips – Academic side didn't 'spin own wheels' Change in 5th Form – Arrival of MICHAEL DEAKER – Described “Prepared to behave like adults – As your new teacher prepared to teach you like adults” Attitudes of other teachers – Described Self good at English, History, Geography

12:19 [MICHAEL DEAKER] : Daily radio comment on current affairs For self the best high school teacher

12:45 School productions – Mentioned

13:12 Failed School Certificate – Explained Class marks top in English – School Certificate essay a shambles...

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:00 … missed (School Certificate) by 2 marks Realisation without School Certificate – Gateway to life Brothers had also failed – Parents not overly happy 01:10 Passed in History – Had to resit other subjects Own 2nd year in 5th Form – Described Some friends became 6th Formers Effects of the failure on self – Described

02:39 Achievements from resitting subjects Self into top 6th Form class Prefect system changed and selected by teachers – Counsellors selected by combination of teachers and school pupils

03:39 Self a counsellor – Responsibilities Long-lasting effects of not passing School Certificate first time

04:15 BRIAN RABBITT'S 6th Form 'study' methods – Described BRIAN unable to continue studies – From a large family Self realised others did not have same choices

05:27 Contact lost with some school friends – Mentioned Time spent in DUNEDIN – Some went to Varsity – Some to apprenticeships

06:33 ANGUS JOHNSON – Mentioned BILL TAYLOR of LORA GORGE – Mentioned

07:03 REBECCA (daughter) – Still has friends from ROSEDALE (Intermediate School) DAVID and MATTHEW (sons) – Similar situation

07:30 Possible reasons for not having contact with students BRIAN RABBITT – Mentioned

08:09 In hindsight advantages or disadvantages of being in rural SOUTHLAND JOHN KIRWOOD good teacher in own last two years (Mr) DOMIGAN – old style teaching methods Not many fond memories of primary school Enjoyed self at CENTRAL SOUTHLAND COLLEGE – Described

10:50 Enjoyed teenage years – Liked being popular Life lessons learned from other students – Described

11:46 Self comfortable in most community situations CLIFTON CLUB INN clientele – Described DUCK CALLING CONTEST – Mentioned Differences in opposite of city – Described

12:44 Self had some regrets – Good times outside classroom OTAPIRI – Mentioned 13:09 RAY HOWORTH – Careers Adviser – Comments made to self Self gave major interests as sports and music SOUTHLAND TIMES journalist suggested RADIO put forward as afterthought – Idea appealed to self 14:29 Self made inquiries in INVERCARGILL Cadetship in all departments of radio – Needed University Entrance in English Self improved school marks and moved to 6th Form...

15:00 End of Track 3

TRACK 4

00:00 … Interest in radio aroused – Self and brothers keen on music – Mother played piano – Self and HEATHER MARY learned piano DONALD into 1960s music – Explained 01:37 Self always had love for music – Details still retained

01:58 Appointments made with ROSS FENTON Manager of 4ZA (Radio station) Many visits in own 6th Form year Self described as shy – 'Plans' for employment – Described

03:03 Preference for INVERCARGILL – University Entrance accredited Position available in DUNEDIN – Acceptance delayed due to father's health

04:48 Starting pay $2000 per year – Pay rise by time arrived in DUNEDIN

05:06 Own views of present music scene in SOUTHLAND compared with rest of country Southland musicians innovative – Explained RAY COLUMBUS and THE INVADERS – DAVE KENNEDY – SUZANNE PRENTICE – Mentioned Effects of change – Live performances to studio recordings heard on internet

06:35 GOLD GUITAR AWARDS – Originally local SOUTHLAND event – Evolved and expanded over the years Self worked on Gold Guitar Awards – Described 4ZA – Mentioned

07:20 Self involved with ROCK 'n' ROLL HALL OF FAME – Reviving old bands DAVE KENNEDY and THE VISION MUSICIANS' CLUB very strong

07:45 Own favourite music 1960's – Explained Radio research based on formative years – Explained Emotion of music very important More of a money making industry now – Pub music

09:28 Self likes good music regardless of style Job requires knowledge of LADY GAGA – KATY PERRY – LADY ANTEBELLUM etc 10:04 Move to Dunedin – First time away from home – Described

10:49 Start at DUNEDIN with NZBC (New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation) Radio and TV Self no idea what would be doing

11:04 Parents provided transport – Clothing purchases – Stayed at LEVIATHAN HOTEL MISSION BUILDING in the OCTAGON – Formalities completed Floor crew for TV in DOWLING STREET – Introduction and surprises – Described

12:20 Few paid presenters – Programmes recorded at night – Many done in DUNEDIN ALISON HOLST – Father someone in a wheelchair (FATHER LEO CLOSE) – CHARLES JOYE – TOWN and AROUND – Mentioned 13:10 Use of time between programmes – Described Specific mention of ALISON HOLST

13:42 How nickname 'BOGGY' first started – Described BOGGY BURN – Mentioned

14:13 Moved to 4ZB (DUNEDIN radio station) Musical programming – Described

15:00 End of Track 4

TRACK 5

00:09 4ZB – Enjoyed the music – Had found own niche JEAN KIRK-BURNAND (Mrs) – MAORI CONCERT PARTY – Mentioned Details of music programming – Explained

01:09 Move to Accounts Department – Terrible !!! Self figured out that many of requirements for (radio) training similar to the farm

01:51 With TV and radio a lot of people worked for NZBC – Many gatherings EUROPEAN HOTEL – Mentioned

02:01 NZBC used to be NEW ZEALAND BROADCASTING SERVICE Unsure of what change was

02:21 Worked in DUNEDIN Programmes with JOHN McBETH KEITH QUINN – Mentioned Salary package for McBETH – Described

02:58 Bed-sit accommodation with three guys – Described ALEXANDRA – Mentioned Home-sickness – Enjoyed to job – Going home not so great

03:38 BRUCE (older brother) decided to do B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) at OTAGO Prepared to share bed-sit

04:09 Visit by life insurance salesman – Place at ROYAL TERRACE (No 12 had been owned by RICHARD HUDSON) House shared by BRUCE and self – Described

06:10 Made friends – Very social at weekends – SOUTHLANDERS tend to find each other

06:41 Residents at No 12 included self, BRUCE, person from DIPTON and a radio cadet from DUNEDIN

07:15 Self had a period of loneliness and homesickness at night – Everybody knows you in WINTON – People in DUNEDIN walk by

07:41 Befriended a person from ALEXANDRA – DUNEDIN was never home

08:23 Applied for programming job in DUNEDIN – Unsuccessful Self accepted for full-time music programming position in INVERCARGILL 1974

09:00 Meeting of ANN (future wife) – CENTRAL SOUTHLAND COLLEGE to TEACHERS' COLLEGE – Described WINTON KINDERGARTEN – Mentioned

10:01 Travel arrangements between INVERCARGILL and DUNEDIN for 3 years

10:21 Job in INVERCARGILL – Described 4ZA – JOHN O'CONNOR – ALAN WRIGHT – JIM HEALEY – MURRAY FORGIE – DES WILSON – GRANT MORROW – JOHN JONES – PETER WILLIAMS – Mentioned

11:11 Self producer for BREAKFAST SHOW – Explained Became good friends with PETER WILLIAMS More than 50 staff members at 4ZA – Staff at DACRE transmitter Lot of work for technical group – Announcers 6am till midnight

12:13 Sunday Requests – Described GORE Housewives Choice – Mentioned Announcers described as Superstars Government days – Dress code – Manners – Mentioned Many meetings – Personal File – Described

13:41 'BERTIE BUDGIE' – How he came into existence – Described Southland Rugby Team mascot – BERTIE BANTAM RANFURLY SHIELD in 1959 – Mentioned

14:50 Decision to have a live budgie in Reception area – Visits to schools etc Use of original budgie recordings – Explained Became a phenomenon...

15:00 End of Track 5

TRACK 6

00:00 … Budgie (at 4ZA) 15 years before self started Self changed conversation technique – Described

01:30 Birthday calls recorded on tape – Explained Self always seen 'Bertie' as an identity – Described Budgie's popularity dwindling Changes to Birthday calls – Explained

03:00 Budgie under stress – Taken to vet by receptionist Introduction of the Budgie suit – Described 'Trip' to HOLLYWOOD to make a movie Welcome at the airport – Described CHRISTCHURCH – Mentioned

05:24 Kindergarten display – Described Thoughts of moving Bertie from on-air to online Probably came to light in early 1960's Birthday celebrated with 4ZA on 1st October

06:17 Self and ANN married in 1977 – Returned to INVERCARGILL to teach Married in May School Holidays – Reasons explained 07:21 Self had played rugby prior to marriage

07:44 ANN (ANN-LENORE) from WINTON – Parents have DOHERTY BROS ENGINEERING

07:54 Own parents had contact with ANN'S parents

08:07 Bought house in GRASMERE before marriage – Moved to HAWTHORNDALE when DAVID was born till 1995 – Moved to present address at WAIKIWI

08:46 [CHILDREN]: DAVID 30 in September – REBECCA 28 on 4th July – MATTHEW 25 in August, still living at home

09:19 End of Track 6

TRACK 7

00:00 Recorded at Classic Hits building

00:25 Why self came back to INVERCARGILL from DUNEDIN – Explained Family – BRUCE stayed in DUNEDIN – ANN – Mentioned No regrets

01:55 Had opportunities to leave – Didn't take them – Reasons given HAWKES BAY – Mentioned

02:26 House prices involved if moving away – Explained

02:46 Thinks own attraction on radio is that self is a SOUTHLANDER – Explained Most announcers have come from outside the province – Work here – Move on Much easier to network and attract people to listen

04:06 SOUTHLAND comfortable and easy place to live in – Described Facilities identified – Super-served for an urban population of about 50,000 and rural numbers about the same Closeness of own home to inner city – Mentioned

05:03 Sporting facilities amazing – Opportunities for children incredible including representing the province SANDY POINT soccer facilities – Mentioned Own children in SOUTHLAND teams including gymnastics

06:16 Gets to a stage being very hard to leave (Southland) – Very few reasons why one would be better off

06:28 Uniqueness of SOUTHLANDERS – Explained Isolation and weather – Mentioned Reap benefits of being a small community – 6 degrees of separation probably down to 2 degrees in SOUTHLAND – Explained

09:00 SOUTHLAND HOSPITALITY – Initial contacts made – Difficulty in being accepted as part of a group On the surface very welcoming – LIONS (rugby) tour incident – Described Brewer's Elbow at Homestead – Mentioned

11:17 Many successful SOUTHLAND teams – Possible explanations for success Help available from INVERCARGILL LICENSING TRUST – COMMUNITY TRUST

12:31 Southlanders not tolerant of superficial type people – Explained BRIAN McKECHNIE – Mentioned

13:16 Done extremely well in all sports – All Blacks – Badminton – Rowing – Netball and others Sport as much social as achieving results

14:05 Own view of INVERCARGILL as a city – Described...

15:00 End of Track 7

TRACK 8

00:00 … Views of town planning – Described THE WAREHOUSE – RAILWAY LINE – ESK STREET – Mentioned Should have been the leader for indoor malls

01:09 Ease of getting around – Invercargill parking habit Should have worked harder to make city 'prettier'

01:45 Physical attributes of SOUTHLANDERS – Described

02:11 Spectacular scenery compared with part of AUSTRALIA (2 hours, see 1 gum tree) RIVERTON – WINTON – BLUFF – QUEENSTOWN – KINGSTON – TAKITUMU MOUNTAINS – GREEN ACRES GOLF – CENTRAL SOUTHLAND COLLEGE – TE ANAU – MILFORD SOUND – DOUBTFUL SOUND – KELVIN HEIGHTS – STEWART ISLAND – CATLINS – Mentioned 'Aucklander' anyone north of CHRISTCHURCH 05:17 Green lush province – MICHAEL DEAKER... Weather makes grass grow to create SOUTHLAND riches – Explained

06:00 Own precious places in SOUTHLAND – Enjoyment of knowing where home is QUEENSTOWN – DUNEDIN – GORE – KINGSTON – MID DOME – ORETI RIVER – Mentioned BOGGY BURN own informative years – WINTON movies and socialising

08:16 Still see self as a 'country boy' rather than a 'townie' living in INVERCARGILL

08:40 Sense of community – Radio involvement – SOUTHLANDERS generous SPCA wish list – TRACEY (Breakfast Show) – ELDERS of WINTON – TRACEY HOLMES (kidney transplant) – ANN CRAWFORD (heart/lung transplants) – QUEENS PARK HOSPITAL/SOUTHERN CROSS – Mentioned

11:04 WIN A WISH – Explained

11:40 People generous with time – money – helping the community

11:54 Involvement with CHRISTCHURCH earthquake – Described 12:27 Provincial pride – Often presented as 'under dog' especially in sport STAGS – RANFURLY SHIELD – Mentioned Poor cousins to OTAGO and CANTERBURY Proud of achievements

13:33 Very depressed in pre-STING (Netball team) years – Described Years 1996-1999 – Mentioned

14:07 STING – JENNY SIMONDS and FREE FEES S.I.T (Southern Institute of Technology) – Mentioned

14:21 [SPORTS]: Good winners – Kept feet on the ground STING – Mentioned

14:48 MAGIC (Waikato-Bay of Plenty netball team)...

15:00 End of Track 8

TRACK 9

00:00 … (Magic's) attitude to win in SOUTHLAND – Described Self didn't like their attitude

00:21 Generally (Southland) good losers – Probably more losses than wins Initial response to losses – Accept limitations

01:16 End of Track 9