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Abstract of Lisa Essetera TOU, 2021

 Item — Box: 30
Identifier: H02140002

Abstract

Interviewer: Rebecca (Becs) Amundsen

Abstracter: Saniya Thompson

Interview: 21 July 2014

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:24 LISA ESSETERA TOU born 1966

00.33 Interview agreement

01:15 First memory - Growing up in GLENGARRY - Having fun with kids of different cultures - SURREY PARK SCHOOL - Park new CONWAY CRESCENT - kids from a Catholic School never played with them - Recalls

03:31 Lived in a cul-de-sac of CONWAY CRESCENT - A lot of young families could afford home in that area - At least 30 kids in the neighbourhood, always someone to play with - Describes

05.55 Dog chased Lisa around the street - Boy got lost, but ended up falling asleep at one of the neighbours - People didn’t used to lock their houses - Recalls

06:55 GAMES played with other kids and other ACTIVITIES - Recalls

08:50 LISA and her husband ANDREW travelled to LONDON and met Samoan childhood friend HARRY FROST - Catching up with people from childhood - Recalls

09:55 CHANGES in GLENGARRY - PHARMACY, FISH and CHIPS, ELECTRICAL SHOP, BUTCHER, HARDWARE - Thriving community - Describes

11:43 Walked to SCHOOL with her BROTHER - Came from school crying because a boy threw mud at her long hair - the following day her father chased the boy - didn’t get into trouble for that - Recalls

14:20 Loved school, loved learning - Stayed in the same SCHOOL throughout - Explains

14:55 end of track 1

TRACK 2

00:21 Memorable TEACHERS Miss POTSON from SURREY PARK - Mrs TAIT (sp?) - MR HENDERSON, JANE ANDERSON (GIRLS HIGH) - Fortunate - Good attitude to school - Parents encouraged learning - Describes

02:09 What made teachers stand out - Caring, sense of humour, different perspective - Explains

02:50 Did a project about Japan - Won a prize - Mentions

03:11 Choice of career path - Wanted to be a lawyer first - Teacher want to make a difference - Give children opportunity - Celebrate the differences - Explains

04:14 Would get 20 c after school on most days and would go to the MALL buy 3 K bars or a packer of raspberry drops - Knew the best deals - On a Sunday you could get ice cream = JUNGLE Juice 1 packet with groceries a week - Recalls

06:02 WORKED at the dairy WOOLWORTHS in the early 80s - PAM PRINGLE got a lot of kids jobs - A pawnbroker lending money to people. Worked in the DAILY and at the CHECKOUT - the Supermarket employed a lot of young people from the neighbourhood - Describes

09:40 MICHAEL JACKSON - LOOK ALIKE came into a shop - Mentions

10:05 HOT AIR BALLOON story in late 1970s - Mentions

11:02 Got to ride an ELEPHANT during circus promotion -Recalls

11:30 Fizzy drink competition BUBBLY - Mentions

12:00 Collected GLASS BOTTLES - Recalls

12:45 Changes to the car parking in the 1990s PLAYGROUND in a different space - Explains

14:06 Not meant to play in other neighbourhoods - jumping of a roof - Recalls

14:55 end of Track 2

Track 3

01:19 Father worked in BLUFF - typical family dynamic with father working full time and mother having a part-time job - Describes

02:55 Returned to GLENGARRY after studying and the neighbourhood changed - the supermarket closed - smaller businesses closed too - Describes

04:28 GLENGARRY will rise - it has a HEART and community-minded people live there - Mentions

06:29 Life Lessons from living in Glengarry impacted Lisa’s life - looking out for the underdog - keep element of surprise - never underestimate anyone- remember where you come from - look for the best in people - Explains

08:55 Today’s connection to the COMMUNITY and the CHURCH - Describes

11:06 Community experience taught Lisa to see unique traits in kids that she in working with - Explains

11:49 POLYFEST inception - idea appeared after attending OTAGO POLYFEST in 2008 get to meet talented artistic people and work with them - Show SOUTHLAND way of caring for people - POLYFEST keeps growing - Local Polyfest is unique for New Zealand - embraced by the whole community - Explains

14:55 end of track 3

TRACK 4

01:35 Family embracing COOK ISLAND CULTURE - dad worked at COOK ISLAND CHURCH at OCEAN BEACH - connections to AUCKLAND and PACIFICA culture there - limited cultural opportunities down here - Describes

03:19 KIRIBATI community which is only 2m above sea level - TONGAN community - Describes

05:19 Background predetermined education is important but LIFELONG LEARNING is essential - Explains

6:54 Young generation is changing people’s perceptions about culture - Explains

7:25 Future of Glengarry - CAROLINE (sp?) and the art scene - a lot of passionate active individuals in the community - Beautification projects - The place has got a heart - Describes

10:54 Perception of wider community of GLENGARRY - Community feel - People come to the MARKET - people are able to develop RELATIONSHIPS - Explains

12:13 End of Track 4

Dates

  • 2021

Conditions Governing Access

Access to oral history recordings is via the Archives Research Room only. We are unable to provide access to this material remotely. Where access agreements allow, abstracts, audio extracts and photographs will be accessible online.

Extent

From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)

Language of Materials

English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository