NALDA HINKLEY

Interviewer: Richard Savory Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

TRACK 1

00:00 Interviewer identification

01:02 NALDA CAROLYN HINKLEY born in 1925.

01.11 Recording Agreement

01:57 Father – RICHARD JOHN WALKER born CRESSY, TASMANIA. HOBART to BLUFF aged about 20 around 1906. Worked with survey group in SOUTHLAND – sawmill in LONGWOODS owned by maternal grandfather DONALD McKAY. One of younger sons RICHARD had little prospect in TASMANIA – father died. Two brothers – ALAN died of typhoid – several sisters including MARGARET (MAGGIE). CRESSY east of LONGFORD and LAUNCESTON – LONGFORD churchyard. GORE, IRELAND – Mentioned.

05:11 Paternal grandfather – farmer – Anglican lay preacher in TASMANIA. Paternal grandmother's family HUGHES to TASMANIA1840s – owned land. Entertained Queen. IRELAND, Honourable RICHARD ROWLEY – Mentioned. ELIZABETH HUGHES married in RATHMOYLON, IRELAND. Research in IRELAND on HUGHES family. Church of Ireland (Protestant Irish) TRIM [County Meath] – DUKE of WELLINGTON – Mentioned.

08:47 Father's mother – not recalled.

09:13 Recap of father leaving TASMANIA – beginnings in NEW ZEALAND.

10:17 Met NALDA'S future husband's father from GEELONG, AUSTRALIA. RICHARD worked for DONALD McKAY – married daughter ELLEN (NALDA'S mother) DONALD McKAY'S family in SCOTLAND – father fisherman, brothers well educated – one missionary in CHINA (BOXER REBELLION) to SOUTH AMERICA – UNITED STATES – University Professor. DONALD – DUNCAN – RODNEY – F LORENCE – Mentioned. Monument in KISHORN on shores of LOCH KISHORN.

14:10 Mother's mother – ELIZABETH REID from NORTHERN IRELAND though Scottish. Her mother McMASTER – COUNTY TYRONE – ELIZABETH REID to NEW ZEALAND with … 15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2 00:00 Sister SARAH on 'OAMARU' with ELIZABETH FINLAYSON [The writings referred to may be those by Jane Finlayson held by Turnbull Thomson in DUNEDIN. A check of holdings at the Invercargill Library does NOT include any that refer to the item mentioned by Nalda – probably at HOCKEN LIBRARY] Disembark DUNEDIN – measles – QUARANTINE ISLAND. 01:25 Grandfather's mother's maiden name FINLAYSON.

01:35 Parents had hotel in RIVERTON – FINLAYSON relatives INVERCARGILL.

03:11 Grandparents – house at TIHAKA (ORAKI, between COLAC BAY and RIVERTON). Grandfather McKAY built house. LOCH KISHORN – Mentioned. Grandfather died aged 61. [sawmill probably traded as McKAY & Co, LONGWOOD] may have been bought by MORE family – relations ran sawmill for a time. 05:36 When self born father not in sawmill – lived opposite school NAPIER STREET in RIVERTON. ELIZABETH and SARAH (REID) lived in RIVERTON area. ELIZABETH (grandmother) married DONALD McKAY. SARAH married DONALD McLEOD – a mariner – builder – built boats – railway stations. MAKAREWA – Mentioned. GREAT WESTERN HOTEL – Described. TREMBATH'S, GLOBE, WARD'S – Hotels – RON WARD (All Black) Mrs SARAH McLEOD and MARTHA [? REID] ran hotel. Both died early 1920s. Requested RICHARD WALKER to take over hotel.

09:02 Self very young when parents went into hotel (about 1926) for 20 to 30 years. Growing up in hotel – Parents – Described. FLUTEY from COLAC BAY – MUTTONBIRD ISLANDS. Grubstake [material assistance for a loan] Kelp kits of MUTTONBIRDS – cooking of birds – Described. Kitchen of hotel – Described. Sister RITA sometimes worked in hotel. EASTER RACES – father linked to RIVERTON RACING CLUB. OTAITAI BUSH RAILWAY STATION – Mentioned.

14:22 Father not a drinker. Hotel bar – Described...

15:00 End of Track 2 TRACK 3

00:00 Description of hotel bar continued. Only men in hotel bar. Bar parlour for ladies. Self and four siblings meals in the kitchen. Sometimes allowed into dining room.

02:08 Two older sisters – two brothers. Sister (10 years older than self) kept younger children under control. Table manners – Parents did not usually dine with children – Explained.

03:52 Conditions in kitchen – Storage of food without refrigeration – Kitchen lighting – Described.

05:51 Mother little time for activities outside of hotel. Mother's clothing – Described. 07:19 Hotel exterior – Described. 07:42 School holidays, Easter and Christmas with FINLAYSONS in INVERCARGILL. RITA – POMONA STREET. FINLAYSON home – Three sisters school teachers – ANNA (cooking and sewing) – IRA taught at BLUFF – RITA – lived parents. Children of both families played together. CONSEQUENCES (pencil and paper game) – Described.

11:10 [ENTERTAINMENT] for children at RIVERTON – radio, French cricket. Self went to SOUTHLAND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL. McDOUGALL'S BAKERY. McIVOR'S property at SOUTH RIVERTON – Described. BEER'S launch 'The Foam' excursions up POURAKINO RIVER. APARIMA RIVER – Mentioned. Sports meetings at OTAUTAU, TUATAPERE – Mentioned. OTAITAI BUSH PICNIC at RIVERTON RACE COURSE. Prize for winning running race – raced in bare feet.

15:00 SOUTHLAND GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL...

End of Track 3

TRACK 4

00:01 GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL organised into 'houses' GALLOWAY, STRANG and two others. BEVERLEY McDOUGALL from WINTON, RUTH DOWDALL (?) Self at FORTH and NESS STREETS site of GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL. First two years travelled by train from RIVERTON – Achieved well at high school. Boarded at a number of places – ROY STREET remembered. ALMA WALKER from TUATAPERE (not related), IVAN, ERROL and UNA BULLING – Mentioned. ALMA married ROSS HEWTON ( H & H MOTORS) – IVAN BULLING (furniture business).

05:04 [EDUCATION]: Two brothers to higher education. Self shorthand, typing, book- keeping – left school from 5th Form.

05:38 [EMLOYMENT]: JOHN CHAMBERS LTD, TAY STREET [towards Clyde Street, on south side] – Re-actions to starting work.. LES HUTCHINS (FIORDLAND TRAVEL) – Mentioned. Some socialising but concentrated on work. Father of LYNLEY DEAR, VERDUN PAYNTER [?spelling] – Mentioned. Mr CUMMINGS – Mentioned.

09:43 Experience going from living in hotel, to single sex school, to workplace with men and women – feels today's children 'grow up' to soon. Boy and girl school friends from RIVERTON. 12:13 Prepared to work hard after leaving school – still involved with running. HAZEL EUNSON – Mentioned. Injury at the end of a relay – Travel to DUNEDIN – evening events at RUGBY PARK – effects of war on athletics...

End of Track 4

TRACK 5

00:01 Attitudes of adults towards World War Two – siblings too young to enlist. Parents and their siblings probably not involved with World War One. Cousin Air Force in World War Two. Older sister's husband pilot in BRITAIN to CANADA as instructor – he was killed. Self joined the Army. 02:42 [WAR TIME REFLECTIONS]: Everyone listened to the news daily. DUNKIRK – casualty lists – Japanese – RIVERTON – guards on vital points – Home Guard – STEWART ISLAND – RUAPUKE – INVERCARGILL. 04:13 People who enlisted – RAY TWEEDIE – CECIL HUTCHINSON – BAILEY BOYS – WADE and MERVYN De CLIFFORD. 05:22 [WAR TIME]: Few food restrictions for hotel – farm produce available. Ration books and clothing coupons

06:05 JOHN CHAMBERS Ltd – Mentioned. Public Service job in ARMY DEPARTMENT – reason for acceptance. Staffing at DRILL HALL – transfer to uniformed service. Use of clothing coupons – H & J SMITH LTD

09:45 [CITY TRAVEL]: on foot or by tram. VICTORIA AVENUE – GEORGE – YARROW – DEE – HERBERT – WINDSOR – KING – SYDNEY MARY STREETS – NORTHERN HOTEL – INVERCARGILL PRISON – Mentioned.

11:39 Self stenographer for Major HOPPER – DRILL HALL

12:26 WAIWERA SOUTH Army Camp (south of BALCLUTHA) – Court of Enquiry. BALCLUTHA HOTEL – Game of cards and gambling.

14:30 Purpose of DRILL HALL (Area 12) – Camp set up in SHOWGROUNDS.

15:00 End of Track 5

TRACK 6

00:01 BURNHAM CAMP – enlistment of young men – Activities in Showgrounds. Firing Range – Mentioned. Self in Army until 1944 working normal office hours. Girls had to be 23 to go overseas. MAUREEN SMITH to ITALY. 03:03 INVERCARGILL POLICE STATION to record all firearms registered in SOUTHLAND. JAPAN – Mentioned. Death of sister's husband very upsetting. Return of First Echelon, furlough draft – Described. IRIS GRAY – Mentioned.

05:06 NORTH ISLAND men refused to go back overseas. Attitudes of INVERCARGILL and RIVERTON to men who did or did not go to war – conscientious objectors.

08:18 INVERCARGILL AIRPORT not on present site [originally at MYROSS BUSH AIRFIELD]. Most transport by ship – British war ship in BLUFF. Invitations to entertainments for troops – AMERICANS and others – WELCOME CLUB. ROY BATT – Mentioned. Concerns regarding AMERICAN servicemen.

11:54 LES HINKLEY on First Furlough draft after EL ALAMEIN 1943 12.43 BERT HINKLEY (Les' father) farmed at BROWNS. Accident causing blindness MELBOURNE for treatment of eye. Learned to tune pianos – sons ran the farm. LES born in 1915. BERT lived in CRINAN STREET, INVERCARGILL – LES accompanied father when travelling around SOUTHLAND. 15:00 End of Track 6

TRACK 7

00:01 BERT called at hotel at RIVERTON – two pianos to tune. Recollection of first meeting with LES – NALDA'S older sister (RITA) played piano while LES sang.

01:26 BERT HINKLEY'S work on pianos – Described.

02:23 IRIS GRAY – introduction to JOCK (IRIS' husband) and LES HINKLEY. 03:36 LES did not return to Army due to findings of medical examination. DR CRAWFORD – MALE CHOIR – ORPHANS CLUB – LES many tasks.

04:41 DISABLED SERVICEMENS CENTRE as trainee UPHOLSTERER. GEORGE HOFFMAN (tutor) and LES HINKLEY set up own business about 1947. KINGSLAND BISCUIT FACTORY – GEORGE TAYLES. FURNITURE business – Described. DRAGES FURNITURE CHRISTCHURCH – GEORGE MURRAY. LES mainly business person – GEORGE HOFFMAN craftsman.

07:41 LES and NALDA married in 1943. LES' mother died when he was 10. Wish to settle – have a home and family – reflections on life together.

Most of LES' friends returned home after war – Described. 12:55 LES sang over MIDDLE EAST network. Trip from CAIRO to MAADI CAMP – meeting with MAURICE ZIDAN (?) CAIRO CHOIR – Mentioned.

15:00 End of Track 7

TRACK 8

00:01 CAIRO CHOIR – ZIDANS invited members of NZ ARMY to their home. Club facilities in CAIRO.

02:41 War in NORTH AFRICA. LES went to GREECE with 23rd Battalion – MOUNT OLYMPUS – March to KOKKINOPILOS 6th BATTALION, 10th PLATOON – CORINTH CANAL – MONEMVASSIA 'HOTSPUR' – 'HERO' (British ships) – Boarding and conditions. 08:30 NALDA and LES visited GREECE in 1972.

09:49 CRETE – SOUDA BAY – CAIRO – PORT SAID. 23rd and 20th BATTALION losses in GREECE. Effects on LES when he visited SOUDA BAY CEMETERY.

10:54 EGYPT not revisited. Difficulties between ISRAEL and ARAB countries.

11:20 LES continued to serve with 23rd BATTALION – Explained. RUWEISAT RIDGE – MINQUAR QUAIM – LORD HAW HAW – DOUGFALLOW from THORNBURY. Battle of RUWEISAT RIDGE and the break-out – Described. 14:25 Formation of 4th Brigade – Described... EL ALAMEIN

15:00 End of Track 8

TRACK 9

00:02 More details of 4th Brigade. How men were chosen to be part of First Furlough – LES returned home in July 1943.

01:22 SARAFAND (ISRAEL) – Selection for Army Physical Training School. Army Ski School training in LEBANON . Only one ski trip after returning to New Zealand – Explained. 04:13 Entertainment by LES at bonfire – Described. Cedars of LEBANON – Mentioned. 05:48 Return to civilian life LES attended many reunions. ANZAC DAY – RSA [Returned Services Association] Busy with businesses at WINDSOR [INVERCARGILL] In later years attended Dawn Service.

07:44 LES related some army experiences to his sons. DAVID – Mentioned. REUNIONS – 20th and 23rd Battalions – First Echelon 50th Anniversary in WELLINGTON – Visit to TRENTHAM.

10:03 Gratuities and Rehabilitation Assistance. First house in 72 BAIRD STREET [INVERCARGILL]. BUILDING SOCIETY shares. New coal range – laundry hand-washed until fourth child born. Facilities. Coping with four very young children. 15:00 End of Track 9

TRACK 10

00:02. Garden (Baird Street) – Described.

00:28 Experience gained at hotel – .Saturday morning baking sessions with RITA.

01:14 Home heated with coal range plus open fire in lounge. Bathing and Showering - toilets – laundry facilities. 04:18 First washing machine – LINDA (youngest child).

04:35 Toilet training of toddlers – PLUNKET NURSE'S visits. Lack of help for first-time mothers in present times. 05:34 Neighbours in BAIRD STREET – HARPERS – ANN, HARRY and GEORGE JENKINSON – Judge NOBLE – Friend in MITCHELL STREET.

07:01 No car – Organising needed when taking children on outings – DALE mentioned.

07.33 HINKLEY children walked to kindergarten in MITCHELL STREET. DALE (oldest child) - ALAN – DAVID – LINDA .. Children attend SURREY PARK – NORTH SCHOOLS Move to KING STREET – GEORGE STREET.

08:47 Army uniform probably returned as NALDA does not have it. No War Service record – Explained.

09:40 NALDA reflects on her childhood and other aspects of life. Undesirable effects of modern technology on present generation of children. 12:30 End Track 10.