PATRICIA ANN STEARNE

Interviewer: Nancy Burnett

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:52 PATRICIA ANN STEARNE born 25 December 1936

01:03 Recording agreement

01:38 Present address – 3A Hulme Street, OTAUTAU – At 63 Queen Street, OTAUTAU when floods occurred in 1984 Self and 14 year-old son living together

02:22 [EMPLOYMENT]: NORTH END DAIRY – other side of bridge. Position of bridge – town access – Described. FAIRFAX – 'THE RIDGES' – OTAUTAU RIVER/STREAM – Mentioned

03:16 Self ST JOHN AMBULANCE OFFICER – Self had long history Voluntary involvement – Described

03:42 Originally on 24-hour call for 7 days – Call-out system – Described. Change from telephone to pagers

04:35 [PERSONNEL]: Numbers available – All local volunteers – Included business owners WALLACE COUNTY (COUNCIL) support

05:06 Self's employer volunteer fireman – Understood the need for daytime call-outs Many night-time call-outs

05:42 First knowledge of FLOOD from shop customers Officials provided other information – Described

06:40 WALLACE COUNTY COUNCIL had a base in OTAUTAU

06:51 Preparation for evacuation – Described

07:15 Self sent home – Given bread for firemen (station on south side of bridge) Water threatening the closure of bridge – Self allowed to cross

07:38 Preparations by son and self – Described

07:51 Son went to IAN WATSON Self located ambulance at BLAIR ROGER'S

08:11 Reason for taking bread to FIRE STATION – Explained Sand-bagging carried out by many people

08:50 Location of IAN WATSON”S home – Described. Own son, BRENT – MAIN and LIEMEN STREETS – Mentioned

09:15 Actions of self on arrival at own home – Described Gathering of people at BLAIR ROGERS' home – Base for ambulance DEVON and NUTSFORD ROADS – Mentioned

09:48 Ambulance loaded with necessary items (less than present vehicles) before being moved from station.

10:06 Ambulance rooms flooded

10:37 Self on rostered duty – movements – Described. Self evacuated from own home to BLAIR ROGERS' home GOLF COURSE – Mentioned

11:15 Devastating watching water break through bank by tennis courts and swimming pool Movement of water – Described

11:56 Could see own backyard – On return after three days found no water entered house

12:24 Unable to recall how many people stayed with BLAIR ROGERS. Accommodation provided by others members of community who were not evacuated

12:53 The waiting time – Described

13:26 Side effects from flooding of creek at bottom of hill – Descried

13:48 No telephone communication

14:02 BRENT (son) with IAN WATSON – Knew where self was

14:28 Ambulance unable to get out until Sunday night – One patient to KEW HOSPITAL in INVERCARGILL (32 miles – approximately 52 kilometres)...

15:00 End of Track 1



TRACK 2

00:00 … Normally about 40 minutes by ambulance Due to amount of water had to go over 'THE RIDGES' – Normal route through FAIRFAX Journey to INVERCARGILL – Described View from ambulance window – Described WRIGHTS BUSH – Mentioned

01:06 Flood conditions observed during drive on NORTH ROAD, INVERCARGILL – Described Patient safely to hospital

01:46 Many evacuees billeted – More sent to GOLF COURSE on SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROAD

02:27 Helicopter evacuation of one person when ambulance couldn't get out Support from outside of the town

02:55 Return to own home – One of few not badly affected – Described

03:50 Conditions when flood subsided – Described Tar seal of MAIN STREET had lifted and gone

04:44 Don't remember if water entered NORTH END STORE – Stayed open SCHOOL flooded

05:06 All shops on MAIN STREET flooded

05:21 Clean-up – Everyone worked well IAN WATSON put foam spray through sections and inside homes – Assisted by his boys and self's son.

06:26 After effects of flood – People including self nervous when there was rain Self became alert to sounds of river – Described APARIMA RIVER – OTAUTAU STREAM – Mentioned

07:54 Thanks and general comments – Keeping ambulance safe important

08:56 End of Track 2

NOTE: Pat died in 2012