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Abstract of Robert Noel MARSHALL, 2012

 Item — Box: 7
Identifier: H01100002

Overview

ROBERT NOEL MARSHALL

Interviewer: Oweena Frew

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

First Interview: 21 March 2012

DISC 1: TRACK 1

00:00 NO Interview identification or Recording Agreement acceptance

00:19 ROBERT NOEL MARSHALL – Known as NOEL – born in 1917

00:44 MOTHER – AGNES BLACKBURN FATHER – THOMAS MARSHALL from SOUTH AUSTRALIA

01:05 Arrival in NEW ZEALAND of father and an uncle – Described Horse sold for fares – 'Humping' the swag LITTLE RIVER – OAMARU – Mentioned

02:13 [FIRST MEMORY]: Sitting in high chair – Plastered mashed potato on head

02:59 Self and siblings born at INVERCARGILL RACE COURSE Father at race course 43 years

03:19 Father arrived at EDENDALE – Odd jobs – Chauffeur for DONALD McDONALD Uncle FRED – EDENDALE ESTATE – Mentioned W D HUNT (says North Invercargill – research suggests WAIKIWI) – Incident involving sale of calf

05:01 House at Race Course – Additions – Described Movement and use of Ticket Office as 'THE SHACK' for self and OWEN Girls slept inside

06:31 Kept pigs – Sent to butcher – Bought store pigs at TODD'S AUCTION ROOMS HERBIE (Herbert Harry) BOOTH – Butcher in YARROW STREET – Mentioned Care of white sow and piglets – Incident at auction rooms – Described 09:10 [EDUCATION]: Attended NORTH INVERCARGILL SCHOOL – All walked to school OWEN – Frightened of foxes in gorse – Special school prize – Proficiency Result Teacher – TOMMY BAIRD – MIDDLE SCHOOL – Mentioned Self and sisters all gained Proficiency 12:00 Self attended SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE for a year 1930 Depression – Job at MAKAREWA FREEZING WORKS – Described First bike bought from J D CAMPBELL in ESK STREET – also Mayor J D DASCOMB – MRCVS (Member Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) BILL FAULKNER – Mentioned 15:00 End of Track 1

Disc 1: TRACK 2

00: 00 Spent 6 years at FREEZING WORKS from age 13

00:20 Time as special apprentice with JABEZ HAYES of YTHAN STREET – Work described

01:09 Given permanent job at FREEZING WORKS – Explained Weekly wage at freezing works – Five pounds, two shillings and eight pence Apprenticeship wage – Fifteen shillings per week Purchase of motorbike Parents not happy with change to work in engineering shop Father's comments about 'blacksmith's shop”

03:07 Father, TOM MARSHALL, left school in Standard Four – Ability to continue learning PEAR'S CYCLOPAEDIA – Mentioned

03:54 Mother (referred to here as GRANDMA by interviewer) – Little education – Big family – Much younger than husband Parents met in EDENDALE

04:39 [EDUCATION]: Generations have different educational goals

04:49 While at freezing works attended night school for ENGINEERING THEORY MICKEY STEWART – COLIN STIRLING – ALLAN McCULLOCH – Mentioned

06:01 Own aim was THIRD MARINE TICKET to go to sea Studies interrupted by war – Not allowed to join NAVY Self left New Zealand in 1939 – Just over 4 years overseas

08:04 OWEN (brother) – Flying Instructor at INVERCARGILL AIRPORT Joined AIR FORCE – Instructor at TAIERI – Went to PACIFIC BRENDA – Dental Corps – WELLINGTON JUNE – far too young NANCY – did not get away – May have been married at the time

09:02 ARTHUR LODGE – Heavy artillery – Placed around NEW ZEALAND

09:35 INVERCARGILL – Personal recollections of surroundings TAY and DEE STREETS – THE CRESCENT – Mentioned 10:06 Joined ROWING CLUB while at engineering shop – Running to beach and back

10:38 [SOCIAL LIFE]: Rowing – Never really had a girl friend – Group of young people

11:11 [RELIGION] : Mother very strict – She attended church – Children made to attend bible class – When self started work decided not to attend Army life changed view of religion – Differences between priests etc and community ITALY – JERUSALEM – HOLY SEPULCHRE– Mentioned

13:20 Mother a great cook – Always seemed to have plenty of food Father's help to extended family – Needs of families – Described BLACKBURNS – THORNLEYS – Mentioned

15:00 End of Track 2

DISC 1: TRACK 3

00:00 Brief comment

00:07 End of Track 3

Second Interview: 28 March 2012

Disc 1: TRACK 4

00:00 No comments made

00:23 Second Interview – Confirmation of Identity Explanation of how named Recording Agreement

02:01 NOEL'S father is grandfather of interviewer FATHER – Caretaker of INVERCARGILL RACE COURSE – Duties outlined Designed race track – Appointed STARTER Born and bred amongst horses – Incident/accident with pommel on saddle GREYHOUND COURSING CLUB – Described Hares kept at racecourse for greyhounds – Racing greyhounds – Described OAMARU – HARE PADDOCK – Mentioned

08:26 “Ora” (?) name given to greyhound – given to father for self GAVIN POWELL from EDENDALE

09:37 Freezing works for 6 years – Served special apprenticeship – Served overseas

10:06 Troop ship from WELLINGTON – Four years overseas FIJI – EGYPT – ITALY – CAIRO – Mentioned English Red Caps discipline – Described

12:14 SHEPHEARD'S HOTEL in CAIRO

12:40 In ITALY moved up the ADRIATIC side – Down to MONTE CASINO 13:17 Self did return visit about 60 years later – Comparisons made Memories returned – Self no desire to visit again CASINO – GERMANS – 'YANKS' (Americans) – Mentioned...

15:00 End of Track 4



Disc 1: TRACK 5

00:00 … Casino continued... Bombing of the Casino – GERMAN escape Self sent to Tank Field Workshops to do repairs

01:06 Self sick in NORTHERN ITALY – In Army Hospital with malaria R.A.P. (Regimental Aid Post) – First time ever in hospital

02:39 JAPAN still at war Sailed from EGYPT – AMERICAN regulations applied nearing NEW ZEALAND Conditions – Described

03:36 Return to NEW ZEALAND – Described

04:17 Coming to terms with 'Civvy Street' Dance and meeting with future wife – Married 15 months later Attributes of future wife – Described Wife's name GWEN – Pastry cook at BROWN OWL (tearooms)

06:07 Gwen one of a large family – milked cows – HILLIS family of MYROSS BUSH

06:33 Opportunity to build a new home – Enjoyed for about 35 years

07:02 Married in INVERCARGILL

07:08 Move to GORE – Self and friend agreed to set up business in GORE FRED HARVEY a tractor mechanic – Self did engineering work Business named HARVEY and MARSHALL – Together 20 years

08:22 Bought 200 acres of bare land – Sold house in KITCHENER STREET, GORE as deposit

09:11 Purchase of cottage for home on farm for ₤250 ($500) plus transport HEDGEHOPE – D T KING REMOVALS – Mentioned

09:58 Lived in cottage about 10 years – Girls born there – GLENDA and SHERYL

10:24 SHERYL ANN born early – GWEN had health problem – Described GLENDA a healthy baby SHERYL fed brandy and water by nurse

11:44 Introduction of PLUMBING into business – Explained OWEN (brother) – Difficulties manufacturing spouting Making continuous lengths of spouting – Described Spelter – Mentioned

13:40 Visit to firm SOUTH of SYDNEY – LYSAGHTS galvanised iron Manufacture of metal sheets – Described....

15:00 End of Track 5 DISC 1: TRACK 6

00:00 … Description of process continued... About 1958-1960 First people to produce long-run spouting in NEW ZEALAND – Some sold to AUSTRALIA ADELAIDE – LOWER LIGHT – Mentioned

01:54 Long-run machines sold in ADELAIDE and SYDNEY OWEN (brother) brain behind venture – Constraints in production MELBOURNE – Mentioned

02:55 Business became a financial success – Royalties on products sold in NEW ZEALAND Products – Specialised machinery – Described

04:32 Interest in making things – Father's comment regarding perpetual motion

05:10 Failures – Lack of time and finance

05:43 Machine to skin sheep – Self too independent to heed advice on production DES BRADLEY – Mentioned SOUTHLAND FROZEN MEAT COMPANY – Coal Mine WAIMUMU – MATAURA – MAKAREWA – Mentioned

07:25 Self not influenced by other people – Independent

08:17 Traumatic times – Eye injury – Emotional aspect of being in hospital GWEN – SHERYL – ALISTAIR – DUNEDIN – Mentioned

10:48 Farm combined with work in GORE – About 1965-1968 gave up workshop Engineering for 20 years

12:06 Moved to farm – Lived in a shack – GWEN milked cows Workshop on farm – Built new home Son-in-law BRIAN – Mentioned

13:11 Attended local dances – Self original member of MATAURA GOLF CLUB, wife joined – Adapted ride-on tractor for mowing greens...

15:00 End of Track 6

DISC 2: TRACK 1

00:00 … Commendation for work done for golf club – Presented in INVERCARGILL SOUTHLAND well served with golf clubs Comments about 'one off' adapted mower – Purchase of purpose-built machine

01:34 Self and GWEN played golf together – Styles of play described GWEN and other ladies – catering for Golf Club GORE – Mentioned

02:48 Ladies involvement in setting up MATAURA GOLF CLUB Historically clubs for men – Self moved that ladies be able to sit on committee as members of the club Some advantages of mixed membership – Explained

04:50 [HOLIDAYS]: Self and GWEN on boat cruise SINGAPORE and HONG KONG On board horse racing – Described – GWEN won Trip to ENGLAND and CONTINENT – Self prefers boat cruise

06:30 Holiday place at ARROWTOWN – Liked climate – Reasonable travel distance GLENDA – Mentioned RIVERTON considered – Weather a deterrent

08:16 [RELAXATION]: GORE once a week – Happiest when busy Passion for cars – Various brands mentioned – Petrol consumption a factor Intrigued with technology involved – Examples given JAGUAR – Mentioned

11:17 After war purchase of 1938 Chevvy (Chevrolet) – Described Eventually sold for a good profit

12:48 [HORSES]: GWEN, GLENDA and SHERYL interested in horses SHERYL'S first time on pony – Described BILL HAZLETT – Horse wintered on farm 'CAPET'

14:52 End of Track 1

Third Interview: 1 May 2012

DISC 2: TRACK 2

00:00 … (towards end of war) – Retreat in desert – Moments of extreme excitement and fear – Discussions with conscripts and conscientious objectors – Incident recalled 01:41 Florence ITALY – War over but ARMISTICE not yet signed – Non surrender of GERMAN officer – Scene described Arrival of tanks – Warning to 'KIWIS' – Surrounded by tanks War in JAPAN not over Reactions to news of war's end – Described

04:18 [MOST TRAUMATIC TIME]: Looking after GWEN when she was sick – Loss of her company

05:20 [HAPPIEST TIMES]: Going to ARROWTOWN – Engagement and marriage – Gradually getting a home together

06:37 WAIMUMU – Research for talk to WOMEN'S INSTITUTE Development of swampy land – Described CRANMER'S HILL (?) – CHURCH CONE – POVERTY CORNER – Mentioned Meanings of the name WAIMUMU – Generally taken as 'Wind and Water' 09:15 In hindsight – Farming or business in GORE ? – May have been better working at (freezing) works – Prior to war studying for 3rd Class Engineering ticket – Financial considerations Home in GORE sold – Sufficient funds to buy 200 bare acres at WAIMUMU

10:50 Purchase of cottage from HEDGEHOPE – D T KING LTD transported it Conditions – Described Self continued at engineering shop – GWEN milked cows Problems with coal range – Described Six months with out electricity – Alternative light and heating...

12:36 End of Track 2

Disc 2: TRACK 3

00:00 … Big difference when power connected. Children born when living in cottage ROXBURGH (power station) not yet in use – Others connected to power supply

01:02 Self and family born and bred SOUTHLANDERS No desire to live anywhere else Thoughts on radio weather reports INVERCARGILL – NORTH ISLAND – Mentioned

02:16 [REGRETS]: Would have liked sufficient capital to pursue projects in mind Skinning machine in particular – Reasons given Didn't want to share own ideas with others

03:57 [TALENTS]: Ability to work hard

04:18 [HOBBIES]: Sports – Rowing – Played rugby – Hockey Not musical – Likes to listen to Country Music GLADDY (or GRANNY) BLACKBURN a singer – Mentioned

06:36 Lost sister JUNE SHERYL – mentioned

07:22 [ASPIRATIONS for GRANDCHILDREN]: SHERYL'S TWO – Son qualified surveyor – GEMMA – marrying school teacher GLENDA'S BOYS – (BRAD) Welder and other qualifications (recently became a father) – WADE set up bakery business, overworked himself, problems Great grandchild MAISIE MAY Own wife was GWENDOLYNE MAY – own daughter GLENDA MAY -

12:40 [BIGGEST CHANGE]: WAIMUMU as mentioned earlier GORE – Waxed and Waned – Possible extension of boundaries for housing LIGNITE MINING proposal could be prosperous for GORE Views of self regarding coal and lignite mining effects on land

15:00 End of Track 3

Disc 2: TRACK 4

00:00 … What would fill the large hole created? SOUTHLAND'S future still relies on grass – Increased population – Food produced

00:30 End of Track4

Dates

  • 2012

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The contents of Southland Oral History Project collections are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act 1994. Please note that in accordance with agreements held with interviewees additional conditions regarding the reproduction [copying] and use of items in the Southland Oral History Project collections may apply. Please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator for further information at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.

Extent

From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)

Language of Materials

From the Record Group: English

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository