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 05 June 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