Skip to main content

1984 Southland Flood Oral History Project, 2009

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources
Scope Note: Special project of the Southland Oral History Project

Found in 14 Collections and/or Records:

AYSON, Peter Leicester interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 12
Identifier: H0303
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview Peter gives a brief overview of his family and his occupation before going on to detail the events around the 1984 flood and its impacts on Otautau and surrounding areas. He covers the flood and the eventual clean up and the lengthy process that this was.
Dates: 2009

CHECKETTS, Robert Neville interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 5
Identifier: H0029
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. Neville gives an in-depth account of the 1984 Floods and his contribution at this time through the Fire Police and radio technology and communications; His interest in Amateur Radio which lead to his career as a radio technician and his lifelong involvement with Boys Brigade.
Dates: 2010

DRAKE, Reginald Earl Drake interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 25
Identifier: H0121
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. Reginald worked for Wallace County Council as Senior Building Inspector after being a builder in Tuatapere. Reginald recalls how the flood unfolded, its effects on the Otautau and surrounding areas and services and Civil Defense. He also tells of his role after the flood as a building inspector, the impact of the flood on infrastructure, working in a team and the...
Dates: 2009

GRAY, Colin Alexander interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 23
Identifier: H0049
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview Colin talks about and describes his family, education and employment first training as a Drafts Person before applying for a Survey Cadetship through the Lands and Survey Department. He was appointment as Staff Surveyor Invercargill and later as Town Planning Officer. He also trained for flooding problems through Civil Defence. Colin goes on to recall...
Dates: 2011

GUTSELL, Peter Fordyce interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 8
Identifier: H0126
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview Peter looks at his occupation as a bricklayer i.e. training and employers before coming self-employed. He talks of his involvement with the Fire Brigade, the 1984 flood and contributing factors to this, damage caused and the role he played during this time; and the aftermath clean up. Through these recollections Peter tells many stories and refers to...
Dates: 2009

KEEN, Victor John interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 20
Identifier: H0129
Overview This interview is part of the 1984 Southland Flood Collection and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview Victor tells of his experiences in Otautau during the 1984 flood. Victor was the Deputy District Governor of the Lions District 202F. Victor describes his trip to and from Invercargill airport on the day of the flood and his efforts to return to Aparima on the hundred line. He was delegated work with Welfare (Civil Defence) through the Lions and he...
Dates: 2009

LOW, John Davidson interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 11
Identifier: H0134
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview John looks at the 1978 Otautau Floods and how these affected him and his family who were farming at Bayswater on the banks of the Aparima River. He recalls what he had to do keep family, stock and feed safe. Compares this flood with the 1984 and 1987 floods and looks back on floods in 1913 and 1916 and how mechanisms were put in place after these to try...
Dates: 2009

LOWREY, Janice Claire interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 11
Identifier: H0135
Overview Janice describes her experiences, feelings and evacuation in Otautau during the 1984 flood and the aftermath of this event to family, home, business and community.
Dates: 2009

McALISTER, John Francis interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 20
Identifier: H0137
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview John talks of his work with Southland District Council as a water operator and prior to that as an electrical contractor. The subject of the interview is a flood and its effects on Otautau, Western Southland and his own work efforts during this time. John was working for the Wallace County Council at the time and looks at how they got the Water System...
Dates: 2009

McCONECHY Graham Spencer interviewed by Nancy Burnett

 Record Group — Box 19
Identifier: H0053
Overview This interview is a topic based interview about the 1984 flood and was recorded following the 25th anniversary of the flood. In this interview Graham tells of his family history, his parent’s employment history, his life and his education in Invercargill. He did his apprenticeship as a builder but followed his interest in photography gaining employment in this field. His other interest was Citizen Brand Radio through which he was involved with Civil Defence during the 1984 floods.
Dates: 2011