Overview The Baker family's connections with the Te Anau Basin go back more than half a century when Russell's father worked on the electrical supplies during the last stages of the Homer Tunnel construction. By 1964 Te Anau had become the family's permanent home and it wasn't long before Russell combined two of his favourite pastimes deer-hunting and aviation. In the late 1960s he was involved in venison recovery as a meathunter and after passing his commercial pilot's licence in 1975 he used fixed...

School status Open school [1886 - present]

Overview This interview was recorded as part of the About Us Voices of Southland collection. This interview looks at the Grant family first settling in Balfour in 1876, the opening of a store and purchase of farm land. He looks at his own connection with the farm: growing up there, the diversity of farming practices, and effects of climate. In the 1980s he became interested in politics being elected to parliament in 1987 and serving 2 terms. He talks of his life after this, his involvement on various...

Overview Agnes discusses life on ‘Glenaray Station’ sheep station where her father was Head Shepherd. She goes on to talk about her education through to Gore High School before going onto teacher training in Dunedin. Agnes taught at Balfour School before her marriage. Her husband had a farm. She returned to teaching after children and retired in 1997. She tells of her involvement in Rural Women. Tells of her children and their careers.

Overview Myrle talks of her family background, life, religion, education and growing up in Balfour where her family were the local bakers. She goes onto to tell of her employment history - at the local Grocer’s shop, looking after children for the Farry family in Gore and joining the Air Force at the outbreak of World War 2. After the war she talks of her marriage and family.