Overview In this interview Kitty recalls family history, her education which included being one of the first pupils at Owaka District High School, a school that her father and the local Doctor fought to get started. On leaving school Kitty trained to be a teacher. She also details memories of marriage and children and the new home they built after her mother-in-law’s house burnt down. It cost £750.00 to build. Kitty reflects on services, communication and leisure activities of the time in the 1930s e.g....

Overview This interview was commissioned by Women's Division of Federated Farmers for a project entitled Pioneer Women. In the interview Heleanor talks about her family history, in particular her grandmother, Catherine. Helanor describes life in Fortrose for her and her grandmother.

Overview In this interview Florence talks about her family history and her education. She recalls farming life when she was growing up and how produce from the farm was sold from her father’s milk cart. She recalls memories of the flu (“black plague”), childhood activities and the Jersey Stud she and her husband started: her stud was the Fairfax Royal Stud and her husbands’ was the Oreti Park Stud. Florence became a judge for A&P shows.

Overview This interview was commissioned by Women's Division of Federated Farmers for a project entitled Pioneer Women. Violet Elizabeth Peggy Soderstrom was born Torquay, England. In this interview Peggy gives her family background - father a teacher at Torquay School of Art. She describes her education at a Convent School run by French Nuns, her first employment and her enlistment as a WREN in 1916 at Torquay. She gives her reasons for coming to New Zealand and mentions the Victorious Scheme for the...

Overview This interview was commissioned by Women's Division of Federated Farmers for a project entitled Pioneer Women. In this interview, Ann talks about how her family came to New Zealand from England on the Scimitar. She talks about early life in Lowburn, in Central Otago. Ann went to school in Invercargill and then she worked at Mt Pisa Station. She talks about rabbitting, farm life and her large family.

Overview This collection consists of two short interviews. In the first, recorded in 2004, Eric recalls life on the Ruddenklau farm near Fortrose, describing mixed cropping, harvesting, and the transition from horse-powered farming to tractors. It highlights the ingenuity and camaraderie of farm workers, early farm technology, local personalities, rural transport, schooling, and community life in Southland. In the second, recorded in 2006, Eric describes his time in the home guard in Tokonui at the...

Overview In this interview, commissioned by Women's Division of Federated Farmers for a project entitled Pioneer Women, Mary looks at her family history, her education and qualifying as a teacher after which she moved to Quarry Hills School as sole charge teacher. She met her husband Harold and lived at Waikawa for 60 years. Her children were educated through Correspondence School. Mary also describes growing up, domestic chores, social activities and farming practices of the time.