Staff in workroom of Johansen and Company, bootmakers

Manawatū Conversations - Oral History

Stuart Birks' oral history recordings as featured on the Manawatū People's Radio programme, "Manawatū Conversations."

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Covid-19 Lockdown - Oral history

Covid-19 Lockdown - Oral history

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 26th May 2020. John Ward, Alison Mildon, Don Esslemont and Stuart Birks in the 6th week of Covid-19 lockdown, describing the experience. Don had falls and was taken by ambulance for treatment twice. Distancing and use of protective gear. Flu vaccinations. John occupied with his radio station and his music project. John’s cook. Alison’s experiences, life in the country, colourising old photographs. Long-playing records (LPs) versus digitized music.

 
Living in Feilding - oral interview

Living in Feilding - oral interview

Oral interview with Margaret Bailey and Brian Hunter about family life, growing up and living in the Feilding area. Interviewed at the Coach House Museum in Feilding. Summary of interview: 0.00 Introduction 0.43 Born in Feilding, moved to 20 acre block, there for 7 years. Father worked in town, but needed extra income in the depression. Had a few cows. Several neighbours doing similar things. 4.24 Father went to work by car. When at school (1937-1940), he would drive her home and back at lunch (‘dinner’) time. Returned to town in 1940 after father died. 5.56 Large family? 2 brothers, one older, one younger. Memory of biking home, dive bombed by a magpie. 7.02 did not like riding down Kimbolton Road because of a swagger’s hut. 8.56 Comparison of town versus farmlet living? Memories vague, including of her father. When married, husband Graham 7 years older, so more memories of her father. 10.25 back in town was still very rural, uncle’s farm across the road. Neighbour’s horse trough outside her bedroom. 11.20 Outdoor life? Yes, but quite organized. Mother protective. Not allowed to river unsupervised. No father, so lots of chores. Conscious of lack of father. 13.07 Heard teacher saying, “But they haven’t got a dad at home”. 13.56 Uncle gave goose at Christmas, children had to pluck it. Many other chores. 14.56 gender division in chores? No. Wanted to do the same as the boys. 15.54 Mr Bryant over the back fence, wicker worker, made baskets, grew own willows. 17.03 Animals? Not many. Horse? No, not an option, and no friends with horses. 18.28 Memories of local hospital. Grandstand at Johnson Park (engineers housed there in the war, mother had telephone, unusual, soldiers used her phone, also ran Bedand breakfast for men’s wives and children. 20.25 How broad was your world, Palmerston North a big trip? Yes, although had car. Parents had 7 year courtship while saved to buy a house. Also had washing machine (described, Canadian, tub and wringer). 21.43 Mother had married sister in Palmerston North, the couple would go to Feilding at weekends to help them. 22.16 Did not travel far. Holidays with friends at Foxton Beach (very common for local families, but they only went for a couple of weeks). Other holidays with friends at Waitarere Beach, once to Tauranga. No overseas travel (even for her school riends, South Island was far). 25.21 Tramping holidays? Never, was a minority interest then, partly because few cars. Not much use of horses, even for school children. Lytton Street School had large catchment. 26.58 When at high school, Halcombe children came by train, always late. Boarders at her home, so she shared a bedroom with her mother until married. Mother on widow’s benefit, did not work (“not many mothers did at that stage”). Money was tight, so strange that, unlike most, they had car, phone, washing machine. 29.21 Memories of school? Good. Only 1 teacher she didn’t like, no difficulty with lessons. Academic ambitions? Enjoyed manual training classes (cooking and sewing), so wanted to teach these. University not an option. 4 years at high school, then worked in office of Hodder and Tolley’s mill for 2 years to save enough for teacher’s college. 31.49 Course offered in Dunedin. Accepted, with friend Colleen Smith. Went by train, overnight ferry, and all next day by train to Dunedin (a day and a half). Boarded at YWCA hostel, then second year in Christchurch, third year a preparationary year at 3 institutions in her area, 1 term in each. Actually got early registration, then to job in Hawkes Bay. Engaged just before left for Hawkes Bay and returned after a year. 36.03 What sort of cooking did you teach? Basic, things that could be done in a short time (scones, no time for meat). Trying to give enjoyment of cooking, different methods of cooking. Meals were boiled vegetables plus meat, followed by pudding. 39.28 Sewing? Basic, using sewing machines, following a pattern. Normal for women to make their own and children’s clothes. 41.28 His mother made his clothes. 41.33 Margaret’s 4 children did not have a bought garment until intermediate school. She made everything, sometimes by cutting down other clothing. It is what people did. Brian’s wife does that with woolens, using the wool to knit something else. 42.53 Needlework? Samplers. Covered in training, but did not teach. 43.31 No zips, so buttons. Early zips and elastic, quality not so good at first. Button holes made by hand. Treadle sewing machines, so no fancy stitches. 45.11 Made button holes when boarding in Dunedin. 46.11 Only teaching after first year was in night classes (Feilding High School, about 1955-60). Night school very active then. 47.16 What subjects taught at night school? She taught young mothers to make clothes for their children (could not afford to buy). 49.04 Brian – mother at home and taught them to cook, etc.. Later girls did not learn these things at home or at school. 49.50 Was adult education active then? Yes, very active, but functional, not career focused. 50.47 Brian – L J Wild and his wife pioneers of “learning for life”, Feilding a leader in this. Also literature, debating, etc., and Feilding Little Theatre. Union activity in learning (as in UK)? Not in Feilding, little union activity. 54.23 Perception of capitalist-worker distinction? Perhaps in the freezing works, but otherwise not. 55.31 Back to women’s experiences, different from men’s? Most women stayed at home once married. Men and women met through families or church. 57.01 Suggested to join Country Women’s Institute, but not welcome because lived near a town, but was allowed to be a judge for them. Few women joined sports clubs. Now with cars easier to do more things. Men also had limited range of opportunities. Generally a close knit community. 1.02.21 Many outsiders moving to the district? Nothing comes to mind. Attitude to Maori, Australians, England? 1.03.39 First contact with Maori children, just accepted, no difference, but came and went by bus, so less contact out of school. 1.05.07 Ancestry? Scottish links, maternal grandfather came out in 1879. Paternal grandfather born in Australia, parents from north of England. Parents referred to England as home. She has been to UK and met family there. Youngest son working there for 15 years, so several trips. Seen as “exceptionally” strange relative from other side of the world. Saw them as stuck in traditions, more varied experiences in NZ. 1 relative in farming, but very different there (tenant farmer). 1.13.20 Are your children nearby? 3 stayed in the Manawatu. Youngest in Wellington. 1.15.30 On the farm, growing own food? After marriage, grew everything except bananas. Overseas visitors amazed that everything in the meal was home-grown. 1.18.15 Advent of home freezer had big impact. Also did lots of preserving. Pantry shelves designed for preserving jars, jam jars. 1.20.27 Entertainment? Radio? When young, played cards and board games. Singing and music through church. Music lessons as a child, piano, very common then. Record players came in when a teenager. Sundays for sitting quietly. When young, Sunday afternoons visiting grandparents, but mainly adults talking to each other, children to be “seen and not heard”. By high school, family could take a drive into the country with boyfriend. 1.27.46 On Wednesdays boy borders allowed into town, so girls would go too and go to milk bar for milk shakes. All very innocent, but enjoyable. One occasion of teenage pregnancy, the girl went away for a while. 1.28.58 Began high school in 1945. At end of war everyone celebrated, school closed. Conga line went through a hotel, first time inside one, but just in and out. 1.30.34 Troops returning. An aunt had been a nurse overseas. Continued to work after marriage, but no children. An uncle came back, marriage failed. Was 13 when war ended, so not particularly significant for her. 1.33.29 Television? They got it in 1967, but Graham’s parents lived over the road and had a set, so their children could see it there. That generation of grandparents closer than earlier generation, but his parents did no babysitting, her mother came out from town for that. Used to go to country dances (through the Masonic Lodge) on a Saturday night when children were small. 1.37.49 Brian on Savage Club concerts and the origin of the Savage Club. 1.39.04 Margaret remembering Savage Club in a parade. 1.39.20 Types of dancing? Waltz, Foxtrot, etc., not Rock and Roll. 1.41.04 Brian on Masons, men only, low profile. Records now with the museum. Different views in the community on the value of the Masons. Roman Catholics not members and not in favour if Masons. 1.43.08 Attitude to alcohol then (6 o’clock swill)? As a Methodist, not in favour. Women would rarely drink. First time dined in a hotel was on her honeymoon. Tobacco very common, nearly all men smoked, but not women. 1.45.57 Friend’s father smoked a pipe while riding a bike. Fell off and damaged his mouth. 1.47.21 Was cinema important? Yes. Saturday night in Feilding. National anthem, newsreels, interval and then film. 1.48.58 Brian – before television, cinemas used to show rugby tests in the lunch hour a week or two after the game. 1.50.22 Any takeaway shops? Fish and chips. Department stores in Palmerston North had tea rooms, lace table cloths. 1.52.01 Cashier in Cobbs store in Feilding – spring-loaded mechanism taking money to cashier and change sent back. 1.53.07 Brian was a delivery boy at Cobbs when someone put spider in container sent to cashier. Description of other after-school jobs he’d had. 1.55.26 Margaret’s first job at Hodder and Tolley’s paid 35 shillings a week (about $240 in 2015 prices). Needed shoes, but 32 shillings and 6 pence. Mother would not let her get them until had more money. 1.57.26 Changed attitudes to saving and debt then and now. 1.59.05 New Zealand went from pounds to dollars and numerically prices doubled. Description of change and preparation for changes. Had to show both prices for some time. Easier after decimalization, also for other measures. 2.01.49 significance of mental arithmetic. Grandchildren and calculators. 2.06.22 Margaret wanted to buy 10 items, shop assistant could not work out cost of 10. 2.08.10 Discipline in schools? In standard 5 and 6, problem with boys, so put in one class and strapping was used. In her teaching, not such a problem because teaching practical skills. 2.11.04 Winding down, Brian describing conversations at Thursday morning smokos at the museum.

 
Frida Larsen part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Frida Larsen part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Access Manawatu, 19 June 2018. The first of two interviews with Frida Evelyn Larsen on being a war bride during World War II and then settling in New Zealand. Frida Larsen was born in 1920 in Carlisle in Cumbria, England. She was a nurse and later obtained her BA (Hons) at Massey University. She had two children. Summary of interview: Part 1 of 2. War bride, husband a fighter pilot from NZ. To NZ in 1946. Overseas Ladies Club started by Jill Cook for war brides and then immigrants. Adjustment hardest for those from large towns going to the country. Husband on the railway. Club activities. Racism, anti-Catholic feeling. Became a Quaker. Some war brides from Italy. Back to England – everything seemed small. Other differences. Work. Family background. Class issues in the UK. Civic honour, Palmerston North (1997). Interviewed by Stuart Birks at the Brightwater Home in Palmerston North. Interview is 26 minutes and 48 seconds long. The interview was recorded for a series of talks played on Access Radio Manawatu, now called Manawatu People's Radio.

 
Frida Larsen, part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Frida Larsen, part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Access Manawatu 26 June 2018. The second of two interviews with Frida Evelyn at the Brightwater Home in Palmerston North. Interview is 23 minutes and 29 seconds long. The interview was recorded for a series of talks played on Access Radio Manawatu, now called Manawatu People's Radio. Summary: Larsen on being a war bride during World War II and then settling in New Zealand. Frida Larsen was born in 1920 in Carlisle in Cumbria, England. She was a nurse and later obtained her BA (Hons) at Massey University. She had two children. Summary of interview: Part 2 of 2. Family background, great-grandfather was a Chartist. Grandparents were unionists. Grandmother was a Suffragist. Father was a Fabian. Other grandmother was a Tory. Attitudes to war in UK in early 1900s. Her son wanting to be a conscientious objector (1960s?). NZ politics, trade unions. Britain and the EU. Citizenship issues. Husband not allowed a British passport.

 
Ann Behrens, teacher, part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Ann Behrens, teacher, part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 4 September 2018. Ann Behrens, Part 2 of 2. Summary: Coming to Palmerston North with a young family. Teaching at St Joseph’s. Comparison to St Dominic’s in Dunedin. No problem having a young child with her. History teaching. Playcentre and then the Psychological Service of the Education Service. Before the time of ADHD. Only woman in the service. Problems with their building. Became a manager, mainly of early childhood work. Management approach changed, “the era of managers”. Hobbies, family history. Germany and Norway. German submarine. Grandmother Scottish and a trained midwife (unusual in early 1900s). Why happy to stay in Palmerston North. Scandinavians in this area.

 
Abbeyfield residents, school days in World War Two - Manawatu Conversations

Abbeyfield residents, school days in World War Two - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Access manawatu, 12 June 2018. Abbeyfield residents Beryl Ludlam, Bev Marsh, Elaine Morse and Peggy Pedersen describe their experiences. Topics include: School in the war years, air raid practice and shelters, power blackouts, fear of invasion, old ladies teaching, poor discipline, news through the radio, country school farewells for boys going to serve overseas, ration books, sending food to England, the effects of war on families, Japanese in Featherstone, ginger nuts recipe story, American servicemen, Elaine in the UK, effects of a bombing raid, school lunches, entertaining Americans on a New Zealand farm, letters to soldiers, end of war celebrations, war casualties.

 
John Macfarlane, law and amateur dramatics - Manawatu Conversations

John Macfarlane, law and amateur dramatics - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 21 August 2018. Summary: John Macfarlane came to Palmerston North 48 years ago. Joining a law practice, timekeeping. Either court work or conveyancing. Other activities, sport and drama. Centrepoint Theatre, George Street, then Church Street, professional theatre only, no amateurs. Meal and play audiences. Subsidies, training ground for professional actors. Playwriters. Theatresports. On the Board of Centrepoint. City Council support. Popularity with actors. Book by Peter Hawes, _40 Years of Centrepoint Theatre_.

 
Ann Behrens, teacher, part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Ann Behrens, teacher, part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 28 August 2018. Ann Behrens Part 1 of 2. Summary: Teacher training in Palmerston North, 1957-8. Also taking a degree through Victoria University. Accommodation. Type of training. Funding. Trained for Primary, later worked as Secondary. Tenniquoits. Well trained – approach to teaching. No supervision. School inspectors. St Dominic’s College in Dunedin. Scandinavian grandfather arrived in NZ 1872. Visit to Norway. School management. Strong women. Teaching with 6 month old son in school. Lawyer husband, not from a family of lawyers, so hard to get first job. Later became a judge. In PN from about 1968.

 
Barry Slade, Palmerston North childhood, 1930s-40s - Manawatu Conversations

Barry Slade, Palmerston North childhood, 1930s-40s - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 11 September 2018. Barry Slade, Part 1 of 2. Summary: Childhood in Palmerston North, 1930s, 1940s. Tricycle to school. Nuns, school dentist, lunches. Wartime. Using a slate, inkwells. Subjects taken. School uniform. Music lessons. Map of war in C&C window. Blackouts, growing vegetables. Rationing. Teacher training in Christchurch, bonded. Teaching in Bunnythorpe. Military service. West End School, 55-60 pupils in class. New teaching method on pre-1840 Maori. Male primary teachers. Country service. Desks vs tables.

 
Anne Cheer, childhood - Manawatu Conversations

Anne Cheer, childhood - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio on 17 July 2018, Anne Cheer Part 1 of 2. Summary: In Palmerston North until 8, then Woodville until 16. Palmerston North Central Normal School. Comparison of her schooling and later teaching. Using slates. Inkwells. Subjects taken. Discipline. Father an engine driver. Masterton earthquake 1942. Physical education. Games, marbles. High school in Woodville, 5th form class of 7, only girl in class. Working as 14 year old, sent to Auckland to Girls Grammar school. Parties. Few cars. Home life, shopping, home crafts, washing. Buying house with cash. Father and fishing.

 
Mike Behrens, lawyer, judge - Manawatu Conversations

Mike Behrens, lawyer, judge - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 9 November 2018. Mike Behrens, Part 2 of 2. Summary: Appeared for the defense in well-known criminal cases. Difficulties with this. Lundy, John la Roche. Case where concerned about the result. Ongoing effects of cases, some affected people not moving on. Victim impact statements. Court action, witnesses, theatricals. Summing up. Cameras in court. Expertise of juries. Expert advisors and witnesses. TV representation of the law. Treatment of prisoners. White collar crime. Sensible Sentencing Trust. Rehabilitation. Circuit. Retirement.

 
Mike Behrens, lawyer, part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Mike Behrens, lawyer, part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 6 November 2018. Mike Behrens Part 1 of 2. Summary: First job as a lawyer in 1968, Palmerston North. Thrown in the deep end. Law Society meetings. Court work, mainly criminal defense. Court reporters. Difficulties with a Supreme Court judge. Local lawyer community. Interesting personalities. High Court case of a will. Early sporting days. Trevor de Cleene. Became a QC, and then became a judge in 2004.

 
Lorraine Holtham: Her life in Palmerston North, part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Lorraine Holtham: Her life in Palmerston North, part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 5th February 2019. Lorraine Holtham, Part 1 of 5. Born in Palmerston North in 1935. Lived towards top of Albert Street, private rental. State housing beginning then. Trotting stables next door. Description of house. 6 children, 4 rooms, getting inside bathroom. Coal range in kitchen. Moved into state house later. Father worked for council, mother house cleaning. Everyone poor. Penny ice creams. Growing food. Singer sewing machine. Primary school experience.

 
John Ward on Tangiwai, plus the Mayhew medal - Manawatu Conversations

John Ward on Tangiwai, plus the Mayhew medal - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu Peoiple's Radio 25 December 2018. Part 1, John Ward. Started work as a photo-engraver, December 1953. Called in to work urgently after Tangiwai rail disaster, Christmas Eve. Description of event and photograph processing for the reporting. How the plates were prepared. Distribution to newspapers. Father was a watchmaker. Other jobs by photo-engravers. Photo-finishes at races. Part 2, The C Mayhew British War Medal. Numerous participants. Finding the medal. C Mayhew engraved on it. British War Medal from WWI. Finding the family using military and genealogy research. Contacting the family. Get together to hand over the medal (and make this recording). Ribbon for the medal. Restoration.

 
Alison Mildon, Palmerston North childhood 1950s-60s - Manawatu Conversations

Alison Mildon, Palmerston North childhood 1950s-60s - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 4 December 2018. Alison Mildon. Summary: Family cars. Restrictions on overseas currency. Primary school. Localised communities. World War Two and ages of children. Getting to secondary school (Freyberg). Driving to school at 15. Views on co-educational schooling. Rural community implications. Few restrictions. Teenage pregnancies. Going overseas after lower 6th. Social activities, school pools, guides and scouts. Lamb and calf days. Changing communities.

 
Reg Bridewell on Bridewell's Bakery - Manawatu Conversations

Reg Bridewell on Bridewell's Bakery - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 8 January 2019. Reg Bridewell. Summary: Grandfather came to NZ in 1929 and set up a bakery in Palmerston North. Bakeries had zones. Self-help shops. Home deliveries, horse and cart, then a van after the war. First bakery in Victoria Avenue and Main Street (photo of this). Baking in brick oven heated with wood shavings. Horses in a paddock. Description of the oven. Grandfather’s lost recipe book. White and wholemeal bread only. More variety with electric ovens. Barracuda loaf. Working hours. New equipment after the war. Rationing supplies. Horses knowing the route. Now centralized, takeovers. Baking in Auckland. Boniface’s Bakery. Better quality now. Homestyle and Freshbake brands. “Improvers” added to the flour. Original bakery still standing.

 
Colleen Crooks, porcelain dolls part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Colleen Crooks, porcelain dolls part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 22 January 2019. Colleen Crooks Part 2 of 2. Summary: Porcelain doll making – after the porcelain stage. Traditional fabrics. Colours. Has hundreds of dolls, filled a granny flat. Dolls’ hospital. Still teaching this at 80. Cost of the hobby. Accurate reproductions versus a creative approach. Most prefer antique reproductions. A social environment in the classes, a “sisterhood”. Underwear, historically accurate. Hand sewing. Shoes. Hats. Hair, mohair, straws for curlers, dyes. Importance of eyes, “the soul of the doll”.

 
Colin Dyer, Palmerston North Showgrounds part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Colin Dyer, Palmerston North Showgrounds part 2 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 18 December 2018. Colin Dyer Part 2 of 2. Summary: Many Showgrounds events in the 1990s. League test where ran out of balls. National image of Palmerston North. Team announcement after All Black trial. Tina Turner concerts, bomb threat. Other evacuations. Growth of venue management as a skill. Parallel growth of sports management. Personalities – Rob Muldoon, sports people. Tipene O’Regan, Frank Endacott, Kereyn Smith, Prince Andrew.

 
Colin Dyer, Palmerston North Showgrounds part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Colin Dyer, Palmerston North Showgrounds part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 11 December 2018. Colin Dyer Part 1 of 2. Summary: Origins of Showgrounds, A&P Association 1886. Nature of A&P. State of Showgrounds about 1950. 1972 bought by PNCC and redeveloped. 1974, Palmerston North Showgrounds Act. Bernard Forde. Investment resulted in more activity. 1979 stadium built. Concerts, netball tests, etc.. Manager from November 1987 until 2002. Developed for multi-use in that time. Rugby league. Competing uses. Seating. Lighting. Televised games. Acoustics.

 
Colleen Crooks, porcelain doll making part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Colleen Crooks, porcelain doll making part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio 15 January 2019. Colleen Crooks Part 1 of 2. Summary: How got into doll making. History of porcelain dolls. Runs a dolls’ hospital. Can reproduce antiques in her studio, porcelain and clothing. Method of production using molds, porcelain slip, kilns and “paints” (china paints). The painting and firing process. Teaches classes in doll making. Competitions. Popularity as a hobby. Studying, apprenticeship, exams, Masters in Dollmaking. Further levels. Factories in Germany and France. A mechanical accordion-playing doll.

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