Interview with Lorraine Palmer

Lorraine Palmer was born in Cromwell in 1934 and raised in the small rural Central Otago community of Bannockburn where her parents farmed. Recalls family life, a love of the environment and art. Mentions her father was a CCS foundation member joining the organisation in 1934. Describes primary school at Bannockburn and the shock of moving to Dunedin to attend secondary school at Columba College. Describes Occupational Therapy training at the Avondale Mental Hospital in Auckland in 1952. Comments on the craft work and its role in assisting people in their rehabilitation. Recalls her final six months of training at Seacliff Hospital and working at the Occupational Therapy department of Dunedin Public Hospital.

Talks about marriage, raising a family and voluntary work for the Play Centre Association. Recalls her return to the paid work force as Occupational Therapist at CCS in 1972 where her job was organising activities for the clients. Describes becoming Director of the Adult Centre, developing a client centred programme amd providing opportunities for clients to increase their independence. Mentions that the prevailing protective attitude to clients was a barrier. Comments on the inappropriateness of the `Crippled children' name when most of the clients were adults. Describes supporting higher education, recreation camps and increased living skills. Mentions volunteers, the work of Elizabeth Hamilton and Vera Hayward and the impact of 1981 as the International Year of Disabled People. Comments that most of the CCS Executive were male Rotarians not informed about current practice. Discusses her involvement in other groups, such as the Independent Living Group, designed to further opportunities of people with disabilities. Describes training as a social worker, becoming the CCS social worker and then Client Services Manager. Comments on communication problems within CCS, growing financial difficulties and personnel problems. Discusses a management review, being appointed interim General Manager and her decision to retire from CCS. Comments on the increased vibrancy and focus in the organisation since 1972.

Interviewer(s) - Helen Frizzell

Accompanying material - Copies of photos of CCS gatherings with Lorraine Palmer involved; copies of newspaper cuttings of CCS events with Lorraine Palmer involved; paper by Lorraine Palmer `The Crippled children society - is it meeting the needs of the disabled?'

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2577.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: A digital copy of the recording is available in the Library's Reading Room