Interview with Anne Harris

Anne Harris was born in Lancashire on 31 March 1939. Outlines her family's background in England. Comments on the poverty and difficulties experienced in both of her parents' families. Describes her mother's ignorance in terms of birth and sex. Recalls growing up in a community of women and getting to know her father at the age of eight because he and other men were at war. Recalls living in army barracks in the south of England. Describes working in the Air Force before rejoining her family in Rhodesia, and working in the Post Office. Talks about returning to England, getting married and having a baby. Describes antenatal clinics and lack of support for breastfeeding. Compares the birth of her first child with those of her next two children, which were home births. Discusses looking after three children and her promotion of the importance of the role of the mother. Talks about child abuse.

Comments on racism in England and the family's hopes on emigrating to New Zealand. Describes the joy of being a grandparent. Discusses caring for her sick mother, operating a taxi service with her husband and later a fish and chip shop. Talks about studying at Massey, lecturing for Weight Watchers, caring for her husband after a motor accident and working for the Presbyterian Church in Feilding.

Venue - Feilding : 1994

Interviewer(s) - Claire Loftus Nelson

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006265; OHC-006266; OHC-006267

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.10 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1430.

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

Alternative form available: Listening copies are available at OHLC-006390 to OHLC-006392