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Interview with Betty Donaldson
Date: 31 Mar-20 Jul 1999 - 13 Aug 1999 - 20 Jul 1999
From: Southland oral history project
By: Donaldson, Emily Stirling, 1917-2007
Reference: OHInt-0464/06
Description: Betty Donaldson was born in Dunedin in 1917. Recalls seeing an aeroplane and hearing the radio for the first time. Describes attending St George School and playing basketball (netball) for the Southland Primary School team and the Kiwi Basketball Club. Recalls activities including kite flying, bird nesting and going to the beach, estuary and frog pond. Discusses transport, including trains and trams, the South Invercargill shopping centre, home deliveries of milk, bread and newspaper, trips to Riverton, Colac Bay, Te Wae Wae Bay and Monkey Island. Describes in detail the township of Orepuki in the 1920s and 1930s. Recalls her grandparents. Summarises her sporting career including being a member of the Southland Basketball (Netball) Team from 1936-1942, being a referee, coach and Southland selector, starting a cricket club and being in the New Zealand Women's Cricket Team. Describes attending the Empire Games in 1938. Gives some details of New Zealand representatives at this event. Describes being in the Womens War Service Auxiliary during the war, applying for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, being posted to Taieri, nightflying duties and training at Levin. Recalls flying in Tiger Moths and in an Oxford. Talks about meeting Harry Donaldson and marrying him in 1950. Describes the effect of two wars on her mother. Mentions having four sons. Describes her introduction to local body affairs, doing research on South Invercargill, working to upgrade the area in the 1970s, zoning changes and ninety nine year leases. Discusses opposing the use of reclaimed land in the Invercargill Estuary for industry. Talks about public meetings and the people involved. Describes the passing of a resolution changing the Invercargill District Scheme and the effect on housing. Discusses the schemes of the National Housing Improvement Area (NIA), working with Town Planning Officers, endowment funds and urban renewal. Mentions the involvement of Warren Cooper, Eve Poole, Mark Peck and Tim Shadbolt. Discusses the appointment of a Council Committee for the South Invercargill Rejuvenation Project. Talks about the Invercargill District Plan and the Resource Managment Act (RMA). Discusses her submission on the proposed District Plan and a second submission accepted by the Council . Comments on the hearing of submissions. Interviewer(s) - Beth Cairns Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008607 - OHC-008611 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 5 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2683.