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Date: 02-03 Feb 2008

From: Methven Heritage Project - RSA and Arable oral history project

By: Stewart, Selwyn Lamb, 1918-2008

Reference: OHInt-0920-17

Description: Interview with Selwyn Stewart. Born in 1918 in Asburton. Backgrounds his parents Thomas Stewart and Jane Stewart (nee Lamb) who farmed at Seaview, near Ashburton and at Kolmar homestead, Lyndhurst, Mid Canterbury. Recalls going to Waimatataitai Primary School, Lynhurst Primary School and Timaru Boys High School. Refers to taking agricultural course. Describes class sizes, subjects and teachers Miss Mildred Rudd and Bill Thomas. Mentions being captain of cricket team and rugby, boxing and ballroom dancing. Says left school at 16 years old to drive a team of horses at Kolmar farm. Talks about ploughing, training and caring for horses. Mentions Lyndhurst blacksmith Billy Cook and wheelright Knox Cook. Comments on running Corriedale sheep on dry farm with his brother Alan Stewart and few men. Mentions going to Aitkens Store, Ashburton, for groceries and mail. Talks about volunteering for World War Two in 1940. Says he went to Burnham camp to train, and was in 4th Reinforcements. Refers to playing bagpipies in Methven Pipe Band. Describes sailing from Wellington on board 'New Amsterdam', picking up the 'Mauretania' and 'Aquitania' from Sydney and Melbourne, going through Indian Ocean to Bombay, India. Mentions arriving in Egypt, and camping at Maadi. Says he transferred to 23rd Battalion after it came back from Syria. Talks about going to El Alamein and receiving a head wound in a bombing raid. Refers to being hospitalised at Alexandria in various hospitals, and then being sent to Helwan Hospital, Cairo. Refers to being stretchered to Wanganella hospital ship at Tewfik and sailing on the Red Sea to Colombo, Ceylon, then back to Wellington. Mentions being under Doctor McKenzie at Timaru hospital for head injury. Says he took over Kolmar farm in 1943, and married Norma Hale (nee Gadd) in 1944. Mentions why Alan Stewart left Kolmar. Refers to getting war pension and Public Works Act for soldier settlement. Describes changes made to Kolmar farm homestead and having an underground tank for rainwater. Mentions cars he and his family have owned. Talks about breeding Corriedale sheep for fine wool, and rams to stand the weather. Discusses growing rape, turnips, blue lupins, perennial ryegrass, red and white clover, subterranean clover and haymaking. Mentions support of Bobby Low and uncle Stanley Wilson. Details getting rid of foot rot in sheep, and using lime on soil. Refers to not using horses after war. Talks about using Massey Harris tractor, duncan drill, grubber, harrow and rollers. Recalls shearing gang work and wool classing. Talks about his four children Peter, Ross, Antony and Susan, and their achievements. Mentions Antony (Tony) died at 47. Discusses siblings Mavis McWhinney Pink, Errol Douglas Stewart and Alan McNaughton Stewart. Says Alan served in Pacific during World War Two and Mavis as VAD nurse (Voluntary Aid Detachment) at Hanmer Springs. Mentions Peter Stewart and wife Toni (nee Flint) took over Kolmar farm in 1976. Interviewer(s) - Kathryn McKendry Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016778 - OHC-016779 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Adobe PDF Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-6039, OHDL-001834. Search dates: 1918 - 2008