Places

Date: 16 Mar 2006 - 22 Mar 2006

From: Oral history of Cook Strait Whalers based in Tory Channel

By: Godsiff, Geoffrey Curtis, 1926-2015

Reference: OHInt-0856-04

Description: Interview with Geoff Godsiff, born at Picton in 1926. Talks about growing up on the family farm in the Bay of Many Coves, Queen Charlotte Sound. Mentions living with grandparents in Kaikoura for four years to attend school and then finishing his education at home through the Correspondence School. Refers to his mother running a guest house during the Depression, and naval activities in the Marlborough Sounds during World War 2. Comments on the simple life and hard work farming in the area. Discusses his various jobs including boat building and dairy farming. Talks about residents in the Bay of Many Coves, the planting of pines from 1934-1935, and the first holiday homes. Comments on unstable land and erosion in the Sounds. Mentions his family took on a farm on Arapawa Island in 1952 which he managed. Discusses the use of barges for bulk transport to and from farms in the Sounds. Refers to selling his farm and moving to Picton when his son was 10 for his education. Mentions his later jobs including 20 years working for the Harbour Board. Discusses going whaling in 1960, living at Oyster Bay with Herb Heberley for the season. Describes working in the frozen meat department of the factory where humpback whale meat was frozen and then cut and packaged for pet food. Refers to other workers including resident engineer Hank Ruesick, factory foreman Cairo Huntley, and owners Gilbert and Joe Perano. Comments on hazards in the factory. Talks about factory waste disposed into the sea attracting sharks and nelly birds, and slabs of meat floating all over the Sounds. Discusses uses for whale oil. Refers to leaving the whaling station when sperm whaling began. Reflects on his time in the whaling industry, the hard work but good money earned in a winter job that fitted with farming, and the living conditions and social life of the whalers. Interviewer(s) - Loreen Brehaut Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015998 - OHC-016000 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 3 C60 cassette(s). 2 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 digital photograph(s). 2 interview(s). 2.46 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5768, OHDL-001393. Includes colour portrait (OHDL-001394) Search dates: 1926 - 2006

Date: Dec 2007 - Apr 2008

From: Owen, Dylan, 1958-: Photographs

Reference: PADL-000270

Description: Photographs of Kaikoura, Blenheim, Picton and Lake Grassmere buildings, 2007-2008 Arrangement: These files were originally delivered to the library within folders called "Buildings Dec 2007 to Jan 2008" and "Buildings Feb to April 2008" Quantity: 29 digital photograph(s).