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Date: 04 08 00 - 04 Aug 2000

From: YWCA of Wellington and Hutt Valley oral history project

By: Rivers, Mary-Jane, 1951-

Reference: OHInt-0590-3

Description: Mary-Jane Rivers was born in Christchurch in 1951. Describes her mother and their relationship, her father, mother's family and paralysis due to medical malpractice. Talks about being educated by nuns, and moving to Auckland in difficult conditions. Talks about Auckland University, social movements, Sue Kedgely and Sharyn Cederman, becoming interested in feminism, marriage, moving to Wellington, and Victoria University. Mentions joining a feminist group that met weekly including Daphne Brasell, Therese O'Connell, Kay Goodger, and remaining friends. Talks about important feminist books. Mentions work as Community Development Officer for the City Council as a combination of feminism, social justice and community based action. Describes work as Manager, Community Services for Upper Hutt City Council, getting things off the ground such as adult education, local Workers Educational Associations (WEAs), community mental health services, Women's Refuge, helping establish early childhood services. Comments that many of these services still continue. Talks about leaving community work for the Public Sector, Senior Advisor Department of Health and working on pilot for Wellington's Area Health Board. Discusses joining Young Womens Christian Association (YWCA) Board in early 1980s; Elizabeth Sewell was Executive Director and wanted to bring the organistion into a new era. Mentions Sewell also recruited Jenny Gill, Nicola Crutchley, Vera Levett. Mentions Audrey Reynolds and Faith Gibbons progressive board members supportive of the younger women. Talks of tension between old and new ideas, such as whether or not to sell the old building. Mentions she was a Board member for three or four years. Talks about YWCA today, and her expections of its role for young women. Interviewer(s) - Jill Abigail Accompanying material - Project release form, biographical information, CV. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-9066, 9067 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2873. - Search dates: 1975 - 1985