Places

Date: 4, 8, 15 July and 1 and 30 August 2011 - 04 Jul 2011 - 30 Aug 2011

By: Ngan Kwok Guy, 1926-2017; Oldham, Philippa Jane, 1957-

Reference: OHColl-1053-01

Description: Interview with New Zealand artist and former director of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, Guy Ngan, conducted from July - August 2011. 'Guy Ngan was born in Wellington in 1926, the son of a Chinese New Zealand businessman and his second wife who herself became a successful businesswoman and family matriarch. Guy was taken back to China as a 2 year old and would likely have stayed in the Guangzhou area there had it not been for the Japanese invasion in 1938. When Guangzhou was bombed Guy's father made hasty arrangements for Guy and his elder brother Albert to leave. The two boys travelled unaccompanied to New Zealand by ship. They lived initially in Newtown but Guy, unhappy at Newtown School, quickly struck out on his own arranging to stay with relatives in Miramar. This was the beginning of an independent way of life and thinking that Guy has continued to pursue.' (information provided by interviewer). The interview discusses his early life, education, experiences abroad, and his art career in New Zealand. Abstracted by - Pip Oldham Interviewer(s) - Pip Oldham Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 printed abstract(s) OHA-7665. 1 interview(s). 13.31 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Liz Ngan, Wellington, May 2012 Search dates: 1872 - 2011

Date: 20 Sept 2001 - 20 Sep 2001

From: Otaki oral history project

By: Swabey, Barbara Vernon, 1910-2003; Thorpe, Agnes Anne, 1939-

Reference: OHInt-0673-01

Description: Barbara Swabey was born in Wellington in 1911. Talks about her grandparents. Talks about how her grandmother Frances Simcox, nee Colenso, grew up on a mission station in Hastings, and spoke fluent Maori. Talks about her grandparents moving to Otaki in 1878, farming and building a homestead on leased Maori land at the Forest Lakes, and having a tennis court and a cook. Refers to her grandfather William Simcox, playing the organ at the Rangiatea Church, when Bishop Hadfield ran the Anglican mission. Mentions the missioners, the McWilliams. Refers to her parents settling in Otaki, and her father working at the butter factory. Mentions attending Miss Baber's (later Marsden) School, and boarding to attend Wellington Girls College. Mentions a governess. Describes holidays at the family's camping bach, her mother learning to drive a car, hotels, and shops. Talks about Karitane training in Wanganui, working as a Karitane nurse in Wellington during the Second World War, and returning to Otaki to nurse her mother until she died in 1958. Mentions travel was difficult during the war. Talks about being a life member of the golf club. Talks about writing articles for the Otaki Historical Society journal. Talks about her mother's family, who came from Birmingham. Interviewer(s) - Anne Thorpe Accompanying material - Notes written by Barbara prior to interview in 2001 Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-11058 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3866. Photo of Barbara ca 2000; photo of Lincoln Imp, bought from England by mother; photocopies of family holiday camp built by Barbara's grandmother (Frances Simcox); photocopy of photo of Barbara as child in a boat Search dates: 1870 - 2000