Interview with Sister Philippine and Sister Dorothea

Sister Philippine was born Joan Pomeroy Dunne at Timaru. Interview outlines her schooldays in Timaru before becoming a nurse aide with the Calvary Sisters in Christchurch for two years. At the age of nineteen she entered the Order of the Sisters of Compassion. Recalls during her novitiate being sent up the Whanganui River as teacher relief at Ranana in 1939 and taking a one year correspondence course in Maori. Notes that she was the first student in New Zealand to complete a teacher's certificate by correspondence. She remained on the river living at the convent at Jerusalem until she was recalled to Wellington for administrative duties in 1963. Gives history of convent at Jerusalem. Reference to Ani Haami who was matriarch and taught the sisters how to `miro' the flax. Describes Haami marae (Tumanako). Sisters were instrumental in forming `The River Schools Association' which inspectors considered unique as it was unusual for the catholic schools and state schools to work together. Sister Philippine became Superior General in 1969 for twelve years, returning in 1981. She received a QSO in 1979 at the request of the Maori people in the Whanganui district. She was ill at time of this interview and died nine months later. She resided with Sr Dorothea who joined in the interview.

Sister Dorothea, who lived in Ranana and Jerusalem and now resides at Te Pekerangi with Sister Philippine, was born and bred on the Whanganui River at Retaruke in the 1920s and entered the Order of the Sisters of Compassion in 1940. She recalls a time when a dozen homes were built at Jerusalem with reference to Prime Minister Fraser. Other recollections include; orphanage; Ron Hatrick; haymaking; Bricky Hall (a farmer from Mangapourua); fire in the convent; Whanganui River floods (1940 & 1989); Ranana carving; prison chaplaincy; Maurie Curran; holiday camps. Refers to Father Durning. Te Pekarangi where they both live was named by Father Te Awhitu and means `The Jumping Off Place to Heaven' and can also mean `The outer boundaries of a pa'.

Abstracted by - Karen Kitson

Awards/funding - Funded through the Women's Suffrage Centennial Year Trust

Other - Additional information including newspaper articles and books (A pictorial history of the Wanganui River by Arthur P Bates. Printed and published by Wanganui Newspapers Ltd in 1985 and Audacity of Faith. Sisters of Compassion Centennial 1892-1992. Published in 1992 by Home of Compassion, Wellington New Zealand.

Interviewer(s) - Kaye Noble

Recorded by - Kaye Noble

Venue - Te Pekerangi, Wanganui

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006704

Tape numbers - OHC-006705

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1563.

One photograph of Sister Philippine

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-003523 - OHLC-003524

Copies held at Whanganui Regional Museum