Interview with Anne Cressey

Describes her childhood on the family dairy farm at Katikati. Talks about looking after the farm with her mother while her father was in the Air Force in World War II. Recalls wanting to be a vet, being discouraged and becoming a nurse. Talks about training in Auckland, the strong discipline involved in nursing training, the compulsory nature of living in the nurses' home and the hierarchical nature of hospitals.

Describes working in the children's ward and the decision to train as a Plunket nurse. Notes that training was at Karitane Hospital in Dunedin. Talks about donations of breast milk to the hospital, mothercraft for mothers, the absence of solo mothers and the secrecy of adoption. Describes working in district (nursing) as well as Karitane and marrying David Cressey.

Talks about working at the Helen Deem Pre-School while her children were young. Looks at changes during the 1970s including the funding crisis for Karitane hospitals, the diminishing influence of Plunket and the beginning of the New Zealand Nurses Union. Describes her secondment to Head Office at the time of the closure of the Karitane Hospital and her appointment to the position of Director of Nursing Services in 1982.

Comments on frustration with Plunket structure and administration, conflict with the Health Department and difficulties for volunteers. Talks about Plunket Society presidents and a speech which was negatively received at the 1989 Maori Health Hui.

Venue - Dunedin : 1992

Interviewer(s) - Jim Sullivan

Venue - Maori Hill, Dunedin

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 865.

Colour portrait photograph of Anne Cressey and Jim Sullivan in 1992

Alternative form available: Listeing copies are available at OHLC-001015 to OHLC-001017