Interview with Mary Brosnahan

Describes her childhood as the eldest of nine children growing up on her parents' farm, in the Cave, Cannington area and time spent living with her Aunty Jean who owned the `Excelsior Hotel' in Timaru. Mentions schooling at Teschemakers and working on the family farm for ten years, including the Depression years. Talks about looking after the younger children, housework, farm work, social events, particularly dances, and a family holiday.

Describes going to Wellington for 3 months where she worked as a housemaid-waitress at Eastbourne and coming back engaged to Peter, a South Canterbury boy she had known for years.

After her marriage in 1940 she had son Desmond (1941) before Peter was called up and spent two and a half years during World War 2 in the Islands (New Caledonia). He returned after the death of a newborn baby. He was a farm manager at Four Peaks before successfully balloting for land at Peel Forest where they farmed for twenty years. Talks about Peter's death at the age of 58, their children growing up, Catholicism, her move to Timaru after Peter's death and living with her daughter ahd husband.

Abstracted by - Jacqueline Foley

Sponsored by - Desmond Brosnahan

Interviewer(s) - Jacqueline Foley

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-006849-006852; OHLC-004167-004170

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.24 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1597.

Search dates: 1915 - 1997

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies are available at OHLC-004167 - OHLC-004170