Interview with Edsel Forde

Recalls growing up in Orepuki, Southland. Gives details of his Irish great grandfather settling on land in Tuatapere. Describes the township, his education, brothers and sisters, intermediate schooling in Invercargill, staying with his grandparents and secondary education at Marist College. Describes sporting activities and achieving representative status. Describes leaving school, shearing with Les Bevan and attending shearing schools in the Milburn Valley and at Rakaia Island, Christchurch. Mentions Golder Davidson, Ian Rutherford and Ernie Mason. Recalls winning local shearing contests. Describes working for Geoff Fagan in the King Country, returning south, buying land at Orepuki and continuing to shear. Describes working on skills and developing a suitable style and speed.

Recalls attending consecutive shearing schools, becoming focused on the Golden Shears and working for Colin King. Discusses leading shearers in Te Kuiti and the highly competitive nature of shearing. Talks about tallies. Compares northern and southern shearing in terms of second shears and open and contract sheds. Mentions the northern advantage in competitions. Describes Colin King's help in his achievement of victory at the Golden Shears in 1989. Mentions Larry Lewis, Sam Te Whata, John and David Fagan and Kevin Walsh. Describes the build up to the event and competition with David Fagan. Talks about the World Ewe Shearing Record in 1992 and shearing in Australia, England, Norway, Ireland and France. Talks about his wife Margaret, sons Rory and Paddy and family life. Discusses the narrow comb dispute.

Interviewer(s) - Des Williams

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2517.

Photographs of Edsel Forde as 1989 Golden Shears champion

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

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-004187 - OHLC-004188