Interview with Jenny Gill

Jennifer Mary Gill was born in Lower Hutt in 1951. Talks about her parents, their marriage, and strong belief in education. Mentions relationship with brother, grandparents, and talks about school, Victoria University Wellington, and issues of the early seventies such as the Vietnam War, the Springboks rugby controversy and abortion. Mentions attending the founding meeting of Victoria's Women's Liberation Front. Talks about campus life, politics, flower power, hippiedom and the sense of freedom. Mentions her marriage in 1972, teaching, work for the Council of Organisations for Relief Services Overseas (CORSO), opening a Trade Aid shop, overseas travel and visiting CORSO projects in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Talks about working for Wellington's YWCA (Young Women's Christian Association) before and after it was influenced by feminism. Mentions the Willis St building, the shopper's creche, management style, and remaining a board member after the birth of her son. Talks about the contrasting views between older and younger board members, such as police use of YWCA building during the Springbok Tour 1981.

Discusses YWCA board meetings and committees, concerns about the Nydia Bay camps, and minimal contact with the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association). Compares YWCA with CORSO and the Roy McKenzie Foundation which she later worked for. Talks about Roy McKenzie's preparedness to address hard issues. Mentions Marion Wood's ability as national Director of YWCA. Talks about current position as Executive Director of Fulbright New Zealand, mentions the Wellington Regional Community Foundation. Talks about her life, children, feminism, and women's organisations that no longer exist.

Interviewer(s) - Jill Abigail

Accompanying material - Project release form, biographical information, CV.

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-9081, 9082

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2872.

2 photocopies of photos, (one 1970's aged early twenties, one 1990's)

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