AUDIO

Interview with Barbara Swabey

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Date

20 Sept 2001 - 20 Sep 2001

By

Swabey, Barbara Vernon, 1910-2003; Thorpe, Agnes Anne, 1939-

Reference

OHInt-0673-01

Description

Barbara Swabey was born in Wellington in 1911. Talks about her grandparents. Talks about how her grandmother Frances Simcox, nee Colenso, grew up on a mission station in Hastings, and spoke fluent Maori. Talks about her grandparents moving to Otaki in 1878, farming and building a homestead on leased Maori land at the Forest Lakes, and having a tennis court and a cook. Refers to her grandfather William Simcox, playing the organ at the Rangiatea Church, when Bishop Hadfield ran the Anglican mission. Mentions the missioners, the McWilliams. Refers to her parents settling in Otaki, and her father working at the butter factory. Mentions attending Miss Baber's (later Marsden) School, and boarding to attend Wellington Girls College. Mentions a governess. Describes holidays at the family's camping bach, her mother learning to drive a car, hotels, and shops.

Talks about Karitane training in Wanganui, working as a Karitane nurse in Wellington during the Second World War, and returning to Otaki to nurse her mother until she died in 1958. Mentions travel was difficult during the war. Talks about being a life member of the golf club. Talks about writing articles for the Otaki Historical Society journal. Talks about her mother's family, who came from Birmingham.

Interviewer(s) - Anne Thorpe

Accompanying material - Notes written by Barbara prior to interview in 2001

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-11058

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

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3866.

Photo of Barbara ca 2000; photo of Lincoln Imp, bought from England by mother; photocopies of family holiday camp built by Barbara's grandmother (Frances Simcox); photocopy of photo of Barbara as child in a boat

Search dates: 1870 - 2000

Additional description

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

Alternative form available: Listening copy OHLC-006633

Use/Reproduction

Public use requires the written permission of the donor

Access restrictions

Partly restricted material

Part of

Otaki oral history project

Format

1 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 1 Hours Duration, Oral histories, Illustration: Photo of Barbara ca 2000; photo of Lincoln Imp, bought from England by mother; photocopies of family holiday camp built by Barbara's grandmother (Frances Simcox); photocopy of photo of Barbara as child in a boat

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