Interview with Sister Gladys Smith

Ann Gladys Smith was born in West Otago in 1905. Describes her childhood, family and moving from Glenkenich to Tapanui when she was five. Recalls schooling and attending Sunday School. Describes being housekeeper at the age of twelve, returning to high school, becoming a student teacher at the Glenkenich School and then going to Dunedin to work at the Nisbet Home for children in Andersons Bay. Talks about her decision to become a deaconess and training before going to St Andrew's Church in Hastings in 1932. Comments on the effect of the 1931 Napier earthquake on local people. Recalls her time at Auckland at St David's Church during World War II. Discusses the Emergency Precautions Services (EPS) for civilians in the event of a Japanese attack. Describes going to Inglenook Home for children in Gore in 1948 and then to Knox Church in Dunedin. Discusses her work as a deaconess particularly at Knox Church in Dunedin.

Publication - Entry in 'Southern people : a dictionary of Otago Southland biography'

Interviewer(s) - Jocelyn Chalmers

Quantity: 2 C90 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstract(s) to come.

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