Interview with Sylvia Field

Sylvia Field was born in Sydney, 1937. Backgrounds education at school for deaf and blind, work experiences, marriage and emigration to New Zealand 1975. Talks about family and settlement in Napier. Details further schooling by correspondence. Mentions previous involvement with the New South Wales Association of the Blind, and registration with the Foundation for the Blind. Details Napier advisory committee and Merv Brown, influential in establishing an Association branch in the Hawkes Bay.

Talks about interactions with Geoff Gibbs, and the Foundation. Discusses local Blind Club and their members. Recalls past presidents of the Napier branch including June Stead, Owen Wilson and Peter Dunlop. Mentions her position as branch secretary. Touches upon changes in leadership in the Foundation with the replacement of Wally Christiansen, and mentions Bill Bryan and Merv Wellington.

Talks about Maud Hill, the Hastings Advisory Committee, the Hawkes Bay branch closure 1986 and reformation 1992 and the opening of an Assocation branch in Napier. Details current status of the Association and its relationship with the Foundation for the Blind. Mentions Foundation publication 'Focus on Rehabilitation', 1990.

Interviewer(s) - Greg Newbold

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009785

Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 45 Minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-3262.