AUDIO

Interview with Margaret Cotterill

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Date

11 Sep 1995, 18 Sep 1995, 26 Sep 1995 - 11 Sep 1995 - 26 Sep 1995

By

Cotterill, Margaret Hazel, 1910-2005

Reference

OHInt-0351-04

Description

Margaret Hazel Cotterill (nee Williamson) was born in 1910 in Waimate. Talks about family, childhood memories, the Influenza Epidemic and boarding at Timaru Girls High School from 1924. Outlines training as kindergarten teacher and association with Girl Guides. Talks about Girl Guide badges and camps with Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) members.

Provides early memories of the YWCA, position as secretary from 1936 and life in a hostel. Describes recreational activities including dances with servicement during World War II. Discusses sports, millinery and cookery classes, sex education during the War, the thrift club and move from Christchurch to Hamilton as YWCA General Secretary 1940. Outlines relationship between the YWCA and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Details work in Hamilton, Palmerston North in 1945 and Dunedin. Talks about staffing, training, wages and conferences. Describes 1948 visit to Canada, education at Toronto University, work for the Children's Aid Society in Ottawa, visit to England, and YWCA's refugee budget and work.

Outlines return to New Zealand as Wellington General Secretary. Recounts building new YWCA residence through fundraising and grants. Touches on move to San Francisco 1958, marriage and years spent in England. Discusses work with World YWCA in Fiji in depth. Describes Christian and political elements within the YWCA. Recounts election as New Zealand National President 1973. Provides history of the Wellington YWCA and invovlement with women's liberation. Talks about her 1977 Her Majesty's Commemorative Medal and 1979 CBE. Discusses the current and future role of the YWCA.

Interviewer(s) - Judith Byrne

Accompanying material - Abstract also contains a range of newspaper articles 1940's-1970's focusing on Margaret Cotterill or the YWCA, YWCA newsletter Herstory article by Margaret Cotterill and notification of her life membership with the YWCA.

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-013865, OHC-013866, OHC-013867, OHC-013868

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 4 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4945.

Photograph of Margaret Williamson c.1930's. Photograph of Margaret Cotterill receiving CBE award 1979

Additional description

Digital surrogates available only in Katherine Mansfield Reading Room.

Use/Reproduction

Public use requires permission of the donor Copyright: Copyright held by YWCA (Wgtn)

Access restrictions

Partly restricted material - No permission required for access.

Part of

YWCA (Wgtn) Oral History Project

Format

4 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 4 Hours Duration, Oral histories, Illustration: Photograph of Margaret Williamson c.1930's, Illustration: Photograph of Margaret Cotterill receiving CBE award 1979

There are 5 items in total.

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