Interview with Janet Mary Braggins and Barbara Anderson Jarnell

Interview with Janet Mary Braggins (nee Brockie), born Christchurch 1933, and Barbara Anderson Jarnell (nee Brockie), born Christchurch 1939. Talk about their father Walter Brockie, who worked at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens until they moved to Wellington in 1947 when he became curator at Otari. Describe their home and family life at Otari, and community life in Wadestown. Discuss their father's work maintaining and developing the gardens, referring to the rock garden, Cockayne's memorial grave, and planting kauri. Mention the two staff Arnold Henderson and Bon Everett, neighbour James K Baxter, and friend Harry Talbot. Discuss their father's interests (including photography and homebrewing), holiday plant collecting trips including Campbell Island, and breeding native plants. Mention their mother Vera Best started the visitors' book - James K Baxter wrote a poem in it. Refer to their father saying that it would probably be another 50 years before his work at Otari would be appreciated.

Interviewer(s) - Johnathan Kennett

Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 57 Minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5563.

Search dates: 1933 - 1947 - 2007