Interview with Evan McGregor

Interview with Evan McGregor, born in New Plymouth in 1935. Recalls his father dying in 1939, leaving his mother with five children to raise. Mentions milking cows by hand from age eight during the War, his schooling in New Plymouth, and his mother dying in 1948 during his first year at college. Recalls his mentor Barney Wickstead who taught him to hunt and fish as well as life skills. Mentions working on a farm at Inglewood after he left school, learning farming skills at Flock House, and then going shearing. Talks about joining the Navy in 1960 in the radio section, being on a ship sent to evacuate a sick man from Raoul Island, and being amazed at the fishing there. Comments on marrying his wife Carol in 1962, and building a house with a State Advances loan. Mentions leaving the Navy to spend more time with his family. Discusses getting a job as a lighthouse keeper on Cuvier Island, the trip by boat with his family, and spending 18 months there with two other keepers. Refers to the wildlife on the island - goats had been removed. Mentions his next posting to Stephens Island in Cook Strait. Comments that he and the children loved the lighthouse keeping lifestyle but that it was hard on wives. Reflects on the automation of lighthouses and the lost era.

Discusses getting a job on Raoul Island as officer in charge and buying a house in Auckland for his family. Mentions having six weeks hospital training before he went, to cope with injuries. Describes the team on the Island and their resourcefulness, the dawn chorus and the native trees. Mentions rats being a menace to the garden, a 7.85 magnitude earthquake on 1 January 1977 and the water supply being broken. Comments on the Island's fragile environment and the unpredictable volcanic activity. Talks about the citrus trees, pigs being fed oranges, the cow, and peaches as weeds. Refers to shooting 400 goats in his first year on Raoul Island, and that by 1976-1977 regeneration was evident in the nikau forest. Mentions graves on the Island, farmer John Weir, and the decision to close the farm in 1977. Comments on having radio contact with Wellington twice a week. Talks about alcohol rations and the drinking culture.

Describes later working on Campbell Island as team leader for a period, his style of management, and dealing with finding marijuana being grown in the heated glasshouse meant for growing vegetables. Reflects on Raoul Island and Campbell Island reunions.

Interviewer(s) - Kim Morton

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016807 - OHC-016810

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s).

Physical Description: Textual file - Microsoft word

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5992, OHDL-001030.

Search dates: 1935 - 2001

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

Alternative form available: Both printed and digital versions of the abstract are available

Listening copies OHLCD-1318 - OHLCD-1321