Interview with Valerie Le Lievre

Interview with Valerie Le Lievre (nee Beeby), born in Timaru in 1948. Talks about her family background, growing up in Timaru and then on the family farm at Orari. Mentions house cows, a cream separator, and her mother cooking on a coal range. Refers to biking to primary school, pet days, garden clubs, tennis, table tennis, and Sunday school. Discusses attending Geraldine High School, liking science and maths, and playing netball, hockey, table tennis and softball. Comments on getting her driving licence when she was 15. Refers to working in a bank for three years after leaving school until she married Barry Le Lievre, a builder who later returned to the family farm. Mentions their daughters, and sewing when they were young. Recalls community groups in Geraldine she was involved with - Church Fireside Group, Camera Club and Historical Society. Describes the farm at Winchmore they bought in 1979, crops, sheep and cattle, machinery and her farm bikes. Talks about working as a team with her husband and doing the book work which they computerised. Mentions community involvements at Lyndhurst including Home and School as secretary/treasurer, the Hall committee, Ashburton Organ Club, Methven Garden Club and Mid Canterbury Family History Group. Refers to moving to Ashburton when her husband died in 2001, and talks about her grandchildren.

Recalls being invited to join the Lyndhurst Country Women' Institute (CWI) through a school contact and enjoying it. Discusses speakers at meetings, craft nights, competitions, and supporting Templeton Hospital patients and Ashburton IHC. Comments on being treasurer and secretary, and on the Mid Canterbury Federation of CWI. Mentions being on the Methven A & P Show committee and helping with CWI displays. Refers to the Lyndhurst CWI gradually becoming just a social club with most of the final members of Lyndhurst CWI living away from Lyndhurst. Talks briefly about the Lyndhurst CWI 70th anniversary and closing ceremony. Comments on her continuing friendships with CWI members. Refers to joining Rural Women [New Zealand] at Winchmore (formerly WDFF) when the Institute was closing and finding it more political than the CWI. Reflects on the importance to her of the Lyndhurst CWI.

Interviewer(s) - Nicola Robertson

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014035 - OHC-014037

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.31 Hours and minutes Duration.

Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft word

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-000552, OHA-5029.

Search dates: 1948 - 2004

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

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