Interview with Joyce Maclean

Interview with Joyce Maclean (nee Hardham), born in Newtown, Wellington in 1909. Talks about her family background, her tailor father and seamstress mother working hard, and recalls seeing men marching off to World War I. Mentions the family moving to a farm at Paraparaumu and her father organising the building of the Farmers Co-op cheese factory and store at Paraparaumu. Refers to attending Wellington Girls College for three years, boarding with an aunt, and working in the dairy company store until she married Gilbert Maclean in 1930. Mentions he worked on the family dairy farm from 4am to 6pm each day until they moved to the farm in 1935.

Recalls the buildup to war, Gilbert's call up, but his family appealing his conscription and winning. Mentions she was delighted but he was not. Comments that his assistant went to war and he had to make do with unsatisfactory workers who were unfit for service. Refers to having extra workers for hay making and providing morning and afternoon teas for them. Mentions helping in the milking shed while she had two young children. Talks about producing much of their own food during the War, but not being allowed to make butter. Refers to making and mending their own clothing, and riding her bicycle with her small daughter in the basket. Mentions doing a car maintenance course to learn how to change truck tyres. Comments on blackouts, the Home Guard, news from overseas and some Paraparaumu men being killed. Talks about her brother William being sent to Bougainville, and her brother-in-law Alan Bailey being shot down and killed over Rabaul. Recalls Country Women's Institute members sending parcels to men overseas. Comments that life on the farm was dreary until the American marines arrived. Talks about having four marines home for Christmas and having contact with some of them later. Refers to the marines using the farm for manoeuvres, and building an airport in the sheep paddock without any warning. Reflects on the impact of the war years on her and Gilbert's lives, the constant anxiety about a possible Japanese invasion, but having family around them throughout.

Abstracted by - Erin Flanigan

Interviewer(s) - Alison Parr

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-022556 - OHC-022557

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7335.

Printout of a scanned tinted photograph photograph of Joyce McLean on her wedding day (1930); printout of a colour photograph of Joyce (2007)

Search dates: 1909 - 2007