Interview with Aarnoud Calje

Interview with Aarnoud Calje, born in Biggekerke, Zeeland, Holland in 1935. Talks about growing up on a small farm, the German occupation during World War II, Allied bombing of the dykes, and the family being moved to a bigger farm after the War. Describes flying to New Zealand with his bride in 1959 as assisted immigrants and working on farms in Canterbury and Westland.

Discusses getting a job as a Port Agriculture Officer in Christchurch in 1966, the buddy training system, being given the manual to read, and training courses. Refers to inspecting ships once they had docked, sealing their meat lockers, and being alert for insect pests associated with residues from previous cargos in holds. Mentions checking ship pets daily to ensure they were still on board. Describes scanning ships' manifests looking for unclear items, and checking sea cargo in the Lyttelton wharf shed or the railway goods shed. Talks about the fumigation centre in Rolleston, and sometimes having to fumigate holds if dunnage was infested. Refers to receiving training at the laboratory in Levin where they sent plants and insects for identification. Comments on working in the mail centre checking incoming mail, visiting seed stores and farms to check export seeds, potatoes and onions, and checking incoming household effects as they were unpacked. Describes the rostered hours at the airport, overtime worked when meeting late night and military flights, and their duties spraying aircraft, processing passengers and supervising garbage disposal. Comments on changes in aircraft disinfection methods over the years, and the introduction of x-ray checking and sniffer dogs. Mentions the treatment of VIPs, and his being able to help Dutch people coming through the airport. Mentions that staff are no longer allowed on foreign military aircraft and have to trust the crews to spray aircraft and handle garbage. Talks about the increase in air cargo over the years and horses being flown in and out. Mentions the horses would be checked by a vet while Agriculture checked food, manure and medicines. Comments on checking for TB in cattle going between North and South Islands.

Comments that staff are now more specialised than when he started in the service and he now works largely at the airport. Describes the uniforms he has worn and changes in them over the years. Refers to the adjustments when women were first employed in the Service in the 1970s. Reflects that the restructuring of MAF (Ministry of Agriculture) has not changed the job dramatically but computerisation and charging for services has changed things. Mentions creating an online system for processing car identification numbers for imported cars. Reflects on the use of "biosecurity" instead of "quarantine" in the service's name. Discusses senior staff during his career, including Superintendent Julian Brown, District Port Agriculture Officer Charlie Cooper and Assistant Superintendent Don Possin.

Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching

Accompanying material - Copy of QuarantineWorks, April 2005 (a staff newsletter) containing an article about Aarnoud Calje; colour photocopy of a map of Zeeland; photocopies of: letter informing Aarnoud that he had been appointed as a Port Agriculture Officer (2 Mar 1966); certificate giving him permission to issue phytosanitary certificates; letter notifying him that he had been appointed to permanent staff (14 Dec 1967); letter stating he had passed the theory and practical tests for fumigation with methyl bromide (20 Mar 1968); note stating he was authorised to carry out fumigation (4 Apr 1968); his Fumigation Operator's Certificate (1 Mar 1975); letter from the Director-General entitled "Rostering of Male and Female Port Officers on Night Duties"; letter from Professor Don Bevan to the Director praising the help, courtesy and excellent service provided by Aaround Calje when he passed through Christchurch Airport (dated 3 Jan 1986).

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDL-002002

Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s) digital sound recording(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 electronic scan(s) of original black and white photographic print(s). 1 interview(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration.

Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft word

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7302.

Scanned black and white photographs of: Aamoud Calje in uniform in airport arrival hall (late 1960s); Aamoud Calje and Trevor Clark in the fumigation station, Woolston, Christchurch (1960s)

Search dates: 1935 - 2009

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