Interview with Maurice Challinor

Interview with Maurice Challinor, born in Kohimarama in 1932. Outlines growing up in St Heliers and Panmure, and the effect of the polio epidemic at the end of 1947 on his schooling. Comments on beginning work at the St Heliers Post Office in 1948 delivering telegrams. Explains that all male staff were taught to be telegraph operators, having a Morse set to practice on at home, and attending a training school in Auckland four nights a week. Refers to being sent to a training school in Trentham, the instructors, and the speed and accuracy required. Discusses returning to Trentham to train as a radio telegraph operator, and explains Q codes which were designed to save time when sending telegrams. Talks about transferring to Auckland Radio at Musick Point where staff monitored the distress frequency for ships at sea, took ship to shore radio traffic, and did 'point to point' radio operating with aircraft. Comments on getting an amateur radio licence in 1968.

Discusses moving to the Telegraph Branch at the Chief Post office in Auckland and training as a teleprinter and telegraph operator. Explains that messages could be sent point to point by teleprinters but standard telegrams were sometimes sent to the wrong station. Refers to promotion, marriage, and transferring from the Post & Telegraph Department to a suburban post office. Refers to working as senior clerk at Onehunga, then becoming postmaster at Remuera East, Avondale and finally Blockhouse Bay. Recalls the change to decimal currency.

Discusses working as posmaster at Scott Base 1978-1979, training before going there, transport to and from Antarctica, and the equipment for radio telephone and telegraph. Refers to the radio aerials at Scott Base, the dogs at the base, over wintering, and contact with McMurdo Base. Mentions currently sending Morse over the internet, and using the American Morse system to correspond with others.

Accompanying material - Two tracks of Morse sent by Maurice Challinor recorded; transcript of one with abstracts

Accompanying material - List of Q-Code signals (3 p., with printed abstract)

Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching

Quantity: 2 compact disc(s). 3 Electronic document(s) (abstract). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001712, OHA-7519.

Search dates: 1932 - 1948 - 2010 - 1985

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