Beaumont Cemetery (Otago, N.Z.)

Date: 22 Mar 1996

From: Tuapeka oral history project

By: Geeves, Alan, 1940-

Reference: OHInt-0569/05

Description: Alan Geeves was born in Lawrence in 1940. Recalls that his family has lived in Beaumont for several generations, orignally owning the butcher shop then going farming. Describes attending Beaumont Primary School and Lawrence High School. Describes sports days. Notes that the Beaumont School has now closed. Comments on the decline in the population of Beaumont and its services. Details local dances and the movies in Lawrence every Friday night. Talks about doing contract work around the district as well as farming. Discusses closure of the railway line by Peter Gordon, MP, in the 1960s because it was not economic. Describes always wanting to be a farmer, initially on three hundred acres before buying more land. Recalls the shock of his father's death and taking over the farm. Discusses the Beaumont Races and how they were a picnic day for the whole community but have been shifted to Wingatui. Mentions stock sales used to be in Lawrence but now stock has to be taken to Milton for sales. Describes using the river for swimming, jet boating, water ski-ing and barbeques. Recalls a big change in the river when the dam (Roxburgh?) went in. Talks about being the secretary of the Beaumont cemetery where his parents and grandparents are buried. Describes local characters including the blacksmith Charlie Johnson and gold miners `Deafy' Milne and Jack Malloy. Discusses the problem of rabbits and possums. Mentions how he used to deerstalk. Recalls his wedding day, meeting his wife Alice (Curly), her job on the telephone exchange and the birth of their children. Describes increasing the size of the farm and stock numbers. Discusses the Beaumont hotel and publican Jimmy O'Meara. Mentions the attitude to six o'clock closing was relaxed. Comments on the relationship between the towns of Beaumont and Lawrence. Notes that few locals he grew up with remain in the district and discusses reasons for leaving the district. Describes how he deals with the uncertainty of the proposed Tuapeka dam. Discusses the impact of the Roxburgh and Clyde dams particularly in terms of recreation. Recalls contact with ECNZ and public meetings. Gives his opinion that the flooding of the cemetery will be the biggest problem. Explains that he opposes the dam but sold the property for health reasons. Notes that his decision to sell is viewed by some as giving ECNZ more leverage. Talks about some animosity about his decision to sell. Comments that Friends of Beaumont (FOB) members are mainly outsiders while Residents of Beaumont (ROB) are mainly locals. Mentions the decline in the maintenance of properties after they are sold. Describes his impending move to a smaller block of land in Abbotsford and putting on his own community farewell. Comments on the fragmenting of the community, arguments in the pub and disagreement over whether or not the dam can be stopped. Explains why he does not think it can be stopped. Interviewer(s) - Jerome Cvitanovich Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.15 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2629. Photographs of Alan and Alice Geeves and others