Dairy industry - New Zealand - Marlborough Region

Date: 14 Aug 1985

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Iorns, Effie Elizabeth Britt, 1906-1997

Reference: OHInt-0053/08

Description: Effie Iorns was born at Rockville on 20 January 1906. Gives details of her family history, childhood in Ferntown and Ferntown School. Describes the social life within the close Ferntown community including details of sports day (at school), the A and P show, baby shows, picnics and birthdays. Recalls domestic detail including food preservation and bottling, childrens clothing and `boys' jobs' and `girls' jobs'. Talks about work on a dairy farm, Collingwood shops, dances, women's work and her marriage and honeymoon in 1922. Describes married life at Westhaven and the move to a farm (Nuiawa) at Collingwood. Venue - Collingwood : 1985 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Mrs Iorns' home at Collingwood Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002968; OHC-002969; OHC-002970 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 574.

Date: February 1986

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Brown, Rowe Alec, 1923-1991

Reference: OHInt-0053/02

Description: Alec Brown was born in the Tasman area in 1923. Recalls his childhood in Collingwood where his father ran a dairy farm for the town's milk supply. Talks about milk supply during the Depression. Describes in detail the residents of the Beach Road area of Collingwood. Talks about family relationships, child rearing, subsistence living and the way in which women often brought up the children while men were away working. Comments on education and the employment of women. Describes the family's religious belief and ideas, particularly those of his mother, about social class. Talks about bovine tuberculosis, from which his wife suffered. Talks about an extensive fire in Collingwood in about 1928 or 1929, the Collingwood hotel, the Depression and its effects, the 1935 election, politics and World War II. Describes coal mines and gold mining camps including the Puponga mine, Mount Burnett mines and Onekaka iron works. Talks about changes in Golden Bay including the growth of tourism. Briefly describes his work in the Post Office and the Navy during World War II. Venue - Collingwood : 1986 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Rosie Little's home at Collingwood, and on Beach Road frontage (outside) Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002935; OHC-002936; OHC-002937; OHC-002938; OHC-002939; OHC-002940; OHC-002941 Quantity: 7 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 6.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 567. Search dates: 1986

Date: January 1986 - 01 Jan 1986

From: Nelson and Golden Bay Oral History Project

By: Richards, Gilbert Henry, 1902-1995

Reference: OHInt-0053/21

Description: Gilbert Richards was born in Ferntown on 15 January 1902. Talks about his father John Henry Richards, a pioneer of the Paturau area, and gives details of his family background. Notes that John Bramley (Jack) Nicholls, Heather Bonsell and Joyce Parkinson, also interviewed in this project, are also members of his family. Describes his upbringing in Ferntown including childhood jobs and pastimes and the Ferntown School. Talks about milking on the farm, beekeeping, the vegetable garden and home orchard and clearing of land. Recalls Paturau in an almost virgin state in 1912. Describes moving to Paturau to join his brothers who had taken up land from the Taitapu Estate, and living there for sixty years before retiring to Ferntown with his eldest son Billy. Talks about building the Paturau house and working for other people to make money for farm development. Talks about Collingwood hotels and dances, rugby in Golden Bay and the associated social life, the northwest Nelson earthquake, Depression hardships incuding the sale of stock, coastal shipping, various timber mills including Bassett's, Westhaven Inlet and Parkeston, the Prouse and Saunders flaxmill, goldmining on the Taitapu Estate and roads, including the Westhaven Dry Road. Venue - Collingwood : 1986 Interviewer(s) - Rosie Little Venue - Mr Richards' home south of Paturau Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-003035; OHC-003056; OHC-003057; OHC-003058; OHC-003059; OHC-003060; OHC-003061; OHC-003062 Quantity: 8 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 8 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 587.

Date: 6 Nov 1992 - 06 Nov 1992

From: Women in World War II Part III

By: Dixon, Barbara Mary, 1909-2006; Fowke, Susan, 1944-2017

Reference: OHInt-0072/05

Description: Mary Dixon was born on 28 March 1909 in Birmingham, England and during her childhood lived in West Horsley Place, Surrey, an inherited property now a classified ancient monument owned by the Duchess of Roxburgh. Talks about her family's role as an example to the community. Recalls learning piano for many years, leaving school, being at home and being very involved in drama. Describes meeting George Dixon, their courtship and marrying him in 1935. Talks about sailing for New Zealand where George was employed to manage a dairy farm near Nelson. This farm, which they later bought, was part of the Dixon Investment Company, a family company which invested in land mortgages in Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Talks about the basic facilities in the house they moved into and adapting to Nelson society. Talks about the outbreak of war and George Dixon helping set up the local Home Guard before being called up to the Army. Notes that he served overseas for over three years during which time Mary Dixon managed the farm and brought up the family of four (later six) children. Describes land girls working on the farm. Talks about her husband returning from overseas service suffering from post trauma stress syndrome and his recovery. Notes his involvement in community work over the years. Talks about putting his war letters into a book `One man's war'. Comments on the way in which women coped and supported one another in the absence of husbands. Recalls returning to England and visiting the old family home West Horsley Place. Describes her involvement in Women's Division Federated Farmers, religious belief and strong interest in writing. Venue - Nelson : 1992 Interviewer(s) - Susan Fowke Venue - Nelson Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-005772-005774; OHLC-006978-006980 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1205. photograph of Mary dixon about 1940; photograph of Mary Dixon about 1990