Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Date: 10 Mar 2006

From: Tairua Oral History Group project

By: Bedford, Lance, active 1950-2006; Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Reference: OHInt-0806-01

Description: Interview with Lance Bedford. Talks about his family arriving in Tairua in 1950, and about his father driving cattle over the Neavesville track. Discusses at length the water supply to Tairua from his arrival up to the present day. Describes the geology of Paku hill, and its cave. Discusses the Tairua Estuary, sedimentation and channels, flooding in the district, and the Pepe bridge. Mentions land lease in Tairua. Talks about the Tairua hall. Interviewer(s) - David Rushforth Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014698, OHC-014699 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 C60 cassette(s). 1. 1.39 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5299. Search dates: 1950 - 2006

Date: 10 Nov 2004

From: Tairua Oral History Group project

By: Calvert, Douglas Frank, 1918-2008; Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Reference: OHInt-0806-03

Description: Interview with Douglas Frank (Doug) Calvert, born Cambridge, 1918. Recalls first visiting Tairua in 1957, driving over the Tapu-Coroglen Road. Mentions buying a section on the sand hills from Mrs Cory-Wright. Gives details of his early days in his fourteen foot caravan and recalls carrying water from a creek. Describes the township at the time, and discusses the causeway between Manaia Road and Ocean Beach. Refers to surf casting for snapper at Ocean Beach. Discusses moving permanently to Tairua in 1971, and buying a section on Main Road where there were a lot of empty sections. Discusses how water was piped to the houses and everyone was required to have a water supply tank. Talks about his commercial crayfishing days, and mentions rescues he was involved with. Interviewer(s) - David Rushforth Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014703 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 57 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5302. Search dates: 1918 - 1957 - 2004

Date: 4 Apr 2006 - 04 Apr 2006

From: Tairua Oral History Group project

By: Soper, Rex, active 1952-2006; Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Reference: OHInt-0806-13

Description: Interview with Rex Soper, born in Nelson. Mentions that he farmed in Golden Bay after the War until his father died in 1952. Outlines businesses he ran in New Zealand and Sydney until he returned to New Zealand. Refers to hiring a campervan about 1985 to tour the Coromandel, falling in love with Tairua and buying a house there. Mentions they moved to Tairua two years later and became involved in community affairs, including the tennis courts, fundraising for Kurdish refugees, the Ratepayers Association, and becoming an ambulance driver. Mentions being involved in the bus service and driving in 1993. Discusses being chairman of the Hall Committee for ten years and strife with the Community Board when a new hall was to be built. Refers to water supply, waste water, and rubbish collection. Talks about possum control, the return of kakas, and the problems feral cats and dogs pose for kiwi. Discusses control of commercial fishing off Tairua. Mentions the proposal for a marina. Comments on the only bank closing and eventually getting a money machine in its place. Mentions the closing of the council depot in Red Bridge Road and the loss of jobs. Interviewer(s) - David Rushforth Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014716 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 47 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5311. Search dates: 1952 - 1985 - 2006

Date: 14 May 2006

From: Tairua Oral History Group project

By: Purdon, John, active 1965-2006; Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Reference: OHInt-0806-09

Description: Interview with John Purdon. Describes visiting Tairua during school holidays in January 1965, learning there was a vacancy at the school, and applying for it. Remembers the road in was flooded when they moved there. Discusses the school, which had 25 pupils when he started and at one stage grew to 120. Outlines outdoor activities for the pupils, and tells of the rivalry with Hikuai School in rugby and soccer. Comments on the 1970 school photos. Describes the land owned by the school and its history, and recalls the school centennary in 1975 or 1976. Gives details of being the Harbour Master for 12 years, mentioning he had been in the navy and learnt navigation, pilotage, diving and small boat skills. Refers to running night classes to teach small boat skills. Talks of being a member of the community council but quitting after one term because of the squabbles. Recalls tramping, and seeing three kauri dams in the hills. Interviewer(s) - David Rushforth Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014712 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 38 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5307. Search dates: 1965 - 2005

Date: 12 May 2005

From: Tairua Oral History Group project

By: Tomlin, Joe, 1920-; Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Reference: OHInt-0806-10

Description: Interview with Joe Tomlin, born Wellington, 1920. Mentions training as a watchmaker, then going to England in World War II where he trained in instrument factories. Refers to meeting and marrying his wife in England. Describes arriving in Tairua in 1968 and building a house. Talks about the shifting sands and channels at Tairua and the effects of tides and storms. Describes building a model of the church for Father Bennett, the materials used to build the church, and how the stained glass window was made and framed. Recalls how Tairua was once a bit wild and he could shoot mynah birds out of his bedroom window. Mentions night rescues at sea and designing a beacon for the harbour entrance. Discusses being the local fix-it man for Tairua including for tradepeople. Describes trips to Fiji every few years to service and repair clocks. Details making tools to repair faulty imported earrings, and then making equipment to make faceted earrings. Recalls he was one of the earliest skin divers in the area, and developed the "hubble-bubble" for underwater diving. Describes contract work done for NZED using the hubble-bubble to lay cables under Cook Strait off Ohau Point. Details his invention of a two-man underwater chainsaw driven by an 8 horsepower petrol motor. Recalls the work he did during World War II in England as a bomb site and automatic pilot leveller led to work after the War servicing instruments for a local gliding company for which he received free flying time. Describes how this led him to build a Jodel D11 aircraft in his basement, its test flight over Whitianga, and selling the aircraft when he turned 80. Comments on testing altimeters for the CAA, describing how he built and calibrated a mercury barometer for the task. Discusses motorbike racing with a 1925 AJS Big Port motorbike. Mentions he brought a 350cc radial valve Rudge back to New Zealand after the War and converted it into a trail bike. Interviewer(s) - David Rushforth Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014713 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5308. Search dates: 1920 - 1968 - 2005

Date: 18 May 2005

From: Tairua Oral History Group project

By: Tomlin, Ruth, active 1950-2005; Rushforth, David, active 2004-2006

Reference: OHInt-0806-11

Description: Interview with Ruth Tomlin. Recalls the opening of the Kopu-Hikuai Road in the early 1970s, which brought tradespeople and the start of the "new Tairua". Mentions that there were four general stores at one time, including one at the wharf owned by Mary Beach. Recalls that people went to Thames to shop for things not obtainable in Taurua, and mail came via Waihi before the Kopu-Hihuai Road opened. Comments on the cinema that operated in the 1970s. Discusses three local characters, Mr Turner, Mr Simmers and Malion Russell. Discusses the history of the local library which began in 1885 or 1887, and being the librarian for 25 years. Mentions that when she started it was in a small building next to the Post Office, and in 1987 obtained a prefab classroom that was placed next to the hall. Comments that the library now has plenty of books and an online system. Refers to the Information Centre which began life in a small caravan, and working in it on Saturdays. Interviewer(s) - David Rushforth Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014714 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 19 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5309. Search dates: 1970 - 2005