McLeod, Helen, -1925

Date: 25-26 Jun 1994 - 25 Jun 1994 - 26 Jun 1994

From: Memories of the Kaipara oral history project : Part one

By: Pikett, Molly, active 1994; Cohen, Thomas, 1901-2002; West, Roger, active 1994; Becroft, Doris, active 1994; Nicholls, Hector Richard, 1914-2002

Reference: OHInt-0430/02

Description: Older residents of Helensville, Molly Pikett, Tom Cohen, Roger West, Doris Becroft and Hec Nicholls share their memories of Helensville at an open meeting at the Helensville Scout Den, 25 Jun 1994. Introductions are by Wynne Haysmith. Molly Pikett describes how the town of Helensville was named after Helen McLeod who walked thirty miles to the town site with her husband in the 1860s. Talks about streets of the town, Dr Meinhold's residence, shops, the Council buildings, the War Memorial Hall and the location of the pa. Mentions the house of Charles Neilson, the Swedish licensee of the first Kaipara hotel and a fluent Maori interpreter. Comments on the daily travel to Auckland of some children for secondary schooling. Doris Becroft recalls an old house built by Alfred Becroft and later occupied by Charles West and family. Describes how the Becrofts were shopkeepers. Talks about the hall becoming the Star Theatre and Mrs Montgomerie's carbide picture plant established in 1912. Mentions the fire in 1933 which destroyed the Star Theatre and other buildings. Thomas Cohen describes the starting of a musical society in Helensville in the 1920s and the formation of the Helensville Players by Garth Clark in the 1960s. Mentions the Waimauku Village Theatre. Roger West talks about timbers and mills in the Helensville area. Discusses the Helensville Timber Company which operated from the 1870s to 1892 and was bought by the Kauri Timber Company. Mentions the Douglass mill. Describes how his father operated a mill from 1917 till 1971. Mentions he now operates a smaller mill with his son. Talks about rafting logs and the boats `Huia ' and `Minerva'. Hector Nicholls describes how family on his mother's side, the Aitkenheads, moved to Helensville abut 1906-1907 at the same time as family on his father's side, the Nicholls. Describes purchase of land by the Aitkenhead family. Recalls walking to school at Helensville, the state of the roads and the first cars and buses. Recalls Parakai House and the store and domain at Parakai. Recorded by - Beverley Bennett Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 event(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3324.

Date: 6 Nov 1993 - 06 Nov 1993

From: Memories of the Kaipara oral history project : Part one

By: Robinson, Winifred Jean, 1909-

Reference: OHInt-0430/08

Description: Jean Robinson was born in 1909. Describes how her parents were immigrants who married on their arrival in Auckland. Describes Helensville in the 1920s. Mentions Verona House and other boarding houses. Recalls primary school days including riding a horse to school, subjects taught and having one teacher. Describes high school picnics to Shelly Beach. Mentions how her brother died of infantile paralysis. Recalls that Dr Meinhold was the only doctor in the community during the 1918 flu epidemic. Describes leaving school and working on the farm and doing housework. Comments that this was what most girls did until marriage. Recalls getting their first car and having to push it on muddy unmetalled roads. Talks about family holidays at Waiuku. Describes how her husband drove his father's truck. Recalls their marriage about 1935, living in Helensville and then sharemilking for her father before buying her uncle's farm at Mairetahi. Describes how the children went to school at Waioneke. Mentions the original Waioneke school was in Lupton's woolshed. Discusses the post World War II rehabilitation settlement. Comments on the effects of World War II including rationing, transport difficulties and labour shortage. Recalls the Home Guard. Describes fundraising for the war including baby contests and knitting. Recalls the end of war party. Mentions her children attended Kaipara College. Describes her husband's death in 1962 and her involvement in Red Cross, Women's Division Federated Farmers (WDFF) and the church. Describes the voyage to New Zealand of her grandparents Isaac and Janet McLeod on the `Seagull'. Mentions difficulties on the trip and assistance given by local Maori on their arrival. Mentions John and Helen McLeod, after whom Helensville is named. Describes her father's community involvement on the Kaipara Dairy Board, the Rehabilitation Board, the Agricultural Show, the Racing Club and the Masonic Lodge. Talks about social activities including films and hearing Al Jolson. Interviewer(s) - Harriet Taylor Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3332.