Interview with Ruby Hill

Ruby Hill was born at Okuru in 1907. Describes how her father came from Germany to Australia and then the West Coast and worked on roadworks round the district. Describes the death of one brother during World War I and another from drowning. Recalls Christmas, Sundays, children's games, discipline, entertainment, music, fishing, schooling, visiting neighbours and horse riding. Mentions having to ferry people across the river to their place and riding to Jacksons Bay. Recalls Arawata Bill. Gives details of food preparation and her mother's hard work. Comments on the isolation. Describes how it took eight days to drive the cattle to market at Whataroa. Recalls getting all her teeth pulled out by the dentist when she was about ten.

Describes how her mother had one of her children half way between Waiatoto and Okuru on the side of the track. Talks about her mother's death from appendicitis and the doctor's attempt to perform surgery on her at home. Recalls how she and her sister Grace left home to go to work. Discusses how they felt about leaving the district, her work at Seaview Hospital, Hokitika and working in a number of hotels. Describes meeting her husband and moving to Sutters Creek near Ngahere where her husband cut silver pine for the mining industry. Describes stores and the hall in the Haast district, sports days and the dance afterwards. Talks about her brothers Charlie and Dick Eggeling. Mentions Dick Eggeling was the postmaster for a time and Charlie and Betty Eggeling started the motor camp. Comments on Okuru as a place to grow up. Recalls the Cuttance Family.

Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2902.

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

Alternative form available: Listening copy tape one OHLC-006217