Interview with Ted Buchanan

Ted Buchanan was born in Reefton in 1927. Recalls his family moving from Ikamatua to Haast when he was five. Describes how his father was frequently away as he was a mill worker. Mentions that the six children had chores and his mother, Isabel Buchanan, was tough and capable. Recalls her ploughing fields to plant potatoes. Talks about the vegetable garden, making bread, bottling and storing fruit and making jam. Describes going to school at Okuru, Te Taho and Ikamatua. Mentions his father died when he was twelve. Recalls playing cards, listening to the radio and catching cockabullies for recreation.

Describes going to Christchurch for six months when he left school, returning to Haast, felling bush in the Arawata area with his brother Henry and living at the Public Works Department (PWD) camp. Mentions also doing road work. Describes whitebaiting at Cascade and bringing the whitebait out by horse or boat. Mentions constructing an air strip and taking freezers in. Describes deer stalking with Des Nolan for two seasons and gives details of working at Carters Mill as a bushman. Talks about marrying Collette Brazil who worked in a hotel in Hokitika. Mentions visits from the dentist at Hokitika and Dinny Nolan who also pulled teeth out. Talks about ways of getting out to medical help. Recalls the Duggan family, the McPherson family on the Turnbull River and Myrtle Cron who could shoot and skin a deer. Recalls shifting to Mosgiel for his children's education.

Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw

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

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2896.

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

Alternative form available: A digital copy of the recording is available

Listening copies OHLCD-1065 - OHLCD-1066