Interview with Betty Eggeling

Betty Eggeling was born at Ross in 1920. Describes her family background, her parents meeting in Greymouth, her father's occupations as coalminer, goldminer and farmer and how the family lived in Runanga, Aratika and Ross. Describes how their house was washed off its foundations by a burst water supply dam. Comments on her mother's ability to feed the family, trap possums and make clothes for the children from flour bags. Recalls the tin bath in front of the open fire and rescuing her brother from being drowned in the river. Describes being timid, having few visitors, the distance from school and some schooling by correspondence.

Describes the family's shift from Ikamatua to Okuru after the purchase of a farm and recalls travelling south by boat with the livestock in 1931. Mentions planting potatoes and oats. Talks about her father's absence bush cutting. Mentions her brother Henry Buchanan was like a father. Describes the cattle track and mustering. Discusses the roadmen Jack Farrell and Joe Driscoll, Chinese mining for gold at Bald Hill and gold diggings at the Arawata River beach.

Discusses changing her name from Milcah to Betty. Recalls having her children at Greymouth, the fortnight spent in hospital and how women looked after one another's children. Talks about the work of her husband Charlie Eggeling and his brother Dick Eggeling building and maintaining the roads and bridges. Discusses alcohol, the arrival of the supply boat, the ensuing dance and the use of alcohol by the Ministry of Works (MoW) staff. Describes the friendship of the Harris and Buchanan families. Talks about operating a motor camp and looking for greenstone with husband Charlie Eggeling.

Access Contact - See oral history librarian

Abstracted by - Abstracted by Julia Bradshaw

Interviewer(s) - Julia Bradshaw

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009129; OHC-009130; OHC-009131

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA 2901.