Interview with Paula Ryan

Interview with Paula Ryan, born in Christchurch in 1948. Talks about growing up in a farming family at Weedons where personal growth was encouraged. Discusses religous observances in the family, mainly the daily rosary and attending mass on Sundays. Comments on her first communion and confession. Refers to Catholics being born with guilt but that can lead to working hard to be good at whatever you do. Mentions that she drifted away from attending church after she left school.

Discusses being a boarder at St. Patricks Dominican College, Teschemakers, and rebelling against the discipline. Talks about how the staff encouraged her creativity and arranged a correspondence course in art for her. Mentions that a sense of humour was encouraged, and refers to convent schools as classless compared with Anglican schools. Describes the nuns of the semi-enclosed order as having limited experience of the world, and not being good at preparing girls for a sexual life as women. Reflects that she looks now on the positive elements she gained at the convent, especially being encouraged to believe she can do anything and to to be the best at whatever she did. Comments on having had her own business since she was 19. Refers to being Rose of Tralee in 1969, and runner up at the final in Ireland. Mentions using meditation and creative visualisation to cope with personal problems and challenges.

Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010484

Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 1 folder(s) (forms only). 1 interview(s). 1 Hours Duration. 60 kilobyte(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHDL-000290

Abstract Available - other OHA-3597 (forms folder).

Search dates: 1948 - 1993

Alternative form available: Listening copy OHLC-009508

An online copy of the abstract is available to read in the Library's Reading Room