St. Patrick's Dominican College (Teschemakers, N.Z.)

Date: Sep 1993-Feb 1995

By: Foley, Jacqueline, 1951-

Reference: OHColl-0554

Description: Life stories of seven Dominican nuns teaching in North Otago between 1935 and 1983. Convent schools were owned and operated by the nuns, following a strict constitution unique to the Dominican Order in New Zealand. Four of the five convent schools in North Otago are now closed and few Dominican nuns still teach locally. Many nuns are now elderly, vocations to the order have dropped in recent years and lifestyles have changed dramatically. The project aimed to capture the mystique of life in a strict religious order and to document the contribution made to education in North Otago by these women dedicated to religious life and teaching. Interviewer(s) - Jacqueline Gallagher Quantity: 17 C60 cassette(s). 7 printed abstract(s). 7 interview(s). Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete. Photographs of the interviewees in abstracts

Date: 5 Aug 1994 - 05 Aug 1994

From: The Player Queens oral history project

By: Armstrong, Bridget Mary, 1937-

Reference: OHInt-0414/03

Description: Bridget Armstrong born Dunedin. Outlines family background - father, Clive Charles Armstrong, worked for National Mortgage. Mentions great grandmother, Bridget Coulihan, who ran the Saritoga Hotel in Waitati. Also mentions maternal grandmother, Winnie Rudkin, who took her to J C W Musicals. Talks about school at Teschemakers, a boarding school run by the Dominican nuns which she describes as `creme de la creme ' of catholic boarding schools. Mentions the Ryan family. Recalls discovering Dramatic Society at University, with reference to John V Trevor and his wife, Cicele Trevor. Refers to Dame Sybil Thorndike who stayed with the Trevors. Recalls being sought out by Richard Campion of New Zealand Players, auditioned and offered part in `Salad Days' in Wellington, also toured the large towns. Refers to being compared to Jessie Matthews after opening night in Hamilton. Mentions other cast members: Ben (Raymond) Hawthorne, Paddy Frost - Ngree Dawn Porter joined for `Solid Gold Cadillac'. Talks about Terence Bayler who subsequently became her husband and father of her two children. Describes: Schools tour, with reference to John Hunter, George Webby and Peter Bryan; successful audition for Bursary; sailing for London and auditioning for shows prior to starting at L A M D A. Outlines career in England which included television and famous BBC Soap `Compact'; American musical `Fiorello' which resulted in a wonderful role, as the lead, in `His Monkey Wife' followed by `Me x Me x Me x Me'. Recalls last proper play, `Clandestine Marriage' before returning to marry Maurice Shadbolt. Mentions playing Katherine Mansfield in the BBC documentary KM and LM `The Trials of Friendship' and describes the incredible effect it had on her. Discusses career on returning to New Zealand which included writing her own show about Robyn Hyde. Talks about changes in theatre scene in her 20 year absence, and refers to the stunning production of `Foreskin's Lament' and `The Elephant Man'. Recalls the wonderful chance she had to do great roles - `Les Liasons' `Mrs Klein', `Secret Rapture' and `A kind of Alaska' - the Chekovs. In tape two Bridget records speech from `Les Liaisons Dangereuses.' Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Jane Waddell Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008369, OHC-008370a; OHLC-004221-004222 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1 event(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2580. One b&w photograph and photocopy of one b&w of [Bridget Armstrong]

Date: 25 Jun 1993

From: Convent girls oral history project

By: Ryan, Paula Ann, 1948-

Reference: OHInt-0634-15

Description: 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