Catholic schools - New Zealand - Otago Region

Date: 27 Apr 1883

By: Mills, John Fleming, -1950

Reference: MS-Papers-6543

Description: Letter from Mills, a boarder at St Aloysius' College, Waikare, Dunedin, to his friend Bily [sic] Bedle, describing his school routines and including study, sport, playing the fiddle and other activities. He remarks that he will only stay for one year `becose it his to much for me whe all go to bed at nine...'. Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 folder(s) (one leaf). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Mr G Eller, Northcote, Auckland, Apr 1999

Date: 14 May 1998

From: Gore District oral history project

By: Crowley, John Howard, 1912-2000; Booth, Helen, active 1998

Reference: OHInt-0428/04

Description: John Crowley was born in Reefton in 1912. Describes how his father was a gold dredger based in Waikaia. Talks about moving to Dunedin, Catholic schooling, working at Gallien's Pharmacy at the Gardens in Dunedin and his interest in swimming, yachting, life saving, tramping and football. Mentions appearing before the Otago Rugby Union after an incident. Discusses becoming an apprentice plasterer to George Newman and work plastering at Teschemakers Convent near Oamaru. Mentions a stutter and how it was corrected. Describes working `for his keep' on a farm, working at Argyle Station near Waikaia and working for his uncle and aunt Jack and Ann Dennis. Recalls Chinese miners Charley King and Ah Wing. Describes meeting his wife Cath Ferris in 1935, marrying in Gore in 1940 and a North Island honeymoon despite petrol rations. Talks about their first home in Castle Street, Dunedin, wages and living conditions, the birth of son Richard in 1942, enlisting in the Army and his wife's move to Gore while he was in the Army. Mentions he did not serve overseas. Gives reasons for staying in Gore. Talks about other children born, employment at the Mataura freezing works, buying a house and getting a cartage licence. Describes what he carried in his cartage business. Mentions purchasing land in the Thistle-Johnston Street area which he later subdivided and sold. Recalls building a crib (holiday home) at Glenorchy and holidays there. Discusses involvement with meals on wheels, St Mary's Boxing Club, life saving, deer stalking and the establishment of a deer park. Describes negotiating for land for St Peters College in 1969, the opening of the College and involvement with building the new Catholic Church. Talks about his wife's death in 1987. Gives details of his family members. Interviewer(s) - Helen Booth Accompanying material - Copies of photos of Jack Crowley tramping and in the Army Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2595.

Date: 8, 11 Sep 1998 - 08 Sep 1998 - 11 Sep 1998

From: `Seven Circles of Mercy' - Centenary Oral History Project of the Sisters of Mercy, Dunedin

By: Dolan, Josephine Anne (Sister), 1944-

Reference: OHInt-0545/2

Description: Sister Josie Dolan born Tuatapere where parents farmed. Outlines family background - grandfather, 3rd generation New Zealander, owned Lower Shotover Hotel and farmed - grandmother, Mary Ellen McBride, 3rd generation Irish. Mother, Mary Ellen Churstain, was in very first nursing class and later established a private hospital in Dunedin. Recalls parents separation, moving with mother and brothers to Dunedin and impact of separation on self. Mentions attitudes to divorce. Discusses: upbringing, with reference to Catholic culture and religious symbols; discipline in the home; politics, with reference to Keith Holyoake; friendships and social life; sports teams; sex education and career options for women. Talks about entering convent and explains what the term vocation meant then. Describes process of `entering convent'; postulant; Novice mistress; adapting to rules and regulations; daily routines, duties and recreation; professed sisters; ceremonies and name change. Mentions contribution of Sisters of Mercy to teaching. Discusses Vatican II and its effect on Religious Life. Explains meaning of Structural and Social analysis, with reference to John Curnow and Kairos Course in Australia. Backgrounds involvement with Parish work, describing the challenges and highlights, with reference to supporting families during Invercargill floods. Mentions Ecumenical Movement; Feminist theology; Justice groups and move to Community work, with reference to Stenhope Community Centre. Refers to: Presbyterian Support (Otago); Catherine Goodyear, Family Care; Lisa Davis; Sisters and Brothers and Priests for Justice Network and Women's Network. Mentions Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Helen Frizzell Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007853-007856 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2071. Photocopies of six b&w photographs of: (i) Mrs Dolan and Josie Convent, South Dunedin 21/10/1962; (ii) Sr Josie Dolan and Sr Joan Walsh, 1983; (iii) Sr Josie Dolan and Mrs Mary Dolan, 1985; (iv) Members of Sisters & Brothers & Priests for Justice Network, Pt Chalmers, 1993, L-R, Tony Russell, Josie [Dolan], Judith McGinley, Noreen McGrath, Antony McFelin and Mary Crowe; (v) 1996 Women's group, Dunedin: (vi) Josie Doland, Mother Christmas Stenhope Communtiy Centre, Christmas 1997. Ju;

Date: 16, 17 Sep 1998 - 16 Sep 1998 - 17 Sep 1998

From: `Seven Circles of Mercy' - Centenary Oral History Project of the Sisters of Mercy, Dunedin

By: France, Susan (Sister), 1958-

Reference: OHInt-0545/3

Description: Sister Susan (Sue) France born Nightcaps, fifth of ten children. Outlines family background - father, Bill, emigrated to New Zealand after World War II and worked as a coal miner - mother worked in the post office and later ran a dairy. Talks about father's political views. Recalls catholic families clustered around Nightcaps and being aware of religious prejudice. Discusses: childhood; relationship with parents; religion and social life of church; education and scholarship to St Catherine's College, Invercargill. Backgrounds circumstances leading to entering convent as a nun and reasons for choosing Sisters of Mercy. Describes process of joining Mornington Convent and reaction of family and friends and novitiate years. Refers to Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Mentions Second Vatican Council and Renewal of Religious life. Outlines teaching life and refers to integration of catholic schools and its effect on schools. Gives reasons for leaving teaching and attraction of counselling work and interest in psychotherapy. Refers to Catholic Social Services. Compares current Mercy Community with community when entered. Talks about the origins of group `Mercy Futures' and other important networks. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Helen Frizzell Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007856-007858 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2072.

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: 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