Overview Shelia tells of life and education on Stewart Island i.e. chores, teachers, enjoyment of art classes and having a love of nature. She wanted to be a writer and artist; and wrote ‘Natural World of the Trails’ and ‘Out of Our Tree’. She left home to go to Dunedin Teacher’s College and she gives a detailed account of her time there. In 1942 she had her first work published called ‘Overland to Pegasus’ in the Wanderlust magazine. She moved to Wellington and worked for the Dominion Museum – then did...

Overview This interview was recorded as part of the About Us Voices of Southland collection. In this interview Gwen talks of her family, of being raised by Emmy May Ross a Deaconess in the Presbyterian Church, her education and the meeting of her husband Gary. She goes on to tell of her arrival on Stewart Island, the challenges of living here and of married life her. Gwen describes a full life of involvement in the community through her children’s school, Brownies, local politics, Community Trust and...

Overview This interview covers Anne's early life in England during the WWII. She emigrated to New Zealand in 1964. Anne describes the voyage and her arrival in Auckland. She worked in Wellington/Levin before moving to Stewart Island and she talks about life on the island.

Overview In this interview recalls memories and shares extracts from letters of her parent’s full lives and interests in Natural History, Book Collections, and involvement with the Dominion Museum in Wellington. She talks of their marriage and honeymoon on Stewart Island; the war years and her own interest in painting.

Overview This interview is a record of the history of Myrtle Cottage, Stewart Island and the Rout family.

Overview Sam moved to Stewart Island with his wife Linda. There is mention of Sam and ‘Billy the Bus’ on the Island. Predominantly Sam tells/describes his involvement in journalism e.g. started Stewart Island News in 1986-87. He talks of the plans for the first copy and explains the interest and involvement of others e.g. Allison Broad, Margaret Hopkins, and Mike Te Au; as well as the collecting and collating of articles and various topics covered e.g. transfer of Kakapo, Power and Sewage Scheme and the...

Overview In this interview Claire discusses her families association with Stewart Island, their careers and interests. She includes a description of traveling from Wellington to Stewart via ferry and train. She also covers her career choices training first as a nurse then as a kindergarten teacher, her marriage and children and her husband’s career in medicine, his life works and death.

Overview In this interview Barbara looks at her family history on Stewart Island e.g her grandfather building a boat called Huia with the support of his sons. She goes on to describe family outings on it. She tells of the building of the house on Excelsior Road Stewart Island, how her mother cooked on the griddle, her mother encouraging the growth of tree ferns after original growth cleared, and life in general here. She describes family life and friendships with others on the Island through fishing,...

Overview Born 1945, Hugh Wilson's interview contains some family background, how Hugh came to write Field Guides and his fascination with nature from young age. He describes trips to Stewart Island, University experiences, study on Stewart Island, study on Mount Cook, and putting together his books.