Invercargill Archives

Overview Val talks of her early life being part of a Conscientious Objectors family during WW2. Her parent’s dairy farmed at Waimatua. Val describes and details life on the farm and the kindness of neighbours when her father was taken to Detention Camp. She explains her father’s reasons and what he did during his 2.5 years in the camp. She goes onto describe the living conditions and routines of the family at home during this time. When her father returned home, he became a rabitter. She recalls her own...

Overview In this interview Walter discusses family, education, employment, teaching career and leisure pursuits e.g. fishing and hunting that bolstered food supplies. He talks about being a conscientious objector and the consequences of this on his life. He goes on to share some history of mines in Western Southland and some local stories e.g. the first and only train robbery in Southland.