Abstract of Geoffrey Lyall (Geoff) GENGE, 2022
Item — Box: 58
Identifier: H05190002
Overview
Interviewee: Geoffrey Lyall Genge
Interviewer: Judith Thomas
Date: 27th July and 8 August 2022
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE THE INTERVIEWERS NOTES NOT AN ABSTRACT
Track 1
Early family from ENGLAND to INVERCARGILL 1874, train, JOHN WALKER, early death. Grandma, TOM GENGE, MARSHWOOD – 1874 Barrodes (sp?) WYNDAM – TOM AND ELIZABETH. Bacon factory at TISBURY SHARMILKERS. WAIRO farm, death Grandparents to farm, “THE OAKS” 250 acres – death of sheep, walked off farm. WAIMOMO. Father to school at WARIO. Brother sister. Frozen OTEPUNI – skating, BOWMONT STREET, very bright children. Home to farm. Young brother. BILL MARTIN. THOMAS and JANE (servants) to WYNDHAM – mud floor share milking at TISBURY (-stamp collector, TIM O’CONNER – shop) MIDDLEMARCH – Fescue Harvesting.
Track 2
Shearing – FATHER BOYLE – Mother and Father met in woolshed 1939 married at ALL SAINTS INVERCARGILL. BIRCHWOOD ROAD. OHAI people. FENTONS. Raffles, SYLVIA – 1st friend – KINGS section – a ride in the sulky – coal shed - GRANDAD dies 1945. Funereal – empty bed – HASTINGS STREET. CAMPBELLS, SPARKS, MCNEILIDGE, BENNETS, CLARE, SULKY, SOYERS-CADS.
Std 2 playing – deer antlers – injury bleeding – fainted – DR. WOODS, NIGHTCAPS DR., gangrene – dressings. BRUCE ALLAN – miner and sportsman. Dad a miner up to 1950’s. BIRCHWOOD explosion – home guard. A good rifle shooter.
Track 3
JIM KITTO took the shift – whiskers growing in – HOME GUARD – BOWMONT STATION. Stretcher. 1950’s Dad farmer (?) – (coal gas = mine explosion) NIGHTCAPS CEMETERY. £400 – crawler tractor – brought “the land in”. catchment board straightened the ORAWIA RIVER – ORAUEA correct spelling. “THE BLUE BOTTLE” origin of name – pub in ENGLAND. 60’s GRANDAD died – sold land for death duties. BOB ALLEN and HAGGATY’S – original GOLF CLUB – finding golf balls – ALLANS old cowshed dragged up to GENGE’S farm for sheep shed. Mum bunch of CHRYSANTHEMUMS – flower competition – 1st price! Corsets – drying washing – VICAR arrives – corsets in oven – boiled the kettle – corsets “had it!!”
Track 4
Father 1971 – 1972 – dug up MĀORI STONE TOOLS – RUSSELL BECK 1500? OTAGO UNIVERSITY OBSIDIAN REDSTONE, ADZE, 1350s, slate, Moa stones, peat soil, cache, MĀORI history. WAIRO GORGE – MĀORI route the lakes – return to the original tribe – MARAE – COLAC BAY. Dad died sold farm to JOHN LEVETT – shifted to town with Mum. Brought BARRETS JEWELLERS off MUNRO MATHESON. MARSHWOOD GARDENS – Met ADAIR – TEACHER at OHAI – married ADAIR POLSON 1977 in OAMARU. Taught at WEST PLAINS SCHOOL – 1981 – 1982 shifted to MARSHWOOD. Visited MARSHWOOD ENGLAND. Bluebells!!
Mothers people – HARDINGS – LILY FIELDSEND – sickly wee girls.
GATESHEAD ENGLAND – MARGARET HILL – MIDWIFE – WILLIAM – FOSTER – FALLOWFIELD north of the RIVER TYNE ENGLAND. Grandad a mine there – lived at AITKEN ENGLAND.
Track 5
1921 twins were born 1 ½ pounds each. GRANDMA WINFRED and EVA POTTS family immigrated to MAKAREWA from HEXHAM came before GRANDAD. 1924 ‘AWARA’ – express to INVERARGILL. GRANDAD – keen gardener- HEIDLEBURUGH turned it down – mines at OHAI – “GEORDIE TOWN” a lot of people came from there. Wairaki School – (McMillans) – Ohai terraces used for shooting. Dad with trophies – Geoffrey 8 years – Bruce Campbell – “smart little sods”. Ohai Fishery – water race wooden sides – BROWN TROUT – MORLEY STREAM. Porcelin clay found foot of hills. 1943 photo on Grandad’s knee. Glass house treated – pipes – grapes, cucumber, tomatoes, peanuts, chinese gooseberries. BOB ALLEN shifted glass house to his place. ARUM LILIES. GRANDMA 1st radio in OHAI – men listening to boxing – father said all GORDIE men gathered – broad accents.
Track 6
BOX BROWNIE CAMERA – opening 2 buildings. MOTHER and SISTER 1st day pupils – OHAI SCHOOL – OHAI = “PLACE OF STONE”WAIRIO – ( rio SPANISH) GRANDMA strict ANGLICAN, MOONIES shop 1st services – 1st house – end of war concert (memories) OHAI WOMENS INSTITUTE 1920? WALTER GUTTARY “IN THE SHADOW OF THE TAKITIMUS”. GRANDFATHER OHAI BOWLING CLUB – collected Pahi weed for the green. GRANDMA music! Banjo! Friday nights in OHAI (no Teddy Boys) very busy. BENNETTS FISH AND CHIPS – MANSON’S BUTCHER SHOP, RIDDELL’S GROCERIES – BAIRD’S DAIRY – Banana splits! Penny ice cream – different shaped ice cream describes- BEATONS DAIRY – NATIONAL BANK – ELECTRICIAN SHOP – BAIRDS – DRAPERY SHHOP – MUNYARDS SHOP. LANFORDS BOOT SHOP IVAN WALSH – m? WATSON farm BIRCH WOOD. GUTTERYS house – DR. WOODS had his surgery there. JIMMY SMEATON – GRANDAD HARDING – TYNDALE HOUSE MANSON – great gardener.
Track 7
CWI ROOMS – MILLS family (maybe the first family there). WARHURST’S – JOHNSTONE’S – SMITHS – LIBRARY – DRUIDS LODGE HALL – MOONIES SHOP – MOVIES – Mens hairdresser . AGNES GRARGS (sp?) – (people). Little hut – TAFFY LOYLD SHOE/BOOT MENDER. WELSH? RUSHTONS BAKERY – fruit loaves- cheesedale cheese – pies mutton – custard squraes. Parons – Gardeners – Groceries – MUNYARDS deleivered by van . DAIRY FACTORY – BIRCHWOOD STATION. Burnt House – Bora ? P.O. PLUNKET ROOMS – Empty section – travelling fun fair. “Herdy Gerdy” side shows – clowns – MINERS RESCUE STATION – NISBETS CARRYING CO., MRS MCLEAN – MR TROTTER – DENTIST Room – PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – PLUNKET Ends
2nd Session
Track 1
Love of gardening – Duram – Grandfather – flower shows – Leeks. KING ST GROCER – SOUTHLAND BOYS HIGH – Popular cuttings = farm trees. LESTER DIACK growing trees – ROYAL HORTICULTURE SOCIETY – ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY – Seed lists, visits, seeds – Maple trees – seeds from ENGLAND – English visitors – DENDROLOGY SOCIETY (trees). LAND WEST PLAINS – 1981 built “MARSHWOOD” trees – flax & Blue Gums – Pines – lawn – fire. Sheep grazing, lambing, describes planting types – MAGGIE BARRY – TV Show 10mts (?sp) – pushmower.
Track 2
ADAIR – HERB SOCIETY – FEDERATION – SALVIAS (250) hardy – 1990 ENGLISH TOURISTS came BBQ – RUSSIAN PRINCE meeting girls – ANDREW cricket – DOWAGER DUCHESS OF BOFORD. GRAHAM HAWKES – food & wine. Nursery – imported seed. OLIVE DUNN – Lavenders ‘name on the map’.1990’s, catalogue, online nursery, orders, hold ups, couriers, articles for the paper, NZ GARDENER & NZ HOUSE & GARDEN – watering & not.
Track 3
HELENIUMS – daisy’s – seeds to overseas – swops, naming them, cuttings – freedom own boss
Track 4
WAIRIO to BIRCHWOOD – the road – Hotel, WAIRIO STREAM, windmill, tanks, NISBETS, RED CROSS, RON PETRIE, valley’s, PRENDAVILLS, TAYLORS, COLLIE RD., BELL RD., WAIRIO GORGE, COLLIES, Railway line, MATHESONS HILL, mint, hut, sheep trials, clay fence – boundry. BIRCHWOOD – JACKSON’S) swamp, SAM MCRAE drained it. DON GENGE 1919 Shepherds, MCKINLAYS
Track 5
BLACKBERRIES, CLAY RD., ‘THE OAKS’. TAYLORS, WALLY HORNETT, MURRAY HARRIS, BILL PURVIS, HILLSIDE FARM, BRAZIERS, ELLIS – horse people, HILDA & HENRY, singing, JACK PAUL, fire, HAIG, ORAWIA RIVER, peat bog, BIRCHWOOD HOMESTEAD, early huts. Subdivided. ROGERS (AW) WAIMOMO. Trinder. 1912 farm accident – discing died. “remittance Man” “TWINLAW” FREEMAN JACKSON planting bluegums (PURVIS family) (MANAPOURI STATION, BLUEGUM paint TE ANAU) MCLEAN – MCDOWELL- MCCASSIES- BROUGHTONS PURVIS RD., - 2 bridges – flooded – became 1 river. Gravel. LEVITTS.
Track 6
BILL IRWIN & NEIL HAGGERTYS, BERT TERRY, SHEPARD – IAN, HOGG BROTHERS. DALEY’S DALY, WILSONS, MCNEILIGE BENNETT, CLARE, BIRCHWOOD houses. Gardeners, BIRCHWOOD HUNT, 100th Anniversary, pylons. “You never really leave a thing behind”
Track 7
GRANDMA, “The old girl is dead” – QUEEN VICTORIA. Ends.
Interviewer: Judith Thomas
Date: 27th July and 8 August 2022
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE THE INTERVIEWERS NOTES NOT AN ABSTRACT
Track 1
Early family from ENGLAND to INVERCARGILL 1874, train, JOHN WALKER, early death. Grandma, TOM GENGE, MARSHWOOD – 1874 Barrodes (sp?) WYNDAM – TOM AND ELIZABETH. Bacon factory at TISBURY SHARMILKERS. WAIRO farm, death Grandparents to farm, “THE OAKS” 250 acres – death of sheep, walked off farm. WAIMOMO. Father to school at WARIO. Brother sister. Frozen OTEPUNI – skating, BOWMONT STREET, very bright children. Home to farm. Young brother. BILL MARTIN. THOMAS and JANE (servants) to WYNDHAM – mud floor share milking at TISBURY (-stamp collector, TIM O’CONNER – shop) MIDDLEMARCH – Fescue Harvesting.
Track 2
Shearing – FATHER BOYLE – Mother and Father met in woolshed 1939 married at ALL SAINTS INVERCARGILL. BIRCHWOOD ROAD. OHAI people. FENTONS. Raffles, SYLVIA – 1st friend – KINGS section – a ride in the sulky – coal shed - GRANDAD dies 1945. Funereal – empty bed – HASTINGS STREET. CAMPBELLS, SPARKS, MCNEILIDGE, BENNETS, CLARE, SULKY, SOYERS-CADS.
Std 2 playing – deer antlers – injury bleeding – fainted – DR. WOODS, NIGHTCAPS DR., gangrene – dressings. BRUCE ALLAN – miner and sportsman. Dad a miner up to 1950’s. BIRCHWOOD explosion – home guard. A good rifle shooter.
Track 3
JIM KITTO took the shift – whiskers growing in – HOME GUARD – BOWMONT STATION. Stretcher. 1950’s Dad farmer (?) – (coal gas = mine explosion) NIGHTCAPS CEMETERY. £400 – crawler tractor – brought “the land in”. catchment board straightened the ORAWIA RIVER – ORAUEA correct spelling. “THE BLUE BOTTLE” origin of name – pub in ENGLAND. 60’s GRANDAD died – sold land for death duties. BOB ALLEN and HAGGATY’S – original GOLF CLUB – finding golf balls – ALLANS old cowshed dragged up to GENGE’S farm for sheep shed. Mum bunch of CHRYSANTHEMUMS – flower competition – 1st price! Corsets – drying washing – VICAR arrives – corsets in oven – boiled the kettle – corsets “had it!!”
Track 4
Father 1971 – 1972 – dug up MĀORI STONE TOOLS – RUSSELL BECK 1500? OTAGO UNIVERSITY OBSIDIAN REDSTONE, ADZE, 1350s, slate, Moa stones, peat soil, cache, MĀORI history. WAIRO GORGE – MĀORI route the lakes – return to the original tribe – MARAE – COLAC BAY. Dad died sold farm to JOHN LEVETT – shifted to town with Mum. Brought BARRETS JEWELLERS off MUNRO MATHESON. MARSHWOOD GARDENS – Met ADAIR – TEACHER at OHAI – married ADAIR POLSON 1977 in OAMARU. Taught at WEST PLAINS SCHOOL – 1981 – 1982 shifted to MARSHWOOD. Visited MARSHWOOD ENGLAND. Bluebells!!
Mothers people – HARDINGS – LILY FIELDSEND – sickly wee girls.
GATESHEAD ENGLAND – MARGARET HILL – MIDWIFE – WILLIAM – FOSTER – FALLOWFIELD north of the RIVER TYNE ENGLAND. Grandad a mine there – lived at AITKEN ENGLAND.
Track 5
1921 twins were born 1 ½ pounds each. GRANDMA WINFRED and EVA POTTS family immigrated to MAKAREWA from HEXHAM came before GRANDAD. 1924 ‘AWARA’ – express to INVERARGILL. GRANDAD – keen gardener- HEIDLEBURUGH turned it down – mines at OHAI – “GEORDIE TOWN” a lot of people came from there. Wairaki School – (McMillans) – Ohai terraces used for shooting. Dad with trophies – Geoffrey 8 years – Bruce Campbell – “smart little sods”. Ohai Fishery – water race wooden sides – BROWN TROUT – MORLEY STREAM. Porcelin clay found foot of hills. 1943 photo on Grandad’s knee. Glass house treated – pipes – grapes, cucumber, tomatoes, peanuts, chinese gooseberries. BOB ALLEN shifted glass house to his place. ARUM LILIES. GRANDMA 1st radio in OHAI – men listening to boxing – father said all GORDIE men gathered – broad accents.
Track 6
BOX BROWNIE CAMERA – opening 2 buildings. MOTHER and SISTER 1st day pupils – OHAI SCHOOL – OHAI = “PLACE OF STONE”WAIRIO – ( rio SPANISH) GRANDMA strict ANGLICAN, MOONIES shop 1st services – 1st house – end of war concert (memories) OHAI WOMENS INSTITUTE 1920? WALTER GUTTARY “IN THE SHADOW OF THE TAKITIMUS”. GRANDFATHER OHAI BOWLING CLUB – collected Pahi weed for the green. GRANDMA music! Banjo! Friday nights in OHAI (no Teddy Boys) very busy. BENNETTS FISH AND CHIPS – MANSON’S BUTCHER SHOP, RIDDELL’S GROCERIES – BAIRD’S DAIRY – Banana splits! Penny ice cream – different shaped ice cream describes- BEATONS DAIRY – NATIONAL BANK – ELECTRICIAN SHOP – BAIRDS – DRAPERY SHHOP – MUNYARDS SHOP. LANFORDS BOOT SHOP IVAN WALSH – m? WATSON farm BIRCH WOOD. GUTTERYS house – DR. WOODS had his surgery there. JIMMY SMEATON – GRANDAD HARDING – TYNDALE HOUSE MANSON – great gardener.
Track 7
CWI ROOMS – MILLS family (maybe the first family there). WARHURST’S – JOHNSTONE’S – SMITHS – LIBRARY – DRUIDS LODGE HALL – MOONIES SHOP – MOVIES – Mens hairdresser . AGNES GRARGS (sp?) – (people). Little hut – TAFFY LOYLD SHOE/BOOT MENDER. WELSH? RUSHTONS BAKERY – fruit loaves- cheesedale cheese – pies mutton – custard squraes. Parons – Gardeners – Groceries – MUNYARDS deleivered by van . DAIRY FACTORY – BIRCHWOOD STATION. Burnt House – Bora ? P.O. PLUNKET ROOMS – Empty section – travelling fun fair. “Herdy Gerdy” side shows – clowns – MINERS RESCUE STATION – NISBETS CARRYING CO., MRS MCLEAN – MR TROTTER – DENTIST Room – PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – PLUNKET Ends
2nd Session
Track 1
Love of gardening – Duram – Grandfather – flower shows – Leeks. KING ST GROCER – SOUTHLAND BOYS HIGH – Popular cuttings = farm trees. LESTER DIACK growing trees – ROYAL HORTICULTURE SOCIETY – ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY – Seed lists, visits, seeds – Maple trees – seeds from ENGLAND – English visitors – DENDROLOGY SOCIETY (trees). LAND WEST PLAINS – 1981 built “MARSHWOOD” trees – flax & Blue Gums – Pines – lawn – fire. Sheep grazing, lambing, describes planting types – MAGGIE BARRY – TV Show 10mts (?sp) – pushmower.
Track 2
ADAIR – HERB SOCIETY – FEDERATION – SALVIAS (250) hardy – 1990 ENGLISH TOURISTS came BBQ – RUSSIAN PRINCE meeting girls – ANDREW cricket – DOWAGER DUCHESS OF BOFORD. GRAHAM HAWKES – food & wine. Nursery – imported seed. OLIVE DUNN – Lavenders ‘name on the map’.1990’s, catalogue, online nursery, orders, hold ups, couriers, articles for the paper, NZ GARDENER & NZ HOUSE & GARDEN – watering & not.
Track 3
HELENIUMS – daisy’s – seeds to overseas – swops, naming them, cuttings – freedom own boss
Track 4
WAIRIO to BIRCHWOOD – the road – Hotel, WAIRIO STREAM, windmill, tanks, NISBETS, RED CROSS, RON PETRIE, valley’s, PRENDAVILLS, TAYLORS, COLLIE RD., BELL RD., WAIRIO GORGE, COLLIES, Railway line, MATHESONS HILL, mint, hut, sheep trials, clay fence – boundry. BIRCHWOOD – JACKSON’S) swamp, SAM MCRAE drained it. DON GENGE 1919 Shepherds, MCKINLAYS
Track 5
BLACKBERRIES, CLAY RD., ‘THE OAKS’. TAYLORS, WALLY HORNETT, MURRAY HARRIS, BILL PURVIS, HILLSIDE FARM, BRAZIERS, ELLIS – horse people, HILDA & HENRY, singing, JACK PAUL, fire, HAIG, ORAWIA RIVER, peat bog, BIRCHWOOD HOMESTEAD, early huts. Subdivided. ROGERS (AW) WAIMOMO. Trinder. 1912 farm accident – discing died. “remittance Man” “TWINLAW” FREEMAN JACKSON planting bluegums (PURVIS family) (MANAPOURI STATION, BLUEGUM paint TE ANAU) MCLEAN – MCDOWELL- MCCASSIES- BROUGHTONS PURVIS RD., - 2 bridges – flooded – became 1 river. Gravel. LEVITTS.
Track 6
BILL IRWIN & NEIL HAGGERTYS, BERT TERRY, SHEPARD – IAN, HOGG BROTHERS. DALEY’S DALY, WILSONS, MCNEILIGE BENNETT, CLARE, BIRCHWOOD houses. Gardeners, BIRCHWOOD HUNT, 100th Anniversary, pylons. “You never really leave a thing behind”
Track 7
GRANDMA, “The old girl is dead” – QUEEN VICTORIA. Ends.
Dates
- 2022
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The contents of Southland Oral History Project collections are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act 1994. Please note that in accordance with agreements held with interviewees additional conditions regarding the reproduction [copying] and use of items in the Southland Oral History Project collections may apply. Please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator for further information at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Thomas, Judith (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
