MARGARET EVELYN THOMPSON

Interviewer: Ailsa Dawson

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:27 Born LUMSDEN MATERNITY HOME in 1932. Parents – Farm at FIVE RIVERS – Self one of 10 children

01:01 [HOME]: Four roomed house – Father built bigger one

01:18 [EDUCATION]: FIVE RIVERS SCHOOL – Primers to Standard 6 First in family to go to high school – SOUTHLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE – No high school in LUMSDEN Boarded in INVERCARGILL – Home for holidays [TRAVEL]: GARSTON bus to INVERCARGILL Enjoyed years at high school

02:21 Returned to work on farm – boys out working – girls on farm

02:32 Mother crippled with arthritis – Children worked the farm – Cared for mother Sheep farm – Father had horses – Grandfather's car

02:59 Groceries ordered in town (INVERCARGILL) – Delivered by rail following day FIVE RIVERS SIDING

03:32 Few trips to INVERCARGILL – State of roads

03:55 Father born outside DUNEDIN – Moved to OTAPIRI – To FIVE RIVERS about 1907 Mother from ENGLAND after first world war – To Mr & Mrs SELBIE of FIVE RIVERS

05:00 Parents raised 10 children – Family kept cows and sheep

05:26 Difficult during war years – Little butter and sugar – Coupons for groceries and clothing

05:47 Swimming in river – Mother supplied some 'bathing suits'

06:25 [SCHOOL]: One teacher, Mr CURRAN – Taught all children from {Primers to Standard 6) – Later lady to teach Primers when numbers increased [SUBJECTS]: Included SEWING – GARDENING – MOWING LAWNS as well as READING – WRITING – ARITHMETIC Walked to school – Home for dinner – Different for children today

07:30 [SPORTS]: At FIVE RIVERS SCHOOL – BALFOUR once a year Later boys went to FOOTBALL (RUGBY) – Girls to BASKETBALL (now NETBALL) – Courts in School grounds – Other sports as well

08:00 [TEENAGE]: Girls and brother on farm – Dances GARSTON – ATHOL – MOSSBURN – LUMSDEN – BALFOUR – Mentioned TABLE TENNIS – DRAMA CLUB

08:49 Mother didn't believe in sport – Boys could play rugby

09:07 Self always interested in craft work

09:16 Travel to dances – Described

10:00 Self had 8 children – one died – Most born LUMSDEN MATERNITY HOME in HELENA STREET – Last four in new Maternity Home at Garden Street

10:46 Self's children NORTHERN SOUTHLAND COLLEGE – Some at FIVE RIVERS SCHOOL Worked at LOWTHER for five years – Moved to HELENA STREET MAURICE – RONALD – Attended LUMSDEN PRIMARY SCHOOL All children attended LUMSDEN HIGH SCHOOL, as it was Not all gained School Certificate – Done well in their jobs

11:53 Children have own families – 16 grandchildren – 1 great granddaughter Several to university

12:48 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT – Took children to RUGBY – HOCKEY – CROSS COUNTRIES 25 years from first child beginning to last child finishing schooling

13:30 Self's philosophy – Explained

13:56 Member of ST JOHN (AMBULANCE) – On sideline until asked to be goalie for HOCKEY TEAM GIRL GUIDE CAMPS

15:00 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:02 Enjoyed years (almost 50) in ST JOHN Awarded Serving Sister in AUCKLAND in1979 – Support from community for expenses – Self tried to serve community in return 1992 First Officer – grading changed to Member (of The Order of St John) CATH TIZARD presented Officer award – KEITH HOLYOAKE made presentation in DUNEDIN

01:41 Reduced involvement after heart operation – Increased education requirements also a factor – Explained

02:26 Self involved in ATHLETICS – BOWLS achievements (still playing) – enjoyment FIVE RIVERS – Mentioned

03:49 Caretaker of HALL (28 years) and PRIMARY SCHOOL – Reason explained KENNETH (son) – Carpenter with JOHNNY DORE while at LOWTHER

05:23 Self bought house – Family attitude – Described

06:22 [LUMSDEN]: Lot of people – Lack of interest in town life – Many Senior Citizens – What of the future? – Demise of organisations – Good community

07:45 [FACILITIES]: Schools – Play Centre – Hospital – Surgery – Close to other areas GORE – INVERCARGILL – TE ANAU – QUEENSTOWN – Mentioned Good Shops

08:44 [SWIMMING BATHS]: Self involved with fundraising – Roster system – Explained Taught swimming – Baths covered – Lack of money in present times – River used when water limited

10:26 Gatherings at LOWTHER – Described

11:03 [CRAFT SHOP]: Daughter involved from start about 18 years ago – First shop beside Hairdresser – Move to Post Office building – Move to LUMSDEN RAILWAY STATION (included Information Centre and Museum) Move of library – Mentioned

12:26 Crafters from all over SOUTHLAND and OTAGO Many Tourists – Enjoyable times Own craft specialties – Described EMERGENCY and MEDICAL CENTRES – Mentioned 15:00 End of Track

TRACK 3

00:00 Home activities when young

00:12 Interests of self – crafts – Described Mother did tatting Self enjoyed upholstering furniture

00:37 Country courses – Described

01:09 Enjoyed life in LUMSDEN – Travel easy

01:27 Fulfilling life spent in NORTHERN SOUTHLAND – Enjoys the peace

01:53 Collating some of LUMSDEN'S history

02:11 Changing population – Mentioned

02:24 [FISHING]: Effects on district – Overseas visitors – Described Self not a fishing person – Some of own family fished – Father good fisherman LUMSDEN – AUSTRALIA – BALFOUR – Mentioned

03:40 Mother's attitude to tasks – Described

04:05 Life home-centred when a child and as an adult

04:43 [AWARD]: RURAL WOMEN of LUMSDEN nomination to AGE CONCERN – COMMUNITY SERVICE – Described SELF – MAY BUCHANAN – DUNEDIN – SUKI TURNER (Mayoress of Dunedin) – WELLINGTON – Mentioned

07:03 End of Track 3