H0331 Sarah Jane McCarthy

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen

Abstracter: April Milligan

Interview: 23 February 2018

TRACK One

00:28 SARAH JANE McCarthy born 1976.

01.11 Born in NELSON. Moved there for her Dad’s work as a car Salesman. Mother had given up work in the office at the SOUTHLAND TIMES. Year later moved back to SOUTHLAND - Mum missed her family. Dad’s family on the WEST COAST - brother ROBIN and sister EUNICE.

02.27 Moved back to INVERCARGILL the first home EXMOUTH ST. Dad bought into REGENT CAR COURT with a Motor Bike Shop next door - partner MR MCDOUGALL. Much of early life defined by Dad’s work. Recalls as a kid being in the office happily playing with the stationary using a stamp to address envelopes. Dad allowed a cousin and her to stamp envelopes with 1 envelope for them saying first pay check with $5 thus encouraging a huge work ethic. Dad from a large family who were poor, living on the WEST COAST and this defined his life and achievements. Mum was MRS at home - a housewife which stressed SARAH as they were told in advertising,” girls can do anything”. Confusing as had assumed this and wondered was there a different way. Her parents modeled a traditional path but SARAH did not see this as being her way. Rather brought up to work like her Dad, resisting cooking lessons saying, “no, my husband will do all the cooking”.

06.15 By age 10 decided she would be more than a housewife. Wore a badge at ROSEDALE INTERMEDIATE saying, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle”. Disappointed when she had a boyfriend thinking she would just be happy alone. ‘Lightbulb’, moments have come in later years and upon reflection when you become a parent and more aware of life and who you are and actions and how things work. Some a reaction to Mum’s traditional ways. “Woman sight blood more so no need to be squeamish”. Women can do any job as parenting allows.

11.23 Admire other women, MADONNA, ENID BLYTON, rather than NZ women from a tiny Island adrift in the Pacific. Felt as if she didn’t fit in. Ambitions to be a tap dancing Nurse, Paleontologist, a writer, and then a reporter as it seemed more doable.

TRACK 2

00.16 Writing seemed a commitment too hard to achieve. Told she had “potential”, as a teenager but found school boring, some bits not understood, or too easy, left school not knowing what to do. Friends identified a clear path and were off to further study. 7th Form marks may not have been enough for Varsity as well. Drifted much to her parents’ angst. Waitressed in QUEENSTOWN, CHRISTCHURCH and lived in DUNEDIN. After the ‘Twin Towers’ in 2001, felt claustrophobic about the information following the event. Visiting JAPAN following a six week, buying trip for cars with Father stayed on alone. Began sending emails (early days of this form of communication) and from encouraging responses (cousin TRACEY started a job on the radio making her jealous) and Zero fees scheme in INVERCARGILL led to studying the Journalism Course at 25 years old, enjoying the link with words and people. “My real life started”.

04.13 Journalism career started. Finding Shorthand hard to master she thought she would fail the course. Undertook work experience on the Sub Desk at THE SOUTHLAND TIMES. Offered a job Sub Editing (also passing her shorthand course). The first time had followed through to pass a course with a bit of Mahi. Undertook Sub Editing at night restricting social Life.

05.27 Met future Husband at THE SOUTHLAND TIMES. Also continued a Column ‘Uptown Girl’. You did what you were asked rather than questioning the motivation and trying to affect change. Wrote uncensored and Boss said her writing was relatable. EDITOR, FRED TULLOCH said, “Older Ladies saw what SARAH wrote as how their lives could have been if they were young now”. This allowed her to be invited to ‘DANGEROUS RHYTHM’, (Hairdressers) Xmas parties. (Famous in Vegas) Frequently boozed up at parties, sometimes writing about it.

08.30 Controversial writing when at SIT writing a column in the Journalism students weekly news page called “FEAR & LOATHING in INVERVEGAS”, shared with JEREMY and wrote about a hate of being in a café with bad babies running around doing crazy things. (earned money as a student working in ZOOKEEPERS at this time) Feedback was intense from Parents. Today SARAH had her own screaming 18 month old child at ZOOKEEPERS. Anti Mother thing to say but got a lot of attention.

10.02 Didn’t live a very healthy lifestyle - a lot of alcohol consumption but felt it was important to be open about it. “There was a great pushback against the Laddette culture. We were told as women that we wanted to be one of the boys but don’t drink too much“. DO this but don’t wear that but always wanted to tell the truth.

11.19 When in JAPAN friend wanted to know what she was doing but cultural differences made it hard to explain what a Columnist did. A query was made why she didn’t go out with a boyfriend instead of her girlfriends. This led to think about writing about dating which was not a big thing 15 years ago (phone number, dinner, dates) but more casual pub hookups leading to marriage. Led to a decision to go on a date and write about it. (She used her Drivers Licence as pub Identification) PHIL a fellow reporter commented on a speeding ticket she got as everyone at work could listen to the Police scanner.

TRACK 3

00.10 A date was made at ZOOKEEPERS (local bar on TAY ST) PHIL was heading to SOUTH AMERICA for 3 months the next morning but they had dinner before he left. Following up with phone calls and e-mails. When we got engaged we “shouted” afternoon tea and we got engagement presents from the office staff. STEVE MASON (Deputy Editor) gave a teary eyed speech. A friend HELEN O’CALLAGHAN had also met the love of her life at the TIMES (THE SOUTHLAND TIMES newspaper) The whole staff had followed the developing attachment as the only computer was at work. The wedding was basically the staff from THE TIMES.

04.18 “Being a feminist meant being able to do whatever I wanted as well as boys”. Always thought of herself as a feminist even when it was thought in the 80s’ that meant being lesbian and considered a dirty word aggressive, man haters. She became very aggressive with boys thinking she needed to be’ severe and strong with men in order to be taken seriously’. Reflection now admits to hurtful behavior.

06.00 The idea of marriage was unfamiliar but had a happy inevitability. (Airy fairy in her 20’s as a response to finding wholeness). PHIL was best friend and worked together. Especially as the ‘EYE’, was closing down (launched 3 months before marriage). Chose to take McCarthy as her married name following the split of her parent’s marriage when she was 20 and hurt by her Father. Also chose to be MRS rather than MS.

10.26 Talks of children being brought up ‘Woke’. Outside influences (Kindy) reinforce ideas of traditional gender thinking. Children will find their own views as they grow.

14.01 Interviewer asks: “125 years since Women got the vote and things have changed for Women in some ways. How can they keep moving forward?” Says:” in JAPAN Women get groped on the subway. Men rely on Women being quiet and reserved in order to harass them. She encourages Women to grab the hand, hold it in the air and ask, “Whose hand is this”? Thinks this is what we need to do.

TRACK 4

00.01 “The way forward is for Women to stick together and have conversations about what we expect from men and ourselves in future”. Having awkward conversations and making lots of mistakes and defending people until there is a balance.

01.14 Recalls being at an INVERCARGILL bar 5 years ago ordering a drink, wearing her favourite dress when a guy lifted her dress up from behind. Turned around grabbed him by the neck then let him go. Complained to the Manager and asked for him to leave. ‘The response was he’s all right’. Left feeling angry, dumb, unsafe and sad, especially for other girls in the bar with a bit more drink. Next morning rang the police and the comment was made, “You should have biffed him”. Having someone listen with support felt right. Comments like “he’ll be alight, don’t worry about it, he doesn’t mean it, he’s harmless, he won’t do anything”, is not the point. Reinforces the idea that she doesn’t have to put up with anything she doesn’t want.