HO332 Sharon May REECE

Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen

Abstracter: April Milligan

Interview: 23 February 2018

TRACK One

00:00 Interview identification

00.23 SHARON MAY REECE born 1988.

01.26 SHARON was born in ADELAIDE (AUSTRALIA) and lived with her Parents. Older brother and younger brother. A tight knit family unit.

2.22 Dad always worked in workshops, behind welding masks and always working on cars. Mum was always working on things and early memories of her as an Actress. Then she was a Drug and Alcohol Councilor until the Family left Australia.

02.55 Childhood memories of being a sporty, active Tomboy with happy family times. At 2 years old was diagnosed with ADHD at 2 years and Medical advice was to use drugs - didn’t sleep at night until she was 4 years. Mum was put into a Mental Care home when she became unable to cope with the demands from this.

03.51 Always active and the center of attention. Liked school (a strict Christian School) but with a short attention span and active nature had some issues. Good academically, enjoying writing, but terrible at maths. Quite social.

05.05 Raised religiously her Mum was her Sunday School Teacher. School was a Religious, very strict, expensive, Private Christian School. Expectations were high. Hated reading not picking up a book until her teens. Outside on the go, playing sports.

06.25 Being at a strict Christian School the idea of Evolution was seen as a joke. When young her parents were strict. Caught swearing her mouth was washed out with soap. Pokémon cards were not allowed at school because they came from the devil. A pupil came to school on casual day (mufti) wearing red and was sent home because that was the devil’s colour. Her first Primary School, PARADISE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL still had the cane. (So different to NEW ZEALAND schools when she shifted.)They were constantly reminded of their sins.

08.36 Describes the early circumstances of her family and parenting style from strict to more “chilled”. But all had to do the chores. Mother a strong woman believed in ‘girl power’, that it’s a man’s world and woman have to be heard in it. Very good at sport, better than the boys but they were all her best friends. Didn’t have anything in common with the girls. Being so good she was in an all-boys Aussie Football team which was a lot rougher. Girls’ teams were non tackle, which didn’t suit her.

11.48 At age 9 rumour started at school that she was a Lesbian. None of the boys knew what it meant but all started saying it. Mother informed school was mortified and boys got detention for a week - resulted in loss of their friendship. This influenced the girls’ attitudes as well making a very hard time.

13.52 Started Middle School but left for NZ after 2 months. Concerned about fitting in.

Track 2

00.15 NZ was refreshing - kids didn’t care about fashion, make up and stuff. MT ANGLEM SCHOOL (Public School) until the end of schooling. Best move her parents could have made for them. In AUSTRALIA Mother did shifts and they had to wake her to take them to school, so they rarely saw her. Was independent in getting ready for School and not concerned about details. Choosing to wear shorts and sneakers every day causing endless comment from her peers. Mum purchased a skirt and top for school camp to try and make it easier – felt very uncomfortable when that still caused comment.

03.28 Comments about being a ‘naughty teenager getting up to all sorts of trouble’. Difference from strict Catholic School made her lash out. Got in trouble with the Police. At 13/14 years boys started to notice her changing everything giving another focus to schoolwork. Wasn’t interested in much including schoolwork apart from liking English and sport, wagged class and had no goals.

04.52 In 6th Form had a fantastic English teacher who led her to wanting to be an English teacher. She took time to read her writing and poems, giving feedback.

05.28 Became pregnant at 17 years old - changed everything. She was the only family rebel.

07.10 Describes issues of being a teenage mum – relationship with child’s father – finishing schooling. Comments from strangers.

09.28 At this time coming to terms with the idea that she was gay in spite of having Homophobic attitudes. Quite religious inwardly up to this point making it difficult with concepts of ‘sin’. Kept quiet about it opting for being with her boyfriend. Following the birth experienced Post Natal Depression. Difficult time of her life – describes.

12.27 Mum’s support got her through this period in 2007 where being Gay was not accepted. Lost most of her school friends, having only family support, broke up with the father. Sought support from other girl’s around the country via the internet; gay, straight, pregnant, mums.

13.57 Phases of life means putting everything into a project, before getting bored and picking up something new. Breaking all the stereotypes with her daughter being completely involved as a parent and not looking for a relationship.

TRACK 3

00.07 Undertook some small jobs working night time. A bouncer at nightclub, Saints and Sinners, then decided she wanted to join the Army at 22 years throwing herself into exercise and training.

00.52 Reacting to the CHISTCHURCH earthquake by volunteering to help. Upon finishing training gained medals for merit as top soldier for Company and Platoon. A personal achievement to be better than the boys.

02.47 SHARON”s first placement was in CHRISTCHURCH for 6 months. Being the only female led to harassment which had not happened in her training. This led to her not going into the mess hall and shifting out of barracks into CHRISTCHURCH.

09.59 Enjoys her job and is undertaking small projects with an interest in History. Also local TV news. Now interested in darker aspects of SOUTHLAND History.

10.59 Getting married followed by a honeymoon to EUROPE. Her parents will do childcare.

11.58 Aware that INVERCARGILL has Gay support groups but mixes with friends made over the years. When younger she appreciated young, Gay friends but it is not so important now she is settled with a partner, kids and house. She is still not comfortable holding her partners hand down the street because of past abuse even in bigger NZ cities. Reacted to this verbally. Very proud of the new legalization for Gay marriage watching as it was passed in Parliament.

TRACK 4

00.16 Believes full acceptance is 2 generations away and feels for her kids comfort having 2 Mums. Their friends are cool about it and other mums at school voice support.

01.07 125 years on from Women gaining the vote in NZ, recollects that growing up as a tomboy she reflected misogynist views. Girls were stupid and didn’t understand what they did. Motherhood led to thinking about women’s rights and becoming a Feminist advocate. When looking at the portrayal of past advertisements in the media and dumping women in the PUNI to cool them off for being ‘crazy’ – appalling.

03.45 Discussion with her Nana a strong women talking about what she had to go through gave her understanding of 2 generations ago of horrendous treatment of women. Her children may feel the same in their future. “We have come so far but I love the movements that are going on in the news at the moment, Reflects thinking back to the Suffragettes who were told they were causing trouble, mirroring now. ‘It is a point of change’.

END OF INTERVIEW