Manawatū Conversations

Manawatū Conversations

By MPR - Manawatu People's Radio
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Manawatū Conversations episodes

  • Episode 317 - Vicki-Marie Buchanan Part 1 of 4
    Born in Hamilton and lived in Claudelands until about eight years old.
    Developed an interest in drama.
    Father was in the Anglican ministry and family shifted to Auckland.
    Faith is an important part of her life.
    As a baby Vicki was not expected to live so was christened as Vicki-Marie.
    Started formal speech and drama lessons in Auckland.
    A good rounded childhood.
    Took part in a children’s theatre.
    Moved to Te Aroha and Matamata, back to Hamilton then to Lower Hutt.
    Went to Hutt Valley High School and continued drama with different teachers.
    Hutt Valley High School uniform more casual that Hamilton Girls High.
    Learned shorthand typing and book keeping. She was more practical than academic.
    Sat Trinity College exams. Involved with repertory productions.
    Joined Department of Internal Affairs in Bowen State Building, Wellington, as a shorthand typist.
    Very much like Roger Hall’s “Gliding On”. Men wore shorts and walk socks.
    Partner, Ross, worked in the same area for NZ Forest Service
    Went to night school at Polytech for Pitmans and trade certification exams.
    In her family, as a child, education and qualifications were important.
    28 min
  • Episode 315 - Tania Kopytko Part 1
    Tania is involved with a project called “Untold Stories – World War II Displaced Persons Who Settled in Palmerston North”
    It is focused on national and local history that is untold.
    An estimated 5000 displaced people came to New Zealand between 1949 and 1952 from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe. Many from displaced persons camps from the ravages of WWII and civil war.
    The project covers people who came from Belarus, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania and Latvia.
    She tells the story of her father who spent time in a Russian Gulag, was captured by Germans and put in POW camps and eventually became a displaced person in the UK.
    Many who came to New Zealand went to a camp for displaced people at Pahiatua where they learned the English language and New Zealand culture then placed in jobs.
    They filled New Zealand’s need for skilled labour.
    Research for the project is difficult because many records are restricted until 2065.
    Polish people though have preserved their own history.
    28 min
  • Episode 314 - Hospice Part 2
    Hospice, Part 2 of 2. It is sometimes difficult getting family together when they may be in other parts of the world.
    It is important to have an advanced care plan to state what you want happened if you can’t speak for yourself.
    Find out from the patient who is important to them.
    Difficult for people who have married several times.
    Hospice users cover different cultures and staff are aware of their different needs.
    A biography service records and publishes persons biography with photos which can be kept by the family.
    Government provides 53% of operational costs. It used to be 73%.
    Partnerships and work in the community is where the growth is going to be.
    There is an increasing number of older people.
    There is a shortage of medical specialists and palliative care nurses. A need to share services regionally.
    Hospices are independent but Hospice New Zealand provides advocacy and support.
    Since its inception nobody has had to pay for care.
    Community fundraising is very important and very successful.
    Smoking. Equity and community funding.
    32 min
  • Episode 313 - Hospice Part 1
    An oral history interview looking at the past and present of Palmerston North and the Manawatū, produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.
    A movement was started in mid 1980s to establish a hospice in Palmerston North.
    Mary McKenna and Dr Garth Wallace were involved from the start and fund raising started.
    Palmerston North Hospital not keen to have a hospice but the public were.
    Opened in 1991 with eight beds
    Purpose - to provide holistic care in the last period of life, to support patients and family.
    Acquired and developed the medical superintendent’s house on hospital property at 1 Heretaunga Street, Palmerston North.
    Friends of Hospice donate $20,000 every year.
    Over 120 staff – mostly part time paid staff and volunteers including community nurses, inpatient nurses, occupational therapists and a chaplin.
    A large family support team. They also help with PoA and wills.
    Support carers at home and the surviving partner.
    Palliative care training is provided for carers, nurse practitioners and other staff.
    They keep in touch with GPs
    Most people are cared for in their homes – that’s where they want to be.
    Patients from Peka Peka in the south to Waiouru in the north and Whanganui to Tararua. Only 27% ever have an inpatient stay and mostly for only a short time.
    Care and advice available 24/7
    Once cancer was predominant but now 30% of patients have a different life limiting illness e.g. bad heart, kidney failure, motor neurone disease etc
    29 min
  • Episode 312 - Mike Lawrence
    Late 1880s travel between Wellington and Auckland was train to New Plymouth, ship to Onehunga and local train to Auckland.
    First through train using the main trunk line was 1909.
    Two trains each way each night – Limited and Express
    Mail van on the express transported and sorted mail for stations en route.
    Trains had first class and second class carriages and a sleeping car.
    Could hire pillows.
    Disabled people not catered for.
    Frequent stops for refreshments and fuelling steam locomotives.
    Limited express train replaced by Silver Star overnight train using diesel locomotives in 1971.
    Single and double cabins. Seats converted to beds. Built-in toilet units.
    Every carriage had an attendant who would look after passenger needs and serve breakfast on a tray.
    Trains had a dining car for evening meals and beverages.
    Air travel became more popular during 1970s. Silver Star patronage declined and Silver Star stopped in 1979.
    Plans to convert Silver Star to a ‘seats only’ daytime train didn’t work so some carriages were sold to Malaysia.
    An oral history interview looking at the past and present of Palmerston North and the Manawatū, produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the support of New Zealand On Air.
    29 min
  • Manawatu Conversations 30-04-2024 - Episode 311 - Guy Donaldson Part 5 of 5
    College of Education merged into Massey University.
    He was not satisfied with the changes. Less emphasis on music.
    Didn’t like institutional life any more so asked to take leave for a year and eventually took voluntary redundancy.
    Became a piano and vocal teacher working from home.
    His wife, Judith, did doctorate on the pressures on music teachers in secondary schools.
    He increased his involvement with community music in Palmerston North.
    Worked with Anna Leese and Dame Malvina Major
    Because of ageing population, there was a change to afternoon or house concerts.
    Reduced audiences restricted Regent Theatre to downstairs only.
    Ballet can attract larger audiences because it is more visual.
    What is now concert music was initially music found in churches or amongst the wealthy royalty of Europe.
    Brass band music and aspects of choral music were related to the working class.
    Chamber music is considered elitist.
    Some children these days have a very short attention span but there are exceptions.
    He has the luxury of being able to work with young people to support their personal growth and musical growth.
    Has a five year old student who is the very best of his piano students.
    To succeed, a musician needs personal characteristics such as stamina, self-discipline and resilience.
    Music therapy is important for older people. “Music goes deeper into the soul than does speech”
    29 min
  • Manawatu Conversations 16-04-2024 - Episode 309 - Guy Donaldson Part 3 of 5
    Was the founding head of music at Awatapu College. Employed in second year of college existence. College’s culture was equality for all. Non streaming. Became Assistant Dean.
    Left school teaching to focus on piano playing and teaching. Set up his own piano teaching practice mainly after school and Saturday mornings.
    Marriage collapsed.
    Abandoned private teaching and became an English teacher at Palmerston North Girls High School.
    Shifted to Auckland and started a piano teaching practice in Remuera and part time music teacher at Sacred Heart College.
    Was appointed the vocal trainer for Leonard Bernstein production called Mass and played in the orchestra with the Auckland Symphonia.
    Returned to Palmerston North and took a position at the teachers college.
    Music scene in Auckland too big. He was a small cog in a big wheel.
    Family life suffered because of ambition to succeed in work. Marriage broke up.
    After an overseas trip came back to Palmerston North Teachers College and worked with Graham Parsons, Morva Croxson, Fleur Stark, Robert Hoskins and Jenny Boyack.
    Money was available for a very liberal education.
    University and college training did not prepare upcoming teachers adequately for real life classroom teaching.
    28 min
  • Manawatu Conversations 09-04-2024 - Episode 308 - Guy Donaldson Part 2 of 5
    While at Canterbury University it was suggested he take up secondary school teaching.
    Decided to be a teacher of English and French but was persuaded to drop French and take music.
    Started teaching at Rongotai College in Wellington where he was eventually in charge of music. Teaching boys songs often descended into chaos.
    Met his first wife who was also on the staff of Rongotai College.
    Was in charge of the Bach Choir in Wellington for one year before Roy Tankersley took over as music director.
    Decided to resuscitate his piano playing so had sessions with Maurice Collier who he had previously met at Whanganui Collegiate. Maurice lived near Taihape.
    Moved to Palmerston North to Freyberg High School. Became involved in the Operatic Society then took up a position with the Palmerston North Choral Society.
    Also taught at Awatapu College.
    Wanted more time to focus on piano so resigned from Awatapu College and became a private piano teacher in the 1980s,
    His wife was a teacher at Linton prison.
    28 min

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Local people giving recollections of the past, sometimes opinions of the future. Hear about the lives of people in your local community, where they are from and what they have experienced. Discover…