Manawatū Conversations

A forward observer in Vietnam. The 1968 Tet offensive. Little contact with local Vietnamese. Problem fighting terrorism. A helicopter in Afghanistan. Politicians and decisions to use the military. A military family, the mindset. Hugh Blair. Serving in Sinai in 1980s. Dawn’s father in WWII. The Egyptians were friendly. Visiting Masada. Traffic in Egypt and Vietnam. Travel when living in England. Retiring from the military. Post-retirement holiday, about 1990.

Hugh Nolan, Part 1 of 5. Patrick born in Marton, to Bunnythorpe in 1950. Left school at 14, restless, soon joined the regular forces cadet scheme, trade training. Graduated at 18, to regular army. In Waiouru, then Papakura doing carpentry. Officers in a dispute with a tank. Parachute training. Married. 6 months in Vietnam as an artillery forward observer. To Linton, had baby, so house in Highbury. Second child died at 20 months, to Ngaruawahia – saw poverty there. Other postings.

Elizabeth and Beth. Living alone in a Covid lockdown. Supplies, food, books. Less warning for the second lockdown. Beth’s husband (70) chose to retire. Lockdown enjoyable for retirees. Second lockdown was harder. Coping with difficulties. Responsibility and vaccinations. Lessons from the lockdowns. Shopping for elderly friends. Differences between a pandemic and a war. Effects on children. Communication via social media. People living alone.

Gloria Whiston. Growing up in Palmerston North in the 1950s. Benefits of being youngest child. Father Christmas. Enjoyment of sport. Flatting in Wellington and working for an accountant at 17, social life. Expected to leave home. Back to Palmerston North, then married a farmer at 23. Travelled to England, felt like home. Toured Europe. Back to Gisborne. Hard to settle. Moved onto farm, isolated. Russian Jack. Women’s Institute. Children. Toastmistresses. Wine a novelty.

Ivan Allot 3 of 3 - Resoling his own shoes, details. Darning socks. How poverty shaped Ivan’s values. Leisure activities. 7 in a car for a big trip to Dannevirke from Woodville (1940s), engine overheated. Athletics in summer. School sports with Eketahuna and Pahiatua High Schools. Rugby, hockey. Netball then was called basketball. Sports rules have changed, more dangerous now. Faster style of play. Types of athletics, mainly running. Swimming, 33 1/3 yard pools, quality of water.

Ivan Allott Part 2 of 3 - Woodville School in 1940s, large classes, school milk. Childhood drinks. Times tables. Handwriting. School picnic. Swimming. Driving through the Manawatu Gorge. Family never had a car. Rail service. 1952 flood and the train in the Gorge. Childhood entertainment. Woodville saleyards. Restrictions on truck movements. Thefts from rail transport. No toys after the war. Father died when Ivan was 9. Family was poor. Widow’s benefit, disincentive to work.

Ivan Allott Pt 1 of 3 - Ivan growing up in Woodville, 1940s. Cold, draughty house, gas cooking, wash house. Father manpowered during the war. Returned servicemen welcomed back. Recollections of the WWII as young child. Town and Salvation Army bands combined in the war. Parents worked in the Salvation Army, similar to being a minister, but also social work (issues balancing the two). Going to picnics on the back of a truck. Parents growing vegetables, school children’s growing competitions.

John Ross Part 2 of 2. Work on local writers. Elizabeth Smither. NZ writers as a group, the local scene. Alison’s view on NZ writers and of Britain. John’s view of hit time in England. Wind turbines and pine trees. John has a more favourable view of NZ. John and acting. Palmerston North feeling like Wellington earlier. NZ students and Shakespeare. Approaches to Shakespeare. Value of live theatre. NZ audiences. A Yorkshire play – Yorkshire humour. Specific characteristics of NZ writing?

John Ross Part 1 of 2. NZ Society of Authors, NZ Poetry Society, local Writers Hub. Local writers. NZ Chisholms, a code breaker in WWII. Uncle a pilot in WWII. Father had rugby injury, served in NZ. Family life in the war. Mother had degree in history. Grandmother was a pharmacist. Depression years. Father smoking. Impressions of the war. Tramping in the Tararuas.

Discussion: ANZAC Day 2022 and Covid. 2020 standing at our gates. Jack Register playing The Last Post. Significance for children in the past. Gallipoli. Technology and images from Ukraine. Attitudes to war. Women in war. John Ward’s radio station. New NZ history syllabus and Maori history in earlier curriculum. Logistics and support in war. Flu pandemic after WWI. Conflict in Ukraine.