Manawatū Conversations

Joe Sing Part 2 of 5. Asked if can take photos, got a job as a photographer, apprenticed at 50c an hour, working with people so learned a lot. Set up own business. Criteria for hiring. Arranged marriage, compared to school dance culture. Influence of mothers then, matriarchs. Accepting changes. Cultural differences, local Chinese more traditional than recent immigrants. Son a dentist, daughter a barrister.

Joe Sing, Part 1 of 5. Came to Palmerston North when about 5 years old, just after WWII. Born in Shanghai. 3rd generation (grandfather could not bring family because Chinese). Why Chinese looked young for their age. Chinese names. First time eating bread and jam. Living in a coal shed. Holiday. Moved into a laundry and opened a fruit shop. Other shops around. Fiesta coffee bar. Mother knew little English. Just missed the poll tax. Sent to convent school, then Marist Brothers. Knew little English. Friends. Why flyers use “Roger”. Father had stroke, take over the fruit shop? Buying vegetables at auction. Supermarket opened nearby.

Alan Cull Part 2 of 2. With K-force in Korea, coping with the extreme cold. No electricity for lighting. Dental procedures. Treating a Korean. The RSA. Reaction to returned servicemen. Volunteered for the adventure, little thought of politics or the enemy. Saw little sign of the airforce. Support services in the artillery unit. Army Service Corps. Americans had bigger artillery than their 25 pounders. Depth of defences. Reaction to Chinese breakthrough, Battle of Kapyong. Return to South Korea in 1997. How viewed in NZ as Korean veteran. Any advice for young people about war service? Casualties.

Alan Cull, Part 1 of 2. Part 1. Volunteered to be in the dental unit for K-force to Korea in 1950. 1 dentist for 1000 troops. With the artillery, moving up north to Imjin River. Very cold in winter, poorly equipped first winter. Other nationalities there. Field artillery far forward, sometimes had to move at 20 minutes notice (“mobile dental section”). Many refugees, few stayed put. Ages of serving troops. 4 months training in Waiouru before leaving. In Korea over 2 years. Most casualties among the infantry. Leave in Japan after 8-9 months. In tents at -40 degrees Centigrade, poorly equipped for the first winter. Food.

Margaret Taylor - Part 4

Margaret Taylor, Part 3 of 4. Organising an art exhibition for Gough Whitlam and setting up the Australian National Gallery (opened 1982). Relations with state galleries. Focus on technique. New approaches to art. Different light and colours in NZ. Perhaps first female gallery director in Australia, relations with male equivalents. Art in galleries or the community? Work as curator in Ballarat, community links. A political message in art? Colin McCahon. Teaching art. Change in approach after WWII. Travelling exhibitions.

Margaret Taylor - Part 2

Margaret Taylor Pt 1

Hilary Laracy Pt 2

Hilary Laracy Pt 1