Manawatū Conversations

Don and Fran Bird - Part 2 of 2

Don and Fran Bird - Part 1 of 2

Jenny Olsson - Part 2 of 2

Jenny Olsson - Pt 1 of 2

Pam Hansen 2 of 2

Pam Hansen, Part 1 of 2: Came to Palmerston North in 1960. Dentist husband, Mike. Grew up in Wellington, University, then trained as a teacher. In Waiouru before bought dental practice in Palmerston North. Lived in Albert Street. To London for 2 years in 1965. No car when first married. Dentists had to buy own tools. Helped for husband to be army dentist at first. Mike joined Terrace End Rotary Club in 1960. Social life. Exercise, cooked breakfasts.

Barbara Kingi, Part 4 of 4. Teaching in Pahiatua, teaching seniors. Helen Loveridge, 3 sons, paraplegic after car accident, in hospital for 13 years. Teachers’ Institute, women did not attend (1950s). Noisy car (pebbles in hubcaps). Divorce not allowed, but came through later. Teacher grading. Senior mistress at Takaro School. Reading training. Working with men. Adopted a boy. Became principal, made teaching her career. Why she loved teaching. What makes a good teacher?

Barbara Kingi, Part 3 of 4. Sole teacher at Rewa School. End of the war. American troops. Christchurch Teachers College, 1946, many returned servicemen there. Maori returned servicemen not treated the same by the government as others. Teaching at Hokowhitu School, time in hospital with suspected polio. Then Aokautere School (2 teachers). First marriage not a success. Teaching in Marton, then worked in a store, until marriage ended. Then teaching in Pahiatua.

Barbara Kingi, Part 2 of 4. Childhood, moving near Pahiatua, smaller homestead. Then on to sheep farm. WWII, family activities on the farm, schooling. Jack Salt and other teachers led her into teaching. Exams for public service employment when 15. Sir John Hutton. Sister a good pianist, sent to England to study during the war. Brothers in the armed forces. Donald Campbell (of speed records) connection. Teaching at Rewa with no training. Sister playing for dances at Air Force base.

Barbara Kingi, Part 1 of 4. Born on a sheep station in Tokomaru Bay, 1927. Small school on the station. Slate pencils. Musical father, ballroom in the house. Maori mother, European father. Exciting activities as a family. Mother’s family stories. Mother accepted into husband’s family. Whanganui Maori pronunciation guttural. Concerts for the Maori Batallion. Uncle raised family of 9 on 20 acres. An aunt had 17 children. Family moved to Gisborne. Whanganui River very busy in mid-1900s. Moved to new station by covered wagon. Book, Barb’s Memoir, in Coach House Museum.