Abstract of Jennifer Lois SINCLAIR, 2024
Item — Box: 37
Identifier: H0353
Abstract
HO353 JENNIFER LOIS SINCLAIR
Interviewer: Rosie Stather
Interview date: 15 June 2018
Abstractor Judith Christie
Track 1
00.0 Interview introduction.
01. 30 Born 1952. Father JAMES CHARLES COLLETT, born 16 January 1922. MOTHER born at TAEIRI and was eldest of twins. Her name was LOIS ALISON NOELEEN IRVING born 28 October 1925. Father was an only child, his father had an agricultural contracting business called COLLETT AND BROTHERS which father worked for, operated around Southland. Father then worked for SHELL PETROL.
03. 00 Father joined the AIRFORCE in WWII, but injury from working with farm machinery meant he couldn’t fly. COAST WATCHER in the North Island. After the war, father wanted to re-join Shell Company, but his father insisted he return to the business. Father then set up his own transport company called SOUTH INVERCARGILL TRANSPORT. Company ended when their ACCOUNTANT EMBEZZLED it, and the company was taken over by BILL RICHARDSON.
04. 10 Father then worked for the ALLIANCE COMPANY as a clerk. Describes. FATHER DIED at a young age.
04. 50 MOTHER moved from TAIERI to LAWRENCE and worked for a baker, then moved to Invercargill where siblings lived. Worked at H & J SMITHS. Took in BOARDERS and FOSTER CHILDREN after marriage. When self got older, mother worked for OLIVE DUNN FLORIST. Then worked at the China department at DIC until retirement.
05. 50 Father didn’t have the energy to fight back when firm embezzled. His father had died young, had a metal hook after work injury. Grandmother affected and had nothing to do with self’s family. Embezzler admitted to guilt, but no criminal charges made.
07. 40 Mother had a lot of boarders. SELF’S SISTER had DIED at seven days old of SPINA BIFIDA, and mother needed company. Some boarders lived there for a long time. Describes
09. 30 Self made friends with boarders, became the little sister. Boarder BRIAN worked for BROADCASTING as a radio technician describes. Self visited Brian’s work with him sometimes. Brian once organised a children’s story about self’s bantams describes.
12. 20 Boarder KEN was getting married, and Brian played wedding march on a device under his bed. Other boarders were WELSHMAN BRYN, and a GEORDIE RAY. Played soccer and rode motorbikes.
13. 10 Boarder JOHN was Manager of the PRESBYTERIAN BOOKSHOP, stayed from when self was five until thirteen. Would double self on bar of his bike when working at the bookshop at weekends and Friday nights. Describes. Had holidays with him when he moved back to Dunedin.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
00.0 Four boarders at any one time. Also TEMPORARY GUESTS, some of whom slept in the lounge or the hallway, many of whom WORKED ON SHIPS, given name of self’s family by PETER PLUMBER. Describes.
02. 30 One temporary guest was from NUIE, kept in touch and brought his wife back to meet the family. Mother had a large GARDEN and was also able to cater.
03. 20 Boarders shared rooms. Ban on alcohol, but smoking inside. Tricks played by boarders.
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE
00.0 Self attended NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL. Only child so not used to lots of children. TEACHER MISS MORTON, called ‘Old Ma Morton’ – practised CORPORAL PUNISHMENT with a ruler. Took slippers and a sleeping mat to school. Describes school day and school layout.
02. 30 ELIZABETH MILLER another teacher at school. Another teacher called ‘OLD MA PEARCE’ with a strange husband. Cruel teacher.
04. 00 Describes life in standards and sports days.
05. 00 Self attended RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION in the staff room with North Presbyterian minister, REV ANDERSON. School assembly once a week.
06. 10 Enjoyed SCHOOL PATROL. Also asked by Principal to answer his phone.
06. 40 Attended ROSEDALE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, had to do sewing and cooking. Describes. Enjoyed study on archaeology. Not chosen for school choir.
09. 10 Attended JAMES HARGEST HIGH SCHOOL. Not able to study music, so studied French and History. Re-sat School Certificate. Parents wanted to travel with self to University, so didn’t go.
10. 30 Father enrolled self in a SECRETARIAL COURSE, which self succeeded in.
11. 10 When growing up, needed to be obedient describes
11. 30 Mother’s TWIN BROTHER’S CHILDREN stayed often with family when their mother was unwell.
12. 15 Self brought up in the BAPTIST CHURCH, but was permitted to go to the school ball. Father also had the occasional drink, although the Baptists didn’t approve.
13. 10 Unable to study music at school, but from early age sang in tune, and at age three was given a TOY GRAND PIANO, which tunes were picked out on.
End of Track Three
TRACK FOUR
00.0 Family visited father’s aunt, who gave self half a crown to save up for a piano. AUNT then PURCHASED self a PIANO. Describes
01. 55 Started piano lessons with FRANCES FREDERIC describes. Stopped lessons when a teenager, but never stopped playing.
02. 50 Started SINGING LESSONS when starting work, with ELSIE KENNEDY-SIMPSON, and sang in shows.
04. 00 Also studied singing with SISTER CECIL at ST CATHERINES HIGH SCHOOL, and also took piano lessons with MISS O’BYRNE. Then taught both singing and piano with Sister Cecil.
4. 55 Working in the school office part-time, when approached by Sister Cecil to start TEACHING MUSIC.
05. 20 ACCOMPANIST for BRASS BAND. While picking up SON GRANT, and played the PERCUSSION with the band. Enjoyed being part of a large group and attended competitions with them. Also learned the TENOR HORN and played in the band. Describes
08. 20 When son Grant went to University, self took over his instrument, BARITONE HORN. Son Blair played TROMBONE. Grant played TROMBONE for WOOLSTON BRASS BAND. Self accompanied children all through their childhood. Describes
09. 20 Self also learned the TROMBONE. Describes
11. 15 Mother had a boarder, FRED CHU, who worked at the ALUMINIUM SMELTER. He married a New Zealand Chinese person and remains in contact with the family. Also friendly with an American couple BOB AND DARLENE who were involved with the Smelter. Met HUSBAND BARRY through them describes.
End of Track Four
TRACK FIVE
00.0 Further description of COURTSHIP with husband Barry.
00. 55 Carried on working after MARRIAGE until children arrived. Parents organised the wedding, including the guest list, menus, dress etc. Barry was a METHODIST, so both Baptist and Methodist ministers officiated. Choral service. Enjoyed being a stay at home mother to two boys. Involved in KINDERGARTEN and SCHOOL.
03. 20 Returned to work when younger child Blair started High School. Before then, volunteered in music activities. Started work as a casual shorthand typist for SOUTHLAND PROMOTIONS. Describes.
05. 15 Started working for the SOUTHLAND INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT and worked from home for them for ten years. Took minutes for NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CREDIT UNIONS one year. Worked part time until after sons went to UNIVERSITY.
06. 40 Played for FUNERAL HOMES when music required.
07. 00 Self thrives on having a busy household, but also enjoys own space. Involved in CHORAL FEDERATION and hosted lots of billets. Describes.
08. 55 Family attended CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, which put on musicals every year.
09. 55 RELIGION played an important part in self’s family. Father’s parents were raised as Baptists and attended INVERCARGILL NORTH BAPTIST. Mother was brought up BRETHREN on the Taieri, then attended Baptist Church in Invercargill. Expected to attend church regularly. Restricted activities on a Sunday.
11. 45 PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS married at INVERCARGILL NORTH BAPTIST, as were self’s parents. Self attended BIBLE CLASS there, no dancing or alcohol. Friendly church.
12. 40 NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH was DEMOLISHED because unsafe. Self and husband married at CENTRAL BAPTIST, but church became too evangelical so started to attend FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH which was more traditional. Self remains ORGANIST there – has played organ since 14 years old.
14. 10 In self’s opinion, organised religion can become a habit to many people.
End of Track Five
TRACK SIX
00.0 SPIRITUAL BELIEF more important to self than going to church.
00. 50 Lived in SEVERAL HOUSES during childhood and adulthood describes
01. 25 TRAVELLED OVERSEAS eighteen years ago.
01. 50 Applied for work in the ANZ, employer her wanted to work in Wellington, parents did not allow it so didn’t take the job.
01. 20 TRAVELLED TO LONDON to celebrate Grant’s 21st when he was travelling with the band – surprise trip from her husband. Describes
03. 00 Both BLAIR and GRANT attended the ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC in London. Self and Barry took self’s mother over to GREAT BRITAIN one year at Christmas. Also attended GLYNEBOURNE. Barry and self also travelled when Barry was made redundant from SIT. Also visited VIENNA on that trip. Describes
05. 30 Both SONS worked in SCANDANAVIA, so took mother for a trip there when she was aged 86.
06. 00 BLAIR married an English person, so visited there and travelled to WALES. Barry had a stroke while there.
06. 50 Continues to travel overseas – now has a GRANDCHILD over there. Also visited an UNCLE’S GRAVE – had died in WWI.
07. 50 COLLETT BROTHERS (father’s side of the family) came from GLOUCHESTER in the 1860s. Blair’s wife’s family also come from Gloucester and owned FABRIC MILLS. There is a connection there with the Colletts. Describes
08. 50 When Colletts arrived, owned a large block of NORTH INVERCARGILL describes. Owned TRACTION ENGINES. Hauled the bricks for FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH and the YMCA. Put in the first cable link to STEWART ISLAND.
10. 00 DR ORBELL built a boat in his back yard on LEWIS STREET – photograph of the Colletts pulling the boat from the back yard. Dr Orbell took SCOUTS over to RAKIURA/STEWART ISLAND on his boat.
11. 30 Collett brothers shifted a lot of houses in Invercargill, along with a PUB from ROUND HILL.
12. 30 Also used the traction engines for THRESHING describes.
13. 30 Roots in North Invercargill go very deep. Found out about FAMILY HISTORY when self joined UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE. This sparked an interest in family letters from WWI which were in a box at home.
End of Track Six
TRACK SEVEN
00.0 From finding the history from the family letters, extended to other Describes. FAMILY ANCESTORS.
00. 30 Self a Southlander through and through. Still lots to investigate.
End of Track Seven
Interviewer: Rosie Stather
Interview date: 15 June 2018
Abstractor Judith Christie
Track 1
00.0 Interview introduction.
01. 30 Born 1952. Father JAMES CHARLES COLLETT, born 16 January 1922. MOTHER born at TAEIRI and was eldest of twins. Her name was LOIS ALISON NOELEEN IRVING born 28 October 1925. Father was an only child, his father had an agricultural contracting business called COLLETT AND BROTHERS which father worked for, operated around Southland. Father then worked for SHELL PETROL.
03. 00 Father joined the AIRFORCE in WWII, but injury from working with farm machinery meant he couldn’t fly. COAST WATCHER in the North Island. After the war, father wanted to re-join Shell Company, but his father insisted he return to the business. Father then set up his own transport company called SOUTH INVERCARGILL TRANSPORT. Company ended when their ACCOUNTANT EMBEZZLED it, and the company was taken over by BILL RICHARDSON.
04. 10 Father then worked for the ALLIANCE COMPANY as a clerk. Describes. FATHER DIED at a young age.
04. 50 MOTHER moved from TAIERI to LAWRENCE and worked for a baker, then moved to Invercargill where siblings lived. Worked at H & J SMITHS. Took in BOARDERS and FOSTER CHILDREN after marriage. When self got older, mother worked for OLIVE DUNN FLORIST. Then worked at the China department at DIC until retirement.
05. 50 Father didn’t have the energy to fight back when firm embezzled. His father had died young, had a metal hook after work injury. Grandmother affected and had nothing to do with self’s family. Embezzler admitted to guilt, but no criminal charges made.
07. 40 Mother had a lot of boarders. SELF’S SISTER had DIED at seven days old of SPINA BIFIDA, and mother needed company. Some boarders lived there for a long time. Describes
09. 30 Self made friends with boarders, became the little sister. Boarder BRIAN worked for BROADCASTING as a radio technician describes. Self visited Brian’s work with him sometimes. Brian once organised a children’s story about self’s bantams describes.
12. 20 Boarder KEN was getting married, and Brian played wedding march on a device under his bed. Other boarders were WELSHMAN BRYN, and a GEORDIE RAY. Played soccer and rode motorbikes.
13. 10 Boarder JOHN was Manager of the PRESBYTERIAN BOOKSHOP, stayed from when self was five until thirteen. Would double self on bar of his bike when working at the bookshop at weekends and Friday nights. Describes. Had holidays with him when he moved back to Dunedin.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
00.0 Four boarders at any one time. Also TEMPORARY GUESTS, some of whom slept in the lounge or the hallway, many of whom WORKED ON SHIPS, given name of self’s family by PETER PLUMBER. Describes.
02. 30 One temporary guest was from NUIE, kept in touch and brought his wife back to meet the family. Mother had a large GARDEN and was also able to cater.
03. 20 Boarders shared rooms. Ban on alcohol, but smoking inside. Tricks played by boarders.
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE
00.0 Self attended NORTH PRIMARY SCHOOL. Only child so not used to lots of children. TEACHER MISS MORTON, called ‘Old Ma Morton’ – practised CORPORAL PUNISHMENT with a ruler. Took slippers and a sleeping mat to school. Describes school day and school layout.
02. 30 ELIZABETH MILLER another teacher at school. Another teacher called ‘OLD MA PEARCE’ with a strange husband. Cruel teacher.
04. 00 Describes life in standards and sports days.
05. 00 Self attended RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION in the staff room with North Presbyterian minister, REV ANDERSON. School assembly once a week.
06. 10 Enjoyed SCHOOL PATROL. Also asked by Principal to answer his phone.
06. 40 Attended ROSEDALE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, had to do sewing and cooking. Describes. Enjoyed study on archaeology. Not chosen for school choir.
09. 10 Attended JAMES HARGEST HIGH SCHOOL. Not able to study music, so studied French and History. Re-sat School Certificate. Parents wanted to travel with self to University, so didn’t go.
10. 30 Father enrolled self in a SECRETARIAL COURSE, which self succeeded in.
11. 10 When growing up, needed to be obedient describes
11. 30 Mother’s TWIN BROTHER’S CHILDREN stayed often with family when their mother was unwell.
12. 15 Self brought up in the BAPTIST CHURCH, but was permitted to go to the school ball. Father also had the occasional drink, although the Baptists didn’t approve.
13. 10 Unable to study music at school, but from early age sang in tune, and at age three was given a TOY GRAND PIANO, which tunes were picked out on.
End of Track Three
TRACK FOUR
00.0 Family visited father’s aunt, who gave self half a crown to save up for a piano. AUNT then PURCHASED self a PIANO. Describes
01. 55 Started piano lessons with FRANCES FREDERIC describes. Stopped lessons when a teenager, but never stopped playing.
02. 50 Started SINGING LESSONS when starting work, with ELSIE KENNEDY-SIMPSON, and sang in shows.
04. 00 Also studied singing with SISTER CECIL at ST CATHERINES HIGH SCHOOL, and also took piano lessons with MISS O’BYRNE. Then taught both singing and piano with Sister Cecil.
4. 55 Working in the school office part-time, when approached by Sister Cecil to start TEACHING MUSIC.
05. 20 ACCOMPANIST for BRASS BAND. While picking up SON GRANT, and played the PERCUSSION with the band. Enjoyed being part of a large group and attended competitions with them. Also learned the TENOR HORN and played in the band. Describes
08. 20 When son Grant went to University, self took over his instrument, BARITONE HORN. Son Blair played TROMBONE. Grant played TROMBONE for WOOLSTON BRASS BAND. Self accompanied children all through their childhood. Describes
09. 20 Self also learned the TROMBONE. Describes
11. 15 Mother had a boarder, FRED CHU, who worked at the ALUMINIUM SMELTER. He married a New Zealand Chinese person and remains in contact with the family. Also friendly with an American couple BOB AND DARLENE who were involved with the Smelter. Met HUSBAND BARRY through them describes.
End of Track Four
TRACK FIVE
00.0 Further description of COURTSHIP with husband Barry.
00. 55 Carried on working after MARRIAGE until children arrived. Parents organised the wedding, including the guest list, menus, dress etc. Barry was a METHODIST, so both Baptist and Methodist ministers officiated. Choral service. Enjoyed being a stay at home mother to two boys. Involved in KINDERGARTEN and SCHOOL.
03. 20 Returned to work when younger child Blair started High School. Before then, volunteered in music activities. Started work as a casual shorthand typist for SOUTHLAND PROMOTIONS. Describes.
05. 15 Started working for the SOUTHLAND INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT and worked from home for them for ten years. Took minutes for NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CREDIT UNIONS one year. Worked part time until after sons went to UNIVERSITY.
06. 40 Played for FUNERAL HOMES when music required.
07. 00 Self thrives on having a busy household, but also enjoys own space. Involved in CHORAL FEDERATION and hosted lots of billets. Describes.
08. 55 Family attended CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, which put on musicals every year.
09. 55 RELIGION played an important part in self’s family. Father’s parents were raised as Baptists and attended INVERCARGILL NORTH BAPTIST. Mother was brought up BRETHREN on the Taieri, then attended Baptist Church in Invercargill. Expected to attend church regularly. Restricted activities on a Sunday.
11. 45 PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS married at INVERCARGILL NORTH BAPTIST, as were self’s parents. Self attended BIBLE CLASS there, no dancing or alcohol. Friendly church.
12. 40 NORTH BAPTIST CHURCH was DEMOLISHED because unsafe. Self and husband married at CENTRAL BAPTIST, but church became too evangelical so started to attend FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH which was more traditional. Self remains ORGANIST there – has played organ since 14 years old.
14. 10 In self’s opinion, organised religion can become a habit to many people.
End of Track Five
TRACK SIX
00.0 SPIRITUAL BELIEF more important to self than going to church.
00. 50 Lived in SEVERAL HOUSES during childhood and adulthood describes
01. 25 TRAVELLED OVERSEAS eighteen years ago.
01. 50 Applied for work in the ANZ, employer her wanted to work in Wellington, parents did not allow it so didn’t take the job.
01. 20 TRAVELLED TO LONDON to celebrate Grant’s 21st when he was travelling with the band – surprise trip from her husband. Describes
03. 00 Both BLAIR and GRANT attended the ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC in London. Self and Barry took self’s mother over to GREAT BRITAIN one year at Christmas. Also attended GLYNEBOURNE. Barry and self also travelled when Barry was made redundant from SIT. Also visited VIENNA on that trip. Describes
05. 30 Both SONS worked in SCANDANAVIA, so took mother for a trip there when she was aged 86.
06. 00 BLAIR married an English person, so visited there and travelled to WALES. Barry had a stroke while there.
06. 50 Continues to travel overseas – now has a GRANDCHILD over there. Also visited an UNCLE’S GRAVE – had died in WWI.
07. 50 COLLETT BROTHERS (father’s side of the family) came from GLOUCHESTER in the 1860s. Blair’s wife’s family also come from Gloucester and owned FABRIC MILLS. There is a connection there with the Colletts. Describes
08. 50 When Colletts arrived, owned a large block of NORTH INVERCARGILL describes. Owned TRACTION ENGINES. Hauled the bricks for FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH and the YMCA. Put in the first cable link to STEWART ISLAND.
10. 00 DR ORBELL built a boat in his back yard on LEWIS STREET – photograph of the Colletts pulling the boat from the back yard. Dr Orbell took SCOUTS over to RAKIURA/STEWART ISLAND on his boat.
11. 30 Collett brothers shifted a lot of houses in Invercargill, along with a PUB from ROUND HILL.
12. 30 Also used the traction engines for THRESHING describes.
13. 30 Roots in North Invercargill go very deep. Found out about FAMILY HISTORY when self joined UNIVERSITY OF THE THIRD AGE. This sparked an interest in family letters from WWI which were in a box at home.
End of Track Six
TRACK SEVEN
00.0 From finding the history from the family letters, extended to other Describes. FAMILY ANCESTORS.
00. 30 Self a Southlander through and through. Still lots to investigate.
End of Track Seven
Dates
- 2024
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Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Stather, Rosie (Interviewer, Person)
