Oral history news Elayne retires from MOTAT Elayne Robertson worked with great NOHANZ enthusiasm at MOTAT in various Newsletter roles from 2001 to 2005. She found her metier in the Walsh Memorial Library and worked with the tenacity Volume 19, number 3 of a bloodhound researching the MOTAT photograph collection and SEPTEMBER 2005 cataloguing it. But really Elayne’s lasting achievement was the establishment EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE of the MOTAT Oral History section. In 2002 the new MOTAT Director, President: Jeremy Hubbard, took advice from Lesley Hall the existing staff and volunteers and approached Elayne. Executive Committee: Emma Dewson His faith was very well rewarded Linda Evans when Elayne immediately drew up Gillian Headifen equipment lists, plans, and budgets. Megan Hutching She recruited volunteers to carry out Alison Laurie interviews and brought all the Rachel Morley resources together, organised Rachael Selby training for us in interview Anne Thorpe techniques, machine operation and project planning. She was a model of Distance members of committee: how to do things and was unflagging Mary Donald (Auckland) in her energy which even extended Anna Green (Auckland) to assisting with organising the 2003 Marie Burgess (Gisborne) NOHANZ conference in Auckland. Ruth Greenaway (Christchurch) She and Ian gave many, many hours Jacqui Foley (Oamaru) of their weekends to the hard work Helen Frizzell (Dunedin) of copying and time coding, liaising with Alexander Turnbull Library and monitoring the output of the www.oralhistory.org.nz interviews as well as arranging and training staff. So it was with great sadness that we allowed Elayne to resign from the Newsletter: We seek news and Walsh Memorial Library and the Oral views from around the country about History Section. I did nag her to stay what is happening, courses that are in at least one of her roles here but being offered, reports on projects in realised that Elayne’s will to be free progress or completed. Email contact of early mornings and the draughts is Rachael Selby at: in our building was not to be stymied. Such energy, [email protected] professionalism and leadership could only be rewarded one way – with a who is looking forward to receiving surprise party on a MOTAT your contributions. Melbourne tram similar to one driven by Elayne when she and Ian lived in Melbourne. She rose to the occasion and was even persuaded to drive the tram back along Great North Road to Disarmament, Marian Hobbs. Tau Te MOTAT from the Zoo stop. Mauri – Breath of Peace, shares the stories of eight peace activists. We all miss her astute observations Spanning six decades, they share on the world but know that she has stories of being a conscientious finally taken up a very well-earned objector during the Second World retirement. War, the early days of the Campaign Megan Wishart for Nuclear Disarmament, the Museum Librarian, MOTAT beginnings of the Peace Squadron, the anti nuclear campaign of the 70s International Oral History and 80s, the work of Greenpeace Association Conference and the Rainbow Warrior; the Anti Sydney 12-16 July 2006 Bases Campaign; the Indigenous th Peoples Initiative for Peace; The 14 International Oral History Ploughshares activists and the World Conference will be across the Court Project. Tasman in Sydney next year – probably as close as it will ever get For a copy of the film on either DVD to New Zealand. The theme is or VHS you can send $20 plus Dancing with memory: oral history postage to Wickcandle Film, PO Box and its audiences. The conference 8390, Riccarton, Christchurch. Over committee received over 400 the next three months Tau Te Mauri proposals for papers to be presented. –Breath of Peace is being launched in They are currently sending out different cities and towns around the notices to successful presenters with country. For dates and venues refer instructions about writing papers, to www.wickcandlefilm.co.nz or sending them in by February so they email Kathleen Gallagher (Director of can be published before the the film) at [email protected] conference and reminding people Ruth Greenaway about registering before 30 April 2006. Oral histories of leprosy sufferers were commissioned by the Nippon The conference website is Foundation based at the Wellcome www.une.edu.au/ioha2006 Unit for the History of Medicine, Registration details will be available Oxford University, England, as part on the website which will also of an International Leprosy provide up to date information for Association Project. those interested. The recent film Molokai about the life The conference is an opportunity to of a catholic priest, Father Damien, meet other oral historians, hear who cared for leprosy sufferers about what’s happening in other isolated on Molokai, an island off countries, make useful contacts with Hawaii, was a reminder of the others who are interested in similar conditions and ostracism endured by areas of research, make friends, leprosy sufferers prior to the mid 20th learn about different ways of doing century. With the advent of things and new developments. antibiotics during the 1940s, and more specifically the development of Check out the website! sulphones, the plight of leprosy Rachael Selby sufferers radically changed forever. The new treatments rendered Tau Te Mauri Breath of Peace patients no longer infectious, so long recipient of the 2004 Sonja Davies term isolation ended and patients Peace Award, is a feature were allowed to return to ordinary documentary film that had its society. I was commissioned to beginnings as an oral history project. gather the life stories of elderly The film was recently launched in leprosy sufferers in the South Pacific Christchurch by the Minster for region who, like their counterparts in Catholicism, but their dedication the north were isolated, but in the and humanitarian mission gained south they were taken to a the undying love and respect of leprosarium established on a small their patients. Fijian island, Makogai. • Despite the heart rendering separation from family and The leprosarium was opened by the isolation on a far-off island as British Fijian government in 1911 young leprosy sufferers, many and run by a French Catholic order had looked forward to the of nuns, the Missionary Sisters of the lifestyle available at Makogai, and Society of Mary. Some of the everyone I spoke to looked back interviewees had contracted leprosy to the years on that beautiful as children and were sent to island as some of their happiest Makogai, where they spent anything memories. from a few to over twenty years, but Dorothy McMenamin were fortunate to experience the introduction of the new sulphone From Memory sparks interest treatment in the late 1940s, were There has been a positive response cured and able to return to their to the From Memory Oral History homes. Interestingly, on a parochial Programme, run by the Ministry for note, these people were the Culture and Heritage. The beneficiaries of a local Christchurch programme aims to encourage charity run by Pat Twomey who by people to gather oral histories from the 1930s became known as ‘The war veterans within their families Leper Man’ as did his charity. From and communities. The initial a highly energetic one-man operation emphasis is on the Second World to a dedicated team who ran the War and interviews can be offered to Trust Board, the charity grew into the Alexander Turnbull Library for the Pacific Leprosy Foundation which archiving in the From Memory continues operating today providing collection. aid to leprosy sufferers in the South Pacific islands. There is interest from all parts of the country. People are enthusiastic and In 1969 the leprosarium at Makogai the website is proving very popular. was closed but patients needing We have already received several treatment continued to be cared for interviews and know that people are by the SMSM sisters at the P. J. working on others. Twomey Memorial Hospital in Suva, built especially for leprosy sufferers. The From Memory website, launched Here I interviewed the elderly three months ago, offers a guide to patients, who had returned to the oral history, relevant background hospital in their old age for various information and suggested reasons, where I was enormously questions. impressed by their courage and generosity of spirit. Three of the The first From Memory training main findings from the oral histories course was run in Wellington last were: month by Megan Hutching and Alison Parr and the nine participants are all • Interviewees said that the job committed to completing an skills and instructions to care for interview by December. Training themselves taught by the staff at courses are planned for other main Makogai enabled them to return centres. and lead relatively normal lives, many of them marrying and www.nzhistory.net.nz/from-memory Alison Parr having children. • The SMSM sisters showed little interest in converting patients to Topics covered in the summer school Workshops will include: - contemporary theories about the ● Introduction to oral history nature of memory Dates: - stories and life narratives Day 1: Saturday 15 October - what oral histories can add to our Day 2: Saturday 12 November understandings of the past (9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) - ethical issues Venue: Presbyterian Support Centre, - conducting an oral history interview 407 Moray Place, Dunedin - options in terms of technology Tutor: Helen Frizzell, Oral Historian - what to do with the tape recording Fee: Waged - $165.00 • Low income/unwaged - $140.00 Participants will be asked to record an oral history interview with a The course will cover: use of recording person of their choice during the equipment, project planning, period between November and interview techniques, ethical January, and talk about their procedures, processing oral history experiences (and questions) at the and making the material available for January session.