1st meeting Patumahoe History Group. 26th Feb 2013, school Staffroom.

Present Jo Syme, Kay Carter, Les McMurtrie, Wilma Brady, Gary Wilson, Laura Bush, Sue Askew, Carol Eggleton, Violet Eggleton, Mike Michie, Howard Upfold, Peter Hardy, Alison Askew, David Howard, Wayne Carter, Peter Askew. Apologies Trevor Carter, Val Gillanders, Raema Stephens, Mark Earle, Brian Gallagher,Ron Gordon. The purpose of the meeting was to ascertain whether there was interest in collecting our history, and to make a concerted effort to coincide with the reunion. This was fully endorsed by all present. The meeting started with introductions and brief memories of Patumahoe, which turned into a very lively conversation and threatened to hijack the meeting totally. However it was much too interesting and fun to stop too soon. We have the memories recorded, but Ive left them out of this. Great to see Les (92) , Laura Busha newby, but with an impressive Patumahoe pedigree! Welcome, and David Howard making the effort from Auckland. What we hope to achieve in the next 3 years: To use the Village website to enter our history and form a data base Edit information

Kay to contact Paula Cresswell to work out how this will be best achieved.

A book about Community/ School. There was general agreement that a book recording the wider social and economic development of Patumahoe, including the school is what we would like. Therefore we need to start collecting, recognising while 3 years is the goal:ie school reunion September 1016, it will then be ongoing. History displays made easier by having access to information and photos collected.

Some ideas for gathering the Data. Prioritise interviewing our oldest community members. We are fortunate to have a good number of knowledgable people: Les Mc Murtrie, Lorrayne King, Lyn and Colleen Howe, Mike Michie, Violet Eggleton, George Ball, Maureen Vernon, Marg Brown, Don Baigent, Iris Martin, Lorna and Rex Syme, Heather Moore, Roye Hammond are names that immediately come to mind. Video interviews / transcribed. oral history A good plan would be 3 or 4 people conversing to start memories flowing (the example of the memory sharing experience at the start of the meeting is an example!

Eg Lyn and Colleen Howe, Les Mc Murtrie and Audrey Turner discussing life in the 2 stores. Lorna and others who worked in the Post office Violet was an early employee, as was Eddie Gallagher. Record everything. If its already been collected, it does no harm, and can verify or question previous knowledge. Our memories are fallible. Individuals or small groups to choose their interest and follow up.

Violet Eggleton made the comment Theres a definite division between village/gardens and farms Patumahoe Area- Woodhouse Ostrich Farm Rd onto Glenbrook Rd to Klipse Rd , other end Ostrich Farm Rd, Gunclub Rd, back to Main Rd. Day Rd , Kingseat Rd to Glenbrook Rd. Its still the school catchment.

We brainstormed some subjects we consider important to us: businesses, The war gardens and army camps, changing face of farming and what influenced it, school, churches, families, origins of our road names, pre European history, early history, families, churches, buildings ,landmarks. At next gathering people here gather their history and we will scan photos. We need high quality scanners: Alison Askew offered her school scanner as well, but may be away at our next meeting. We can use Patty school scanner. Kay rang the university and looked into possibility of a Phd student interested in taking on a project in March and funding through the university. She got a positive response, and following that up was the reason for convening this meeting. There was overwhelming endorsement for following up this proposal. Carol suggested we make application with Social and economic history of Patumahoe aspect to university and both Carol and Gary have offered their help in this .Thank you. Will be actioning it this week.

Wilma passed on to us information about a documentary which Pukekohe High School teachers Jay Pressnell and Martin Bennett are working on at the moment. It is to be ready for the Anzac display at the Centre. Subject: War effort on the Home Front Collating info on Franklin contact 0212635279/ 092387057 jay@pressnellcreative.com High Priority Contact Paula Access a suitable scanner collect something which is ready to be scanned for the Website: could be a newspaper clipping, family memories, old survey map, a completed family history/tree, some photos of community interest. Whatever, it needs to have as much detail as possiblewho, when, where, source.

Next meeting Monday 8th April 7.30pm Between now and then spread the word and everyone gather your own family history . Looks like we have a history group! Meeting closed 9.45.

Update
Paula Cresswell is keen to show us what to do re using the Website. Personally I think we need to have some protocols in place. Eg always check with your source that it is correct info as supplied. Well never get it 100% but we need to try for a high standard. Get permission from sources, and acknowledge them (courtesy of----) Thanks to Paula for getting your names onto this list. Keep an eye on the website to see what is being added. The War effort Doc I think we need to take part in this, especially with the gardens as being such an important part of our history. Ive contacted them, and asked Wilma if she would like to coordinate participation, which she has kindly agreed to. However she wont be available for a couple of weeks, and I havent heard back from them yet. I have passed on an interview I had with Don Baigent 18 months ago and suggested we would be keen to take part. It seems to me this is exactly what we need: professionals with video cameras talking to groups of our senior people! Hope thats ok , but didnt want to wait till April. Any ideas and info appreciated. Im attaching an example of a family recount of their life from the Tangawahine District and School anniversary booklet, because I thought it might get us all thinking about our stories: this book was full of them, and there was no right or wrong. Hope its helpful. Also The Waihola Project which has some useful hints and ideas. Paula and I are aiming towards Thurs 28th March to kick off conversations with our oldest residents. If anyone else would like take part in /organise one/some, that would be very welcome. Will keep you posted. Gregory Treadwell is talking to other AUT depts. re our proposal.