Entertainment and Socialising

Did not have much spare time, came home from school and did homework then chores around the home. Didn't go and play with friends a lot because her mother maintained they had each other for companions.

If it was wet played cards or Snakes and Ladders, otherwise they went outside.

In the summer after dinner they had more freedom; no girls in the neighbourhood so she had to join her brother and his friends; played cricket, "I was expected just to conform to whatever they were doing." Tree climbing.

Sisters married farmers; at fifteen learned to dance in Matangi Hall, as she got older she was allowed to go to the Frankton Town Hall and the Regent for dances, always went with a brother or sister,

"I had quite a lot of freedom as far as dancing was concerned providing I was with another member of the family until I was over eighteen"

Played the piano and mandolin.

Went to the pictures more once she started dating boys, when younger went with a member of the family.

Remembers the Ngaruawhahia Regatta, went every year because of her father's occupation,

"The big treat to go up there was to go and watch the Maoris in their canoes and eat watermelon"

A big Hamilton social event.

Remembers going to town on a Friday night, mother took them when they were younger, went with boyfriends, girlfriends or siblings when older. Felt safe walking home.

Fashions conformed more, most teenagers dressed the same. Dresses were just above the knee. At work had to wear hats, shoes, stockings, black dress. Wore hats to social events in the day time but not in the evening. Would have liked to have worn high heels but didn't suit her feet.

Mother didn't approve of makeup so she didn't wear it until older, "It just wasn't the thing to do, especially lipstick."

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Tape 1 Side 2

Teen idols; Clark Gable, head prefect at her school, Greer Garson, Robert Newman, Cary Grant, "All the handsome ones."

Discussed the stars at school, tried to model themselves on the female stars, Bette Davis. Was called Deanna Durbin as a girl because people thought they looked alike so she liked to dress the same as her.

Film was quite important for teenagers, church, YMCA and dances were the only other activities for teenagers.

Didn't have a radio, one person was selected from each school to recite over the radio and Dorrie was chosen from her school.

Mother had to go next door to listen to her, after that the family agitated for one and they eventually got one, became more important as she got older; listening to pop music, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, though her mother didn't like them.

Read books such as Anne of Green Gables , The Snow Queen [Hans Christian Anderson?], enjoyed travel books in later teens.

Didn't get comics regularly, usually gifts. Not many magazines.

Did quite a lot of dating, had a boyfriend who went to war and became a prisoner of

war, dated while he was away but broke relationships off once the boy became too

serious. When he came back they were both different so it didn't work out.

Was not allowed out with boys alone until age eighteen, allowed to go to dances before age eighteen with boys but had to be chaperoned by a sister. [talks about rebelling when she was about seventeen over a boy].

"I think you almost felt guilty if you went out with someone who wasn't in uniform."

Did go out with a few boys not in uniform; felt people wondered why they weren't.

Remembers seeing a few Americans in Hamilton, no contact with them.

Public was a bit `anti' with the Americans, "There definitely was a stigma to a girl

going out with an American at that time."

Belonged to the Women's Auxiliary Army Voluntary Corps, looked after soldiers

coming into Garden Place; meals, cards, dancing.

Went nursing during the war so was not available for much voluntary work.

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