Oral History Themes and Topics 2021 – 2022
 

ThemeTopics Related to Theme
Pastoral Farming
 
  • Inter-generational links to land
  • The merino story
  • Station life
  • Irrigation and water
  • Training sheep dogs
  • Rabbit control
  • Wool industry
  • Family life
Viticulture

 

  •  Inter-generational links to vineyards or making wine
  •  The pinot noir story
  • Challenges of climate
Fruit Orchards

 

  • Intergenerational links to orchards
  • Market gardens
  • Water/dams and irrigation
  • Recent History – Seasonal Workers from Vanuatu
  • Family life
Arts

 

  • Writing, artwork, music about the land and people’s connection to Central Otago (photography, song, poetry, books)
  •  Local drama, theatre
Gold
  • Modern day gold -diggers and connections to the past
Infrastructure

 

  • Clyde Dam Construction
  •  Old Cromwell before the Dam
  • Water, dams, races
  • Local Government
Social Events

 

  • The A& P shows
  • Blossom festival
  • Horse racing
  • Arts across the bridge – Bannockburn
  • Classic Car Rally- Cromwell
  • Brass Monkey
  • Others?
Education

 

  • Inter-generational links
  •  Schools and libraries with significant history
Health

 

  •  Dunstan Hospital
  •  Rural health and local doctors
Early Tourism

 

  • Promotion of Central Otago
  • What was on offer?
  • Holidaymakers who became locals
Ethnicity

 

  • Intergenerational Chinese & Welsh history in Central Otago
  • Maori History – Mana whenua
Stone masonry

 

  • Keeping the art alive today
  • Care of stone heritage buildings
Railways

 

  • Life before and after the railway
  • Building the line
Other Topics
  •  Community-minded People
  •  New histories – Covid lockdown experiences