Audrey Harper oral history

Former Upper Hutt College senior mistress Audrey Harper was interviewed by Caren Wilton on 9 December 2015 for the Upper Hutt in the 1960s oral history project.

Born in 1924 in England, Audrey arrived in New Zealand in 1953. She taught at Heretaunga College and was the foundation senior mistress at Upper Hutt College when it opened in 1962. Audrey recalls Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson presenting prizes at the school at the time of the civic celebrations in 1966; she also reflects on her experience of floods and the Wahine storm, and on daily life in 1960s Upper Hutt, including food, shopping, gender roles, religion and hobbies.

Click on the links below to listen to the interview (2 files), read the abstract (a time-coded guide to the interview) and see associated photos.