Be Our Guest entry: Letter, Doreen McQuilkin
Maker
McQuilkin, Doreen
Production date
Dec 2005
Object detail
Brief Description
Letter to the Be Our Guest competition written by Doreen McQuilkin (nee Tate) prior to her death, and submitted by her daughter Judith Crews. Doreen writes about her memories of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
Doreen was living in Otane, and was at school at the time of the earthquake. She doesn't remember feeling anything, just seeing screaming children and part of the school collapsing. After running out of the grounds, she fainted in the middle of the road and was revived with a swig from the local parson's hipflask. She joined her mother and sister in a paddock opposite the school until her father came to pick them up.
Her father's parents lived in Hastings and survived the earthquake. They spent a month living in tents in the school grounds. Later, because of an offer from the government of the day, Doreen's mother, brother, sister and Doreen were allowed to travel free of charge to stay at an uncle's farm at Turua. Doreen received a gift, a book which she had for many years. They stayed at Palmerston North Showgrounds and were visited by the Governor General.
Doreen was living in Otane, and was at school at the time of the earthquake. She doesn't remember feeling anything, just seeing screaming children and part of the school collapsing. After running out of the grounds, she fainted in the middle of the road and was revived with a swig from the local parson's hipflask. She joined her mother and sister in a paddock opposite the school until her father came to pick them up.
Her father's parents lived in Hastings and survived the earthquake. They spent a month living in tents in the school grounds. Later, because of an offer from the government of the day, Doreen's mother, brother, sister and Doreen were allowed to travel free of charge to stay at an uncle's farm at Turua. Doreen received a gift, a book which she had for many years. They stayed at Palmerston North Showgrounds and were visited by the Governor General.
Production date
Dec 2005
Production place
Production period
Production technique
Media/Materials description
Printed on A4 paper, typed.
Media/Materials
Measurements
In the Be Our Guest Folder No 2.: Height x Width: 297 x 210mm
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
03 Feb 1931
Credit line
gifted by Judy Crews
Other number(s)
m2006/27/159, 36226
Public comments
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