Julian, Sophia

Production date
17 Feb 1994
Description
Oral history recording.
Sophia Julian (nee Ngapo) (1919-1997) was born at Kennedys Bay, Coromandel. Her father a bushman from Ngati Porou and Sophia was one of 19 children. No road access and with a population of just 100-200, transport was by horse. Grew up on a marae and milked the cows. Initially cooked on an open fire and they grew a lot of kumara. After leaving school she and her sister got a job cleaning the school. Swam in river and sea, played basketball and cricket. Left school at 14 years. Mother and aunts made mats for meeting house and home. They lived off the land only buying flour, sugar and tea. They used to store the unsold kumara in pataka and they would last for 12 months. They also grew melons and cucumbers. Parents did not believe in girls going to work, so she had to stay home, until her mother was in hospital and they moved to Coromandel where she and her sister took turns looking after Mother and working in a mussel factory. Met her husband Walter Julian in Coromandel in 1945 and they were married in Whitianga. Dances very popular. About 50 men from Kennedy Bay went to WWII. Sophia could speak and understand Maori, but it was never spoken at home. Her son had to go to university to learn te reo. Her husband worked in the Auroa dairy factory for the Kaupokanui Dairy Company, and after spending six years as a POW during World War Two he returned to his old job. They mioved to Manaia when her husband had to give up work.

Recorded: 17 Feb 1994
Interviewer: Margaret Fox
Abstraction: Margaret Fox
Restrictions: None

Julian, Sophia

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