Racking up the miles

Thirty days hath September, thirty things we remember ... (#9 of 30)

When I first started work - it was quite a long time ago - the trams were the main form of transport. I got up each workday morning in time to walk 10mins to the tram. I then caught the first tram from Karori at 6.30am down to Government Buildings, then ran to the station to catch a train to Petone. At Petone, I caught an Eastbourne bus to Gracefield on the other side of the valley and walked (or often ran!) up the road for 15mins to the Public Works Depot where I started at 8am. I was undergoing training there to be a mechanical engineer. At 4.30pm, another brisk walk back to the bus stop. Off to Petone to catch the train. On arriving back in town I had to attend night school 4 days a week. I caught the tram back home at 7.30pm or 9pm. On arrival at home, my dinner was waiting! Tumble into bed and repeat this the next day - for four years! I must say however that the training I received stood me in great stead for the rest of my working life. (Glen, Volunteer).

Stay tuned for our daily memory posts throughout Wellington's Heritage Month 2013 - where staff and volunteers share one of their favourite stories of the Wellington Region.

Seeing the Wahine go down

10 April 1968. Aged 12 living in Eastb[ourne], Muritai Rd, when the Wahine sunk and watching out [the] upstairs lounge window as landrovers, ambulances and cars drove past with legs of people hanging out the back. Going to Muritai School on Tues[day] morning the school hall smelling of fear and death.

Days Bay and Summer

Living in Eastbourne and spending summers at Days Bay. Going in moth yachts over to Ward Island with our young male friends (age 11, 12, 13). The thrill of jumping off the Days Bay Wharf and riding our push bikes around Eastbourne and the bays.

The Dase cafie (Days Bay Cafe)

Last weekend me, mum, dad and my sister went to the Dase cafie (Days Bay Cafe), we had a wodful (wonderful) time.

Childhood discovery

Once when I was 5 or 6 I was in the garden at my house in Eastbourne with my mum. She was teaching me to plant bulbs and I would dig a hole and she would plant the bulb. I dug and pulled out a large interesting shaped rock. Mum called a museum in Wellington and discovered it was a Māori artifact. After that I dug a lot of holes - I found a toy car, marbles and a comb.