Online Casino Real Money NZ

Department of Slavonic Studies

flatnames — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 08:00:55 +0000

In 1972 at 72 St David Street, where the St David Street lecture theatres sit now, a group of students hung out a rather official looking sign. It celebrated their “three common kiwi names”, Fudakowski, Nowakowski, Voykovic. As the flat was owned by the University name it made sense to call it, “Department of Slavonic Studies”. Mike Fudakowski told me, “We had a formal-looking plate made for the door by a relative of Anthony Voykovic, one Gary Wyber who with his father had a photographic printing business and could photo-etch a zinc plate. Voykovic thinks that Nowakowski ended up with that plate. I dont remember.”

The flat cost a grand total of $5 a week. Average at the time. It had a coal range and a gas oven, so it wasnt too difficult to warm in winter. However it had no hot water at all. “We used to venture down the road to the Student Union or the Phys Ed School squash courts for a shower, so this may not have occurred on a daily basis.”

Paula Worthington, Mike Fudakowski, Andrew Nowakowski and Tony Voykovic with the Staff Car. Photograph by Nigel Charters, used with permission.

Kasia Waldegrave who provided the photo, told me the flat was visited by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), the name having sparked fears of a communist domino effect having infiltrated Dunedin. Mike didnt recall this incident, but did remember another. “We were certainly visited by a Polish-speaking gentleman who said he was the Polish Consul from Wellington on a visit. A mystified man, puzzled by my own evident inadequacy with the Polish tongue. Nowakowski was called and came to the rescue to explain that the Department was only informally attached to the University. I think he knew the Polish words for student humour.”

Curious about the NZSIS visit, I wrote them a letter. They checked their records, but there were no details of an investigation into the inhabitants of the Department of Slavonic Studies.

The flat possessed a small, asphalted back yard from which they could see, on Cumberland Street, the rear of Free Latvia, a flat where Jim Mora, Radio NZ broadcaster, used to live.

Critic 1977, vol. 53, no. 5, p.14

" data-medium-file="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=830" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4983" src="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=830" alt="Free Latvia Critic" srcset="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=830 830w, /1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=1660 1660w, /1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=150 150w, /1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=300 300w, /1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=768 768w, /1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/08/free-latvia-critic-e1597055524928.jpg?w=1024 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px" />

Critic 1977, vol. 53, no. 5, p.14

Toad Hall addendum to “Scarfie Flats of Dunedin”

flatnames — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 03:00:22 +0000

Its the fate of authors investigating and relaying stories from the past; details will be missed, stories will be untold and some facts may be incorrectly reported. So much of this kind of research relies on finding people, or being found. It relies on getting in touch with, or hearing the people that lived there at the time, or who knew someone (who knew someone) but sometimes that just doesnt happen at all, or in the case of Toad Hall, didnt happen in time.

In September 2019, Jim Scott submitted reminiscences about his time at Toad Hall, a time that began in late 1958. The story of Toad Hall features on pages 54-59, 22 and 238 of Scarfie Flats of Dunedin and describes the beginnings of the flat in the 1960s. Many thanks Jim, for getting in touch and contributing to the story of Toad Hall. Scarfie Flats of Dunedin was a snapshot in time, its great to continue the story here, online.

Toad Hall origin story

After three years of residence in Knox College, we five: John Allen [Medicine], George Salmond [Medicine], Fred Strange [Medicine], Jim Scott [Dentistry], and Lachie Watson [Law], left at the end of 1958 to “go flatting”.

John & George (he had a car!) were deputed to scout for a flat. They somehow secured the tenancy of 22 Pitt Street: rent payable immediately. The back story was that until recently it had been occupied by two sisters. One had died, and the distraught survivor kept her sister with her for several days.

Photo of 22 Pitt Street, 1959

" data-image-caption="

Toad Hall, 1959. Playing darts on the front porch. Jim Scott Collection.

" data-medium-file="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/03/file1090.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/03/file1090.jpg?w=830" class="wp-image-4940 size-large" src="/1833daf28b5283f1a3d468bc8edcdf40/2020/03/file1090.jpg?w=830The Shambles, Scarfie Flats of Dunedin, pp. x-x.