Camping at Purau

December 1934

Page 5 of photograph album. Christmas holiday camping at Purau. [Top left] Tent and washing line at Purau campsite. Caption: Our camp Purau Xmas 1934. [Top right] John and Eddie seated on a fallen log, washing up after camp meal. Caption: John & I washing up Purau. [Bottom left] Sailing boat Cherub, on Lyttelton Harbour. Caption: Cherub at Lyttelton. [Bottom centre] Cows in a paddock at Purau. Caption: Heifers at Purau. [Bottom right] Two unidentified people sailing the dingy, Sunbeam, on Lyttelton Harbour. Caption: A windy day at Purau.

Contributors note: "The photographs in the album were taken by my father, Edward (Eddie) Walsh. He was one of ten children. His father, George Senior, died due to workplace poisoning when Eddie was 16, and to compensate the family for their loss, my father was offered a position at George's place of work, Bunting and Co. The family was very religious, and during World War II, was a conscientious objector. He was imprisoned at the detention camp at Balmoral, in the Hurunui. As he was very mechanically minded, my father worked on the forestry blocks fixing the trucks, which meant he had some freedom from the detention camp. At the time of his imprisonment, he was married, with a son. My mother had relocated to the area and was helping a family with six children under five – a set of triplets, twins and a singleton. Before moving to the Hurunui, she and her son lived with her mother-in-law in Vogel Street. Having a husband as a conscientious object was very difficult for her when meeting other women whose husbands were fighting in the war."

Creator: Eddie Walsh

Contributor: Walsh Family

Source: Entry in the 2025 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt.

Reference ID: CCL-PH25-2006

Uploaded by: CCL Photo Hunt

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