Heritage > Ruth Gotlieb Oral History, Part 3
Recorded Friday 24th April 2015, 10:30am: Gotlieb residence, Miramar.
Part 3 (34'47")
Interviewer: Gabor Toth
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Part 3, (32.6MB)
Contents
| Time marker: | Summary: |
|---|---|
| 00'00" | The rebuilding of the Civic Centre starting from the mid-late 1980s. There was considerable debate over the former library and its conversion to the City Art Gallery. Ruth felt that the design of the Civic Square could have been better. |
| 05'00" | The Civic Centre project was long and disruptive but the results were worth waiting for. |
| 08'00" | Ruth chaired the Libraries Committee and supported the construction of the new library. Tried to keep the mobile library running for as long as possible but finally was finally convinced that the cost / benefit ratio did not add up and realised that the service had had its day and voted for its discontinuation though was very sad at having to make this decision. |
| 11'33" | [Earthquake! A 5.2 magnitude earthquake centred on Seddon in Marlborough suddenly hits. Though the low frequency soundwaves of the quake was not picked up by the microphones, the room was shaking quite noticeably] |
| 12'00" | Discusses the BPR ("Business Process Re-engineering") restructuring which took place with the City Libraries Business Unit which was being driven by the newly appointed Chief Executive. Felt that the process went too far. |
| 13'50" | The Wellington waterfront and its development. Ruth is elected for the very last three-year term of the Wellington Harbour Board before the board was dissolved. Following the end of the Harbour Board, Lambton Harbour Management was created, arms-length from the Council to manage the redevelopment of the area. Felt that the lobby groups wanting absolutely no development on the waterfront were not being realistic but fiercely supports their right to protest |
| 20'30" | In 1987 wanted to introduce a free public transport day one day a month for pensioners but was unable to get enough support among the other councillors. |
| 22'48" | Describes her involvement with the Mary Potter Hospice and the efforts to build new premises for the organisation after Wakefield Hospital required the section of their building they were using for expansion. |
| 27'20" | Disagreed with the principle behind community boards and felt they were not necessary and resulted in inefficient duplication. |
| 28'35" | Discusses the "three highlights" of her life; her QSM, the naming of the Ruth Gotlieb Library and being chosen "Wellingtonian of the Year" in 2010. |
| 30'38" | Now in her 90s, Ruth remains very active; volunteering to assist cancer patients, working as a Justice of the Peace, playing bridge at a number of different bridge clubs and delivering library books to the house-bound. |