photo by Gina Mintrom
"the Borcoski's, Boloski's,Schimanski's, and the Kiesanowski's"Rosalia comes from West Prussia - which before 1870 was part of Prussia , after 1870 it was part of Germany. Now it is part of Poland.
Her family set off to America in 1872 but they were persuaded to go to New Zealand instead. They were Vogal immigrants. They spent some time in Pigeon Bay, clearing land and harvesting cocksfoot before taking up land in Marshland. Other Polish immigrants followed and a Polish community developed in Marshland.
Rosalia is real but it is not known where she is buried. Her brother-in-law and his wife are buried in Linwood
A Must for American Tourists
A Companion piece for Sarah, Winifred or Bessie
The European Prospective - has special relevance for German, Polish, Russian, Austrian, and even Balkan people
Bessie's story begins in Kent in the aftermath of agricultural riots provoked by harsh changes in the poor law. Lizzie and her large family are in the workhouse. They are sponsored by the parish of Staplehurst to travel as assisted immigrants on the "Bolton" to the new colony of Wellington. Lizzie tells of the journey to Wellington, of clearing the bush, of earthquakes, floods and fighting in the Hutt Valley.
Bessie is not her real name but the story is based on a real woman.
A Must for students of early Wellington
A companion piece for Sarah Masters or Winifred
A Pioneering Story that tells of Natural Events like floods and earthquakes.
Winifred Fairbrother 1831?-1915
"10 acres in Three Mile Bush"
Winifred's story begins in Roscommon, Ireland, in 1846, at the height of the Potato famine. She marries Richard Fairbrother, a British soldier, and they eventually arrive in New Zealand eager to take up an offer of "10 acres in Three Mile Bush."
This is the story of Carterton, the transformation of swampy, bush covered flood plain into pasture and the development of a small town. Richard Fairbrother was the first mayor.
A must for students of the Wairarapa
Goes well with Sarah Masters, Bessie or Rosalia
Tells of the importance of roads and bridges, of saw mills and fires, the struggles of a developing small town and the influence of a wealthy benefactor.
All costumes by Gina Mintrom
Sarah Bouton Masters 1821-1874
Sarah was a resourceful woman and she had adventures of her own.
A Must for Wairarapa students of any age
Goes well with Bessie, Winifred or Rosalia
Tells of the opportunities and insecurities of Victorian Times - would go well with and of Dickens' novels
Suitable for all ages
All told in the first person by characters created out of extensive research in the "Living History" tradition.
Sarah Stokes 1813 -1854
Sarah Stokes comes from Leicestershire. She tells her family story - hard times for Agricultural families in England, large families, child labour and child mortality, the voyage on the Randolph in 1850, the bridal path, the logging of Riccarton Bush and final settlement on Harewood Road, Papanui.
Sarah is real - her grave can be found in Papanui.
A Must for students of early Canterbury.
Sarah Stokes followed by Rosalia Gierszewski
is the perfect one-hour programme for Tourists to Christchurch
photo by Gina Mintrom
Photo by Alexis Copland
Wiararapa Times Age
Photo by Jim Copland
Margaret Copland - ' no one does heritage stories better ...'
... a one-woman show at your time and place