the Oxford Observer AUGUST 2018 Issue 79
the Oxford & North Canterbury Newspaper
Published Monthly 4500 copies
Published and delivered at the beginning of each month to Oxford, Cust, Bennetts, Waddington, Sheffield, West Eyreton, Eyrewell, Swannanoa, Fernside, Summerhill, Ashley Gorge, Okuku, Glentui, Lees Valley, Carleton, Horrellville, Springbank, View Hill. Copies are available at the Oxford, Rangiora & Darfield Libraries, Emma’s at Oxford, Cust PO Boxes & Cafes throughout the district.
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Outstanding Contributions to Oxford Museum Words and photo by Cathy Dee Ray Mehrtens has farmed around Oxford a long time. Long enough in fact, to remember the days when children were put to work in the fields as, the men were off fighting in the war (WWII). “One of the jobs we did, to earn a few bob, was to take a flail out to the roadside grass (cocksfoot) and collect the seed. You belted the s**t out of it and gave it a good thrashing” he chuckled, quickly followed by a slightly contrite “what I mean is, you thrashed it with a flail to separate the seeds – it certainly made your muscles come up”. Growing up during this time, it was left to the women and their children to run the farms. That meant boys as young as eleven or ten were in charge of machinery, such as the Sickle Bar Mower; capable of severe injury. “A pretty dangerous job finger-wise” and looking at this machine, (parked up in the Oxford Museum) having been lovingly restored by Ray, one is inclined to think that Worksafe would have had a field day. “We were out on the paddocks every Saturday and all school holidays cutting and baling hay, bouncing around for hours on an iron seat that had no padding. You had to hope you remembered to bring a few sacks with you to sit on”. He remembers vividly, working the Hay Dump Rake which was pulled by “a fat draft horse that farted all the time. He wasn’t a fancy horse”. The war meant that there was limited supplies of petrol available, so horses were put to work both for transport and in the field.
Pictured : Ray Merhtens in the Merhtens Room at the Oxford Museum “We had a team of draft horses, and a fancy horse which used to pull the gig, along with a small pony for us kids to ride. We weren’t allowed to do any jumping though, much as we wanted to, as Dad maintained that that would be too dangerous”. The first family car was a Model T Ford of which his father was very proud. “The problem in the beginning,” he said, with a twinkle in his eye that I was beginning to recognise, “was that it wouldn’t stop when Dad said “Woah’”. Ray has restored numerous pieces of farm
Oxford Community Health Centre
equipment over the years, for display in the Museum. Some, he said, were nothing more than bits of mangled metal. When I ask him how on earth he figured out what went where, he fixed me with a beady glare and replied “Oh you just work it out”.
Turn to page 13 for latest on upgrades to the Oxford Museum
After Hours Urgent Medical Service Enrolled Patients Only
We are fortunate to have a team of highly experienced and extensively trained Rural Nurse Specialists that provide an on-call after hours service for the Oxford Community
“Primary Health for the Community”
One Rural Nurse Specialist is on-call during these times
Phone (03) 312 4195 | 24hr Medical Service
If you require urgent care after hours please call (03) 312 4195 Your call will be answered by a triage nurse who will - ask you questions - give you advice - and /or arrange for a Rural Nurse Specialist to see you or a family member if urgently required.
Under the Governance of the Oxford Health Charitable Trust
telephone operates 24 hours / 7 days per week
39 Park Avenue Oxford
extended hours Monday & Tuesday from 7:30am - 7:00pm and Wednesday | Thursday & Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm
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Hauora tuatahi mo te iwi whanua
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There will be a charge for afterhours services unless you are under the age of 13
If your situation is life threatening please always dial 111 first Book an appointment or request a repeat prescription online at : www.oxfordhealth.nz