My Story - Klara Rudolfy

Klára Rudolfy was born in 1910. She remembered as a four-year old, the men in her family leaving home to fight in the First World War. As a young woman establishing a career as a journalist, Klára met her soul mate Steve, they married and had children before the onset of World War II. Klára lived through immense changes in 20th Century Europe.

This compilation of stories and reflections on life, traverse a rich period of Central European history from a personal perspective. Some of her amazing story is told in this book; reproduced by Ruth Greenaway from her own writings later in life. This book now serves as a gift to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; the youngest of whom she never met. (Fruzi Kerridge - Client) This book was published in 2016.

My Story, Your Story - Together builds community

For Auckland North Community and Development Inc (ANCAD) Ruth interviewed community leaders on Auckland's North Shore in 2014 after ANCAD celebrated its own 40th AGM. A total of 54 stories are documented in this publication. Ruth’s oral history expertise, and my photographic experience was an excellent combination for what turned out to be a huge project.

Ruth’s enthusiasm for history and community development, her ability to cross reference and to notice important observations were a winning combination. It was a privilege and a pleasure to work with Ruth on this book and her kindness towards people combined with a love for story telling shone through. (Yvonne Powely, CEO - ANCAD) This book was published in 2016. Read stories from the book HERE

Jewish On-line Museum (JOM)

Tapestries was commissioned to oversee the editing of oral history interviews for podcasting on this website, producing original thematic ‘sound-scapes’, writing content and curating on-line exhibitions for JOM. Ruth created a project which focussed on the stories of holocaust survivors who came to New Zealand as either young children or teenagers.

'This was a very moving piece of work to be involved with.'

Visit the JOM website HERE

Research Report

I did a very interesting historic report for a client in 2017. He got a lot of media after this too. Mr Begg had received a grant from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust (in 1969 - the second year it was operating.) But go forward 48 years and I helped him do his accountability report. By then it had to be a piece of history whereas when he did his travels he was looking at new innovations in the fishing industry to bring back to NZ, in particular to the Timaru Fishing Co. where he worked. Innovations at the time included learning how to produce the fish finger. True! 

By the way he went onto receive his WCMT fellowship at government house from the Govenor General.

A history of the Christchurch Environment Centre

This is a compiled history of the first environment centre established in NZ (based in Christchurch). It was first published in 2007 and then re-printed in 2018 by the Janet Holm Commemoration Group. This was a great project to be involved in and I interviewed quite a few people for this, including Rod Donald (d).

The project was funded by the NZ Lotteries Commission.

Threads of Caring

Drawing on archival and oral sources, Threads of Caring delves beneath this caring institution to the stories of the many people at its heart; to the families who came for help, and the commitment and challenges faced by the ATWC's Christian founders and those who followed them to meet those needs. I have co-authored this book with another oral historian, Megan Hutching.