Former Dunedin woman Effie Cockburn, who grew up in Mornington and retired to Cromwell in 1999, looks back at a time when there were no "labour-saving devices", televisions or expensive toys.
Mrs Cockburn was born around the time of the Great Depression when people were struggling financially.
"It was when children had to use their own imagination and make their own fun," she said.
The youngest of five children, Mrs Cockburn described herself as the "black sheep" — the only one not interested in sports.
Her father, Albie Jelley, was a cricket umpire and her brother, Arch Jelley, became a successful runner and coach.
"Our family was a great sporting family, except for me."
Mrs Cockburn preferred the arts, and went on to become a drama, speech and singing teacher.
She fondly recalled happy days spent at Mornington School and the Mornington Methodist Church.
"The [church] was full of great memories of picnics and banquets and the choir."
Many well-known Dunedin people are mentioned in the book, including Alistair McMurran, Harold Nelson and John Walker.
"It mentions scores and scores of people who lived in Mornington and people who are looking at the book will no doubt find their own name there."
Mrs Cockburn credited her husband, Bob, for his administrative role in record-keeping and compiling the book’s detailed index.
Mornington Memoirs will launch at an event in Mornington tonight, which will be attended by many friends and family, including Arch Jelley (98).
