Matilda Pilacapio states that she drew a bigger wage at Burns Philp than her husband who was a medical midwife. She reflects on the flexibility of gender roles in Milne Bay, and the importance of the matrilineal society in men respecting women.
Matilda Pilacapio describes how Burns Philp gave her a house on Samarai Island in 1964 as her wedding present, an unusual thing. She recalls having the day off for her wedding and going cycling and diving. She relates that she named her daughter born on 11 August 1969 Fraulein Silvia, after a German woman Fraulein and after Salitia Pipit a fast runner and competitor in the South Pacific Games.
Matilda Pilacapio states that she learnt about independence while working for Burns Philp. She recalls the Milne Bay politician Alice Wedega who was in the national government. She recalls that she hoped that the white people would not leave at independence, and that there would not be bloodshed as in Africa.
Matilda Pilacapio describes working on Samarai Island in 1964 as an assistant ledger machinist for Burns Philp and the racial segregation of work in the office. She states that she was trained to use the ledger machine.
