ACT Heritage Library Manuscript Collections
HMSS 0443 Curtin Living Memories Oral History Recordings
| Call Number | HMSS 0443 |
|---|---|
| Collection | Curtin Living Memories Oral History Recordings |
| Date Range | 2015 |
| Quantity | 0.01 m (1 wallet) |
| Access Conditions | tba |
| Copying Conditions | tba |
| Related Collections |
The Curtin Living Memories project was undertaken jointly by the Canberra and District Historical Society (CDHS) and the Curtin Turns 50 Community Group, with the assistance of an ACT 2014-15 Heritage Grant. The Society undertook to lodge a copy of the original unedited interviews with the ACT Heritage Library to be archived for the future.
Nineteen members of the Curtin community were interviewed by Curtin Turns 50 volunteers, who had been trained by Dr Mary Hutchison, oral historian at the Australian National University. Interviews were conducted at the CDHS rooms, recorded by Duncan Lowe of Infidel Studios between February and August, 2015. The interviews were then edited and uploaded on the CDHS website and launched by ACT Heritage Minister the Hon Mick Gentleman in November 2015.
This collection contains a USB with the recordings of each interview published on the CDHS website, as well as a summary sheet of the recordings.
Interviewee/ Interviewer | Biographical Notes | Main Topics | File Name | File Format /Size | Running Time | Date of interview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan and Barbara Bagnall Interviewer: Mandy Giles | Barbara and Alan Bagnall have lived in their current home at the top of Jennings Street in Curtin since 1966. From their house they can look out over the old property of Illoura where Barbara, born Barbara Tanner, and her family lived prior to the development of Curtin. Alan’s family moved to Canberra when he was three. Both Barbara and Alan went to school in Canberra. They met when both were working in the Australian Bureau of Statistics. While Barbara had to leave the public service when she and Alan were married, Alan progressed up the ranks to be Australia’s Acting Statistician. Barbara and Alan adopted two children. They were active in the Canberra Alpine Club. Alan was a keen bush walker. Barbara has done much volunteer work. They had a much loved beach house at Rosedale. | Location, activities and family life at Illoura, the Tanner farm; Barbara’s parents, siblings and school life; Barbara and Alan’s home on Jennings Street; how Alan’s family came to Canberra; Alan’s education and employment; how Barbara and Alan met; life in Canberra; the 2003 bushfire in Curtin; reflections on living in Curtin. | 3296 BarbaraAndAlan Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 818,460 KB | 00.23.53 | 21/03/2015 |
| Mollie Bialkowski Interviewer: Jo Forrester | Mollie B (Bialkowski) and her husband Tom have lived in Curtin since 1982. For a time Mollie worked in the then Canberra Children’s Library in Curtin, in the premises now occupied by the Canberra and District Historical Society. Mollie has 40 years’ experience in story-telling in libraries, schools and other venues to a variety of audiences. For several years now she has told a Christmas story at Curtin’s annual Carols on the Block. Mollie is an author and a life member of the ACT Children’s Book Council. Mollie has a strong interest and many years of involvement in theatre and singing. In the near future Mollie and Tom expect to be leaving Curtin, for a while at least, because they have a Mr Fluffy house. | Introduction; how Mollie came to live in Curtin; her connections with Curtin and its people; a Mr Fluffy story; early life in Bowral; theatre, singing, writing and story-telling; concluding thoughts about life in Curtin. | 3296 Molly Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 490,465 KB | 00.14.19 | 26/02/2015 |
| Barbara Browning Interviewer: Cathy Hill | Barbara Browning moved into Curtin in late 1964. She is a long-standing member of Holy Trinity Parish (Roman Catholic). She has vivid memories of a tragic event that happened to a Curtin family during a severe storm in 1971. Barbara faced particular challenges, as a single lady, in establishing a home in the new suburb, but today, is still happily living in her original three-bedroomed house surrounded by her beautiful garden. | Introduction; how Barbara came to move to Canberra and live in Curtin; challenges faced in coming to Curtin; memories of the early days in Curtin and in the Holy Trinity Parish; Barbara’s garden; the 1971 storm and drownings; how Curtin has changed over the years; final thoughts on living in Curtin for over 50 years. | 3296 BarbaraBrowing Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav):1,090,349 KB | 00.31.49 | 21/03/2015 |
| Tony and Judy Corp Interviewer: Evan Mann | Judy and Tony Corp have been residents of Curtin since 1971. For some years they were school teachers in Curtin, Tony at Curtin North Primary School and Judy at Curtin South. Their children, Alison and Andrew, attended Curtin South. Tony is currently on the Council of the Canberra and District Historical Society. | Introduction; coming to Canberra in 1971; prejudices about Canberra; living in Curtin in the early years; Tony’s memories about teaching at Curtin North; Judy’s memories about teaching at Curtin South; at Munro Street in Curtin during the 2003 bushfire; Tony working at Old Parliament House in the early 1990s; reflections on living in Curtin for 45 years. | 3296 JudyAndTony Editied | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 831,248 KB | 00.24.15 | 21/03/2015 |
| Kerry Lucre and Ron Graham Interviewer: Viola Kalokerinos and Annie Duke | This recording is dedicated to the memory of Kerry Lucre (06/05/1953 – 26/07/2015). At the time of this recording Kerry was a resident of the Curtin L’Arche community where she had lived since February 1986. She was a much loved member of L’Arche to which she had belonged since 1982. Ron Graham has lived in Curtin within the L’Arche community for over 30 years. L’Arche is an international federation of faith communities where people, with and without an intellectual disability, share life together. L’Arche is a French word for the Ark. The L’Arche community in Canberra had its beginnings in the early 1970s. It has had a presence in Curtin since the early 1980s. Viola Kalokerinos is a well-known Curtin business woman and prominent member of the local community. She is also a Member of L’Arche. Annie Duke is the Community Life Co-ordinator at L’Arche. | Introduction about L’Arche and its presence in Curtin; how Ron and Kerry came to live in Curtin and got to know Viola; Viola reminiscences about Ron, Kerry, Vince Kalokerinos and the Curtin Milk-bar; Viola’s L’Arche connection; final thoughts about L’Arche and Curtin. | 3296 RonKerryViola Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 313,992 KB | 00.09.10 | 21/03/2015 |
| Viola and John Kalokerinos Interviewer: Ann Smith | Viola Kalokerinos first came to Canberra from Greece in December 1975. She had only recently married Vince, had no English and was about to start a new life in Curtin, where Vince owned the local Milk Bar. Viola has remained closely connected with Curtin ever since. She and Vince had three children John, Kathy and Matthew. John, the eldest, is interviewed here along with Viola. She worked with her husband, and the children when they were old enough, in the Milk Bar including for 5 years after Vince’s death in 2003 when the family continued to run the business. The Milk Bar and its pizzas were an institution in Curtin. A plaque in the square at the Curtin shops commemorates Vince’s contribution to the community. Viola has continued to contribute to the local community in many ways and is perhaps Curtin’s best known citizen. | How Viola came to Curtin; Vince’s early years in Australia and his coming to Curtin; Vince’s support for his children’s education and his commitment to the Milk Bar; staff at the Milk Bar; Viola’s first impressions of Canberra; her return to Kythera, her home island, in 2008; Kytherians in Australia; some adventures over the years at the Milk Bar; John, Kathy and Matthew working in the Milk Bar; aspects of Viola’s life in Canberra; her involvement in many community activities; John’s young family and his community activities; final thoughts about the Curtin community. | 3296 ViolaAndJohn Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 1,144,984 KB | 00.33.24 | 26/02/2015 |
| Joan Keith Interviewer: Cathy Hill | Joan Keith is a long-term resident of Curtin, having moved with her family into the suburb in 1972. She has been involved in many local organisations including the North Curtin Primary School P&C, the Board of Deakin High School and the Anglican parish of the Good Shepherd. In 1979, as chair of the School Board, Joan was heavily involved in the fight to save Deakin High School from being closed. She also has vivid memories of the two bush fires that affected Curtin in December 2001 and January 2003. | Introduction; how Joan and her family came to move to Canberra and live in Curtin; early memories and challenges; North Curtin Primary School; McCulloch Street issues; responding to the attempt to close Deakin High School; life in the local Anglican Parish; significant changes to Curtin over the years; the 2001 and 2003 bush fires; highlights and concluding thoughts about life in Curtin. | 3296 JoanKeith Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 796,999 KB | 00.23.15 | 21/03/2015 |
| Simon Maddox and Jenni Lawton Interviewer: Evan Mann | Jenni Lawton and Simon Maddox are well-known people in Curtin. They are business partners in the Beyond Q Bookshop which for almost eight years now has been located downstairs at the Curtin shops, below the fish and chip, wine and fruit and veg shops. They are also partners in life, have a family and live in Curtin only a few minutes’ walk away from the shops. Since becoming established in Curtin, Beyond Q has become renowned not only for second hand, old and rare books but also as a destination for live music, coffee, cakes and good food. | Introduction; Jenni’s family background in books (Fyshwick and Hughes); Simon’s background including as management consultant; meeting up and in business together; moving to Curtin to establish Beyond Q and to live; floods at the original Curtin premises; moving into current premises; coffee and cake; live music; business, clientele and the ‘Beyond Q family’; establishment of Curtin branch of Bendigo Community Bank; the landlord’s development proposal; the raid by the military police; thoughts on the future for Beyond Q. | 3296 SimonAndJenni Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav); 1,303,630 KB | 00.38.02 | 26/02/2016 |
| Michael and Fay O’Connor Interviewer: Mandy Giles | Michael O’Connor was five when in 1966 with his family he moved into a house on Dunstan Street across the road from the North Curtin oval. His parents Fay (also interviewed here) and Peter had brought their young family to Canberra from Nowra as Peter was taking up a job at the Academy of Science. Michael spent many hours practicing and playing various sports but it was rugby, first played at North Curtin oval with the Hawkes Club, where he got his first taste of rugby. He went on to represent Australia and have an illustrious career in both rugby union and rugby league. Michael and his family live in Queensland but he regularly visits his mum who still lives in the family home on Dunstan Street. | Fay’s memories of coming to Canberra and life in the early years in Curtin; Michael’s memories of coming to Canberra and starting school; sporting activities as a school boy and practicing on the North Curtin oval; Australian School Boys Rugby Tour of the UK in 1977; at 18 selected to play for Australia against Argentina; rugby union career; shift to rugby league; Michael’s involvement in rugby since his playing days; Michael’s wife Susan and their three children; Peter’s death in 2012 at age of 85; Fay’s busy social life; some final reminiscences about Curtin. | 3296 FayAndMichael Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 1,139,432 KB | 00.33.14 | 26/02/2015 |
| Gordon Robson Interviewer: Evan Mann | Gordon Robson moved into Curtin with his wife Cynthia and their young family in February 1965. Gordon and Cynthia still live in Curtin. He was the first President of the Curtin Primary School P&C. Gordon was closely involved with the establishment of the Woden Valley Club here in Curtin back in the late 60s. He was also the first President of the North Woden Tennis Club, which is situated on other side of Yarra Glen in Hughes. | Introduction; early childhood in Torres Strait and elsewhere in Queensland; first job, joining the Australian Public Service, moving to Cooma and then Canberra; early impressions of Curtin; first President of Curtin Primary School P&C; social life in Curtin in the early years; Woden Valley Club; first President of the North Woden Tennis Club; later career including post-retirement from APS; ‘undercover’ role during LBJ’s 1966 visit to Canberra; concluding thoughts. | 3296 Gordon Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 1,760,044 KB | 00.51.21 | 26/03/2015 |
| Terry Ross Interviewer: Evan Mann | Terry Ross and his wife Gaie have lived in Lyons, the suburb to the immediate south of Curtin, in the same house, since 1965. Throughout these years Terry and his family have maintained a strong connection with the Catholic parish in Curtin, and with the local Catholic school, Holy Trinity Primary School. Terry has been a parent and grandparent of children at the school. He was a very active member of the Parents and Friends Association over many years, including in a variety of fundraising roles. Following a long career in the Australian Bureau of Statistics and a few years of quiet retirement, Terry established another connection with the school. For the past 15 years Terry has been school janitor. Terry turns 80 next year. | Introduction; coming to Canberra in 1964 and settling in Lyons; an active member of the Holy Trinity Primary School Parents and Friends Association; memories of a catholic school in the 1960s and the Sisters of Mercy; obtaining supplies for a school when money was tight; school fund-raising activities; the decision to retire from ABS and the opportunity of working as janitor; responsibilities of a janitor and what Terry likes about the job; thoughts about the school, past and present; plans for the future. | 3296 TerryRoss Edit2; 3296 TerryRoss Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 1,147,693 KB and 1,167,067, KB | 00.33.29; 00.34.03 | 27/08/2015 |
| Wendy Saclier Interviewer: Mandy Giles | Wendy Saclier and her family moved to their home in Nelson Place Curtin in 1972. They are still living there today. Wendy worked as a speech pathologist for 40 years. She has made an equally large contribution through her involvement in many community organisations including the Canberra Quilters Society (of which she was a founding member), the Canberra Mothercraft Society, the National Council of Women, and more recently raising funds for research on Type 1 juvenile diabetes. | Moving to Canberra with her husband Mike in 1972; why she liked Curtin from the outset; her work as a speech pathologist; Wendy’s role in establishing Canberra Quilters; teaching patchwork and exhibiting her quilts; Wendy’s involvement with the QE2 Centre for Mothers and Babies and the Canberra Mothercraft Society; fundraising for Mothercraft; fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; growing up in western Queensland; Wendy’s involvement with the National Council of Women; her appreciation of the Radburn housing design of the area of Curtin n which she lives; just being part of the community. | 3296 Wendy Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 948, 684 KB | 00.27.41 | 26/02/2015 |
| Catriona Smith Interviewer: Evan Mann | Catriona Smith is a relative newcomer to Curtin. Finding that the commuting and general stress of life in Sydney were getting too much, she and her husband Jason decided to make the break and move to Canberra. With their two children Edie and Monty they moved to Canberra in April 2013, settling in Curtin. | Introduction; reasons for coming to live in Canberra and in Curtin; how it has turned out; strategy for getting to know people in Curtin; stories about Curtin; stories about Curtin Primary School;Curtin Turns 50 and the iconic GATBI tea towel; concluding thoughts. | 3296 Catriona Edited | WAVE Audio File (.wav): 436,876 KB | 00.12.45 | 21/03/2015 |