A Track Winding Back

New Homes: New Living Arrangements

Peg recounts moving in with her sister because of a fear of squatters moving into the house when her brother-in law left for the war: http://www.archive.org/details/WomensLivingArrangementsWwiiwilloughbysquatters

While Grace and Rita talk about learning to live together with other women when enlisted at Duntroon, Marge remembers raising two children on her own: "you had to be mother and father," and cooking cakes in a makeshift kerosene oven in the laundry - in the then new suburb of Revesby:

http://www.archive.org/editxml.php?type=audio&edit_item=RaisingChildrenInTheNewSuburbOfRevesbyWwiiReminiscence

Unspoken Stories

A common theme was the reticence of veterans to talk much about war and what they have seen - even to wives, family and loved ones. Below Peg tells a familiar story about the ways her father and her husband managed the impact of the Great War and of WWII respectively on their lives. A theme also repeated in many other recordings. [ See also posts for Marge and Betty. ]

http://www.archive.org/details/AustralianServicemensReticenceToTalkAboutWwiiWwi

The aftermath of war poses many challenges: rebuilding a life after loss, and for some new journeys as a

result of displacement or migration. Listen to Ursula's account of building a new home brick by brick. http://www.archive.org/details/AThousandBricksEachFortnight_771

Brews, Pubs, Beers!

Here's some links on the history of Autsralian beer and pubs - with George, a meticulous former publican in mind!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_and_Co.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/previous/brewing_and_pubs.asp

Maritime Traditions! Maidie Ahoy!

Click here to hear Maidie's views on cruise ships and Crossing the Equator!

For historic footage of P&O SS Orianna, Part I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZERzXNfNejY
Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQOwp_K7nio&feature=related

To discover more about the maritime tradition of crossing the equator, click on:
http://museumvictoria.com.au/journeys/equator.asp
And to find out more about the end life of the SS Oriana, from fare cruise ship to floating hotel in Japan, sold on as a restaurant in China and beyond: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Oriana_(1959)

And another loved vessel, this time a part of Australia's domestic commuter history, the North Head - built in 1913 and making trips between Manly to Sydney through the Heads - for over 70 years. Here she is aground now, but still with her upperdeck intact: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfaw1pSfuS8

Gas Producers

George's memory for historical detail lead to an incredibly rich recording, detailing an insider's view of the refrigeration and Liquor Trades in Kings Cross in the Fifties, the introduction of sealed unit refrigeration into commercial life in Australia and observations of changing social mores from a unique point of view - as a publican in Western Australia. On war years, George's accounts were just as sharp, documenting the social and technological changes that affected the practicalities of everyday life. While the availability of fossil fuels - their environmental cost - and our use of energy is the moot point of current times, it was from George that I discovered the finer details of fuel rationing during WWII - discovering those dangerous devices called 'Gas Producers'!

I've Got to Get Home for Countdown!

And this link's for John; here's John Gorton having to get home to watch Countdown! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0C6nvpFueY

For a bio on Prime Minister Gorton: http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/findrecords/gorton/NationalArchivesofAustralia.aspx tp://www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/prime-ministers/gorton.aspx

Under the Radar

Travel back with Cathy into the radar training room and the emotional day Peace was declared:

http://www.archive.org/details/RecollectionOfNcosRadarTrainingInSurrey

Bebop at the Albert Hall: One Enchanted Evening at the Hotel Canberra

A hall much greater than the 'Closing Down' rug sale signs that have sadly flanked its entrance in more recent years - the Albert Hall has been a priceless part of Canberra's civil society for over 80 years!

Canberrans danced a joyful congo line around the Albert Hall on the day Peace was declared.

Terry's trumpet blew swinging be bop ryhthms out into its crowded and buzzing dancehall as Canberrans danced and romanced the night away.

[ To revisit the Albert Hall & its rich history click on: http://www.ouralberthall.com/history.asp ]

Next door at the Hotel Canberra - now the Hyatt Hotel - Cathy caught sight of her beloved husband to be, looking up to see him again after their first meeting and just as the band started to play 'One Enchanted Evening.' Swoon

The internet proved useful and adpatable to responding to residents' stories. When Clyde and I pored over printouts of post-war Singer sewing machine models online, I became fascinated by sewing machines and the stories around them. For a fascinating view onto some stories:
http://www.singermemories.com/
Above: Image from Betty's album of her mother, Frances. Frances made mens' pyjamas for the Red Cross during WWII and sewed Betty's wedding dress. Here she's seen on her well loved Singer Sewing machine 62 years ago - sewing away in 1947.

We Just Found Sydney!

During the interviewing period for 'A Track Winding Back' an incredibly powerful moment in Australian history occurred.

The HMAS Sydney and its entombed sailors were finally located.

As new digital imaging technologies retrieved and broadcast the first images of the Sydney, and as family and loved ones retold their anguish, we could once again feel the power and significance of story in our lives.

This was poignant reminder of the way that new chapters in a story can wind back the pages and connect with stories from our past; offering grief a way to move forward; and in this case to be held and honoured collectively by the nation.

To see the significance of those words "two, four, six, eight" again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ccLCZ8AL0s

To view an archive of ABC coverage and first footage of the Sydney :
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/geo/hmassydney/vdxtrs.htm

Back to the Drive-In once more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scv6xxMgQHc At least one love story involved a trip to Canberra's now long-gone Drive-in!

A New Ride for an Old Tram!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPJp2TKPtb8&feature=geosearch

Quite a few of the stories recorded involved journeys on a tram in either Melbourne orSydney. Here's an old Melbourne tram, speeding like a juggernaut out of the pages of history, through Flinders Station. Click on the link.

Track Back on a Sydney Double Decker!

Relive those nostalgic sights and sounds of 'Old Uncle Guss' pulling out for a fare ride to Wynyard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8JyiUAVsx8

Kuala Lumpur in the Fifties and Sixties!

To hear Billie's recollection of KL and Singapore, and the help of an ama in raising four boys while Douglas was posted to Malaysia as a pilot and trainer, click here: http://www.archive.org/details/AustralianAirmansWifeRecallsKualaLumpurC1950

Billie's vivid recollection of Kuala Lumpur in the late Fifties - 'not a skyscraper in sight' and of locals wearing traditional cheongsams, saris and kebayas inspired this search for old footage of KL- pictured here in this view, just a few years on...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96CUt-_i-kA&feature=PlayList&p=EF0C03E544562464&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=10

Jelly for Tea!

The great thing about recording oral histories is that you never know what significant details emerge out of aspects of everyday life. Here's a link for Peggy! While we were discussing Silent Night refrigerators, her recollections of jelly being a popular Australian dessert, reminded me of the old Aeroplane Jelly ads. Hard to imagine 'aeroplane' as the branding for a dessert today! Revisit that famous jingle at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQerOQ4cnaA And don't forget to close the fridge door!

How not to land an Avro Anson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp478Tgm5gg&feature=channel_page

How to Fly a Tigermoth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nZoSqPmDR8

1940 on the Nile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoViXgNrT6Y This Movie Tone newsreel gives a taste of what was being screened in picture theatres of the day, while soldiers like Kevin were overseas, discovering a new world.

Sly Grog, Razorblades & Tilley Devine

Some coffee tragics might think Tilley Devine is just the namesake of a cafe in Lyneham, Canberra.
But those who have a little knowledge of Kings Cross and its history know better!
Put your furs, diamond rings and gangster hats on and enter back into Tilley Devine's life in 'Razorhurst' - AKA Darlinghurst! You'll find an underworld of sly grog, razorblade attacks, madams and larger than life characters at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVnV2qIsDXM
This link to Kings Cross history is especially posted for George!

Every Fountain Has a Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gUiAI5lyxw
Have you ever walked past the fountain in King's Cross - an iconic part of The Cross, and Sydney's streetscapes? Did you know the fountain in Fitzroy Gardens is the 'El Alamein Fountain'? Click on the link to view the fountain.

Group Story Work

Koula Poulos was engaged in intensive pastoral and story group work at Morshead Home during 2007-2008. In this conference paper Koula and Jill Sutton, speak of the sustaining and healing power of group story work.

'One Long Honeymoon '

Click on the link for Marge on long deployments and lots of letter writing!

http://www.archive.org/details/MarriageDeploymentsDuringPeacetime

Colin holding up one of his best square dancing shirts, and with it a story and a quick step or two.

Holidays and Dance Cards - times to remember

Lively conversation starters - postcards & songbooks - pinned to the A TRACK WINDING BACK Reminiscence Board. Updates of the project were regularly posted to keep residents, family, staff and visitors connected with the project.

Married on Cup Eve!

Click on the link - for Maidie and Doug's nightime wedding reception with 100 guests at Footscray Town Hall : http://www.archive.org/details/MaidieAndDougsNightWeddingcupEve

Time traveller, Kevin leaves the National Library of Australia. Travelling back through convict passages, records of cattle and handerkerchief stealing, Kevin reveals his addictions to family tree research over the hum of the microfiche, during a recording at the Research Rooms of the NLA.

Let's Dance

Peggy speaks of dances and how she'd get to a dance: http://www.archive.org/details/LiftsToSydneyDancesC1940-Carstruckshearses

Type the rest of your post here.

Leichhardt: Shoes, Sixpence Cinema tickets and The Great Depression

To hear Rita travel back to her childhood stomping grounds in Leichhardt and Petersham.http://www.archive.org/details/DepressionYearsInLeichhardtsydneyShoemaking

Rita tracks back up Norton street and to her father's shoemaking shop in Crystal street. Full of memories of school, the Malborough Picture Theatre and Mum taking action at the Council Chambers during the Great Depression. Click on : http://www.archive.org/details/LeichhardtPetershamsydneyLifeC1930

Click here for 'Hard Times on the Track': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NolbgrfF4U8&NR=1

One of the signs from the project's display board. In talking about our personal experiences, an interest grows in the larger picture of how one's own story fits into the wider weft and weave of historical events and social change.

Music and Song emerged as useful reminiscence tools throughout the project and its interviewing process.

To hear Bill's vox pop about mateship amongst sailors click on:

http://www.archive.org/details/VietnamVetsReminiscenceOfMateshipAmongstNavyPersonneloralHistory

Cathy shares a song taught to her by her mother and now passed onto her children and granchildren. The song has special resonance due to events that shaped the family's migration between Scotland and America, and Cathy's new life in Australia post-war. Listen to Cathy's mellifluous tones at: http://www.archive.org/details/FarAwayInAustralia-FolksongOralHistoryExcerpt

George takes us back to Kings Cross in the 1950's and meeting Abe Saffron in the Roosevelt Nightclub. http://www.archive.org/details/KingsCrossPostwarReminiscenceRooseveltClubrefrigerationabeSaffron

I told him to Mind His own Business!

Click on the link to hear how Peg and Ted first met in a pub on Anzac. http://www.archive.org/details/AnzacDayRomanceSydneysNightclubsC1950s

Each step, each discovery, each new part of the journey! At the commencement of A TRACK WINDING BACK time was spent on outtings, getting to know residents. What was their current life path like? Where had they travelled - and how did they view their life journey? And what about the tracks that happened to join up again once more? Here's Grace, traversing the forecourt of the National Museuem of Australia. A Warrant Officer during WWII, Grace's duties included keeping the women recruits in marching step on the parade ground at Duntroon Royal Military College in Canberra. What is fascinating is the way past and present paths cross - and often interlink. Listen to Grace and Rita's paradeground stories and their account of living together during war time...all those steps ago!

Philosophy of the Project

The therapeutic aspect of telling one’s story and of having one’s story heard are right at the heart of the project,” says A Track Winding Back’s volunteer project co-ordinator, Magella Blinksell.

“It's so important that the stories of ageing members of our community and of our ageing veterans aren’t lost.
The large range of stories recorded demonstrates the richness and diversity of the interviewees’ lives. Advances in digital image making and audio recording mean that these stories can now be shared more readily, breaking down the divide between those living in Aged Care and the wider community.

Stories are the threads, or links, that connect up our lives, reminding us that we are interconnected... Through story the experiences of ageing members of our community - our elders - can be shared, honoured and learnt from.

Whether the 'track' winding back is musical, a thread of embroidery, a drawing on paper, a map of our travels, a jazz track playing on a vinyl LP, or a synaptic backtracking through our processes of remembering, the tracks - the stories of our lives - offer rich potential for a deeper sense of belonging and connection..."