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Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - vocational guidance and employment scheme This item includes the following document: 8672.37a The document outlines a 1933 vocational guidance and employment scheme developed by the Bendigo Agricultural and Educational Bureau and the Vocational Guidance Committee to address youth unemployment. The committee estimated that around 700 boys under 21 were unemployed in Bendigo, with an initial focus on approximately 200 boys who had left school since January 1930. Rather than attempting to help everyone at once, the proposal recommended starting with a small group of 50–60 boys to test different employment and training schemes before expanding the program. A major proposal was the establishment of a training school in mixed farming. The plan suggested using a nine-acre property near the Durham Ox Hotel where boys would receive practical agricultural training for a year before being placed on farms for further experience. The farm would include accommodation, poultry facilities, vegetable gardens, fodder crops, and livestock, while supervision would be provided by an experienced retired farmer or an agricultural college graduate. The scheme aimed to equip boys with practical farming skills while promoting self-sufficiency. The committee also proposed placing boys directly into employment through partnerships with local businesses and industries. Around ten boys would initially be placed in shops, where they would receive proper training and wages that increased with experience. Similar efforts were planned to place boys on farms in northern districts with the support of the Agricultural Society. Additional vocational pathways included training as stationary engine drivers for the mining industry, scientific prospecting, forestry work, and assistance for boys wishing to establish poultry enterprises at home. These initiatives reflected an effort to match training opportunities with the region's major industries and labour demands. Recognising that not all unemployed boys could immediately find work, the report also emphasised the importance of social and recreational activities. Churches, lodges, the Boy Scouts, the YMCA, and the Citizens' Military Forces were encouraged to organise activities that would keep unemployed boys engaged, maintain morale, and prevent idleness while employment opportunities were being developed. The committee also resolved to avoid publicity until its plans had been finalised. The accompanying 1931–1932 report on vocational guidance highlighted the growing importance of vocational guidance cards, which recorded students' interests, abilities, and career preferences. These records were considered valuable for directing students into occupations suited to their skills rather than encouraging unrealistic aspirations for university or clerical work. The report argued that many secondary students were being prepared for careers with limited employment prospects and that vocational guidance could better align education with labour market needs. The report also reviewed employment conditions across Bendigo and surrounding towns. While some smaller communities such as Eaglehawk and Inglewood experienced relatively little unemployment among recent school leavers, Bendigo itself faced significant difficulties, particularly for young people aged 16 to 20 who had completed technical or domestic arts schooling but struggled to find work. The report noted that vocational guidance alone could not solve the problem and emphasised the need for coordinated community action. It concluded by describing the formation of a joint Vocational Guidance Council and Agricultural and Educational Bureau, the appointment of a full-time welfare officer, and ongoing efforts to collect employment statistics and develop practical schemes to improve youth employment.bendigo, michele matthews collection, bendigo agricultural and educational bureau

Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Relief during the great depression This item includes the following documents: 8672.42a The document is a formal report addressed to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Bendigo, dated 7 July 1932, concerning how the Council should finance the implementation of the Unemployment Relief Act. The report explains that the Act requires municipalities to provide work for unemployed men receiving government sustenance. However, the authors note that there is considerable uncertainty about how the scheme will operate, including how many workers will be employed and how long the programme will be required. Because of these unknowns, they recommend that the Council initially plan for only one year of operation and review the arrangement at the end of that period. The report estimates that the minimum weekly cost to the Council, excluding materials, would be approximately £65, amounting to an annual cost of around £3,380. Under the provisions of the Unemployment Relief Act, municipalities could obtain interest-free advances from the Unemployment Relief Fund, repayable over ten equal annual instalments. The authors therefore recommend applying for an advance of approximately £4,000 to cover the first year's costs, with annual repayments of about £400. Should the scheme continue beyond the first year, they advise seeking additional advances as required rather than borrowing more than initially necessary. The report argues that funding the scheme directly from Council revenue would be less desirable. Because the Act prevented the dismissal of existing municipal employees as a consequence of relief work, normal maintenance spending could not be reduced to offset the new costs. As a result, financing the programme from municipal funds would likely require an increase in local rates of between 3d and 4d in the pound, placing an additional burden on ratepayers. Finally, the report discusses proposed creek works being considered by the City Engineer. As these projects were regarded as permanent public works involving substantial expenditure, the authors recommend financing them through a longer-term loan under the Local Government Act rather than through the unemployment relief scheme. They also note that legislation before the State Parliament might soon allow advances for relief works, and suggest postponing a decision on this aspect until the Bill had been finalised. The report concludes with the signatures of the Town Clerk, City Treasurer, and City Engineer, indicating their joint endorsement of the recommendations.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934