John O'Loughlin was born in 1922 in Warracknabeal, Victoria and moved to Beechworth in February 1969. Following a brief time working in the real estate business, John gained employment as a prison officer at Beechworth Gaol. The gaol had initially closed its doors in 1918 but was reopened after the completion of alterations in 1926 as a reformatory prison for habitual male criminals. In his new role, John was able to pursue management in the farming industry, taking trusted prisoners out to a farm on the Wodonga side of Beechworth to work the land. This area was known as The Rockery, a grazing property of two-hundred and eighty acres about two miles north of Beechworth. This work done by the prisoners included timber cutting, land maintenance and the grazing of livestock, mainly Black Poll cattle. The programme was an instrumental component of prisoner rehabilitation, allowing freedom and responsibility. When he retired from his work in 1987, John observed that many improvements had been made towards the living conditions and daily life of the prisoners. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. The cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. John O'Loughlin's account of his life in Beechworth and the local area during the twentieth century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. He details important information surrounding Beechworth Gaol and the daily life of its prisoners; it is a place that still holds significance for the residents of Beechworth today. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth'. While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the twentieth century, much of which would have been lost if they had not been preserved. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white stripe and is currently stored in a clear flat rectangular plastic container. It holds up to forty minutes of recording on each side. John O'Loughlin / beechworth gaol, old beechworth gaol, john o'loughlin, beechworth prison, beechworth, gaol, prisoners, beechworth prison officer, prisoner reform beechworth, the rockery, black poll cattle, daily prison life beechworth, prisoner farmwork, beechworth training prison

96 p. : ill., facsims., ports. ; 21 cm.All letters are from the Board for the Protection of Aborigines correspondence files, held in the Australian Archives.All oral histories were recorded between October 1987 and April 1988 at Puunyart sessions, at the Lake Condah Mission and in Melbourne.All dated paragraphs are extracts from the Board for the Protection of Aborigines Correspondence files, held in the Australian Archives.The Annual Reports of the Board for the Protection of the Aborigines are published in Parliamentary Papers, presented to both Houses of Parliament, Victoria, held at the La Trobe Library.lake condah mission (vic.) -- history. | aboriginal australians -- victoria -- condah, lake, region -- history. | aboriginal australians -- victoria -- condah, lake, region -- biography. | aboriginal australians -- missions -- victoria -- condah, lake, region.

Published quarterly since 1977, the newsletters of the Kew Historical Society contain significant research by members exploring relevant aspects of the Victorian and Australian Framework of Historical Themes. Frequently, articles on people, places and artefacts are the only source of information about an aspect of Kew, and Melbourne’s history.President’s Letter to Members / Winifred Hall. New Members p1. Street Stall. Historical Society Joins Forces With Copy Shop. Donations p2. Sunning Hill / Eva Grant p3-4. R.H.S.V. Newsletter [extract]. Mayor’s Oral History Project. 1980 Week-end Trip. Subscriptions p4. Programme. Visit Banyule Heidelberg Historical Museum. News of Members p5.kew historical society (vic.) -- periodicals., kew historical society (vic.) -- newsletters, kew historical society (vic.) -- journals

Published quarterly since 1977, the newsletters of the Kew Historical Society contain significant research by members exploring relevant aspects of the Victorian and Australian Framework of Historical Themes. Frequently, articles on people, places and artefacts are the only source of information about an aspect of Kew, and Melbourne’s history.President’s Letter to Members / Winifred Hall. Office Bearers. New Members p1. Tribute Mr Geoffrey Clark. Street Stall p2. Report Regional Conference 1980 / Eva Grant. Archivist’s Report / Mavis Rolley p3. Antique Cricket Ball Uncovered / June Henty. Meeting Council Representatives. The Copy Shop p4. Donations. Honorary Life Members [Winifred Hall, Mavis Rolley, Joy Stewart]. News About Members. Committee Eastern Historical Societies. Mayor’s Oral History Project p5. Programme. Unveiling Plaque p6.kew historical society (vic.) -- periodicals., kew historical society (vic.) -- newsletters, kew historical society (vic.) -- journals

Published quarterly since 1977, the newsletters of the Kew Historical Society contain significant research by members exploring relevant aspects of the Victorian and Australian Framework of Historical Themes. Frequently, articles on people, places and artefacts are the only source of information about an aspect of Kew, and Melbourne’s history.President’s Letter to Members / Winifred Hall. New Members p1. Annual General Meeting. Subscriptions. Christmas Party. 1981 Dates to Remember. Oral History Project p2. Cotham Road Turn of Century [summary / Mr Rupert Wagner]. Boroondara – A Place of Shade. The Copy Shop p3. Donations. Council Grant [Kew City Council] p4. Programme p5.kew historical society (vic.) -- periodicals., kew historical society (vic.) -- newsletters, kew historical society (vic.) -- journals