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 document: 8672.38a The letter to the Mayor and Councillors of Bendigo is a request for relief from unpaid council rates by residents of the Sutton Ward. The writers explain that: They are ratepayers seeking permission to work off their outstanding rates by undertaking whatever work the council has available. If they cannot clear the entire debt through work, they ask to be allowed to do at least some work to reduce the amount owed. The appeal is based on their financial hardship and unemployment. The document also includes details of individual applicants, including notes such as: W. W. Bennetts – unemployed for over two years, with five dependants. C. G. Smith, of 17 Curnow Street, Golden Square. T. R. Phillips, 44 Webster Street, unemployed for three years. The letter is signed "Yours faithfully, W. W. Bennetts." Overall, the document is a Great Depression-era petition illustrating the severe economic hardship experienced by unemployed residents, who asked the Bendigo Council to let them repay their local taxes through manual labour rather than cashbendigo, michele matthews collection, 1930s depression, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.44a The document contains a handwritten letter from Mrs. C. Long of 14 William Street, Long Gully, together with two official replies from the Town Clerk regarding her requests for assistance during the Great Depression. The file consists of three pages. Mrs. Long's handwritten letter, dated 20 March 1934, is addressed to the Mayor, Sir Bennett. She respectfully asks whether she could receive a pair of lace-up boots for her 13-year-old son. She explains that, because of sickness and unemployment, she is unable to afford them. After paying her rent, she has no money left for boots or clothing, and she fears eviction if the rent is not paid, noting that the rent agent has little sympathy for her situation. She ends the letter by asking for an early reply if possible. The second page contains the Town Clerk's reply, dated 29 March 1934. The letter acknowledges Mrs. Long's request to the Mayor and directs her to Mr. Betteridge at the Benevolent Asylum, where she may be able to obtain a pair of boots for her son. This response indicates that the council referred applicants seeking material assistance to charitable organisations rather than providing aid directly. The third page is an earlier letter, dated 28 September 1933, showing that Mrs. Long had previously applied for assistance. In response, the Town Clerk instructed her to visit Miss Bethune, Registrar of Social Services, at the Public Buildings, or alternatively attend the Sustenance Office at the Law Courts Building. The handwritten note "2x Requests" suggests that this was one of multiple appeals for help made by Mrs. Long. Overall, the document illustrates the financial hardship experienced by Mrs. Long during the Depression. Her correspondence reveals the difficulties faced by unemployed families in providing basic necessities such as footwear for children and demonstrates how local authorities commonly referred those in need to welfare agencies and charitable institutions for assistance.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.47a The document is a letter from the Victorian Government Department of Labour, Sustenance Branch, dated 12 June 1933, addressed to His Worship the Mayor of Bendigo. It responds to a previous letter from the Premier's Secretary (dated 2 June) and clarifies the purpose of a government sustenance scheme. The letter explains that the scheme does not provide grants for relief works. Instead, it extends the existing "work in return for sustenance" system. Under this arrangement, individuals who perform work in exchange for government assistance are entitled to receive a higher level of sustenance each week than those who do not participate in work. The central message is that the program is intended to reward participation in work rather than fund new relief projects. The distinction is emphasised in the letter through underlining, highlighting that workers receive greater weekly support than non-workers. A handwritten annotation in the margin ("do work don't work!") also draws attention to this key point, suggesting it was of particular significance to a later reader.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.48a The document is a series of four pieces of correspondence from September 1933 concerning an appeal by E. Hughes of Bendigo after his government sustenance (relief payments) had been stopped. The letters document the appeal process, the consideration of his case by the local Public Assistance Committee, and the eventual temporary reinstatement of relief. The first letter is a handwritten appeal from E. Hughes to the Relief Committee in Bendigo. Hughes explains that, after investigating the reasons his sustenance had been cancelled, he believes the decision was based on inaccurate information about his financial circumstances. He argues that he owns no property of significant value, apart from essential household items, and asks the committee to reconsider its decision. Hughes also expresses concern that false or misleading statements may have influenced the authorities and requests a personal interview so he can explain his situation directly. The second letter, dated 8 September 1933, is from the Public Assistance Committee to Hughes. It acknowledges receipt of his appeal and informs him that the committee has considered his request. While a final decision has not yet been made, the committee advises that his case has been forwarded to the Minister for Sustenance with a favourable recommendation for special consideration. The third letter, dated 11 September 1933, is from the Victorian Department of Labour’s Sustenance Branch to the Public Assistance Committee. It confirms that the Minister has reviewed the committee’s recommendation and has approved the temporary restoration of relief payments in Hughes’s case. However, the approval is subject to review after one month, indicating that the assistance is provisional rather than permanent. The final letter, dated 12 September 1933, communicates this decision directly to Hughes. The Public Assistance Committee informs him that temporary relief has been granted, again noting that the arrangement will be reviewed after one month. Hughes is instructed to report to the Sustenance Office at the Law Courts building for re-registration so that his payments can recommence. Overall, the correspondence illustrates the administrative process surrounding public relief in Victoria during the Great Depression. It shows that individuals whose sustenance had been cancelled could appeal decisions through local committees, whose recommendations were then considered by the Minister. In Hughes’s case, the appeal was successful, resulting in the temporary reinstatement of government assistance pending further review. bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.45a The document contains a handwritten letter dated 15 March 1933 from Mrs. C. Cowling of Neale & Osborne Street, Bendigo, addressed to the Mayoress, Mrs. Bennett. In the letter, Mrs. Cowling appeals for assistance in obtaining clothing for herself and her children. She explains that her family is living on sustenance payments and that her husband's unemployment has continued into its third year, leaving them unable to afford adequate clothing. She describes their financial hardship, noting that "everything seems to be wearing at once," and asks if any new or second-hand clothing could be provided. Mrs. Cowling states that she has five daughters aged between three and nine years old and a two-year-old son, expressing sincere gratitude for any assistance that could be offered. The second page is a typed reply dated 29 March 1934 from the Town Clerk. The response acknowledges Mrs. Cowling's letter to the Mayoress and directs her to Mr. Betteridge at the Benevolent Asylum, where she is advised to apply for clothing assistance. Rather than providing clothing directly, the Town Clerk refers her to the appropriate charitable organisation for support, indicating the council's role in connecting people experiencing hardship with available welfare services.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.41a The document contains two related letters dated 23 June 1932 and 2 July 1932. The first is a handwritten request from C. E. Smith to the Town Clerk, and the second is the Town Clerk's typed reply. Summary On 23 June 1932, C. E. Smith, of 200 Booth Street, Golden Square, writes to the Town Clerk asking if any work can be provided so that he can pay his local rates. He explains that he has been a ratepayer for many years, but because he has been unemployed for a considerable period, he has fallen behind on his payments for the first time. Smith expresses that he is unable to pay his rates without employment and respectfully asks if the council can find him any kind of work. He closes the letter by thanking the Town Clerk in anticipation of assistance and signs it "Yours respectfully." In the 2 July 1932 reply, the Town Clerk acknowledges receipt of Smith's letter and confirms that it has been received as an application for work to enable him to pay his rates. The Town Clerk regrets to inform him that there is currently no work available. However, Smith's application will be kept on file for future reference, and if work becomes available through the Government's Unemployment Grant, his request will be considered. The letter ends with the formal closing, "Yours faithfully."bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.39a This document is a handwritten letter, dated 2 February 1932, from a widow in Bendigo addressed to the City Council. In the letter, she appeals for employment opportunities for her sons, explaining that although other families' sons and husbands have been able to obtain work on council projects, her own sons have repeatedly been overlooked despite actively seeking employment. She describes one son as having previously worked on the railway before becoming unemployed and another as willing and capable of manual labour but unable to secure a position. The writer explains the severe financial hardship facing her family. As a widow with two sons and a daughter, she struggles to pay her rates and meet basic living expenses because her sons have been unemployed for an extended period. She stresses that they are eager to work rather than rely on assistance and argues that even if one son is considered small in stature, he is a hardworking and capable worker who deserves the opportunity to prove himself. She criticises the council's employment practices, claiming that work is being distributed unfairly. She argues that jobs should be shared more evenly among unemployed men instead of repeatedly going to the same workers or to those with personal connections. She recounts an incident in which one of her sons was allegedly dismissed by an official who told him he would not receive work, suggesting to her that favouritism influenced hiring decisions. She also expresses frustration at being pursued for overdue rates while her family has no income with which to pay them. The letter broadens into a criticism of government priorities during the Depression. The writer argues that public funds would be better spent creating employment for unemployed Australian men and boys rather than supporting other expenditures. She believes that providing work would allow struggling families to pay their rates and regain their independence, reducing the burden on both households and local government. The letter concludes with a respectful but urgent plea for the council to provide work for her sons on the city's ongoing projects. She states that she is willing to pay her outstanding rates as soon as her sons earn wages, emphasising that employment—not charity—is what her family needs to recover from their financial difficulties. The document offers a vivid firsthand account of the economic hardship, unemployment, and frustrations experienced by working-class families in regional Victoria during the Great Depression. 8672.39b In this handwritten letter, dated 10 June 1932 from Bendigo, the writer apologises for being unable to pay outstanding rates at the present time. She explains that his financial hardship is due to his sons being unable to find work, leaving the family without sufficient income to meet their obligations. The writer states that her sons are actively trying to obtain money by seeking work and, if possible, by finding gold. She emphasises that he is willing to pay the rates as soon as he is financially able, stressing that his inability to pay is temporary rather than a refusal to meet his responsibilities. She expresses frustration that his sons have not been given employment opportunities, believing that if they had been offered work like others, he would have been able to pay what was owed. He also explains that the ongoing lack of work has taken a toll on him personally, leaving him physically exhausted and in poor health. The letter concludes with a renewed assurance that she fully intends to pay the outstanding rates once he has the necessary funds. she reiterates that he currently has no money and asks the recipient for understanding and patience until her financial circumstances improve.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.43a The document is a letter dated 22 November 1932 from the Town Clerk to the Secretary of the Public Works Department in Melbourne. It confirms that the Council accepts the conditions of the Victorian Government's Christmas Relief Work Scheme, under which £1,500 had been allocated to the municipality to provide employment for registered unemployed people before Christmas. The Council explains that it will supplement the government grant with an additional £574 of its own funds. The proposed program is intended to employ approximately 200 workers, including labourers, painters, carpenters and concreters, on projects that are described as being of a permanent nature and outside the normal municipal works program. The letter emphasises that these projects will provide meaningful employment while also improving local infrastructure. The schedule of works includes a range of road construction and improvement projects. These include extending Hargreaves Street into Panton Street with a flood crossing and pipe culvert, constructing Murphy Street and repairing a large culvert, cutting down Comet Hill on Holmes Road to improve traffic visibility, constructing Hodgkinson Street, widening the intersection of Howard, Reginald and Harkness Streets, and removing stone outcrops and cutting back the embankment on Mackenzie Street. In addition to road works, the proposal includes municipal maintenance projects such as demolishing the old lock-up and sheds, screening material for top dressing and trimming paths in Rosalind Park, removing grass and vegetation from residential roads, and cleaning and repainting the exterior woodwork of the Town Hall. These works combined infrastructure improvements with general civic maintenance, allowing a wide variety of unemployed workers to be engaged. The accompanying budget allocates separate amounts for materials and labour for each project. The total expenditure is £500 for materials and £1,574 for labour, matching the Council's contribution and demonstrating that the majority of funding would be directed towards wages to maximise employment opportunities. The letter concludes with the Town Clerk's formal endorsement of the proposal.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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: 8672.46a The document is a letter dated 16 March 1933 from the Town Clerk to the Minister for Sustenance in Melbourne. Its subject is "Work in Return for Sustenance" and concerns proposed changes to the administration of work requirements for people receiving government sustenance payments. The Town Clerk explains that the Council has begun requiring men who receive sustenance payments to undertake work in return for this assistance. Under existing regulations, however, if recipients are required to complete work equivalent to more than two weeks of sustenance in advance, the Council must first obtain special permission from the Minister. In Bendigo, approximately 550 men are eligible for this work scheme, with weekly sustenance payments ranging from 6 shillings to 14 shillings. The letter requests permission to require recipients to complete work equivalent to three weeks of sustenance rather than two. The Town Clerk argues that this arrangement would make the scheme much easier to administer. Instead of repeatedly organising workers every two weeks, the Council could schedule work over a period of approximately two and a quarter days, allowing the engineering staff to process the entire group before the first workers again became eligible for payments. Although some individuals might need to work more than 24 hours in a single week, the writer considers this a practical administrative solution. The letter concludes by emphasising that the proposed change is intended solely to simplify local administration rather than alter the principles of the sustenance scheme. It also argues that concentrating the required work into a shorter period would benefit recipients by giving them a longer interval between work obligations, enabling them to accept casual employment opportunities that might arise. The letter closes with the Town Clerk's formal signature and request for the Minister's approval.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

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

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: 8672.40a This document is a letter from the City Engineer to the Finance Committee of the Bendigo Town Council, dated 29 June 1932, outlining how the Unemployment Relief (Amendment) Act 1932 could be implemented locally. The Act required unemployed men receiving government sustenance payments to undertake municipal work in return for their benefits. The engineer explains that a schedule has been prepared setting out the number of hours each recipient must work according to their family size and level of sustenance. Individuals and larger families would work varying numbers of hours, generally spread over two to six days. The intention was to organise the labour into practical working days while ensuring that each man completed enough work to account for approximately three weeks' worth of sustenance. However, the engineer notes that existing regulations only permitted payment for up to two weeks at a time, making the scheme difficult to administer unless the government granted special permission to vary this rule. The letter also details how the scheme would be managed. Each unemployed worker would receive a personal work demand when collecting sustenance, with weekly lists prepared showing how many men were needed for two-, three-, four-, or five-day work periods. The City Engineer would oversee planning, work allocation, supervision, and record-keeping. He points out that the Council would need to purchase tools such as picks, shovels, and mattocks, estimate ongoing maintenance costs, employ foremen and an additional clerk with engineering costing knowledge, and organise time sheets and payments. A significant practical concern was the provision of transport. Much of the proposed work involved excavation and earth removal, requiring numerous drays and horses. Since the legislation made no provision for supplying these, the Council would bear the expense. The engineer estimated that the minimum additional weekly cost to the Council would be around £65, excluding the relatively small cost of materials. The report concludes by identifying a series of public works that could be undertaken by the unemployed workforce. These included widening roads and streets, removing hills and embankments to improve visibility, constructing new roadways, clearing creeks and drainage channels, cleaning road verges and footpaths, removing rock outcrops, extending streets, building crossings, and screening gravel for road and footpath repairs. The engineer emphasises that most of these projects required little material expenditure while providing valuable improvements to local infrastructure, provided that full days of labour could be obtained from those employed under the relief scheme.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

Donald Clark Collection.A handwritten account of life in Irishtown, near Tarnagulla, during The Great Depression of 1929-37 as remembered by Donald Clark. Written for a school student's history project in 1990.

Photocopy of an article in the National Times by Ruth Park on the experiences of people during the 1929 depression. Article was written in January 1974 and published in April 1981.Photocopy of an article in the National Times by Ruth Park on the experiences of people during the 1929 depression.depression 1929 - 1939, ruth park

An oral history relating to the Great Depression and the personal hardships that were suffered by families. Relevant to Australian social and workplace history, especially during the period of the Great Depression of the 1930s.Paper; book. Front cover: black background; artistic impression of working class people, including a banner that reads "work not dole"'; red, yellow and white lettering. Front cover: title and author's name.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, the great depression, work for the dole, oral histories, wages, economic conditions, social history, history, australian history, economics, employment, unemployment

Set in the Great Depression. About unemployed people living in Collingwood and the role of the Methodist mission in caring for poor people in the area.Relevant to Australian history in the Great Depression, particularly in Collingwood.Paper; book. Front cover: brown theme/background; picture of houses and a cobblestone street; brown lettering.Front cover: author's name and title.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labor council, collingwood, the great depression, unemployment, methodist mission, methodist church, city missions, missionaries, history, social history

Mothers' Social Club, Ballarat/Unemployed Mothers' Club was formed during The Great Depression in Ballarat. The minutes also include minutes of the Ballarat Unemployed Association Committee meetings. It is assumed that the two groups had some parallel interests and that they met under the auspices of Ballarat Trades Hall.Of significance to matters of women's rights, collective action, employment and social equity in the Ballarat region.Paper, binding - 1 volume.mothers' social club, ballarat, unemployed mothers' club, the great depression, minutes, ballarat unemployed association committee, ballarat trades hall, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, women, unemployment, employment, equity

19-74 p. ; 23 cm.aborigines-lower murray - boora boora, baraba baraba, watty watty, waiky waiky, latchy latchy, darty darty, yairy yairy, law-games, punishment, dogs, spirituality, tribal, death, sickness, food, canoes, cordage, hunting, see also: watti watti; dadi dadi; latchi latchi;

This oral history interview was conducted with Mrs May Harris (née Peach), who grew up in the farming town of Stanley, about 9km southeast of Beechworth. Mrs Harris moved to Melbourne and got work cleaning houses before getting married. Her husband worked on farms, and the couple eventually found their way back to Stanley. She describes experiences of illness, particularly her husband and children's experience with asthma and the impact that had on their lives and careers. Mrs Harris talks about local fundraising events in Stanley, particularly what she calls 'Australian Teas', as well as some of the dances and picnics that were major sources of entertainment when she was young. 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. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mrs May Harris' statement explores life in a small farming community alongside some of her life in the city, which might provide an interesting comparison. She discusses the difficulties of facing illnesses in these rural communities, noting the lack of available resources and need to travel to Beechworth. She discusses community events, highlighting both the social aspects and the fundraising aspects.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 strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, illness, asthma, farming, farm work, rural life, stanley, stanley athenaeum, sinclair's sawmill, sawmill, the great depression, housework, australian tea, fundraising

A Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940) Significant to history and operations of Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union.Paper (1 item)ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, unemployment, the great depression, constitution, rules, unions

A Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940)The minutes are significant to the history and operations of Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union.6 bound volumesballarat sustenance and relief workers' union, btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, unions, unemployment, the great depression, ballarat trades hall, minutes

A Trades Hall Council-sponsored organisation co-ordinating the self help activities of the Ballarat unemployed during the 1930s depression. (1935-1940)The correspondence is significant to the history and operations of Ballarat Sustenance and Relief Workers' Union.Paper in folder.ballarat sustenance and relief workers' union., btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, unemployment, the great depression, employment, relief work