Historical information

Oral history interview with Jock Read (1915- 2010) conducted by Diana Bassett-Smith of Eltham District Historical Society. Peter Bassett-Smith and possibly Gwen Orford also in attendance.

The interview includes discussion of Jock's family history and connection to Eltham, including his attendance at Eltham State School starting 1921, childhood memories including games he played, memories of Eltham High School, recreational activities, milking, money earned, local transport, neighbours, effect of the Depression, local shops, involvement with the Church of England and more.

Recording contains significant amount of noise.

0:00
Introduction including the clarification of Jock's name as Frances and backstory of his parents being from England

3:15- 5:00
Commences talking about home life and childhood

3:38
Talking about family immigrating to Australia
His father immigrated to Australia when he was 6

4:05
Jock was born in and lived with his parents in Brunswick before moving to Eltham during the 1920s

4:55-7:44
Permanently moved to Eltham and started at Eltham Primary School in 1921
Talking about books used at school, and games played at school such as marbles, cricket and football

8:45
Moved into Eltham High School after finishing at Eltham Primary

9:50
Week and weekend activities including:
Milking cows and doing milk runs on horseback before school

13:15
Most common mode of transport was using horse drawn vehicles and walking

14:50
Discusses impact of depression on family:
Father had previously started a business but the depression had a large impact on that

16:10-18:00
Facilities that Jock had
• Used hurricane lamps and candles- no electricity
• Woodfire
• Milk and bread were delivered
• Greengrocer- George Bird?

25:22
Left Eltham high school in 1930

26:00
Begins discussing involvement with the church of England

31:46
Electricity did not come to Eltham until 1926
Jock described it as an exciting event

33:00-34:00
Describing the rented house, he was living in- small wooden cottage

35:00
Discussion around starting a mail run round areas of Eltham

38:40-42:35
Enlisted in the navy during WW2
• Navel cadets in 1934
• HMAS Vampire
• Served as a seaman gunner

Physical description

Audio Compact Cassette Tape ACME C90 XHG
Converted to MP3 file; 55.1MB, 0:42:35