Historical information
In 2005 Michele Matthews interviewed current and former residents of Bendigo for her thesis on the 1930s Depression as part of her PhD Research, with the University of Melbourne Faculty of Arts, History Department. Michele interviewed fifteen members of prominent Bendigonian families. The thesis was titled: "How Depressing?: The impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925-1935".
The Michele Matthews Collection contains fourteen audio cassette tape recordings and one written transcript. The tapes are each approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes duration. The questions presented to the interviewees explore everyday experiences they would have lived through at the time of the Depression.
The questions covered sixteen relevant subjects:
• Introduction and housing
• Social activities, swimming, cinemas, school and games played with friends
• Organizations such as the RSL, Relief Committees etc. and any effect they had on family life
• The life of the single woman
• Unemployment and Employment
• Government Assistance
• Charities Aid
• Self-help
• People Power, e.g. boycotts or protests
• Politics
• Trouble or crime
• Family Health, Medical and Diet
• Education
• General memories of, and hardships encountered, during the Depression
Physical description
Audio tape interview with Amy Brown (Nee Osterfield). Amy was born in 1922. In 1942 she married Allan Stanley Brown. Her father, Charles Osterfield was a wood cutter before becoming unemployed. She never attended school. The tape has been converted to a sound file. The 150 minute interview can be listened to, and the notes viewed, at the Bendigo Historical Society. By appointment only. Also included is Amy's memories of her childhood - Amy's Story. This is a 26 page document available here to read.
