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

NOTE: The interview tape except for the introduction is blank and, as their are no interview notes, it is assumed that the interview was abandoned for some reason. Audio tape interview with Jean Coulter (Nee May). Jean was born in 1915. In 1936 she married Raymond Coulter. Her father, David May was a fencer in Northern Victoria, and her mother worked as general duties in a hotel. She attended school at Quarry Hill State School (1921-1926) and Domestic Arts (1926-1927). The tape has been converted to a sound file. The 90 minute interview can be listened to, and the notes viewed, at the Bendigo Historical Society. By appointment only.