Historical information

The "Listening to the Voices" project aims to preserve the recorded memories of Portland C.E.M.A. ( Council for Encouragement of Music and the Arts) early members in order to enable access to local historians, family historians and current members. Bob and Jean Stuchbery were active members in the post WW2 era and throughout the 1950s. Jean made cameo appearances into the 1980s

Significance

The series of oral history interviews (1983-1990) captured the memories of some active early members of the Portland Council for Encouragement of Music and the Arts. First hand memories of the formation of the organisation in 1945, early activities of its groups, fundraising and building of the CEMA Arts Centre provide a window into community life in Portland and District in the post WW2 era. Recent digitisation (2025) has preserved deteriorating cassette tape recordings.