Historical information

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.

Physical description

Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Relief during the great depression

This item includes the following documents:

8672.54a The document contains a series of historical letters relating to a woman, Mrs. M. Bruce, who sought financial assistance during a period of hardship. The scanned pages are handwritten and partially faded, making some sections difficult to read, but the overall sequence of events is clear.

The first letter is a handwritten appeal from Mrs. Bruce to the Mayor of Bendigo. She explains that she has two young children and is struggling to provide food for them. She states that she receives only a small allowance for the children each week and that the payment is insufficient to meet their needs. Mrs. Bruce also refers to her own poor health, which limits her ability to support the family, and respectfully asks whether the Mayor could provide any form of assistance. The tone of the letter is humble and urgent, emphasising her financial hardship and concern for her children's welfare.

The second page is a typed response dated 25 October 1933. The letter acknowledges receipt of Mrs. Bruce's request for assistance and informs her that arrangements have been made for her to receive aid through the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum. She is instructed to attend the Asylum at 10:00 a.m. on a weekday to receive food and clothing and is advised to bring the letter with her as proof of authorisation.

The final page is an internal memorandum from Bendigo Town Hall, written by the organiser of the Public Assistance Committee. The note discusses Mrs. Bruce's case and recommends that her application be considered by the committee. It indicates that the committee should review her circumstances and refers to recording the matter in the committee's minutes, demonstrating the administrative process used to assess requests for charitable assistance.

Overall, the document provides a brief record of Mrs. Bruce's application for relief, the official response granting temporary charitable assistance, and the accompanying administrative correspondence showing how local authorities managed welfare requests during the early 1930s.