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:

8672.57a This letter, dated 30 January 1934, was sent by the Bendigo Trades Hall Unemployed Association to the Secretary of the Public Assistance Committee. It was written following a general meeting held on 23 January 1934, where members resolved to advocate on behalf of married unemployed men who were undertaking sustenance work.

The Association requests that any man whose allocated work exceeds one full week should be paid each Monday for the work completed up to that point, rather than waiting until the entire period of work is finished. The letter argues that weekly payments would enable workers to better support themselves and their families during the following week instead of facing financial hardship while awaiting payment.

The letter explains that many of these men were working between 80 and 90 hours before receiving any wages. Because they had no income during this period, they were often unable to obtain credit from local tradespeople, making it difficult to secure food and other necessities until they completed their work and were paid. The Association emphasises that this payment arrangement placed unnecessary strain on unemployed families.

The letter concludes by requesting an early and favourable response from the Public Assistance Committee. It is signed by G. H. Jennings, Honorary Secretary of the Bendigo Trades Hall Unemployed Association, and includes a handwritten note indicating a reply dated 14 February 1934.