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:

8672.62a The document is a Department of Labour, Sustenance Branch circular dated 16 February 1934 (Circular 3/34), addressed to Registrars and Secretaries of Public Assistance Committees. Its purpose is to provide instructions on the registration of unemployed men for light work.

The circular explains that, following discussions between the Minister, the Labour Bureau, and departmental officials, any unemployed person who claims they are unable to undertake relief work must have their excuse assessed jointly by the Registrar and the relevant Labour Bureau officer. Their role is to determine whether the reason for exemption is valid before any decision is made.

In districts where there is no Labour Bureau officer, the Registrar or Sustenance Officer is to act as the Labour Registration Agent. These officials become responsible for handling work registrations and reporting directly to the Officer-in-Charge of the Labour Bureau, Mr. R. Harris.

The circular also establishes a procedure for men who are medically certified as unable to perform heavy work. Such individuals may be exempted from heavy labour and instead registered specifically for light work. While waiting for suitable work to become available, they may continue receiving sustenance payments, including higher rates where appropriate if work is performed in return. However, if they refuse an offer of suitable light work, they are to be immediately removed from the employment register and their sustenance payments cancelled.

The document concludes with a signature from the Officer-in-Charge and includes an acknowledgement section for Public Assistance Offices, where Registrars are required to confirm receipt of the circular.