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:

8672.66a The document consists of two letters from the Victorian Department of Labour, Sustenance Branch, dated 23 March 1934, concerning the handling of unemployment grievances in Bendigo and the government's approach to investigating complaints.

The first letter is addressed to the Secretary of the Public Assistance Committee in Bendigo. It explains that the Minister has enclosed a copy of correspondence received from the Unemployed Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association. While the government has decided to rely on the Trades Hall in Melbourne to represent workers' grievances, the Minister recognises that Bendigo's circumstances may require separate consideration. Rather than relying solely on reports from Melbourne, the Minister requests firsthand information from local representatives so that any decision regarding Bendigo is based on direct knowledge of local conditions.

The second letter is addressed to F. C. Sweeney of Bendigo and acknowledges receipt of his correspondence. It begins by correcting what the Minister describes as a misunderstanding arising from a newspaper report, stating that there was never any intention to allow delegates to present complaints directly before the Central Unemployed Committee. Instead, complaints from workers in metropolitan areas are to be channelled through the Trades Hall Council, which will act as an intermediary rather than as a tribunal or decision-making body. The Council's role is to gather and present the facts to the Department, while the Minister retains responsibility for making the final decision.

The letter also explains that, although the Minister intends to recognise a single representative organisation in Melbourne, the question of recognising organisations in provincial and country districts, including Bendigo, has not yet been settled and requires further consideration. It notes that Bendigo's local Trades Hall Council is closely affiliated with the Melbourne body, but emphasises that local arrangements are still under review.