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:
8672.77a This letter, dated 19 May 1934, was sent by the Victorian Department of Labour, Sustenance Branch to the Town Clerk of Bendigo. It acknowledges receipt of the Town Clerk's previous correspondence concerning matters affecting the continuation of employment under the government's work-for-sustenance scheme. The department explains that the issue has already been referred to the Employment Council for consideration.
The letter states that the Victorian Government is actively seeking a way to continue providing employment through the work-for-sustenance program, but emphasises that developing a solution is a significant undertaking. It notes that responses to a government circular have been received from municipalities across Victoria, and that all of this information must be assessed before the government can establish a definite policy or approve additional expenditure from the Unemployment Relief Taxation fund.
The department also explains that it is not possible to deal with Bendigo's concerns on an individual basis because decisions must be made in the context of statewide planning. The Acting Officer-in-Charge assures the Town Clerk that every effort is being made to avoid unnecessary delays and closes the letter with a formal expression of thanks and reassurance.
