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:

8672.84a The document is a formal letter dated 20 August 1934, addressed to the President and Board of Management of the Benevolent Asylum in Bendigo. It was written by the Town Clerk on behalf of the Mayor's Unemployment Relief Fund Committee to express the Committee's appreciation for the Benevolent Asylum's assistance in administering unemployment relief.

The Committee particularly commends the Superintendent, Mr. Betteridge, for his outstanding service as the Fund's Distributing Officer since the Fund was established and as Secretary of the Committee for the previous nine months. The letter states that his dedication was essential to the successful distribution of relief to unemployed people, emphasising that the Committee's efforts would not have been possible without his support.

The letter also recognises Mr. Wishart, who had served as Assistant Secretary since the previous Christmas and had contributed valuable service over an extended period. The Committee records its gratitude for his commitment and acknowledges the important role he played in supporting its work.

In addition, the Committee thanks Miss McIlroy, the Matron of the Benevolent Asylum, for her consistent cooperation and valued assistance throughout the relief effort. Her willingness to help is described as an important contribution to the Committee's activities.

The letter concludes by congratulating the Benevolent Asylum on having a staff who were not only highly capable and efficient in carrying out their duties but who also showed genuine sympathy and compassion towards those suffering unemployment during the difficult economic conditions of the period. It closes with the Town Clerk's formal signature.