‘She said: He said:’ Reading, Writing and Recording History

Oral History (formerly the Oral History Association of Australia)

Journal No. 36, 2014

Oral History Australia (formerly Oral History The Editor of the Journal welcomes offers of material Association of Australia) Journal for possible publication in the 2015 issue, No. 37. See No. 36, 2014 Call for Papers at the end of this Journal, or the Oral History Australia website, www.oralhistoryaustralia. The Journal of Oral History Australia is published org.au. Suitable items include papers for peer-review, annually. Its content reflects the diversity and vitality un-refereed articles (such as project and conference of oral history practice in Australia, and includes reports) and book reviews. contributions from overseas. Enquiries: Dr Sue Anderson, Sue.Anderson@unisa. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily edu.au reflect the views of the Editor, the Editorial Board or the publisher of the Journal of Oral History Australia.

Editor: Dr Sue Anderson David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research University of South Australia GPO Box 2471 Adelaide SA 5001 [email protected]

Editorial Board: Dr Ariella van Luyn, Chair [email protected] Beth M Robertson, Bill Bunbury, Dr Sue Anderson

Reviews Editor: Dr Jayne Persian [email protected]

Cover and content design and typesetting: LeighSet Design 18 Hill Street, Plympton Park SA 5039 Phone: 08-82974375 [email protected]

ISSN: 0158 7366

Copyright of articles is held by individual authors. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without permission of the author/s. Please address any correspondence concerning copyright to the Editor.

i Editor’s notes

This edition of the Journal is delivered under the new Thompson identified all those years ago as the re-writing name of our organisation – Oral History Australia of history through the narratives of the ordinary person (formerly The Oral History Association of Australia) Inc. and the marginalised. This change has come after considerable effort by the National Committee and in particular, Sandra Blamey Ben Morris’ paper covers the very sensitive situation and Jill Cassidy. I would formally like to acknowledge of reinterpreting an event in the Vietnam War from the their considerable contribution to the revision of our perspective of the commander interviewing his platoon constitution and to the day-to-day workings of our about a particular inflammatory incident. Ben’s project organisation. challenges the official records and returns validity and dignity to his men and his and their place in the conflict. I am delighted to say that the Journal is now fully I commend him on his bravery, not only in the War, but functional, having acquired a Reviews Editor in Jayne in broaching this difficult issue and the hurdles he has Persian. This means that we again have a rounded had to manoeuvre in the process. edition with the inclusion of six book reviews this time, all of which have great relevance to our field. I certainly As ever, we also have a range of fascinating articles enjoyed reading them and I feel sure you will too. I included in this volume. It is pleasing to be able to thank Jayne for her efforts and look forward to working publish a sequel to last year’s article by Carol Roberts with her in the future. on the Hawkesbury artist Greg Hansell. Helen Stagg’s article this time, while not a sequel to her last on the The Editorial Board has also changed with the construction of locks and weirs on the River Murray, resignation of Janis Wilton and the subsequent co- offers a literature review of three publications relevant option of Bill Bunbury from Western Australia. Bill to it. really needs no introduction as so many of us know him as a former radio broadca