Communities of Memory Oral History Association of Australia Journal No. 34, 2012 Oral History Association of Australia Journal OHAA Journal No. 34, 2012 The OHAA Journal is published annually. Its content reflects the diversity and vitality of oral history practice Editor: Dr Sue Anderson in Australia, and includes contributions from overseas. 10 Christina Street, Edwardstown SA 5039 [email protected] The Editor of the Journal welcomes offers of material for possible publication in the 2013 issue, No 35. See Cover and content design and typesetting: Call for Papers at the end of this journal or the OHAA LeighSet Design website: www.ohaa.org.au. Suitable items include 18 Hill Street, Plympton Park SA 5038 papers for peer review, unrefereed articles (such as Phone: 8297 4375 project and conference reports) and book reviews. [email protected] Please see the website for further information for contributors. ISSN: 0158 7366 Enquiries: Dr Sue Anderson Copyright of articles is held by individual authors. Email: [email protected] 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. Address all correspondence concerning the Association and copyright to: Jill Adams President, OHAA 2 Leopold Street Glen Iris Vic 3759 Email: [email protected] Website: www.oralhistoryvictoria.org.au i Editor’s notes I am happy to say that I feel very much more organised for people. While Effy and Leonard point to the lack of local this my second time as Editor of our wonderful Journal. acceptance of the Greek proprietors, my personal experience This has been made easier by the National Committee’s is one of my father sharing horticultural techniques with decision to discontinue the inclusion of State Branch Greek and Italian market gardening neighbours which reports and the national financial report in order to minimise resulted in the development of cross-cultural bonds, so printing costs, which represent the Association’s largest hopefully it was not all negative experiences for post-war annual item of expenditure. I will endeavour to cut costs European immigrants. wherever possible. In contrast, Judy McKinty and Margaret Tomkins delve into The gap left by Mary Ann Jebb’s resignation as Review the stories of people who were residents in the Blind Babies’ Editor was also cause for disorder, despite Helen Stagg’s Nursery at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind under kind offer to fill the role and Francis Good’s assistance. the care of the first Matron, Sister Elizabeth Lindsey. Heather This is mainly because it left people wishing to have books Campbell and Larraine Stevens, on the other hand, enter the reviewed confused as to whom they should approach. As realm of interviewing children from the Lance Holt School a result, I now have a good appreciation of the role Mary in Fremantle, WA – it would seem with very pleasant and Ann played and I would like to thank her for her past efforts rewarding results. Michele Langfield’s article addresses the in ensuring that book reviews were well-managed. In the social and cultural complexities involved in the maintenance absence of a specified Review Editor, enquiries for reviews of the Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre have come to me this time and it has seemed easier to in Melbourne, while Susan Marsden’s interviews with handle them myself for this edition. I feel sure you will historians provides an overview of a project that explores enjoy reading them; they have come from some of our diverse aspects of writing history. most experienced critics. Gwenda Baker and Joanne Garngulkpuy open a window Congratulations are extended to award winners Frank into life on Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) in the Northern Heimans, Diana Ritch and Joyce Cribb, whose dedications Territory during the times of the missionaries – the are presented towards the end of the Journal. positives and negatives and implications for the present and The articles received for this edition have yet again been of the future. It is encouraging how profoundly this project a very high standard. Christin Quirk admirably broaches imbued the local people with pride and hope. Madeleine the touchy and touching topic of single mothers forced to Regan and June Edwards provide an interesting insight into relinquish their children in an era of moral righteousness the creation of OHAA South Australia’s web gateway in that caused much pain and grief. A theme of loss is further response to the 175th anniversary of the European settlement explored in Megg Kelham’s soul-searching piece on of the State, highlighting the value of the consideration of suicide. I applaud her openness and bravery in sharing similar such projects. this beautifully written paper with us. On a lighter note, National President Jill Adams gives us a report on the very award-winning fiction writer (and Chair of our Editorial successful October 2011 conference in Melbourne. The Board), Ariella van Luyn, provides a fascinating insight 2013 conference is to be held in Adelaide in September into the processes of transforming oral histories into fiction, at the University of South Australia. I am excited to be a genre that has resonance with some past oral historical involved with next year’s conference organisation and look applications, but that is otherwise relatively newly forward to a wonderful event. The conference themes are recognised. extensive, as can be seen from the Call for Papers published Other themes are tantalisingly varied. Leonard Janiszewski in this Journal, so I look forward to some very interesting and Effy Alexakis, for example, examine the rural Greek papers, both for presentation at the conference and for café in early twentieth century Australia. This brings back publication in the 2013 and 2014 Journals. fond memories from my childhood in outer urban Sydney, Best wishes, where the Greek café was also the trendy and glamorous Sue Anderson hub in an otherwise boring social landscape for young ii Contents Articles Telling tales of Australia’s country Greek cafes: A project insight Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis 3 For the Children: memories, stories and well-being in an Indigenous community. Gwenda Baker and Joanne Garngulkpuy 9 Communities of memory? The Jewish Holocaust Museum and Research Centre, Melbourne Michele Langfield 20 From the cradle to the grave: Sister Lindsey and the blind babies’ nursery Judy McKinty and Margaret Tomkins 27 ‘Double vision’: recording the oral histories of historians Susan Marsden 32 ‘Seth makes learning fun’: the Fremantle City Library/Lance Holt School Oral History Project Heather Campbell and Larraine Stevens 39 Papers (Refereed) ‘The other thing was...’: the reciprocal interview relationship and the impact of ‘unconnected’ traumatic memories Christin Quirk 47 Creating and confronting community: Suicide stories in central Australia Megg Kelham 54 Jogging alongside or bumping off? Fiction and oral history in dialogue Ariella van Luyn 62 1 Conference/Project Reports Developing a web gateway of oral history interviews for the SA 175th anniversary: An account of the project of the Oral History Association of Australia (SA/NT Branch) 2008 – 2011 Madeleine Regan and June Edwards 71 Conference report Melbourne October 2011: communities of memory Jill Adams 75 Book Reviews 76 Notes on Contributors 81 Life Memberships 85 Joyce Cribb Diana Ritch The Hazel de Berg Award 87 Frank Heimans Membership Information 88 Call for Papers 89 2 Telling tales of Australia’s country Greek cafés: A project insight Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis togethers, formal meetings and town gossip, Greek Abstract cafés became significant points for eating and meeting This project report provides tales of the country Greek within country towns. Recalling country Greek cafés café, offered by those who owned, ran and frequented of the 1930s and 40s in the central-west of New South this twentieth-century Australian phenomenon. Greek Wales, Mervyn Campbell states: and non-Greek Australians reveal the positive and Many a time you would have gone hungry at night negative aspects of the institution in their lives and their if it hadn’t had been for a Greek café. You’d get into rural communities, but perhaps more importantly, what a country town [at night] after the hotel or dining emerges is that the Greek café was a dynamo generating room had closed and you’d have nowhere to get a change within Australian popular culture – part of a meal. But there was always a Greek ready to serve process of Americanisation, affecting Australian eating you a mixed grill … They’d be open in country and social habits, commercial food-catering ideas, towns at 7 o’clock in the morning and closing at products, technology, cinema, architecture and popular midnight. A Greek would be open almost all the music. time. ‘Meals at all hours’ was the Greek slogan in the country … They [the Greek café proprietors] Tales to tell gave terrific service, long hours … You could have a feed and meet your mates or take your girl for a Some 1,800 recorded oral history interviews date … They [Greek cafés] kept the country towns conducted between 1982 and 20111 by the authors going day and night.3 – in both Australia and overseas – have confirmed the status of the Greek café as the social hub of the Joseph Toms, who frequented Greek cafés in south- Australian country town (particularly