Your Progress
In this transcript, you have edited

0 lines

Out of 155 available lines
0:02

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Okay. Today is the 24th of June, 2008. It's Judith Jensen. I'm interviewing George Nankivell at his house. George, can you tell me your full name? [George] George Richard. [Judith] When were you born? [George] 10th of April 1921. [Judith] Okay. What are your first memories as a child? [Judith] Okay. Today is the 24th of June, 2008. It's Judith Jensen. I'm interviewing George Nankivell at his house. George, can you tell me your full name? [George] George Richard. [Judith] When were you born? [George] 10th of April 1921. [Judith] Okay. What are your first memories as a child?
0:22

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Oh, good times. Oh, good times.
0:25

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Fishing, getting into trouble, going to Rowes Bay, swimming in Rowes Bay because it was just down the road from where I was born in the bottom end of Stagpole. See, we were born in that house there. We didn't go to hospitals in those days, you were born at home. And often getting into trouble and come home and the father would find we'd been down there instead of behaving ourselves and - but quite good times until going away to places like Kuranda when we had an aunty living there. [Judith] Mmm-hmm. Fishing, getting into trouble, going to Rowes Bay, swimming in Rowes Bay because it was just down the road from where I was born in the bottom end of Stagpole. See, we were born in that house there. We didn't go to hospitals in those days, you were born at home. And often getting into trouble and come home and the father would find we'd been down there instead of behaving ourselves and - but quite good times until going away to places like Kuranda when we had an aunty living there. [Judith] Mmm-hmm.
0:55

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] And then in the school holidays it was quite good when we were young - relatively young. [Judith] Mmm. [George] But from when the Depression hit, it got a bit hard and we had - I know one time we had a fishing hut at Three Mile Beach. [Judith] Oh, yes. [George] But there was no road through that way, you had to go down the Old Common Road through the Common and across the salt pans to the - the hut, the fishing hut at Three Mile Beach. [Judith] Were there other fishing huts out there? [George] No. [George] And then in the school holidays it was quite good when we were young - relatively young. [Judith] Mmm. [George] But from when the Depression hit, it got a bit hard and we had - I know one time we had a fishing hut at Three Mile Beach. [Judith] Oh, yes. [George] But there was no road through that way, you had to go down the Old Common Road through the Common and across the salt pans to the - the hut, the fishing hut at Three Mile Beach. [Judith] Were there other fishing huts out there? [George] No.
1:28

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Okay. So how long would it take to get out there? [George] Oh, used to take, I suppose, about half an hour, three-quarters of an hour because the road was rough. It was only an old - an old asphalt road, but - [Judith] Yeah. [George] the asphalt road  [Judith] Okay. So how long would it take to get out there? [George] Oh, used to take, I suppose, about half an hour, three-quarters of an hour because the road was rough. It was only an old - an old asphalt road, but - [Judith] Yeah. [George] the asphalt road 
1:40

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

used to stop at the [...] Rowes Bay. You couldn't - and then we used to have - the father had a contract to keep the quarantine wharf - [Judith] Mmm-hmm. used to stop at the [...] Rowes Bay. You couldn't - and then we used to have - the father had a contract to keep the quarantine wharf - [Judith] Mmm-hmm.
1:54

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] in repair and we used to some days wag it from school and finish up out at Pallarenda. We'd ride along the beach, swim the creek, swim Three Mile Creek and get up to the [...] and fish all day off - off the jetty. [Judith] So was the quarantine station used? Still in use at that stage? [George] No, no, no, no. [Judith] No. [George] There were just - they had staff there and was a family or two - two families living on and that was what they were there to do. Never used - [Judith] Okay. [George] to my knowledge. Everything was just - the buildings were kept there by the federal government - [Judith] Yeah. [George] but they was never used.  [George] in repair and we used to some days wag it from school and finish up out at Pallarenda. We'd ride along the beach, swim the creek, swim Three Mile Creek and get up to the [...] and fish all day off - off the jetty. [Judith] So was the quarantine station used? Still in use at that stage? [George] No, no, no, no. [Judith] No. [George] There were just - they had staff there and was a family or two - two families living on and that was what they were there to do. Never used - [Judith] Okay. [George] to my knowledge. Everything was just - the buildings were kept there by the federal government - [Judith] Yeah. [George] but they was never used. 
2:24

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Okay. And the - the fishing hut you had there, what was that made out of? [George] Corrugated iron and bush timber. [Judith] So you would have had to cart all that out there to - [George] No, you would cart the iron out, but we pushed - cut a lot of trees down around the place - [Judith] Mmm. [George] and made it out of just timber. Yeah, used to do it for [Judith] Okay. And the - the fishing hut you had there, what was that made out of? [George] Corrugated iron and bush timber. [Judith] So you would have had to cart all that out there to - [George] No, you would cart the iron out, but we pushed - cut a lot of trees down around the place - [Judith] Mmm. [George] and made it out of just timber. Yeah, used to do it for
2:42

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

our floor. There was nothing - nothing fancy about it, it was just somewhere to go of a weekend and do some fishing on the - [Judith] And could you catch a lot of fish out there then? [George] Yeah, well, those days you could. Then we had traps there as well. [Judith] Mmm. [George] We had fishing traps out the front and our floor. There was nothing - nothing fancy about it, it was just somewhere to go of a weekend and do some fishing on the - [Judith] And could you catch a lot of fish out there then? [George] Yeah, well, those days you could. Then we had traps there as well. [Judith] Mmm. [George] We had fishing traps out the front and
2:55

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

our job - my brother and my job was to fish our job - my brother and my job was to fish
2:59

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- fish the traps and - fish the traps and
3:01

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

ride our bikes along to Three Mile and swim across, fish - take the fish out and bring them back home again. [Judith] So the fishing hut would have been on the foreshore there? [George] Yeah, right - right on the foreshore - [Judith] [...]. [George] right on the foreshore it was, yeah. [Judith] And the house - what number was the house at in Stagpole Street? [George] 16. I'm sure it was 16. [Judith] And - and what - what was that house like? Can you describe the house? [George] Ah, ride our bikes along to Three Mile and swim across, fish - take the fish out and bring them back home again. [Judith] So the fishing hut would have been on the foreshore there? [George] Yeah, right - right on the foreshore - [Judith] [...]. [George] right on the foreshore it was, yeah. [Judith] And the house - what number was the house at in Stagpole Street? [George] 16. I'm sure it was 16. [Judith] And - and what - what was that house like? Can you describe the house? [George] Ah,
3:26

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

well, now, let's see. High blocked home, front verandah, well, now, let's see. High blocked home, front verandah,
3:32

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

um, um,
3:34

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

bedroom, bedroom, bedroom, [...] bedroom, bedroom, bedroom, [...]
3:38

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

what they used to call a sitting room. And they - this is going back a long time, sitting room what they used to call a sitting room. And they - this is going back a long time, sitting room
3:42

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

and a dining room, and a - an un- and that was the living quarters upstairs. And downstairs was the - that was sleeping quarters upstairs, I'm sorry. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And - and living quarters downstairs, the kitchen and dining - [Judith] Oh. Oh, okay. [George] and that downstairs were all enclosed downstairs. [Judith] Oh, okay.  And what was the house made out of? [George] Timber. [Judith] Timber. [George] Timber, yeah. They and a dining room, and a - an un- and that was the living quarters upstairs. And downstairs was the - that was sleeping quarters upstairs, I'm sorry. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And - and living quarters downstairs, the kitchen and dining - [Judith] Oh. Oh, okay. [George] and that downstairs were all enclosed downstairs. [Judith] Oh, okay.  And what was the house made out of? [George] Timber. [Judith] Timber. [George] Timber, yeah. They
4:05

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[...] in those days. [Judith] Yeah. So like chamfer board? [George] Chamfer board wall. [Judith] And internal construction was vertical tongue and groove, was it? [George] No. No, in those days the tim-  everything was inside. The boards were all inside and the studs showed outside. [Judith] Okay. [George] And there was a - [Judith] Oh, okay. So it was horizontal boards? [George] Yeah, mmm, mmm. [Judith] Okay. And had timber floors. [George] Timber floors, yeah. [Judith] Okay. Um, so what do you - what else do you remember about that house? [...] in those days. [Judith] Yeah. So like chamfer board? [George] Chamfer board wall. [Judith] And internal construction was vertical tongue and groove, was it? [George] No. No, in those days the tim-  everything was inside. The boards were all inside and the studs showed outside. [Judith] Okay. [George] And there was a - [Judith] Oh, okay. So it was horizontal boards? [George] Yeah, mmm, mmm. [Judith] Okay. And had timber floors. [George] Timber floors, yeah. [Judith] Okay. Um, so what do you - what else do you remember about that house?
4:32

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] It was - I remember my father built a - a launch in the - under the side of the house. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And we  - we [George] It was - I remember my father built a - a launch in the - under the side of the house. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And we  - we
4:42

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

put it into the water at Rowes Bay - in Rowes Bay. [Judith] Mmm. [George] We'd go down there and we'd put it in there. put it into the water at Rowes Bay - in Rowes Bay. [Judith] Mmm. [George] We'd go down there and we'd put it in there.
4:48

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Vegetable gardens; everybody grew their own vegetable garden. They'd have a chook yard down the back. [Judith] Mmm. Vegetable gardens; everybody grew their own vegetable garden. They'd have a chook yard down the back. [Judith] Mmm.
4:55

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

What sort of vegetables? [George] Oh, everything, you name it.  Even - even had - I can remember we had a peach tree there. [Judith] Oh. [George] And people reckon he'd never get - grow peaches in the tropics and Dad used to - [Judith] You managed to grow peaches. [George] Yes, and he - I remember he used to count them in the morning and if we kids flogged one of an afternoon, we'd be in strife. What sort of vegetables? [George] Oh, everything, you name it.  Even - even had - I can remember we had a peach tree there. [Judith] Oh. [George] And people reckon he'd never get - grow peaches in the tropics and Dad used to - [Judith] You managed to grow peaches. [George] Yes, and he - I remember he used to count them in the morning and if we kids flogged one of an afternoon, we'd be in strife.
5:15

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] In trouble. [George] Get into trouble. We'd get [Judith] In trouble. [George] Get into trouble. We'd get
5:19

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[...] of course it was a high blocked home and all the kids used to be [...] all the kids around the place being there. [Judith] And what - what did he do? [George] He was a carpenter, a builder. He was building in the building trade. [Judith] So he - he built a lot of houses in Townsville? [George] Oh, quite - yeah, quite a few around the place he built around the place. [...] of course it was a high blocked home and all the kids used to be [...] all the kids around the place being there. [Judith] And what - what did he do? [George] He was a carpenter, a builder. He was building in the building trade. [Judith] So he - he built a lot of houses in Townsville? [George] Oh, quite - yeah, quite a few around the place he built around the place.
5:37

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And ah, And ah,
5:39

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

oh, I wouldn't know how - just how many of them, you know. [Judith] Yeah. [George] It was hard to remember just how many of them. [Judith] So was it a - a particular company or - [George] No, no, just -  just a private [...] - [Judith] Just a private building. [George] I don't think there was any building companies in those days. oh, I wouldn't know how - just how many of them, you know. [Judith] Yeah. [George] It was hard to remember just how many of them. [Judith] So was it a - a particular company or - [George] No, no, just -  just a private [...] - [Judith] Just a private building. [George] I don't think there was any building companies in those days.
5:53

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Yeah, not like they are today. [Judith] Mmm. [George] It was just all private builders and they were regulated. And of course they used Yeah, not like they are today. [Judith] Mmm. [George] It was just all private builders and they were regulated. And of course they used
6:00

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

money - the banks all would lend money and then you just had to have a - an architect that supervised your work. Not like nowadays; you never see an architect go around and check a house these days. [Judith] Mmm. [George] But those days the architect would come around. And you could never get money from the banks for - for a first or second payment until the architect had passed your work. So I think that's why a lot of those old - old timers' old houses are still there, still - still around the place - [Judith] Mmm. [George] because they were built under very - pretty strict supervision. [Judith] Mmm. money - the banks all would lend money and then you just had to have a - an architect that supervised your work. Not like nowadays; you never see an architect go around and check a house these days. [Judith] Mmm. [George] But those days the architect would come around. And you could never get money from the banks for - for a first or second payment until the architect had passed your work. So I think that's why a lot of those old - old timers' old houses are still there, still - still around the place - [Judith] Mmm. [George] because they were built under very - pretty strict supervision. [Judith] Mmm.
6:31

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Is that house still there or - [George] No, that's the one - it's over in - out at Partington Siding. [Judith] Okay. [George] The last time I knew of it, it was out there. The people that bought it took it out there. [Judith] Oh, okay. So it's still around but in another location? [George] Still around somewhere, yeah, mmm. [Judith] So um, he - he was a builder. What - how did he um Is that house still there or - [George] No, that's the one - it's over in - out at Partington Siding. [Judith] Okay. [George] The last time I knew of it, it was out there. The people that bought it took it out there. [Judith] Oh, okay. So it's still around but in another location? [George] Still around somewhere, yeah, mmm. [Judith] So um, he - he was a builder. What - how did he um
6:51

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- how did he pay for building the house? He built your house that you lived in? [George] Yeah, he built that. That was a wedding present to my mother. He built that to my mother, like, to his wife he built it there and they moved in there when they got married. [Judith] Okay. You mentioned that he - he - earlier you'd mentioned that he'd been in World War 1? [George] Mmm. - how did he pay for building the house? He built your house that you lived in? [George] Yeah, he built that. That was a wedding present to my mother. He built that to my mother, like, to his wife he built it there and they moved in there when they got married. [Judith] Okay. You mentioned that he - he - earlier you'd mentioned that he'd been in World War 1? [George] Mmm.
7:09

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Where did he serve; do you know? [George] Well, so far he's - like most of us Diggers, we never talk about [Judith] Where did he serve; do you know? [George] Well, so far he's - like most of us Diggers, we never talk about
7:16

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

war. [Judith] Yeah. [George] We talk about the funny side of it, but we never talk about anything else. [Judith] Yeah, yeah. [George] Like that bloke out in the sun for so - you'll talk about what you did or the time you got drunk or whatever you did, but you'll never tell them what you did sort of, you know. You know, but - [Judith] Yeah, yeah. [George] I do know that he served in France and that - [Judith] Okay. [George] and that. And war. [Judith] Yeah. [George] We talk about the funny side of it, but we never talk about anything else. [Judith] Yeah, yeah. [George] Like that bloke out in the sun for so - you'll talk about what you did or the time you got drunk or whatever you did, but you'll never tell them what you did sort of, you know. You know, but - [Judith] Yeah, yeah. [George] I do know that he served in France and that - [Judith] Okay. [George] and that. And
7:32

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

but so far as any of his places what - you know, any battles that are - you can't get him out - you couldn't get it out of him. [Judith] Yeah. [George] Brother and I tried, we used to try that. One day we thought we'd get him a bit tanked up. We were having a good time at a party one day and we thought this is the time to find out something, but he was a bit too shrewd. He never but so far as any of his places what - you know, any battles that are - you can't get him out - you couldn't get it out of him. [Judith] Yeah. [George] Brother and I tried, we used to try that. One day we thought we'd get him a bit tanked up. We were having a good time at a party one day and we thought this is the time to find out something, but he was a bit too shrewd. He never
7:53

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- no, he said, "Look, I was overseas in France," and - and that was it. You know, so then it's as far as I know whatever, you know, we wouldn't have a clue. [Judith] Yeah. And how long - how long did you live in Stagpole Street. [George] Ah - [Judith] How old were you when you moved from there? [George] Oh, well, let's see. I was - no, he said, "Look, I was overseas in France," and - and that was it. You know, so then it's as far as I know whatever, you know, we wouldn't have a clue. [Judith] Yeah. And how long - how long did you live in Stagpole Street. [George] Ah - [Judith] How old were you when you moved from there? [George] Oh, well, let's see. I was
8:15

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

21 and I think I was - I think it was somewhere in about '37, '36 or '37 when they - when they moved out -  out there so 21 and I think I was - I think it was somewhere in about '37, '36 or '37 when they - when they moved out -  out there so
8:25

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

what's that? That's um - what's that? That's um -
8:34

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] You were a boy. [George] Yeah, oh, yes, we - we were still kids. [Judith] Yeah, yeah. [George] We just - I think I'd just finished school. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] You could leave school at 13 and - [Judith] Okay. So you - [George] you passed scholarship and don't - but it wasn't scholarship in those days. You could leave at 13 - [Judith] Yeah. [George] There was no [?staying there?]. [Judith] You were a boy. [George] Yeah, oh, yes, we - we were still kids. [Judith] Yeah, yeah. [George] We just - I think I'd just finished school. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] You could leave school at 13 and - [Judith] Okay. So you - [George] you passed scholarship and don't - but it wasn't scholarship in those days. You could leave at 13 - [Judith] Yeah. [George] There was no [?staying there?].
8:47

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And you didn't have to go to high school. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And the first thing because then the things were getting a bit tough then so you never worried about going to college, going to university or high school, you'd be racing around trying to find work to help the family out. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And so, you know, you'd leave school at 13, which was quite legal to do in those days, and get a job. [Judith] So you were about 13 when you moved? [George] 13 or 14 when - [Judith] When you went out to Saunders Beach? [George] we went out to Saunders Beach. [Judith] What was the Depression like in Townsville? [George] Oh, bad. It was bad. And you didn't have to go to high school. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And the first thing because then the things were getting a bit tough then so you never worried about going to college, going to university or high school, you'd be racing around trying to find work to help the family out. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And so, you know, you'd leave school at 13, which was quite legal to do in those days, and get a job. [Judith] So you were about 13 when you moved? [George] 13 or 14 when - [Judith] When you went out to Saunders Beach? [George] we went out to Saunders Beach. [Judith] What was the Depression like in Townsville? [George] Oh, bad. It was bad.
9:16

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] So you - [George] We weren't the only ones that were - were caught that way, that's for sure. [Judith] Yeah. [George] But, you know, a bit of - from memory, you know, we used to - when you'd go to school and you'd have lunch and people would share with you, you know, whatever you got and sit on the end and "What have you got on yours? Well, I've got nothing on mine." So you know, that's how it was. It brought people together in lots of ways - [Judith] Mmm. [George] because everybody in those days, everybody shared. Not like today people don't give a hoot about you. You can fall over in the street and people either run over you or go [Judith] So you - [George] We weren't the only ones that were - were caught that way, that's for sure. [Judith] Yeah. [George] But, you know, a bit of - from memory, you know, we used to - when you'd go to school and you'd have lunch and people would share with you, you know, whatever you got and sit on the end and "What have you got on yours? Well, I've got nothing on mine." So you know, that's how it was. It brought people together in lots of ways - [Judith] Mmm. [George] because everybody in those days, everybody shared. Not like today people don't give a hoot about you. You can fall over in the street and people either run over you or go
9:46

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

around you and leave you there. [Judith] Yeah. [George] They wouldn't worry about, you know. around you and leave you there. [Judith] Yeah. [George] They wouldn't worry about, you know.
9:50

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

That's how they were, you know. But you know, there again, you'd get some funny sides in it. You'd see the - you tend to forget about the real rough - bad side and just think, oh, well, I'm lucky I've survived this actually. That's how they were, you know. But you know, there again, you'd get some funny sides in it. You'd see the - you tend to forget about the real rough - bad side and just think, oh, well, I'm lucky I've survived this actually.
10:03

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] So it was during the Depression you moved out to Saunders Beach? [George] Mmm, yeah, yeah. [Judith] How did - how did that come about? How did you - how did you um, [Judith] So it was during the Depression you moved out to Saunders Beach? [George] Mmm, yeah, yeah. [Judith] How did - how did that come about? How did you - how did you um,
10:13

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

decide to go out there? [George] Well, I don't know. In those days you never got a lot from your parents. You were seen and not heard, you know, you never queried it. If your parents said you're doing this, you're doing that and if they were doing it, you're doing it, you know? decide to go out there? [George] Well, I don't know. In those days you never got a lot from your parents. You were seen and not heard, you know, you never queried it. If your parents said you're doing this, you're doing that and if they were doing it, you're doing it, you know?
10:25

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And I think he just said - just told us, he said, "We're moving out to a place out - out on the beach. And we naturally thought [...] [laughter]. And I think he just said - just told us, he said, "We're moving out to a place out - out on the beach. And we naturally thought [...] [laughter].
10:38

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

But it never - we went out this place out here. And apparently he'd known Ernie Saunders somewhere along his travels when he was a youngster, somewhere met him somehow or other and he got him and he said, "Yeah, you can have it. Settle down the bottom corner down there." And he give him But it never - we went out this place out here. And apparently he'd known Ernie Saunders somewhere along his travels when he was a youngster, somewhere met him somehow or other and he got him and he said, "Yeah, you can have it. Settle down the bottom corner down there." And he give him
10:56

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

written authority to be there. I think we - we just sort of - he said I'll put you on, you know, like a caretaker, you know, just look after the property there. [Judith] Mmm. And was the Saunders house there at that time or - [George] Ah, no, no. No, all that was there was up the top written authority to be there. I think we - we just sort of - he said I'll put you on, you know, like a caretaker, you know, just look after the property there. [Judith] Mmm. And was the Saunders house there at that time or - [George] Ah, no, no. No, all that was there was up the top
11:13

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

as you left - crossed the railway line and got onto the property was just a few posts and some mango trees around it. I mean, that was the natural thing to do and the settlers in those days - [Judith] Mmm. [George] put mango trees around to block the high winds and that around them. There was no home there. It was on - it was just on a few - you could just see a couple of posts sitting up left there now. [Judith] Where it used to be. [George] 'Cause I don't  think Ernie Saunders hadn't been on it for a long time. Hadn't been on it for a long time. [Judith] So what was the house like that you built there? as you left - crossed the railway line and got onto the property was just a few posts and some mango trees around it. I mean, that was the natural thing to do and the settlers in those days - [Judith] Mmm. [George] put mango trees around to block the high winds and that around them. There was no home there. It was on - it was just on a few - you could just see a couple of posts sitting up left there now. [Judith] Where it used to be. [George] 'Cause I don't  think Ernie Saunders hadn't been on it for a long time. Hadn't been on it for a long time. [Judith] So what was the house like that you built there?
11:39

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Corrugated iron, bush timber, Corrugated iron, bush timber,
11:42

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

ant bed floor. We raided all the ant beds up in what we called the paddock and carted them down and broke them up, and stamped them down and carted water up from the beach and splattered it on it and plonked it on your feet, like. ant bed floor. We raided all the ant beds up in what we called the paddock and carted them down and broke them up, and stamped them down and carted water up from the beach and splattered it on it and plonked it on your feet, like.
11:56

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Rolled it out and pushed it out and then that was the floor. That was the floor for years ah, just an ant bed floor because those days it was a building material. Tennis courts and all were made of it in those days - in those days. [Judith] Mmm. So how would you maintain that? How did your mother keep it clean? [George] Oh, you just lightly, you know, sprinkle a bit of water over it and - and - [Judith] And settle it. [George] just have a light Rolled it out and pushed it out and then that was the floor. That was the floor for years ah, just an ant bed floor because those days it was a building material. Tennis courts and all were made of it in those days - in those days. [Judith] Mmm. So how would you maintain that? How did your mother keep it clean? [George] Oh, you just lightly, you know, sprinkle a bit of water over it and - and - [Judith] And settle it. [George] just have a light
12:19

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

broom over it, but not much because otherwise you'd just stir it all up. But it did - it used to settle real hard, it'd settle down really, really hard. [Judith] A bit like concrete? [George] Yeah, it'd get real hard like that. [Judith] So how many rooms did it have? [George] Oh, there was just a - was more like a - really just an open - open building and there was just one part partitioned off with broom over it, but not much because otherwise you'd just stir it all up. But it did - it used to settle real hard, it'd settle down really, really hard. [Judith] A bit like concrete? [George] Yeah, it'd get real hard like that. [Judith] So how many rooms did it have? [George] Oh, there was just a - was more like a - really just an open - open building and there was just one part partitioned off with
12:41

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

curtains, that was - that was all. That was all they could afford, you know. [Judith] Mmm. [George] We scrounged all the rubbish dumps for - for iron. curtains, that was - that was all. That was all they could afford, you know. [Judith] Mmm. [George] We scrounged all the rubbish dumps for - for iron.
12:50

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] About how - are you able to estimate how big it was? Like, in terms of - [George] Oh - [Judith] About how - are you able to estimate how big it was? Like, in terms of - [George] Oh -
13:00

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Be about - [Judith] Be about -
13:02

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Well, it'd be about as long as Well, it'd be about as long as
13:05

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

there... from the front door to about here.... And only about as - about that... wide. [Judith] Okay. So that's about - [George] Yeah, wasn't - it wasn't - well, you'd fit it in here, you know. It was - it wasn't a real big home. there... from the front door to about here.... And only about as - about that... wide. [Judith] Okay. So that's about - [George] Yeah, wasn't - it wasn't - well, you'd fit it in here, you know. It was - it wasn't a real big home.
13:20

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] So that's about six metres; do you think? [George] Oh, about that. Yeah, about that. About that. [Judith] Six metres by about the same? [George] Something about the same, yeah. [Judith] Yeah, okay. [George] The sides had shutters and we used to push them out. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] Pop them out with a stick to hold them out to let the breeze get through of a daytime, let the sea breeze come through. [Judith] And - and the house was built quite close to the beach? [George] Oh, yeah, yeah. It's - it would be ah, yeah, [Judith] So that's about six metres; do you think? [George] Oh, about that. Yeah, about that. About that. [Judith] Six metres by about the same? [George] Something about the same, yeah. [Judith] Yeah, okay. [George] The sides had shutters and we used to push them out. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] Pop them out with a stick to hold them out to let the breeze get through of a daytime, let the sea breeze come through. [Judith] And - and the house was built quite close to the beach? [George] Oh, yeah, yeah. It's - it would be ah, yeah,
13:46

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

virtually in a straight line to the one you're in now. [Judith] Mmm. virtually in a straight line to the one you're in now. [Judith] Mmm.
13:50

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] In there. And it was over that other - you got that - your - where you are now, then there was that - what, there's the vacant allotment, there was - there was you there and then we were there. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And it was the first one. [George] In there. And it was over that other - you got that - your - where you are now, then there was that - what, there's the vacant allotment, there was - there was you there and then we were there. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And it was the first one.
14:03

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] We're behind the dunes across from - [George] Yeah, yeah, we're just behind. [Judith] Yeah. [George] Yeah. Yeah, we - and we often used to wonder why the old fellow never put it on - on the top till we got a very bad blow. And we realised why - why it was down. Used to be just behind the - just - and the wind used to come up over the top of the [...]. He knew what he was doing, the old bloke. [Judith] Mmm. So were you there during any cyclones in that house? [George] Yeah, it was just this one, this really bad one. This was a real bad one. We lost [Judith] We're behind the dunes across from - [George] Yeah, yeah, we're just behind. [Judith] Yeah. [George] Yeah. Yeah, we - and we often used to wonder why the old fellow never put it on - on the top till we got a very bad blow. And we realised why - why it was down. Used to be just behind the - just - and the wind used to come up over the top of the [...]. He knew what he was doing, the old bloke. [Judith] Mmm. So were you there during any cyclones in that house? [George] Yeah, it was just this one, this really bad one. This was a real bad one. We lost
14:34

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- there was one time there, there used to be somewhere around about four or five rows of she-oaks out to sea. And we had a boathouse - we'd scrounged a bit - bit of a boathouse in there. - there was one time there, there used to be somewhere around about four or five rows of she-oaks out to sea. And we had a boathouse - we'd scrounged a bit - bit of a boathouse in there.
14:46

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And it and the boat and the traps were left. We found the boat, we got the boat. We never found anything else from it. It was just disappeared. And - and I think one row of she-oaks - one - one row of she-oaks just went and got washed away as well. [Judith] Mmm. And it and the boat and the traps were left. We found the boat, we got the boat. We never found anything else from it. It was just disappeared. And - and I think one row of she-oaks - one - one row of she-oaks just went and got washed away as well. [Judith] Mmm.
15:03

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Do you remember when that was, that cyclone? [George] Oh, no, I just couldn't - [Judith] In the '40s? [George] Yeah, I couldn't - no, it wouldn't be the '40s. Do you remember when that was, that cyclone? [George] Oh, no, I just couldn't - [Judith] In the '40s? [George] Yeah, I couldn't - no, it wouldn't be the '40s.
15:11

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

It was before then, if I remember rightly. [Judith] Okay. [George] It was before that, mmm. [Judith] Okay. It was before then, if I remember rightly. [Judith] Okay. [George] It was before that, mmm. [Judith] Okay.
15:16

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And what did you do as - when you were out there? What sorts of things would you - [George] Just fishing and chooks. We had a - where that pink house is now. You know where that big big pink house is on the corner? [Judith] Yeah. [George] Well, that was how we had chooks and we had fowl houses there and we had chooks there like for eggs and we used to sell the eggs. Bring the eggs into town and sell the eggs. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] Yeah. And what did you do as - when you were out there? What sorts of things would you - [George] Just fishing and chooks. We had a - where that pink house is now. You know where that big big pink house is on the corner? [Judith] Yeah. [George] Well, that was how we had chooks and we had fowl houses there and we had chooks there like for eggs and we used to sell the eggs. Bring the eggs into town and sell the eggs. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] Yeah.
15:39

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] And how did you get to the house? What was the road like to get to the house? [laughter] [Judith] And how did you get to the house? What was the road like to get to the house? [laughter]
15:47

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] Well, I gave you one - one photo of the thing and it - the car was nearly covered in grass. That was all there was to it. When we first went out, you'd go down to the sort of salt pan and you'd have to cross the salt pan and - and then go towards the creek and along the bank of the creek and come up what is - what is now Reef Street. That was how we - how we used to get in. And then we got a bit cranky one night because we got home a bit - Mum and Dad had gone to see [George] Well, I gave you one - one photo of the thing and it - the car was nearly covered in grass. That was all there was to it. When we first went out, you'd go down to the sort of salt pan and you'd have to cross the salt pan and - and then go towards the creek and along the bank of the creek and come up what is - what is now Reef Street. That was how we - how we used to get in. And then we got a bit cranky one night because we got home a bit - Mum and Dad had gone to see
16:16

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

some friends in town and - and it was late and the tide was in so we couldn't get the truck across. We had moulds of ice on there for the ice boxes. So we had to - brother and I had to carry them all the way from the salt pan right down the creek and back along up to the house. Mould of - I don't know if you know what a mould of ice is like. some friends in town and - and it was late and the tide was in so we couldn't get the truck across. We had moulds of ice on there for the ice boxes. So we had to - brother and I had to carry them all the way from the salt pan right down the creek and back along up to the house. Mould of - I don't know if you know what a mould of ice is like.
16:38

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Well they're - flaming heavy. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And - and we reckoned that that was just not on any - any more, so we got to and the road now - where it is now, how it comes up and along and misses the salt pan 'cause when we were there, it was scrub and it was bad. You couldn't - you couldn't see four or five feet in front of you. It was very, very thick untouched scrub. There was nothing there. And so it took us a long time but we - we persevered and we cut Well they're - flaming heavy. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And - and we reckoned that that was just not on any - any more, so we got to and the road now - where it is now, how it comes up and along and misses the salt pan 'cause when we were there, it was scrub and it was bad. You couldn't - you couldn't see four or five feet in front of you. It was very, very thick untouched scrub. There was nothing there. And so it took us a long time but we - we persevered and we cut
17:07

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

that road through there. And then when - when the refinery decided to that road through there. And then when - when the refinery decided to
17:13

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

shift the road and put it in, they picked it up, brought it down to where it is, and then they used that same path now along [...] what they call Saunders Beach Road now. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And they just asphalted that. But that's how we got in there. shift the road and put it in, they picked it up, brought it down to where it is, and then they used that same path now along [...] what they call Saunders Beach Road now. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And they just asphalted that. But that's how we got in there.
17:27

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Because we just reckoned that it was just no fun in carting stuff in the middle of the night on your back. [Judith] And it'd be pretty dark at night. [George] Oh, yeah. Because we just reckoned that it was just no fun in carting stuff in the middle of the night on your back. [Judith] And it'd be pretty dark at night. [George] Oh, yeah.
17:38

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] You never know what you might come across. [George] No, no. [Judith] So were there crocodiles out there? [George] Well - [Judith] Did you see any crocodiles? [George] Well, we always reckoned -  the brother and I always reckoned that - that they were there. And we used to sometimes we'd have the net snagged on a snag and the old fellow used to say, "You know that's all right. Get out and get it off the snag." And - and one day we were up at the what we used to call The Junction, what is The Junction where - and we saw this [Judith] You never know what you might come across. [George] No, no. [Judith] So were there crocodiles out there? [George] Well - [Judith] Did you see any crocodiles? [George] Well, we always reckoned -  the brother and I always reckoned that - that they were there. And we used to sometimes we'd have the net snagged on a snag and the old fellow used to say, "You know that's all right. Get out and get it off the snag." And - and one day we were up at the what we used to call The Junction, what is The Junction where - and we saw this
18:04

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

skid mark down the mud and that was the last time we ever found [...]. [laughter] skid mark down the mud and that was the last time we ever found [...]. [laughter]
18:10

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Sounds very wise actually. [George] Yeah. [Judith] Sounds very wise actually. [George] Yeah.
18:15

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

But they - we always reckoned that they were there 'cause they were in the - in the Black and in the Bohle over there. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And then further up creeks further up, they were up in there and But they - we always reckoned that they were there 'cause they were in the - in the Black and in the Bohle over there. [Judith] Yeah. [George] And then further up creeks further up, they were up in there and
18:25

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- but no, we used to often think we were fools going out to fish the traps of a night because you'd stand on those rocks, as I told you, stand on those rocks and - and high tide you'd generally have about 12 feet of water there and those rocks were right out of the - out - out of the sand and you'd see the sharks just swimming up and down. Of course, you know, the place was unfished and there was fish everywhere then, you know, and - and we used to think gee, what fools we are wandering out to a trap - but no, we used to often think we were fools going out to fish the traps of a night because you'd stand on those rocks, as I told you, stand on those rocks and - and high tide you'd generally have about 12 feet of water there and those rocks were right out of the - out - out of the sand and you'd see the sharks just swimming up and down. Of course, you know, the place was unfished and there was fish everywhere then, you know, and - and we used to think gee, what fools we are wandering out to a trap
18:55

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

at 1:00 in the morning to     terrific kid and step in the box and filled it the fish out-of-the-box. When you only got a hurricane light hanging up above your head to see what works and what sort of fish did you get. Ohh you get everything When the winter time salmon used to get a lot of salmon in the winter time and the wet weather and the barramundi and Mueller and all those sort of brim and all that you can you can you give good variety of fish So obviously you wouldn't have any electricity yet. at 1:00 in the morning to     terrific kid and step in the box and filled it the fish out-of-the-box. When you only got a hurricane light hanging up above your head to see what works and what sort of fish did you get. Ohh you get everything When the winter time salmon used to get a lot of salmon in the winter time and the wet weather and the barramundi and Mueller and all those sort of brim and all that you can you can you give good variety of fish So obviously you wouldn't have any electricity yet.
19:26

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] No. [Judith] No. [George] No, kerosene light. [Judith] Kerosene lamp. And you mentioned the ice box. What was the ice box like? [George] Well, we made that out of packing cases, big packing cases. And the - a big one, and then you'd have a smaller one that would drop inside of it. And - and it - we'd line it with - we could line it with um, [George] No. [Judith] No. [George] No, kerosene light. [Judith] Kerosene lamp. And you mentioned the ice box. What was the ice box like? [George] Well, we made that out of packing cases, big packing cases. And the - a big one, and then you'd have a smaller one that would drop inside of it. And - and it - we'd line it with - we could line it with um,
19:46

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

flat iron and then between it we'd have what we used to - we used to call pumice stone. We got it off the beach. It's a little [...]. I don't know if you'd ever get any of it out there now. It's a little - [Judith] Yeah. [George] little round - little round pebbles and we'd have that packed in between. And that used to flat iron and then between it we'd have what we used to - we used to call pumice stone. We got it off the beach. It's a little [...]. I don't know if you'd ever get any of it out there now. It's a little - [Judith] Yeah. [George] little round - little round pebbles and we'd have that packed in between. And that used to
20:03

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- and then, you know, the ice would sit inside - the smaller one and keep it [?clean]. [Judith] So what sort of things would you have kept in the ice box? [George] Oh, what - um, - and then, you know, the ice would sit inside - the smaller one and keep it [?clean]. [Judith] So what sort of things would you have kept in the ice box? [George] Oh, what - um,
20:13

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

fish to start with and then we'd have whatever we brought like food stuff that we wanted to keep like. [Judith] Did you go to town much? [George] Oh, yeah. We'd go to town and we'd look at the ice, see how the ice was going and that'd - that'd determine when we'd come back into town and bring the fish in and fish to start with and then we'd have whatever we brought like food stuff that we wanted to keep like. [Judith] Did you go to town much? [George] Oh, yeah. We'd go to town and we'd look at the ice, see how the ice was going and that'd - that'd determine when we'd come back into town and bring the fish in and
20:31

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- and stock up on supplies. [Judith] So did - [George] The wet weather was bad. You could never - and stock up on supplies. [Judith] So did - [George] The wet weather was bad. You could never
20:36

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- hard to get in because of the roads. [Judith] Did you sell the fish in town? [George] Yeah, sold the fish in town to a chap by the name of Atherinos. He had his fish shop next to where the old - hard to get in because of the roads. [Judith] Did you sell the fish in town? [George] Yeah, sold the fish in town to a chap by the name of Atherinos. He had his fish shop next to where the old
20:50

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Bulletin Building is in Flinders Street. [Judith] Mmm-hmm. [George] Flinders Street West I suppose they'd call it, yeah. He had it there. And he had a back entrance into the back street there. He was a forerunner of the Fish Board; he'd buy the fish off everybody. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] Yeah. [Judith] So that sounds like a Greek name. Was he - [George] He was a Greek. [Judith] He was Greek. [George] Yeah, he was Greek, yeah. Yeah. I think one of - one of his daughters married one of the Bogiatzis clan, Liv Bogiatzis. Bulletin Building is in Flinders Street. [Judith] Mmm-hmm. [George] Flinders Street West I suppose they'd call it, yeah. He had it there. And he had a back entrance into the back street there. He was a forerunner of the Fish Board; he'd buy the fish off everybody. [Judith] Oh, okay. [George] Yeah. [Judith] So that sounds like a Greek name. Was he - [George] He was a Greek. [Judith] He was Greek. [George] Yeah, he was Greek, yeah. Yeah. I think one of - one of his daughters married one of the Bogiatzis clan, Liv Bogiatzis.
21:19

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] And - and you mentioned about getting your ice when you were in town; where would you get that? Where were the ice works? [George] Oh, well, you'd get it from Barty's sometimes,  Barty's Ice Works. They were down in Hanran Street. Or the [...] Ice Works was down the other end down over the road from Burns Philp's. [Judith] Oh, yeah. [George] They were called City Ice Works. They were called City Ice Works. [Judith] Okay. So there were a few ice works [...]? [George] Yeah they were there and there was another one also out at Bowen Road, but we never used to get out there but, was too far out there but - [Judith] And so um, [Judith] And - and you mentioned about getting your ice when you were in town; where would you get that? Where were the ice works? [George] Oh, well, you'd get it from Barty's sometimes,  Barty's Ice Works. They were down in Hanran Street. Or the [...] Ice Works was down the other end down over the road from Burns Philp's. [Judith] Oh, yeah. [George] They were called City Ice Works. They were called City Ice Works. [Judith] Okay. So there were a few ice works [...]? [George] Yeah they were there and there was another one also out at Bowen Road, but we never used to get out there but, was too far out there but - [Judith] And so um,
21:49

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

how did you go to town? Was that in a car? [George] No, we had a truck. We had a truck. We salvaged a truck from [...] how did you go to town? Was that in a car? [George] No, we had a truck. We had a truck. We salvaged a truck from [...]
21:56

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[...] in town. And we had an old - it was an old Morris truck, [...] in town. And we had an old - it was an old Morris truck,
22:01

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[?open top, nothing on it?]. [Judith] Did it take long to get into town? [George] Oh - [?open top, nothing on it?]. [Judith] Did it take long to get into town? [George] Oh -
22:07

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Like these days it's a pretty quick trip. [George] These days it's 20 minutes - 20 minutes, yeah.  We'd - we'd get, you know, I suppose it'd take about 40 minutes or so to get into town, but you - if - if that's in the time, depend on how the truck was, how the weather was. I've - I've known us to take two or three hours to get from the beach to the - the railway line, digging ourselves out of - out of bogs, you know. [Judith] Oh, okay. [Judith] Like these days it's a pretty quick trip. [George] These days it's 20 minutes - 20 minutes, yeah.  We'd - we'd get, you know, I suppose it'd take about 40 minutes or so to get into town, but you - if - if that's in the time, depend on how the truck was, how the weather was. I've - I've known us to take two or three hours to get from the beach to the - the railway line, digging ourselves out of - out of bogs, you know. [Judith] Oh, okay.
22:32

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Slow old trip then? [George] Yes, yes. [Judith] How did you - did you have a wood stove or - [George] Yeah, wood stove. Yeah, that's all, wood stove. [Judith] And so you would have - did you use some timber from - [George] Just yeah, used to have to get timber from up - up the scrub. Used to go up in the scrub and get three years old timber and bring it down. [Judith] And so when - when was the - the next house built in that area? Do you remember that? Was that while you were there? [George] Oh, um, Slow old trip then? [George] Yes, yes. [Judith] How did you - did you have a wood stove or - [George] Yeah, wood stove. Yeah, that's all, wood stove. [Judith] And so you would have - did you use some timber from - [George] Just yeah, used to have to get timber from up - up the scrub. Used to go up in the scrub and get three years old timber and bring it down. [Judith] And so when - when was the - the next house built in that area? Do you remember that? Was that while you were there? [George] Oh, um,
23:01

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

not before the war. [Judith] Okay. So after? [George] After the war. not before the war. [Judith] Okay. So after? [George] After the war.
23:06

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

But mother and father - the brother and I were in the - in the army, we went into the army and - and the - Mum and Dad, they got - the army moved them out of there, chased them out. They didn't even give them time to But mother and father - the brother and I were in the - in the army, we went into the army and - and the - Mum and Dad, they got - the army moved them out of there, chased them out. They didn't even give them time to
23:18

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

get anything really. get anything really.
23:20

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And then they moved into town. And then after the war, people that they'd - talking about during the war, you know, living in town and that, and Dad said, "Oh, we'll have to go back out and have a look at this beach." And then - and they sort of come out and started to build weekenders - it was the weekenders, but And then they moved into town. And then after the war, people that they'd - talking about during the war, you know, living in town and that, and Dad said, "Oh, we'll have to go back out and have a look at this beach." And then - and they sort of come out and started to build weekenders - it was the weekenders, but
23:40

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

we never went. We - we sort of um, we never went. We - we sort of um,
23:44

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

kept the old place there and - and then he got a bit crook. kept the old place there and - and then he got a bit crook.
23:49

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And doctors thought it'd be a good idea if he give up work and - and got out somewhere where there was nothing, so we And doctors thought it'd be a good idea if he give up work and - and got out somewhere where there was nothing, so we
23:58

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- he moved out there and then the brother and I decided about time we got something a bit better than the old humpy. [Judith] Yeah. - he moved out there and then the brother and I decided about time we got something a bit better than the old humpy. [Judith] Yeah.
24:07

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[George] That's when we built that one that - that you're in now. We built that one over - over the road from it, and then it - [Judith] So that's - [George] and we were - [Judith] what address is that one? [George] That's when we built that one that - that you're in now. We built that one over - over the road from it, and then it - [Judith] So that's - [George] and we were - [Judith] what address is that one?
24:18

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

16 Reef Street. [George] Where she's living at and we were forced - our hand was really forced in - in a way because 16 Reef Street. [George] Where she's living at and we were forced - our hand was really forced in - in a way because
24:27

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

old Ernie Saunders passed away and the land moved old Ernie Saunders passed away and the land moved
24:30

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

back to his sister and this St John Robinson and he got his. He was a cow of a man to people. back to his sister and this St John Robinson and he got his. He was a cow of a man to people.
24:37

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And even though we had permission from - [Judith] Mmm. [George] [...] Saunders, it didn't stand up, and he said, "Off you get," so we moved over to where that is now. And that, the [...], we're a bit fortunate that at the same time the government had decided to And even though we had permission from - [Judith] Mmm. [George] [...] Saunders, it didn't stand up, and he said, "Off you get," so we moved over to where that is now. And that, the [...], we're a bit fortunate that at the same time the government had decided to
24:53

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

open that land up. They -  the government owned all up that side right back by the dump. And the government called it Jalloonda and it was all perpetual lease. So we moved him over there and after a while the government decided that, if you wanted to, they'd open that land up. They -  the government owned all up that side right back by the dump. And the government called it Jalloonda and it was all perpetual lease. So we moved him over there and after a while the government decided that, if you wanted to, they'd
25:11

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

turn it over the freehold, so we turn it over the freehold, so we
25:14

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

bought that - the land out that way, yeah. [Judith] So can - the first place you lived in it at Saunders Beach, you lived there until, say, about 1940; would you say or - [George] Yes, I think it was about that or just yeah, around - no, a bit later than that, about '41 or '42 or something when they got moved off there.  I think that around - that things were looking like the Japs were going to finish up winning everything and - and [...] - [Judith] So what did the army have there? [George] They had people stationed right along the beach. They had them right along then. bought that - the land out that way, yeah. [Judith] So can - the first place you lived in it at Saunders Beach, you lived there until, say, about 1940; would you say or - [George] Yes, I think it was about that or just yeah, around - no, a bit later than that, about '41 or '42 or something when they got moved off there.  I think that around - that things were looking like the Japs were going to finish up winning everything and - and [...] - [Judith] So what did the army have there? [George] They had people stationed right along the beach. They had them right along then.
25:46

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Again, Judith, there was a couple of gun emplacements there. There was one down - down there by the - what is now the rest area - [Judith] Mmm. [George] where the - down the bottom by the creek, there were gun em- gun emplacement there. Again, Judith, there was a couple of gun emplacements there. There was one down - down there by the - what is now the rest area - [Judith] Mmm. [George] where the - down the bottom by the creek, there were gun em- gun emplacement there.
25:59

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

They were manned there permanent 'cause they had a - they had  service personnel, Australian service personnel right along there. [Judith] Did they use the hut that you'd built? [George] Yeah, they made - they - we found them once the - I think that my father had got permission to go out and find some stuff there. And when he went out there, he was most annoyed that the army blokes, you know, were wrecking the place and had set fire to a lot of the stuff that was in there. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And he went and he complained about it, he was just told to buzz off, so - They were manned there permanent 'cause they had a - they had  service personnel, Australian service personnel right along there. [Judith] Did they use the hut that you'd built? [George] Yeah, they made - they - we found them once the - I think that my father had got permission to go out and find some stuff there. And when he went out there, he was most annoyed that the army blokes, you know, were wrecking the place and had set fire to a lot of the stuff that was in there. [Judith] Mmm. [George] And he went and he complained about it, he was just told to buzz off, so -
26:30

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] So you'd - so you built the second house there? [George] Mmm. [Judith] And that was after World War 2? [George] Oh, yeah. [Judith] Were there other houses built around that time as well? [George] Yeah, they - quite a few started to go up then - started to go up because mostly they went on - up on what was Jalloonda - Jalloonda, but most of them went up about then. And then [Judith] So you'd - so you built the second house there? [George] Mmm. [Judith] And that was after World War 2? [George] Oh, yeah. [Judith] Were there other houses built around that time as well? [George] Yeah, they - quite a few started to go up then - started to go up because mostly they went on - up on what was Jalloonda - Jalloonda, but most of them went up about then. And then
26:51

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- then old St John decided that he'd get in on the party too, - then old St John decided that he'd get in on the party too,
26:57

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

so he opened up the other lot - other lot the other side and all that  and it was still known as Saunders and they were - but - [Judith] Were they mainly holiday houses or did people live there? [George] No, people - they moved - they moved into them. A couple of them were holiday homes, a couple of the bigger ones are I think. so he opened up the other lot - other lot the other side and all that  and it was still known as Saunders and they were - but - [Judith] Were they mainly holiday houses or did people live there? [George] No, people - they moved - they moved into them. A couple of them were holiday homes, a couple of the bigger ones are I think.
27:16

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And the brother was working for a fellow by the name of Howlett, Syd Howlett, a building contractor and And the brother was working for a fellow by the name of Howlett, Syd Howlett, a building contractor and
27:22

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

he - he built - he come out and had a look at it and he was out there with - for a while and then he had - he used to come out of a weekend to the house and then he saw that and he said,"Oh, you built" and he built a fairly big one there and then the he - he built - he come out and had a look at it and he was out there with - for a while and then he had - he used to come out of a weekend to the house and then he saw that and he said,"Oh, you built" and he built a fairly big one there and then the
27:34

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

- it sort of grew on. [Judith] Do you remember the names of anybody that lived in that area around that time? [George] Well, - it sort of grew on. [Judith] Do you remember the names of anybody that lived in that area around that time? [George] Well,
27:46

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

going back from you back to the - to the creek, well, let me see. There was going back from you back to the - to the creek, well, let me see. There was
27:53

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

um, Kerrs. [Judith] Number 14. [George] They had two houses there and - they had two houses there. Then there was Keppers, old Lennie Kepper and the old people. [Judith] Mmm-hmm. [George] And they built that - their holiday home there because Mum and Dad knew them. They were living straight across from um, Kerrs. [Judith] Number 14. [George] They had two houses there and - they had two houses there. Then there was Keppers, old Lennie Kepper and the old people. [Judith] Mmm-hmm. [George] And they built that - their holiday home there because Mum and Dad knew them. They were living straight across from
28:13

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

where Mum and Dad were living in town and they got to know them. They moved out there and built there. where Mum and Dad were living in town and they got to know them. They moved out there and built there.
28:18

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

There was Bertie Phillips, chap named Bert Phillips. He was another one. There was Bertie Phillips, chap named Bert Phillips. He was another one.
28:26

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And then on the corner, the last house down there somewhere, I think it was um, And then on the corner, the last house down there somewhere, I think it was um,
28:31

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

relation of Kerrs, people by the name of Scott. [Judith] Mmm. [George] Scotts living on - on the last - last house. That would be the house next to the rest area. relation of Kerrs, people by the name of Scott. [Judith] Mmm. [George] Scotts living on - on the last - last house. That would be the house next to the rest area.
28:44

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And then the - across - straight across the road from the one on the corner And then the - across - straight across the road from the one on the corner
28:50

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

was a bloke by the name of Morris, Bobby Morris Electrician. was a bloke by the name of Morris, Bobby Morris Electrician.
28:55

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Then there was a vacant allotment. Then there was a vacant allotment.
28:57

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And then there was ah, And then there was ah,
29:01

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Armstrong, Billy Armstrong and his wife, Dot. Armstrong, Billy Armstrong and his wife, Dot.
29:04

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And then the rest and then somewhere along the - where did ah, And then the rest and then somewhere along the - where did ah,
29:10

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

that musician lady that musician lady
29:13

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

live down on - down Reef Street? live down on - down Reef Street?
29:20

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] You speak to me? [unidentified speaker] You speak to me?
29:23

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

The music - that music guy ah, The music - that music guy ah,
29:27

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

you know the lady that used to play the piano? you know the lady that used to play the piano?
29:30

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] Frances Huntington. [George] Frances Huntington, yeah. What was her married name? [unidentified speaker] She was Frances [...]. [unidentified speaker] Frances Huntington. [George] Frances Huntington, yeah. What was her married name? [unidentified speaker] She was Frances [...].
29:35

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Yeah, Frances Huntington, she - they had a house down there, but the other two - oh, Kalli is the um -  Yeah, Frances Huntington, she - they had a house down there, but the other two - oh, Kalli is the um - 
29:43

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] Ross Kalli. [George] Ross Kalli, the - [unidentified speaker] Ross Kalli. [George] Ross Kalli, the -
29:47

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] Married the girl [?Ivan]. [George] Yeah, they had a home there. And now I don't know who was in the big house next to Armstrongs. They - I don't - I never got to know those people there. [unidentified speaker] Married the girl [?Ivan]. [George] Yeah, they had a home there. And now I don't know who was in the big house next to Armstrongs. They - I don't - I never got to know those people there.
29:60

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

The other side there was - it's ah, The other side there was - it's ah,
30:04

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

on the beach frontage let's see what they had on the beach frontage let's see what they had
30:09

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

for ah, for ah,
30:12

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Sharps, Sharps. Sharps, Sharps.
30:15

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Then there was Howarths, Davies. [unidentified speaker] Davis. [George] Davis. They had the service station in Belgian Gardens, Davis. Then there was Howarths, Davies. [unidentified speaker] Davis. [George] Davis. They had the service station in Belgian Gardens, Davis.
30:28

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] And then their son built next to them. [George] Yeah. Ah, [unidentified speaker] And then their son built next to them. [George] Yeah. Ah,
30:33

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

yeah, Peter. Yeah. And then they were - [...] was there. There was ah- [unidentified speaker] And then - [George] Joe Barber, the - Joe Barber, the building contractor from out at yeah, Peter. Yeah. And then they were - [...] was there. There was ah- [unidentified speaker] And then - [George] Joe Barber, the - Joe Barber, the building contractor from out at
30:45

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Bowen Road, he built there. Bowen Road, he built there.
30:47

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

And Shanahans were there, and they were the origional ones there. And Shanahans were there, and they were the origional ones there.
30:53

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] And see um, [unidentified speaker] And see um,
30:55

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

Bruce Robinson. [George] Oh, he was - yeah, he was up there some, but nobody ever classed him. Bruce Robinson. [George] Oh, he was - yeah, he was up there some, but nobody ever classed him.
31:06

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

The less - The less -
31:09

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] So um, I read in - read something that said that you had your honeymoon out there. [George] Yeah. [Judith] When did - when did you get married? [George] Oh, I'll get into trouble for this. [Judith] So um, I read in - read something that said that you had your honeymoon out there. [George] Yeah. [Judith] When did - when did you get married? [George] Oh, I'll get into trouble for this.
31:21

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

58 years ago. 58 years ago.
31:25

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

50? [unidentified speaker] Yeah, 1950. [George] Yeah, 50? [unidentified speaker] Yeah, 1950. [George] Yeah,
31:32

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

58 years ago. [Judith] Okay. [George] Yeah. [Judith] So where did you - what house did you stay in when you went out there for your honeymoon? [George] Righto, come on, boss, help me out here. [unidentified speaker] What's that? [Judith] When you went out there for your honeymoon? [George] We stayed at the old home, didn't we? [unidentified speaker] Yeah. [George] Yeah. [unidentified speaker] 1950. [George] Yeah, we stayed in the old home. [unidentified speaker] Yeah. [George] Yep, that's right. 58 years ago. [Judith] Okay. [George] Yeah. [Judith] So where did you - what house did you stay in when you went out there for your honeymoon? [George] Righto, come on, boss, help me out here. [unidentified speaker] What's that? [Judith] When you went out there for your honeymoon? [George] We stayed at the old home, didn't we? [unidentified speaker] Yeah. [George] Yeah. [unidentified speaker] 1950. [George] Yeah, we stayed in the old home. [unidentified speaker] Yeah. [George] Yep, that's right.
31:54

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[unidentified speaker] It would have been the day after the 30th of April. We were - [George] Yeah. [unidentified speaker] married on the 29th. [George] I asked her where she wanted to go and she said out the beach. [Judith] Oh, well, it's nice on the beach, isn't it? Okay. Well, we - I might just pause it there for - [George] Oh - [unidentified speaker] It would have been the day after the 30th of April. We were - [George] Yeah. [unidentified speaker] married on the 29th. [George] I asked her where she wanted to go and she said out the beach. [Judith] Oh, well, it's nice on the beach, isn't it? Okay. Well, we - I might just pause it there for - [George] Oh -
32:11

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

[Judith] Think I've got to depress. [Judith] Think I've got to depress.
32:15

Choose A Speaker
(only necessary when speaker changes)

OK, that concludes our interview. OK, that concludes our interview.