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0:00

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This is Mt Keira Mine Tramway workers project. 7A is the number of the tape. This is Mt Keira Mine Tramway workers project. 7A is the number of the tape.
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The 1st of the 10th '98 talking to Mrs Coralie Cunningham and I'll ask you first, Mrs Cunningham, could you spell your full name including your maiden name. The 1st of the 10th '98 talking to Mrs Coralie Cunningham and I'll ask you first, Mrs Cunningham, could you spell your full name including your maiden name.
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C-o-r-a-l-i- e C-u-n-n-i-n-g-h-a-m C-o-r-a-l-i- e C-u-n-n-i-n-g-h-a-m
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My single name was Ryan, R-y-a-n. My single name was Ryan, R-y-a-n.
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[Richard] And what year were you born? [Coralie] Ah, 1935. [Richard] And where abouts were your parents living at that time? [Coralie] In Murwillumbah. [Richard] And what year were you born? [Coralie] Ah, 1935. [Richard] And where abouts were your parents living at that time? [Coralie] In Murwillumbah.
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And did you grow up there? And did you grow up there?
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No, I came back here when I was five months old and, ah, then lived it at, ah, Coniston Fairy Meadow, Mount Pleasant. No, I came back here when I was five months old and, ah, then lived it at, ah, Coniston Fairy Meadow, Mount Pleasant.
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And grew up in, in Balgownie then. [Richard] And your, your family, what did they do? And grew up in, in Balgownie then. [Richard] And your, your family, what did they do?
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My father was a coal miner. My father was a coal miner.
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Ah, was retrenched, ah, with the depression. Ah, was retrenched, ah, with the depression.
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That is why we moved to, ah, Murwillumbah and, ah, then work picked up down here a little when I was five months old, so that was why he came back. And, um, then the mine started, Keira starting, started taking men back on in, ah, late '37 and my Dad got put back on in '38. [Richard] Had he worked at Mt Keira before? That is why we moved to, ah, Murwillumbah and, ah, then work picked up down here a little when I was five months old, so that was why he came back. And, um, then the mine started, Keira starting, started taking men back on in, ah, late '37 and my Dad got put back on in '38. [Richard] Had he worked at Mt Keira before?
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[Coralie] No, he worked at Mount Pleasant. [Richard] And, um, [Coralie] No, he worked at Mount Pleasant. [Richard] And, um,
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sorry, he worked at Mount Pleasant as well? [Coralie] Yes. sorry, he worked at Mount Pleasant as well? [Coralie] Yes.
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What do you first remember about the tramway? What do you first remember about the tramway?
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Ah, well, probably when I was, um, Ah, well, probably when I was, um,
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oh probably about 10 and my Dad had bought a car then. And I can still remember the, the tracks or there being something in that that's now a Park there. oh probably about 10 and my Dad had bought a car then. And I can still remember the, the tracks or there being something in that that's now a Park there.
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So when you were 10, so that's 1944. So when you were 10, so that's 1944.
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So the tracks had been pulled up at that time had they? [Coralie] Yes. They would have been gone, but there was still evidence So the tracks had been pulled up at that time had they? [Coralie] Yes. They would have been gone, but there was still evidence
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of it in the Park there. of it in the Park there.
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And what about, um, down the, in between Smith Street, ah, was there, ah, was the right of way still there? And what about, um, down the, in between Smith Street, ah, was there, ah, was the right of way still there?
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Well that I can't remember. Well that I can't remember.
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[Richard] The Park, what do you remember in Osborne, of Osborne Park when you were, ah, 10 in 1944? [Coralie] Well, it was just an open space. [Richard] The Park, what do you remember in Osborne, of Osborne Park when you were, ah, 10 in 1944? [Coralie] Well, it was just an open space.
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[Richard] Was there grass? [Coralie] Yes, grass. [Richard] Was there grass? [Coralie] Yes, grass.
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[Richard] And what about the, the Port itself, um, were there railway lines at all anywhere? [Coralie] Well, there was still a couple of railway lines, ah, near Belmore Basin itself, but, ah, not a lot that I remember. But I can just vaguely recall that there were still some lines there. [Richard] And was any, were there any trucks going along those lines, or was it cut off? [Richard] And what about the, the Port itself, um, were there railway lines at all anywhere? [Coralie] Well, there was still a couple of railway lines, ah, near Belmore Basin itself, but, ah, not a lot that I remember. But I can just vaguely recall that there were still some lines there. [Richard] And was any, were there any trucks going along those lines, or was it cut off?
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No, well see that I can't remember. No, well see that I can't remember.
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Being a child I suppose I didn't take as much notice, but I just remembered things, little things like that. [Richard] Do you remember the hotel down there? [Coralie] No, no. [Richard] Brighton hotel. [Coralie] Yes, no I don't, I think that was gone Being a child I suppose I didn't take as much notice, but I just remembered things, little things like that. [Richard] Do you remember the hotel down there? [Coralie] No, no. [Richard] Brighton hotel. [Coralie] Yes, no I don't, I think that was gone
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by that stage that would have been gone. by that stage that would have been gone.
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Do you remember the old bridge, Smith's Creek bridge? Do you remember the old bridge, Smith's Creek bridge?
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Um, Um,
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no, the only bridge I remember is the one that came, ah, from the Mount Pleasant mine that they called Skeleton Bridge. And that brought the, the, um, trucks down from Mount Pleasant mine and along through the cutting at, um, at North Beach, they brought them along through there. But that's the one I remember because sometimes we used to walk before my Dad had a car and we walked across that old bridge and around to North Beach. no, the only bridge I remember is the one that came, ah, from the Mount Pleasant mine that they called Skeleton Bridge. And that brought the, the, um, trucks down from Mount Pleasant mine and along through the cutting at, um, at North Beach, they brought them along through there. But that's the one I remember because sometimes we used to walk before my Dad had a car and we walked across that old bridge and around to North Beach.
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[Richard] And you used to go swimming there, did you? [Coralie] Yes. And to Fairy Creek, which was the most popular place for young children then. [Richard] And you used to go swimming there, did you? [Coralie] Yes. And to Fairy Creek, which was the most popular place for young children then.
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Did you follow the, um, the right of way up on the other side past Fairy Creek at, ah, what is now Wiseman's Park, where the bridge is, there was a Skeleton Bridge up there too. Did you follow the, um, the right of way up on the other side past Fairy Creek at, ah, what is now Wiseman's Park, where the bridge is, there was a Skeleton Bridge up there too.
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Oh no, no. Oh no, no.
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No, we mainly just kept down to that area there. No, we mainly just kept down to that area there.
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[Richard] And, ah, so you will get used to go swimming. Ah, did you go picnicking down there as well? [Coralie] Yes, um, at Fairy Creek, yes, we went picnicking. [Richard] But not anywhere near around the harbour? [Richard] And, ah, so you will get used to go swimming. Ah, did you go picnicking down there as well? [Coralie] Yes, um, at Fairy Creek, yes, we went picnicking. [Richard] But not anywhere near around the harbour?
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[Coralie] No, we would have just, once my father had a car, we drove around there a few times quite a few times. But then as I, um, I grew up when I got to be 13 or 14 and with the, the young friends and we'd just walk along there a lot of times and up around the, um, the harbour area. [Richard] Do you remember any fishing boats around there then? [Coralie] No, we would have just, once my father had a car, we drove around there a few times quite a few times. But then as I, um, I grew up when I got to be 13 or 14 and with the, the young friends and we'd just walk along there a lot of times and up around the, um, the harbour area. [Richard] Do you remember any fishing boats around there then?
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Oh yes, there would have been just a few. Oh yes, there would have been just a few.
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Yeah. Yeah.
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[Richard] Do you remember they were, who they were, the fishermen? [Coralie] Oh, no, no I don't remember that. [Richard] What sort of boats? [Richard] Do you remember they were, who they were, the fishermen? [Coralie] Oh, no, no I don't remember that. [Richard] What sort of boats?
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Um, Um,
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Well, trawlers. There was a couple of trawlers because once we had the car my mother used to like to go and buy the fish there. [Richard] Now, where did they sell the fish, did they have a fish market in those days? [Coralie] No, no, they sold the fish from the, ah, Well, trawlers. There was a couple of trawlers because once we had the car my mother used to like to go and buy the fish there. [Richard] Now, where did they sell the fish, did they have a fish market in those days? [Coralie] No, no, they sold the fish from the, ah,
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from the boat from the boat
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and that was how. They had no fish market there at all then. and that was how. They had no fish market there at all then.
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And did they manage to sell the whole of it, or did some of it get sent away? And did they manage to sell the whole of it, or did some of it get sent away?
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I think some of it was sent away as well as selling a lot, there'd be a lot of people there buying on a, often a Sunday afternoon, it was an afternoon out as well as, as buying. I think some of it was sent away as well as selling a lot, there'd be a lot of people there buying on a, often a Sunday afternoon, it was an afternoon out as well as, as buying.
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And what about, um, did the fishermen, do you remember fishermen selling in the town at all? And what about, um, did the fishermen, do you remember fishermen selling in the town at all?
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No, ah, but where I lived at Balgownie in those days they had a lot of people used to come around with a cart and they came around selling fish or different produce No, ah, but where I lived at Balgownie in those days they had a lot of people used to come around with a cart and they came around selling fish or different produce
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off the cart. [Richard] What other produce did they sell, did the butcher come round? [Coralie] Ah, the a local butcher, Mr Gipper?? and, ah, there'd be a fruit man, ice cream. off the cart. [Richard] What other produce did they sell, did the butcher come round? [Coralie] Ah, the a local butcher, Mr Gipper?? and, ah, there'd be a fruit man, ice cream.
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I remember that one well [laughs]. I remember that one well [laughs].
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Did any of them sell tomatoes and onions and things like that? Did any of them sell tomatoes and onions and things like that?
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Yes, the fruit man would have sold, mm, all of that. But of course also Yes, the fruit man would have sold, mm, all of that. But of course also
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a lot of people then grew their own. So my parents really didn't buy very much of that because my father had a very large garden, so, ah, a lot of people then grew their own. So my parents really didn't buy very much of that because my father had a very large garden, so, ah,
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he didn't, they didn't buy very much. he didn't, they didn't buy very much.
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And what about the tramway itself, did you follow, ever follow that down? And what about the tramway itself, did you follow, ever follow that down?
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No I didn't, no. No I didn't, no.
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So you didn't know what it was like. Well So you didn't know what it was like. Well
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would you, what about the top part that was still going when you remember, do you remember that? would you, what about the top part that was still going when you remember, do you remember that?
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No, um, I can, I can still, I don't remember the top part going, but I, I can remember it going across Flinders Street which is, No, um, I can, I can still, I don't remember the top part going, but I, I can remember it going across Flinders Street which is,
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you know, all of that are there. Well it went across Flinders Street and that, those rails weren't pulled up until I was in my teens across there. And, and of course that, a lot of the other parts had been. you know, all of that are there. Well it went across Flinders Street and that, those rails weren't pulled up until I was in my teens across there. And, and of course that, a lot of the other parts had been.
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Do you know where the coke ovens were? Do you know where the coke ovens were?
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Yes. Yes.
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You never see the, the, er, trucks coming down to there. You never see the, the, er, trucks coming down to there.
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[Coralie] Ah, well, no, I didn't, we didn't, um, I didn't have much to do. If we came into Wollongong it was, ah, from Balgownie then up Flinders Street in the main highway so we didn't get to see very much of that. But I heard a lot of from my father of course from the Keira incline and, ah, the, the coal that used to come down from there. [Richard] What did he tell you about that? [Coralie] Ah, well, no, I didn't, we didn't, um, I didn't have much to do. If we came into Wollongong it was, ah, from Balgownie then up Flinders Street in the main highway so we didn't get to see very much of that. But I heard a lot of from my father of course from the Keira incline and, ah, the, the coal that used to come down from there. [Richard] What did he tell you about that?
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Oh, Oh,
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well, that's hard to put into words really, because when, you, you're growing up you hear lots of stories and, ah, and things but, um, that was just their way of life as well. He didn't work on any of that 'cos he worked in the mine, um, but also the one at, ah, North Wollongong as well. We used to watch the trucks coming down there because that came, ah, from the mine as well. And of course that originally came from Pleasant that one, well, that's hard to put into words really, because when, you, you're growing up you hear lots of stories and, ah, and things but, um, that was just their way of life as well. He didn't work on any of that 'cos he worked in the mine, um, but also the one at, ah, North Wollongong as well. We used to watch the trucks coming down there because that came, ah, from the mine as well. And of course that originally came from Pleasant that one,
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the coke works there as well. the coke works there as well.
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[Richard] Did your father ever mention how many trucks were were, ah, were attached in one position on the, on the cable? [Coralie] Oh, no, I can't remember that. But I know that they, there would have been quite a few at one time being brought down. [Richard] Did your father ever mention how many trucks were were, ah, were attached in one position on the, on the cable? [Coralie] Oh, no, I can't remember that. But I know that they, there would have been quite a few at one time being brought down.
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Did he ever talk of a winding engine? Did he ever talk of a winding engine?
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[Coralie] No, I don't recall if he ever talked of a winding engine. [Richard] Or brake failure, brakes? [Coralie] Oh, he possibly did, but see I can't remember those, those things. [Coralie] No, I don't recall if he ever talked of a winding engine. [Richard] Or brake failure, brakes? [Coralie] Oh, he possibly did, but see I can't remember those, those things.
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I'm gonna leave that end and see if I can mine more of your memory of the, of the Park itself down, ah, down by the, the port. I'm gonna leave that end and see if I can mine more of your memory of the, of the Park itself down, ah, down by the, the port.
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When you first remember, there was a few lines there still and, um, do you remember Skeleton Bridge further down, but When you first remember, there was a few lines there still and, um, do you remember Skeleton Bridge further down, but
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can you remember nothing of the, ah, of the other little bridge, ah, which had been previously for the Mt Keira mine? [Coralie] No, I don't remember that one. can you remember nothing of the, ah, of the other little bridge, ah, which had been previously for the Mt Keira mine? [Coralie] No, I don't remember that one.
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And what about at, round the other side where the coal stakes?? had been where they still there, where the loading facilities to..? And what about at, round the other side where the coal stakes?? had been where they still there, where the loading facilities to..?
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[Coralie] They, I don't remember them being there, no. [Richard] And where were the, um, [Coralie] They, I don't remember them being there, no. [Richard] And where were the, um,
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you know where the fish markets are now, you know where the fish markets are now,
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was that where the, ah, the fishermen used to, used to tie up their boats and sell fish? [Coralie] Yes, but mainly around the other side. The market's on this side now and that was around ?? was that where the, ah, the fishermen used to, used to tie up their boats and sell fish? [Coralie] Yes, but mainly around the other side. The market's on this side now and that was around ??
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And, ah, the old crane was still there? And, ah, the old crane was still there?
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No, not that I remember. No, not that I remember.
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'Cos there's only a post left on the end. 'Cos there's only a post left on the end.
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Yeah, it's just a post the crane was on, the crane's not there. [Coralie] No, I don't remember the crane being there. It could have been, but I don't remember. [Richard] Do you remember any, any ships coming in, ah, boats coming in there to load up or unload anything? [Coralie] Oh, no, not, no, in my memory there was only the fishing, only the fishing boats. No, anything really coming in that I remember had long finished with, ah, bringing things in. [Richard] When you went to the beach further along Yeah, it's just a post the crane was on, the crane's not there. [Coralie] No, I don't remember the crane being there. It could have been, but I don't remember. [Richard] Do you remember any, any ships coming in, ah, boats coming in there to load up or unload anything? [Coralie] Oh, no, not, no, in my memory there was only the fishing, only the fishing boats. No, anything really coming in that I remember had long finished with, ah, bringing things in. [Richard] When you went to the beach further along
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where did you get your hot water for making tea or anything like that? where did you get your hot water for making tea or anything like that?
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[Coralie] Well, there was always a kiosk so it would have been from the kiosk. [Richard] Is that Fairy Creek? [Coralie] Yes, Fairy Creek. There was a, they had quite a large kiosk there actually. [Richard] Yeah. Was there a kiosk at all at the harbour? [Coralie] Well, there was always a kiosk so it would have been from the kiosk. [Richard] Is that Fairy Creek? [Coralie] Yes, Fairy Creek. There was a, they had quite a large kiosk there actually. [Richard] Yeah. Was there a kiosk at all at the harbour?
9:46

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[Coralie] No, no, there was nothing like that. [Richard] Where is, where is Fairy Creek on this? [Coralie] No, no, there was nothing like that. [Richard] Where is, where is Fairy Creek on this?
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No, it's not on, oh, yes it is, it's around here, isn't it? [Coralie] ??  [Richard] Yeah. No, it's not on, oh, yes it is, it's around here, isn't it? [Coralie] ??  [Richard] Yeah.
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And the coke works was across the other side there, the Figtree coke works. And the coke works was across the other side there, the Figtree coke works.
10:03

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If you look up here, you see that Creek goes further up here and there was a, a bridge the abutments of which are still there on Fairy Creek up here at the Wiseman Park. [Coralie] Oh, yeah. [Richard] But you never saw that? [Coralie] No, no, no I didn't, no. I have a couple of photos there of, ah, like the old photos, but you've probably got all those sort of things as well. [Richard] I'd like to have a look just to see that we have. I just, not immediately. However, I think I've run out of puff as far as... If you look up here, you see that Creek goes further up here and there was a, a bridge the abutments of which are still there on Fairy Creek up here at the Wiseman Park. [Coralie] Oh, yeah. [Richard] But you never saw that? [Coralie] No, no, no I didn't, no. I have a couple of photos there of, ah, like the old photos, but you've probably got all those sort of things as well. [Richard] I'd like to have a look just to see that we have. I just, not immediately. However, I think I've run out of puff as far as...
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[Coralie] Sorry I didn't have more to tell you. I thought about it afterwards, but of course I rang as well because of my father and grandfather working in the mine and.. [Richard] But you have helped a bit because we have some of the lot of the other people, for instance, the last gentleman that I, I've just been interviewing, he, um, he only knew the mine you see and some of them only know this bit and you only know the bottom bit. [Coralie] The bottom bit. [Richard] Which is after it was pulled up, so there is a bit of information there. [Coralie] Sorry I didn't have more to tell you. I thought about it afterwards, but of course I rang as well because of my father and grandfather working in the mine and.. [Richard] But you have helped a bit because we have some of the lot of the other people, for instance, the last gentleman that I, I've just been interviewing, he, um, he only knew the mine you see and some of them only know this bit and you only know the bottom bit. [Coralie] The bottom bit. [Richard] Which is after it was pulled up, so there is a bit of information there.
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[Coralie] So the little bits together with each... [Richard] That's right. [Coralie] So the little bits together with each... [Richard] That's right.
11:02

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Well, thank you very much Mrs. Coralie Cunningham. [Coralie] Thank you. Well, thank you very much Mrs. Coralie Cunningham. [Coralie] Thank you.