Story Project
The Story Project stories were recorded in Bundaberg between 5 - 13 November 2011. Two or three people shared a conversation about their lives, memories, childhood, local history, events, etc. A short overview and an audio recording of each of the conversations is presented below:
1. The importance of clay and pottery in our lives
Carmen and Jess share memories of their pottery work and highlight how important clay and pottery have been in their lives.
By Carmen Maybanks & Jess Noble - recorded: 5 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
2. Growing up in a large family
Lorna Bates talks to her granddaughter, Shelley Pisani, about growing up in Bundaberg, Bargara, Burnett Heads and Walla Lagoon.
By Lorna Bates & Shelley Pisani - recorded: 5 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
3. An interview with Nathan about his volunteering work
Nina Higgins interviews 19 year old Nathan Williams – recently named Young Queensland Volunteer of the Year - about his extensive volunteering work.
By Nina Higgins & Nathan Williams - recorded: 7 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
4. Grandfather's life
The Davie sisters, Georgia and Kahlia, talk with their grandfather, Malakai, about his early life.
By Malakai Koloi, Kahlia Davie & Georgia Davie - recorded: 7 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
5. Stories from Jess’ life, shared with her friend, Jenny
Jenny McDuff interviews her friend, Jess Noble, about her life.
By Jennifer McDuff & Jess Noble - recorded: 8 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
6. Lot 76
Lot 76 refers to a small block of land situated on what is today known as Paddy’s Island. This is on the Burnett River, six kilometers upstream from the mouth of the Burnett River and east of Bundaberg city. It is also the land that Merv Hopton’s family owned from the 1870s.
By Nina Higgins & Merv Hopton - recorded: 8 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
7. Moya's early life, with a focus on tennis
Judy Rayner asks her mother Moya Cupitt to talk about her life, especially her early life in the small town of Burncluith outside Chinchilla in South West Queensland.
By Moya Cupitt & Judy Rayner - recorded: 8 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
8. Old days in Bundaberg, Queensland
Austen shares memories of Bundaberg in the 1930s.
By Austen Whitaker - recorded: 9 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
9. School changes over 4 generations of women in the Bundaberg region
This conversation spans four generations of females, from old to young, and focuses on their memories and experiences of school life in the Bundaberg area.
By Sylvia Kenzler, Carolyn Palmer, Deana Buckholz & Kirsten Buckholz - recorded: 10 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
10. Family history, including the story of Aunt Hilda, who had leprosy and was sent to Peel Island
Byron shares with his daughter, Kiley, the story of how he first became interested in family history.
By Byron Pershouse & Kiley Pershouse - recorded: 9 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
11. Assisted migration to Australia
John Wientjens speaks with Hamish Sewell (The Story Project) about his passage to Australia from Holland and what it was like for him and his wife and child to settle in Australia in 1959 as Dutch migrants.
By John Wientjens - recorded: 10 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
12. Stories of Mike’s two grandfathers, George John McLeod and Fredrick William Lean
Mike Lean shares with his wife, Jude Pippen, memories of his two grandfathers, both of whom lived in Newcastle, NSW.
By Michael (Mike) Lean & Judith (Jude) Pippen - recorded: 10 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
13. Finding the roots of Jane’s people
Geoffrey and Jane Smith talk together about what it was like to return to Vanuatu to trace Jane’s matrilineal, South-Sea-Islander roots.
By Armanell (Jane) Smith & Geoffrey Smith - recorded: 10 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
14. Reminiscences of Bundaberg and Bargara from our youth
Friends Fay and Betty – both in their 80s – get together regularly and reminisce about old times in Bundaberg.
By Margaret (Fay) Gayton & Betty McLean - recorded: 10 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
15. Lola
Important note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this file may contain images, voices or names of people who have since passed away.
By Brad Young & Lola - recorded: 10 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
16. Austen and the arts in Bundaberg
Austen talks of his involvement working with the arts in Bundaberg, Qld, since the late-1990s.
By Austen Whitaker - recorded: 11 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
17. The 2nd world War Years
English migrants, Valerie and Terry Brown, talk about their memories of the war years.
By Valerie Brown & Terrence (Terry) Brown - recorded: 11 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
18. Finding my birth family at the age of 60
Lester Lewis talks to Helen Wilkinson about what it meant for him to find his birth family.
By Lester Lewis - recorded: 11 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
19. Cynthia’s life and her family background
Cynthia talks with Helen Wilkinson (from The Story Project) about her life thus far.
By Cynthia Hoogstraten - recorded: 12 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
20. Malakai’s childhood and early years in Tonga
This is the second of two talks with The Story Project where Malakai Koloi talks with his granddaughters about what it was like growing up in Tonga in the 30s and 40s.
By Georgia Davie & Malakai Koloi - recorded: 13 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld
21. Childhood memories
This is the second conversation between husband and wife, Valerie and Terry Brown with The Story Project.
By Valerie Brown & Terrence (Terry) Brown - recorded: 13 November 2011, Bundaberg, Qld