Victoria Park Voices

Victoria Park Voices is the name of our Oral History Collection. It comprises interviews with people who are living or have lived/worked within the Town of Victoria Park. The interviews cover many topics including family life, growing up, school days, local businesses, local organisations such as churches, the war years, transport, occupations, romance, and much more. To discover a little piece of our history in the voices of those who have lived it, check out Victoria Park Voices- The Oral History Collection of the Town of Victoria Park Library.

There are over 140 interviews in the collection, with new interviews being added each year.

All interviews are accessible in the Library. There is also a program underway to make the audio and transcripts available via our library catalogue and also to make a physical copy of each interview available for loan.

BICKERTON, Bill

Interviewed by Heather Campbell on Friday, 3 January 2020.

Copyright:

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION from the Copyright holder is required.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: Transcript of an Interview with Bill Bickerton 

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: Click Here

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/BIC 

FARLEY, Cyril

Interviewed by Elaine Morrow on Saturday, 9 July 1994 and by Jan McCahon on Thursday, 14 June 2001.

Copyright:

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION from the Copyright holder is required.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: COMING SOON

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: 1994 Interview ;   2001 Interview - Part 1 and Part 2 (Final)

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/FAR (COMING SOON)


FARLEY, Lois

Interviewed by Elaine Morrow on Saturday, 9 July 1994.

Copyright:

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION from the Copyright holder is required.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: COMING SOON

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: COMING SOON

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/FAR (COMING SOON)

HAYES, Keith

Interviewed by Heather Campbell on Thursday, 24 May 2018.

Copyright

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION required from the Copyright holder.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: Transcript of an Interview with Keith Hayes 

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3 (Final).

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/HAY

McGHEE, Rod


Interviewed by Heather Campbell on Thursday, 15 February 2018.

Copyright

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION required from Copyright holder.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: Transcript of an Interview with Rod McGhee 

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: Session 1 ; Session 2Session 3 

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/MCG 

SCHLIPALIUS, Gwynth

Interviewed by Anne Yardley on Thursday, 10 February 2022.

Copyright:

Access for Research: EMBARGOED for 10 years, OPEN from 2032. 

Access for Publication: EMBARGOED for 10 years, OPEN from 2032. WRITTEN PERMISSION from the Copyright holder is required.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: EMBARGOED until 2032

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: EMBARGOED until 2032

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/SCH (EMBARGOED UNTIL 2032)


SCHOUBROECK, Lesley van

Interviewed by Anne Yardley on Monday, 28 February 2022

Copyright:

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION from the Copyright holder is required.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: Interview with Lesley van Schoubroeck

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: COMING SOON

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/SCH (COMING SOON)

SOMERSET POOL, A Day in the Life of

The Somerset Street Pool Project “A day in the Life of Somerset Street Pool” began when a local photographer Jeff Atkinson approached the Town as he was interested in producing a photographic documentary of Somerset Street Swimming Pool.  He believed it to be a place filled with interesting people, culture, identities and diversity.  It was felt that the Library and Pool Staff could work together on the project.

The project was to be representative of a day in the life of the Pool.  Photographs were taken at various times of the day/night/week over the summer months of the 1999/2000 season to capture people at play, leisure and training.  Jeff was given a list of special activities/programmes and times when specific groups like the swimming club were at the Pool.  The end result is that the concept of a “day in the life of the pool” has been achieved with a large number and variety of photographs taken.

To complete this project, interviews were conducted with several customers of Somerset Street Pool who use the centre on a regular basis and have done so for a number of years.  It was felt that the people chosen would be able to provide some anecdotal and  interesting information on the history, culture and identities of Somerset Street Swimming Pool from the point of view of a customer.  Some long serving and past staff were also interviewed as part of the process to provide further insights, and to particularly highlight some of the changes they had witnessed over the years at Somerset. 

Those interviewed as part of the project, in the order they appear in the collated transcripts for the project are:

  • Reg DAWSON
  • Rod HOUNSLOW
  • Dianne TWEEDIE
  • Bob GOVAN
  • Terry DIBB
  • Keith ELLIS
  • May TROMP
  • Graeme SMITH
  • Cecilia ASHCROFT

Read the compiled project transcript here: 'A Day in the Life of Somerset Pool'

WALKEMEYER, Leon

Interviewed by Heather Campbell on Wednesday, 3 June 2020.

Copyright:

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION required from Copyright holder.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: Transcript of an Interview with Leon Walkemeyer 

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue: Part 1 and Part 2 (Final).

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/WAL

WALTERS, Diamond "Di"

Interviewed by Jan McCahon on Monday, 24 July 2000.

Copyright:

Access for Research: OPEN

Access for Publication: WRITTEN PERMISSION required from the Copyright holder.

Download and read the transcript of this oral history interview: Transcript of an Interview with Diamond Walters.

Stream the audio online via the Catalogue.

Borrow a physical copy to read and listen to: Victoria Park Voices Collection: OH Q B/WAL [COMING SOON]