Interview by Pamela Walters in 1988 with Sidney Ayerst about the port of Newcastle.  The responsibility for the Harbour was vested in The Department of Public Works and later the Maritime Services Board of New South Wales. Sidney's occupation with the Department was that of a diver,  a very important role for the maintenance and continuous functioning of many State enterprises. Sidney started there in 1939 and was there during WWII, it was a continuous task keeping the harbour dredged, as a diver he used to have to drill holes to place charges to blow up the rock, and was involved in laying cables and pipeline at the bottom of the harbour to carry electricity and pipes. When asked whether he was ever worried about sharks he stated "We never ever worried about them. The diver doesn't worry about them but where the diver doesn't, the scuba diver would want to because when you are down there in one of those black skin suits, you look like a seal and a seal is a shark's favourite tucker!"

The Margaret Henry Oral History Archive is a collection of audio tapes, transcripts, summaries and essays that were part of the Oral Histories Open Foundation Course (1986-1989). Margaret Henry was a history lecturer at the UON in the 1980s.

The oral history tapes have been digitised by Cultural Collections, UON Library and made freely available to the wider global research community thanks to the generosity of The Vera Deacon Regional History Fund.

The wider collection of Margaret Henry Oral History Archive – over 220 in total and with many stories of Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and its surrounds and records voices describing the Regions cultural, intellectual and social life. It is an incredible legacy to Margaret Henry.

The original audio tapes and written sources are held in Cultural Collections at the Auchmuty Library, University of Newcastle (Australia).

You are welcome to use the sources for study and personal research purposes. Please acknowledge as Courtesy of the “Margaret Henry Oral History Archive, University of Newcastle (Australia)" For commercial requests you must obtain permission by contacting Cultural Collections.

If you are the subject of the stories, or know the subject of the stories, and have cultural or other reservations about the stories available on this website and would like to discuss this with us please contact Cultural Collections at archives@newcastle.edu.au 

If you have any further information on the audio files, please leave a comment.

These sources are provided free of charge to the global community thanks to the generosity of the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund. Information about the Vera Deacon History Fund is here https://uoncc.wordpress.com/vera-deacon-fund/  And you can directly donate here: https://dotnet.newcastle.edu.au/donations/


Port of Newcastle - Sidney Alexander Ayerst - 30 May 1988

George Ryder was born at Tinga in 1906. He moved to Cessnock in 1925 at the age of nineteen and began driving motor buses for Ditton & Hill, who were early operators in the area. By 1929, and only four years later, he was running his own bus company, Rover Motors, which he had purchased from Les Hill. He had also acquired other small runs in the area which were then absorbed by Rover Motors. In his spare time Mr Ryder excelled at many sports, namely tennis and golf. He was also President of the Cessnock Rugby League Club when they won their first premiership in 1942. George Ryder was also involved in horse racing and has been a member of the Sydney Turf Club board for 37 years, the last three as chairman. He also was owner of the Woodlands and Kiora estate stud farms.

For a summary of this recording, please see https://downloads.newcastle.edu.au/library/cultural%20collections/voth/pdf/245a_GeorgeRyder_sum.pdf
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Please email archives@newcastle.edu.au if you are a subject of the interview, or know a subject of the interview, and have cultural or other reservations about the interview and summary being made available on this website and would like to discuss this with us.


George Ryder (1906-1989)- Rover Motors Owner - Recorded 21st August, 1983 - 1/2

Time period covered:  1915-1940
John Reginald 'Jack' Wood was born at Cessnock in 1908 the son of William Woods who worked at Aberdare Extended Colliery. Jack Wood began working at Aberdare Extended in 1922 where he recalls the many pit horses which worked at the colliery.

For a summary of this recording, go to: https://downloads.newcastle.edu.au/library/cultural%20collections/voth/pdf/246B_JackWoods_sum.pdf
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Please email archives@newcastle.edu.au if you are a subject of the interview, or know a subject of the interview, and have cultural or other reservations about the interview and summary being made available on this website and would like to discuss this with us.

Jack Wood (1908-1984) - Mine Worker - Recorded 7 February 1978 - Part 1/1

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following audio recording may contain audio of deceased persons and have content that some may find upsetting. 

This is a short version of an interview by Shay Kelly in 1989 with her mother Annie Whilamena Kelly (nee Wright)about her life. A longer version of the interview is available here  https://soundcloud.com/uoncc/life-story-of-aboriginal-woman-annie-whilamena-kelly-3-sept-1989?in=uoncc/sets/margaret-henry-oral-history

Annie was born in 1909 at Callaghan Swamps near Inglebar and was brought up by her grandmother Sarah Wright, who was born in 1838 and lived to 104. She married Richard Kelly and they moved out of their tribal area between the New England tablelands and Kempsey to Newcastle. She made great sacrifice to move away from her people, although this was an enormous adjustment she did so with hope that her future generations would do well. This is a very moving interview where Annie speaks about her Aboriginal family, her hardship, but also her achievements and delights in the success of her children.

The Margaret Henry Oral History Archive is a collection of audio tapes, transcripts, summaries and essays that were part of the Oral Histories Open Foundation Course (1986-1989). Margaret Henry was a history lecturer at the UON in the 1980s.

The oral history tapes have been digitised by Cultural Collections, UON Library and made freely available to the wider global research community thanks to the generosity of The Vera Deacon Regional History Fund.

The wider collection of Margaret Henry Oral History Archive – over 220 in total and with many stories of Newcastle, the Hunter Valley and its surrounds and records voices describing the Regions cultural, intellectual and social life. It is an incredible legacy to Margaret Henry.

The original audio tapes and written sources are held in Cultural Collections at the Auchmuty Library, University of Newcastle (Australia).

You are welcome to use the sources for study and personal research purposes. Please acknowledge as Courtesy of the “Margaret Henry Oral History Archive, University of Newcastle (Australia)" For commercial requests you must obtain permission by contacting Cultural Collections.

If you are the subject of the stories, or know the subject of the stories, and have cultural or other reservations about the stories available on this website and would like to discuss this with us please contact Cultural Collections at archives@newcastle.edu.au

If you have any further information on the audio files, please leave a comment.

These sources are provided free of charge to the global community thanks to the generosity of the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund. Information about the Vera Deacon History Fund is here uoncc.wordpress.com/vera-deacon-fund/ And you can directly donate here: dotnet.newcastle.edu.au/donations/

Life story of Aboriginal woman Annie Whilamena Kelly - 1989 (short version)

For extra content go to: http://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au 
Special Collections in the Auchmuty Library is the home of the historical and cultural memory of the University of Newcastle (Australia) and its regional context. Formerly known as the University Archives, Rare Books & Special Collections Unit.

Port of Newcastle - Sidney Alexander Ayerst - 30 May 1988

UONCC

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