Oral Histories

What is an oral history?

One way of finding out about the past is to ask someone who knows about it. Oral history is a way of preserving the past by recording the unique life experiences of ordinary people. Oral histories capture both the memories and the voices of people as they tell their stories, and allow us to share in very personal accounts of events, places and periods from our history.

Oral Histories of the City of Ryde

These interviews were recorded in the late 1990s with long-term residents of the Ryde area. 

The aim was to establish a collection of oral history recordings that reflect the history of the district, as seen through the eyes of a wide range of long-standing local residents. The focus of the interviews is therefore people-centred rather than topic-centred. Interviews are specific in that they deal with life in the Ryde district between 1920 and 1960. 

Each interview contains a fully searchable transcript with audio extracts and images. Paper-based versions of transcripts as well as original recordings and photos are available by contacting the Local Studies Librarian on 9952 8222.

25 Result(s) Found

Jean Goddard

Interview with Jean Goddard

Jean Goddard shares her memories of growing up in Ryde. She talks about her life as a young woman and the various social activities that she and her friends enjoyed.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 24 July 1997

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Growing up in Ryde
  2. Scarlet fever in the family
  3. Life in Bowden Street, Ryde
  4. School days and family weddings
  5. Early working days
  6. Going out with friends
  7. Dancing before the Second World War
  8. Socialising with American Servicemen
  9. Sport and bushwalking
  10. Trip to Manly and political views

Transcript(PDF, 153KB)  - 36 pages

Arthur Mashford

Interview with Arthur Mashford

Arthur Mashford, son of Gladesville's first mailman, describes his childhood and young adult years from World War I to World War II. He discusses various events such as the celebrations at the end of World War I, the 1919 flu epidemic and the impact of the depression on the district. He recalls his education and discusses his working life, particularly Weils Hardware, and concludes with post World War II problems in the retail trade.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 21 October 1997

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Childhood memories in Gladesville
  2. Billy Hughes and World War I
  3. 1919 Flu Epidemic
  4. Growing up in Glades Bay
  5. School days
  6. Veterans' homes
  7. Second World War memories
  8. High school education
  9. The Depression and early working days
  10. Working at Clem Weil’s shop
  11. Transportation
  12. Local food sharing during the Depression
  13. Entertainment during the Depression
  14. The beginning of World War II
  15. 40 Thieves Gang
  16. Teaching standards

Transcript(PDF, 246KB) - 62 pages

Dorothy Packer

Interview with Dorothy Packer

Dorothy Packer moved to Ryde at the age of 2, and has lived in the Ryde area ever since. She describes her childhood in Ryde in the 1920s and her teenage years in West Ryde in the 1930s. Details of home, school and leisure activities and the impact of the Depression on her family are detailed. The impact of World War II and her career in the armed services, working in a hotel in Sydney for men on leave is described. Her family's strong Labor sympathies, the dynamics of a large family, discussion of various social attitudes including childbirth, sex and death and the role of Methodism in life provides interesting insights into life at that time. The interview also includes lists of names of shop owners in Ryde, and teachers at the Ryde Public school.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 12 September 1997 
Transcription: Gabrielle Godard

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Life during the Great Depression
  2. The Larrikins
  3. Food relief
  4. The opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
  5. Shops at Ryde
  6. Childhood activities
  7. School days
  8. May poles
  9. Childhood
  10. Family life
  11. Socialising and working
  12. School subjects
  13. Life in the Army
  14. Married life and politics

Transcript(PDF, 188KB) - 47 pages

Ron Freeman

Interview with Ron Freeman

Ron Freeman provides details of growing up in North Ryde during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He includes information on his family's orchard, family life and the development of tennis courts in the area.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 5 May 1997

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. How my parents met
  2. North Ryde after World War Two
  3. The railway and transport in Ryde
  4. School days and early working life
  5. School days and playing tennis
  6. Tennis at Ronleigh
  7. Competition tennis
  8. Revellers Club
  9. Sport in North Ryde in the 1930s
  10. My grandparents' orchard
  11. Family life growing up
  12. Family life growing up (continued)

Transcript(PDF, 162KB) - 32 pages

Peggy Atkins

Interview with Peggy Atkins

Peggy Atkins provides details of growing up in Eastwood during the 1920s and 1930s. She includes information on Eastwood Public School, sport and social activities. Peggy also explains how her grandfather's business in Marrickville (where she and her father worked) went into voluntary liquidation during World War II and provides brief comments on her marriage and motherhood during the post-war years.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 19 June 1997 
Transcription: Gabrielle Godard, July 2000

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Getting into trouble at school
  2. The house in Vimiera Road
  3. Making my own clothes on a treadle machine
  4. Life during World War 2
  5. Flirting with an American serviceman
  6. Eastwood in the early days(External link)
  7. Getting the Sewerage on(External link)
  8. Jack Daveys quiz shows(External link)

Transcript(PDF, 152KB) -  34 pages

Roland Trevitt

Interview with Roland Trevitt

Roland Trevitt's family grew up in Palmyra, a home of local significance in Ryde. He tells of his life as a young adult and married man in the rapidly changing Ryde community.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 30 April 1997

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Family chores at home in Ryde
  2. Family life at Palmyra
  3. School days and early jobs
  4. The family cars
  5. Working as a signwriter
  6. Anniversary of St Anne's church in 1926
  7. Moving out of home and married life
  8. Mr Trevitt's aunts

Transcript(PDF, 143KB) - 28 pages

Owen Bennett

Interview with Owen Bennett

Owen Bennett recalls his childhood and growing up during the Depression. He describes the dairies and market gardens in the West Ryde area.

Interviewer: Lesley Goldberg 
Date of the interview: 3 November 1998 
Transcription: Gabrielle Godard, February 1999

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Parent's house in Adelaide Street
  2. Childhood fun and games
  3. Dairies in early West Ryde area
  4. Chinese market gardens
  5. Across the Parramatta River to Homebush
  6. Childhood antics
  7. Family life during the Depression
  8. Family camping holidays
  9. Accidents and mishaps
  10. Employment in West Ryde and Meadowbank
  11. Working as an apprentice Audio
  12. Employment during the Depression

Transcript(PDF, 154KB) - 35 pages

Jim Hull

Interview with Jim Hull

Jim Hull describes growing up in the rural area of North Ryde during the 1930s and 1940s. Orchards that were widespread at the time until land was resumed after World War II for housing.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 27 May 1999 
Transcription: Gabrielle Godard, February 2000

Audio extracts (.wav format):

Transcript(PDF, 166KB) - 35 pages

Rita Mitchell

Interview with Rita Mitchell

Rita Mitchell, Lady Mayoress of Ryde 1951-53 and 1957, recounts stories of her life and times. She was active with volunteer work and, with her husband, became involved with local politics.

Interviewer: Pauline Curby 
Date of the interview: 15 May 1997 
Transcription: Gabrielle Godard

Audio extracts (.wav format):

  1. Sydney Girls High School
  2. Surfing at Coogee
  3. Early married life
  4. Child rearing
  5. The Great Depression
  6. Harry Mitchell and Ryde Council
  7. Ryde Housing Scheme
  8. Liberal Party politics
  9. Harry Mitchell becomes Mayor of Ryde
  10. Mrs Mitchell's voluntary work

Transcript(PDF, 163KB) - 38 pages

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