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Jessie Hansen interviewed by Rob Willis for the Rob Willis folklore collection [sound recording]
Bib ID 1620875
Format AudioAudio
Author
Hansen, Jessie, 1904-
 
Access Conditions Access open for research, personal copies and public use. 
Description 1999. 
1 digital audio tape (ca. 65 min.) 
Series

Rob Willis folklore collection

Summary

Folkloric recording.

Hansen speaks of her early years in Scotland as part of a large close family with 2 brothers and 4 sisters in the early 1900s; first job in Glasgow, Scotland as a machinist (dressmaker); arriving in Australia in 1926 with her sister and brother-in-law on the TSS Bendigo; her first impressions of Wonthaggi where she worked for the first 12 months at theMine's General Manager's home on a wage of 2 pound per week; no secondary industries in Wonthaggi in the 1920s ; having started her own business as a dressmaker; being married in 1928 to a New Zealand miner who was a strong unionist; becoming a member of the Women's Auxiliary, who supported the miners and the community- women were more militant than some of the men.

Hansen speaks of her work as the Secretary of the Women's Auxiliary and the Pensioner's Committee; the town being a "good labour town" even though it was felt that the Labour government was against the miners; travelling in Victoria to speak about the strikes and the conditions that the miners had to endure; a strong Women's Auxiliary in Wonthaggi which had been formed in 1934 by Mrs Agnes Chambers- people wanted to hear the women not men talk about conditions; boycotting the shops in 1928 and the reasons for doing this; work done by the Auxiliary, making food and clothing parcels for the needy, methods of raising money; recreational activities included dances, picture theatre, community singing and being in the Minstrel Singers; distinction between the Workers and the Gentlemen's Clubs.

Numbering Note Timed summary. (2 p.) 
Notes

Recorded by Olya Willis.

Recorded on April 28, 1999 at Wonthaggi, Vic.

Subjects Hansen, Jessie, - 1904- - Interviews.  |  Coal miners - Labor unions - Victoria - Wonthaggi - History - 20th century.  |  Women - Employment - Victoria - Wonthaggi - History - 20th century.  |  Women - Victoria - Wonthaggi - Social life and customs - 20th century.  |  Coal miners - Family relationships - Victoria - Wonthaggi.  |  Coal miners - Economic conditions - Victoria - Wonthaggi - 20th century.  |  Strikes and lockouts - Coal mining - Victoria - Wonthaggi.
Occupation Dressmakers
Other authors/contributors Willis, Rob, 1944-  |  Willis, Olya

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    Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.