Seaman Dan interviewed by Karl Neuenfeldt [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3582612
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Seaman Dan, 1929-2020, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2005
- 1 digital audio tape (ca. 65 min.)
- Summary:
-
Henry Gibson Dan aka 'Seaman Dan', born 1929 on Thursday Island (TI) talks about his family background; his early memories on house parties on TI; 'surprise' parties; the musicians taking button accordions, guitars and ukuleles; the singing and dancing; hearing songs such as 'Old TI' and 'Are you from TI' at parties; the European dances eg. waltzes, foxtrot and quicksteps; the parties being held in the front room and out onto the verandah; women in the kitchen and the men outside; the women not drinking alcohol; learning how to dance with aunties; special occasions eg. 21st birthdays, Christmas being family only events; leaving the Island for Coen on Cape York in 1938 due to the build up prior to WWII; Race Laws and consumption of alcohol; making their own entertainment; Harry Hodges; his mother 'Granny' Dan playing the accordion.
Dan speaks about going to Cairns (1943) during WWII; the house parties being held in the Bunda Street area; Malay town; the planning for the parties; Black American soldiers being welcome and how they would sing blues and jazz; learning the country and western guitar in Coen; Val McGuiness; trying to improve his style of playing the guitar; watching the Americans in Cairns to see how they played; how the parties stopped after the end of the war; leaving Cairns in 1947 to return to the islands; working on the pearling and trochus luggers; Kapmauri (underground cooking); the importance of house parties in keeping people and families together, not so today; 'Vic's Verandah' event on TI (200?) to reunite the older people and remember songs and music of the house party era; house parties being an opportunity for boys and girls to meet; going to sea at 16 years of age.
- Notes:
-
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this recording may contain names and voices of deceased persons.
- Recorded on September 13, 2005 at Thursday Island, Qld.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (3 p.)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Musicians
- Other authors/contributors:
- Neuenfeldt, Karl William, 1947-, interviewer
- Also Titled:
- Henry Dan interviewed by Karl Neuenfeldt
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2075 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2005
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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