Laurie Humphreys interviewed by Bill Bunbury in the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 4936139
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Humphreys, Laurie, 1933-2012, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2010
- 1 sound file (ca. 89 min.)
- Series:
- Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
- Summary:
-
Laurie Humphreys, born Uxbridge, England, discusses his family life and background; aged 4 placed in orphanage by older sister after death of mother in childbirth; the orphanage; WWII evacuated to Lord Arundel's property; one visit from one sister, forgetting his family; life as a orphan; Catholicism; learning his parents were dead; Australia; leaving Portsmouth; voyage; nuns; arrival Fremantle then Bindoon; homesickness; Brother McGee; Brother Keaney; farm work; 10 year old brother Terry arrives from England; learns father is still alive; bonding with Terry; lack of love, affection, impersonal regime, punishment, cruelty of the Brothers; leaving Bindoon and Terry, Aug. 1950;
Toodyay; Mr Keating; food; National Service; RAAF, military service Korean War; marriage, daughter; State of Western Australia Child Welfare Department; birth certificate application; marriage breakdown; farming; Merriden; second marriage raised 10 children, influence of his upbringing on parenting; aged 70, children told of his life; decision to trace family in England; first wife communicating with family in England; receives letter from brother Bill; reunites with siblings Billy, Danny, Mary, Norah; reflections on meeting siblings, it's affect; learning of his father's second family; passion for Trade unionism, activism; traces mother's family; importance of records; compares himself to Terry over family connection; his submissions to British and Australian government inquiries; role of Forgotten Australians in Western Australia; reunions; lack of childhood, his feelings; closeness to family; memories of institutional life, religious ritual; impact of seeing his name in the register on visiting the orphanage as an adult; reflections on child migration, Catholic Church and his life in Australia.
- Notes:
- Recorded on 28 July 2010 in Samson, W.A.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (5 p.) and corrected transcript available (typescript, 49 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Humphreys, Laurie, 1933-2012 -- interviews
- Bindoon Boys' Town (W.A.)
- Immigrant children, British -- Institutional care -- Western Australia
- Children -- Institutional care -- Western Australia -- Bindoon
- Orphanages -- Western Australia -- Bindoon -- History
- Political activists -- Australia -- Interviews
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project.
This collection contains 208 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
You may copy under some circumstances, for example you may copy a portion for research or study. Order a copy through Copies Direct to the extent allowed under fair dealing. Contact us for further information about copying.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2080 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2010
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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