Mavis Appleyard interviewed by Virginia Macleod in the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 4980278
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Appleyard, Mavis, 1927-, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2010
- 2 sound files (ca. 202 min.)
- Series:
- Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
- Summary:
-
Mavis Appleyard born in London, speaks about her family; children being offered to go to Australia (1937), her parents reactions to her departure, her sister deciding not to go; her relationship with brother; activities aboard ship; arriving in Sydney, first impressions of Molong; daily routine; running away, threat of punishment; child abuse; Mr Beauchamp; Mr Woods; her relations with cottage mother; the interaction between children; letters from mother; her brother conscripted into the navy; suffering tonsillectomy in Molong hospital (aged 11); returning from hospital, feeling suicidal; moving into new girls' cottage, Miss Lamond; facing punishments and criticism; her relations with Clara; daily duties; bullying; her schooling; Mr Heath; girls being sent from Fairbridge to work on properties, returning pregnant; the lack of awareness about facts of life; leaving hospital, working at orchard; learning sex education from books; the state of Fairbridge Farm School (1938), food, facilities; indoor sport activities; educational opportunities and expectations; life and domestic work at Rose Cottage; camps; Principal's discipline.
Appleyard talks about the Fairbridge performances, being good at acting and being offered a place at NIDA as adult; incident with cottage mother; leaving Fairbridge School (aged 14); her two years of domestic work; returning to maternity hospital (aged 19); joining YWCA in Orange; working as cleaner at Warren Hotel with her brother; meeting her husband; her parents arriving in Australia, Christmas Day (1948); relationship with her mother, paying for dancing lessons and making costumes; feeling transformed on stage; the reunion with her sister; reaction to National Apology to Forgotten Australians and Child Migrants; isolation, lack of social skills; living in maternity hospital; her difficulties understanding social interaction and teasing; the psychiatric hospital in Orange; suffering anxiety; being referred to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney; joining Recovery/GROW, that encouraged her to write; unable to go to university, family commitments; writing autobiography.
- Full contents:
-
- Recites poems: Doug
- Ballads of a bush bride.
- Notes:
- Recorded on 15-16 October 2010 in Warren, N.S.W.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (6 p.) and corrected transcript available (typescript, 200 leaves)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Macleod, Virginia 1948-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project.
This collection contains 208 records.
Request this item
Request this item to view in the Library’s reading room.
Feedback
Similar items
- Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Jadynne Harvey interviewed by Susan Marsden for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Derrick 'Taffy' Rees interviewed by Roslyn Burge in the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Patricia Keleher interviewed by Jennifer Barrkman for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Ritchie Schiller interviewed by Roslyn Burge for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]