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Fred Brown interviewed by Rob Willis for the Rob Willis folklore collection [sound recording]
Bib ID 97324
Format AudioAudio
Author
Brown, Fred, 1928-
 
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.

TAPE : SINGING 1. Jack Doolan. -2. Brace Boy's prayer. - TALKING -3. story about how the words to the Brace Boy's prayer were found. -4. recalls and names the songs from grandma's book. -SINGING 5. Cosy Cabin. - TALKING - 6. Talks about grandma singing. - 7. lists songs.SINGING - 8. sings Clip Clop. -9. sings first song learnt at school. - 10. sings You're as sweet as the red rose in June.TALKING - 11. shows/reads through lists of songs and their origin. - 12. read a poem about mining written by Jock Graham. - 13. poem about Brace boys. - 14. reads a poem written by Common Cause (Union paper) editor Len Fox about the closure of the Wonthaggi Mine.

Biography/History

Brown speaks of his early days in Wonthaggi, Vic. in the early 1920s; having worked at the Prestige Stocking factory on night shift; working in the mines from 1945 until 1955, first job in the mines as a surveyor; working at the local Workers Club as casual barman to make ends meet; he comments on how women had to make ends meet; dates of the Big Strike (1935) and 1949 strike and the reasons for it, no one in the community was better off; description of the job of "wheeling" as a miner, the "clippers" job; the worst conditions in the mines- men today are still suffering as a result; bringing in the machinery in the late 1940's to early 1950's which led to a drop in miner's rates; unions being very important; history of the Worker's Club which began in 1911, no women allowed in; the two clubs in Wonthaggi, the Gentlemen's Club and the Worker's Club.

Notes

Recorded by Olya Willis.

Recorded on April 28, 1999 at Wonthaggi, Vic.

Index/Finding Aid Note Timed summary (3 p.) 
Subjects Brown, Fred, - 1928- - Interviews.  |  Coal Miners - Victoria - Wonthaggi - Interviews.  |  Folk singers - Victoria - Wonthaggi - Interviews.  |  Coal miners - Victoria - Wonthaggi - Social life and customs - 20th century.  |  Coal miners - Victoria - Wonthaggi - Interviews.  |  Folk music - Victoria - History.
Occupation Coal miners
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.