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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 Willis, Rob, 1944-  |  Willis, Olya
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Details Collect From
ORAL TRC 3388/180 Petherick Reading Room (Oral History)
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