Brian Dep interviewed by Diana Giese in the Chinese Australian Oral History Partnership collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3031198
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Dep, Brian, 1940-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research; written permission required for personal copies and public use during the lifetime of the interviewee.
- Description:
-
- 2001 Dec. 11
- 3 digital audio tapes (ca. 175 min.)
- Series:
- Chinese Australian Oral History Partnership.
- Summary:
-
Brian Dep recalls his father Chin Loong Dep running a boarding house for Chinese pearling crewmen during the lay up season. Behind it his father ran a gambling shed. Brian states his Chinese background is both in the past & present, he speaks village language Toishan. He recalls the social activities of the minority groups (Chinese, Japanese, Malays and Aboriginals), the Japanese Club surviving until after WWII; wartime evacuations from Broome to Perth; growing up with the local Aboriginal children who taught him bush skills. Dep speaks of the restrictions his father had to overcome to buy a pearling boat (i.e. lugger) and the obstacles he faced that made it impossible for him to establish a pearling business in Broome.
Dep recalls his school days with children from local minority groups; his high school years boarding at Geraldton. Dep speaks of the downturn in business the pearling industry faced in the 1950s to 1960s; the shift to Derby of many government offices and consequently many local businesses lost revenue; his role as past President of the Chinese Community Association , the Hung Ting [Hang Seng] Feast of the Dead, a ceremony to honour the dead. He speaks of the Chinese place in the history of Broome and discusses whether it's part of the Chinese Association's role to position the Chinese in the history of Broome.
- Biography/History:
-
Brain Dep was born in Broome 1940. He is the son of Chin Loong Dep, who was born in Darwin, went back to China for his schooling, returned to Darwin and then moved to Broome. Brian Dep recalls his father, Chin Loong Dep running a tailoring business in Broome and a boarding house. Behind it his father ran a gambling shed. The family would go on to also run a bakery and general store over the years. After attending high school in Geraldton, Dep returned to Broome to work in 1956 at 16 years of age at Kennedy's, the large general store, who were an agent for the State Shipping Service; in the 1970s Dep worked on a pearling boat as cook and deckhand (2 seasons); at the local Meatworks (18 seasons). Mr Dep has been associated with the Broome Chinese Community Association for 30 years, ten years as President.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Dec. 11, 2001 at Broome, W.A.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (9 p.) and transcript available.
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Cooks
- Other authors/contributors:
- Giese, Diana, 1947-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Chinese Australian Oral History Partnership.
This collection contains 17 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2071 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2001
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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