Ralph Henry Cornwall interviewed by Gregg Borschmann in the People's forest oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 1232725
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Cornwall, Ralph Henry, 1928-1997, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item.
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1992
- 2 digital audio tapes (ca. 180 min.)
- Series:
- People's forest oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Cornwall, a sawmiller and forester, was born in 1928. He speaks of his early years in southern Victoria; his father's war services (WWI) injuries and work as a timber cutter in the Locke Valley, as a saw miller owner/operator in the early 1920s operating on private property, the only opportunity for business growth being the government licence he held to harvest a small quantity of crown land forests; the general lack of finances available coupled with the inadequate volumes of timber available due to over clearing of lands practices for agricultural purposes undermined efforts to sustain the timber industry at the time; the family moving to the Murray River region in 1934 and eventually settling on a property outside of Noojee, Vic. the hometown of both his parents.
Cornwall speaks of his father's work for the Border Railways and then taking up land as a soldier/settler; effects of The Depression on the community, the influx of people from the cities looking for work; the big fires of 1926 and 1939; at 12 years of age having to help his father split wood in the bush during school holidays; having to leave school at nearly 14 in 1942 to work with his father as his elder brother joined the Air Force; starting his working life as a timber cutter and saw miller for the family mill; the economic boost to the town driven by the need for timber during the war years; community life and culture from the 1930s onwards; his involvement in the Axeman's Club ; his job as a Forestry Officer for the region responsible for pulp and regrowth.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on July 12 1992 in Noojee, Vic.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-216988515
- Subject:
-
- Cornwall, Ralph Henry, 1928-1997 -- Interviews
- Sawmill workers -- Victoria -- Noojee -- Economic conditions -- 20th century
- Sawmill workers -- Victoria -- Noojee -- Social conditions -- 20th century
- Loggers -- Victoria -- Noojee -- Economic conditions -- 20th century
- Loggers -- Victoria -- Noojee -- Social conditions -- 20th century
- Foresters -- Victoria -- Noojee -- Economic conditions -- 20th century
- Foresters -- Victoria -- Noojee -- Social conditions -- 20th century
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Borschmann, Gregg (Gregg John), 1955-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the People's forest oral history project.
This collection contains 93 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2062 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1992
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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