Bill Bates interviewed by Mary Hutchison in the Canberra bushfires 2003 oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3094194
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Bates, Bill, 1932-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research; written permission required for personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2004
- 2 digital audio tapes (ca. 101 min.)
- Series:
- Canberra bushfires 2003 oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Bill Bates speaks about his arrival at Uriarra Forestry Settlement in 1947 aged 14; his family, his marriage in 1954 and three children; the migrant camps in the forests; his 60 years of living continuously at Uriarra; the work and social life; the changes in forestry work; the work of overseer and role in community; the impact of houses being transferred from Forestry to Housing; the impact of the Australian Capital Territory (A.C.T) self-government; fire fighting work; his involvement as Fire Controller; various fires; key people; the part of Emergency Services fire fighters; the loss as result of fire; his resolve to stay at Uriarra after retirement; heritage surveys; prospects for Uriarra.
Bates discusses the days preceding the fire; his feelings about Emergency Services' response; his thoughts the fire would be stopped before it reached the settlement; the lack of fire fighters on 18th January; his expectation Emergency Services would provide analysis and information; he describes the day of 18th; his inability to get back to Uriarra that day, when returning from Bungendore; the lack of news and information about Uriarra; his return to Uriarra on 19th ; the few houses standing; not being able to salvage anything of value; the loss of photos and everything collected over the years; the situation at the settlement on the Sunday morning; his contribution to all of the post-fire inquiries to date; following the A.C.T. Coronial Inquiry with keen interest.
- Notes:
-
- The project is being conducted in association with Canberra Museum and Art Gallery.
- Recorded on Apr. 16, 2004 at Banks, A.C.T.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (10 p.)
- Subject:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Canberra Bushfires 2003 oral history project.
This collection contains 21 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2074 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2004
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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