Cheryl Gregory interviewed by Mary Hutchison in the Canberra bushfires 2003 oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3122011
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Gregory, Cheryl, 1959-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research and personal copies; written permission is required for public use during the lifetime of the interviewee.
- Description:
-
- 2004
- 4 digital audio tapes (ca. 260 min.)
- Series:
- Canberra bushfires 2003 oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Cheryl Gregory talks about her association with the Stromlo and other Forestry settlements; her work, relationships and children; living in the Stromlo community; the movement of new tenants into houses as forestry tenants left; seeing her future at the settlement; her story of the fire, from days building up to it; the fire-fighters encampment on oval at settlement; the increasing concern about severity of fire; collecting children from Wollongong on Saturday, reaching house at 3.00; the scene driving into and through Canberra; police barricades; previous experience (Christmas 2001) of fire threat to settlement and precautions taken by authorities; preparations to leave; watching the fire in the trees, the noise, leaving the settlement at 3.15pm; the scene as driving out; driving to partner’s house in Kambah and organising fire preparations there; leaving to go to brother’s at Farrer; getting the kids to safety; immediate situation and people’s different responses; preparations for fire with Farrer Ridge alight; return to Stromlo alone (arriving by 4.30) through Chapman, the fire scene in Chapman; returning to brother’s through Chifley and Pearce; response to seeing house; being in survival mode; her sister at Nelligen taking the children; the possibility of return to Stromlo; phases after the fire; the process of getting house through public housing.
Gregory discusses moving in to public housing, Wanniassa (April 2003); the healing process; the days immediately after the fire; registering at Narrabundah Evacuation Centre; the evacuation Centre at Erindale and services there; Recovery Centre at Lyons; patchwork quilts; the difference between people rebuilding and government tenants; loss of contact with other tenants at settlement; support organisations; employment position and workplace support; financial survival; first return to the house; things remaining and found; children’s responses and practicalities of their post fire experience; consultation process concerning future of settlement, her involvement in meetings; the Stromlo Settlement memorial, reasons for a memorial, marking history and change; the response to community support; media coverage; her childrens’ response to new life; inquiries and reports on fire; emotional phases; rebuilding, housing tenants with houses, housing tenants without; the importance of her garden at Wanniassa; managing change; things most missed; loss of self sufficiency; emotional support through friends, work, talking; the way fire has changed life; issue of fires in N.S.W. at the time; treatment by Housing officers; talking about the fire has changed over time; sadness of the settlements being pulled apart; lessons learnt for future especially re warning people; staying strong for the children.
- Biography/History:
-
Cheryl Gregory was the first public housing tenant at Stromlo forestry settlement when she moved there in 1987 with her family. At the time of the fires Cheryl's household consisted of herself, her two children, aged 16 and 14, and various pets. Their house was one of 17 destroyed at the settlement, by the January 2003 fires.
- Notes:
-
- The project is being conducted in association with Canberra Museum and Art Gallery.
- Recorded on July 1 and 8, 2004 at Canberra, A.C.T.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (11 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
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- 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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