Tony Costa interviewed by Rob Willis in the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 4925919
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Costa, Tony, 1941-, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2010
- 2 sound files (ca. 128 min.)
- Series:
- Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project.
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
- Summary:
-
Tony Costa, born 1941 in Britain speaks about his family background; being in an orphanage from approx. 5 years of age; the term being 'in care'; St Vincents Orphanage, Feltham and St Josephs Orphanage, Enfield; the trip to Australia on the SS Oronsay, their treatment on the trip; the selection process for the trip and the explanation given to the children; their arrival at Fremantle and the clothing given to them; beginning a life of work and pray, with limited education; arriving (1953) and travelling to Bindoon, first impressions and sleeping conditions; Benedictine Sisters; the routine, clothing, chores, tasks, sport and discipline; child labour and exploitation; child deaths; friendships; role of the church; the mistreatment of boys; the development of his passions and interests; finding his family through the Child Migrant Trust; the dormitories and hygiene at Bindoon; treatment by the brothers, cruelty and abuse; the treatment of the Maltese boys at Bindoon; his surname; meeting his father and then his stepfather in America.
Costa discusses the role of bells at Bindoon; health issues at Bindoon; the administration of orphanages; his resilience; the influence of Monsignor Collins; his friendship with Jack Carville and Maltese boys; Catholic migration, being wards of the state until the age of 21; receiving his birth certificate; single mothers; religious icons; Mario Lanza; his enjoyment of performing arts; finding work, eventually working for the railways and assisting migrant workers with working conditions; position of shop steward and then Assistant Secretary of Union; his involvement in community issues, becoming a councillor for the Subiaco Council (1983); being elected as Mayor (1994); fighting for public housing and public transport, construction of necessary infrastructures; mentors in his life; politics; his hopes for the future of Australia; the Australian Government's Apology; Jenny Macklin; attending the UK Apology.
- Partial contents:
- Recites a ditty on Bindoon called 'Christmas at Bindoon'. Sings a Bindoon song called 'Joyously we bid you welcome'.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded by Olya Willis.
- Recorded on 11 May 2010 in Perth, W.A.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (5 p.) and corrected transcript available (typescript, 84 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Costa, Tony, 1941- -- Interviews
- Boys Town (Bindoon, W.A.) -- History
- Mayors -- Western Australia -- Subiaco -- Interviews
- Immigrant children, British -- Institutional care -- Australia
- Children -- Institutional care -- Western Australia -- History -- 20th century
- Children -- Institutional care -- Western Australia -- Psychological aspects
- Orphanages -- Western Australia -- Bindoon -- History
- Occupation:
- Local government politicians
- Other authors/contributors:
- Willis, Rob, 1944-, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project.
This collection contains 208 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
You may copy under some circumstances, for example you may copy a portion for research or study. Order a copy through Copies Direct to the extent allowed under fair dealing. Contact us for further information about copying.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2080 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2010
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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