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Interviewee

Place Recorded

Coffs Harbour-NSW

Interviewer

Sheridah Melvin

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Agency

Yarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)

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Bert Clarke & Mollie Clarke Interview

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IntervieweeBert ClarkeMollie (Brown) ClarkeInterview Date16 September 1986Place RecordedCoffs Harbour-NSWDuration56m56sAccession NumberLS2020.1.9Credit LineCoffs Harbour City Council, 1988.

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Description

This is a combined interview, and covers Mrs Clarke's involvement in the High School and Mr Clarke's experience as a silviculturist in the Shire.

InterviewerSheridah MelvinCollectionYAM Museum CollectionVoice of Time oral history projectAgencyYarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)SummaryStandard disclaimer. Visit the 'Voice of Time' web site to read or listen to the disclaimer. In January 1938 Mrs Clarke was appointed as Home Economics teacher at the new High School -- The entire department had to be set up -- Excitement at finally having this level of education in Coffs -- Early negative attitudes to her subject -- The benefit of the course to young women -- The scope of the Home Science course -- Class sizes -- There had been an intermediate high school operating. Some staff came from there to the new school -- Earliest impression: "a lot of yellow mud running down the banks of the railway station" -- The Pier Hotel and later a rented house at the Jetty -- The male teacher only came for meals. Life on the waterfront -- "We felt much closer too, to Solitary Island" -- Morse code signalling from the Jetty -- Jim Garbutt -- Account of Mr Clarke's arrival in Coffs -- They were currently trying to establish hoop-pine plantations -- He arrived in mid-1939 -- The first task in Eastern Dorrigo -- There were 30-40 men working. Various tasks undertaken. The extent of virgin bush -- The sawmillers only wanted the best available timber -- The Forestry Commission was certain that there would be a shortage of timber in the future -- The importance of preserving our National Parks -- There should have been more private forestry -- The difficulty of providing research as a component of the timber industry in those times -- Mr Clarke's wage in 1937 was 199 pounds a year; the basic wage -- He slept in the office on Bobo Creek, Clarence waters -- Meeting at a dance at Coffs. A typical day in the Home Science department in 1938 -- The pupils' contribution to the cost of ingredients was 3d or 4d. -- Mrs Clarke's helper was Bernice Patterson -- Afternoon lessons -- Mr Hodge was the Headmaster of the High School -- Weekend entertainment -- Picnicking. Her relationship with the pupils -- Coffs Harbour dances -- Silviculture in the Coffs region. The effect of the War -- Coachwood used in aircraft; Lithgow small arms factory used coachwood for gunstocks -- American use of timber -- The composition of the work crews -- Living and working conditions -- The strike in the coal fields during the war -- Incident requiring a management decision -- Dr Yarad. The management structure -- The inadequacy of safety precautions and worker's compensation. Fatality in the logging team -- How work accidents were handled -- Mrs Clarke's account of meeting her future husband -- Her attitude to Education Department ruling on married women -- "I was resigned to the fact the I would do so" -- Acceptance of government authority -- The great importance of Inspectors. Transport to school -- Permanent hiring of Hector Lamb, Lyon's taxi -- His dogs slept in the taxi at night. The charge was shilling. Contact with parents -- Children from poorer homes. The effect of the recruitment drive for WW2 -- "Everybody was working so hard for the Red Cross" -- The trauma of evacuation plans for the school -- Firm friendships with former pupils -- The role of the Voluntary Defence Corps -- "Some families did evacuate". The Forestry Commission planning in response to the return of soldiers -- Concentration of employment on plantation work -- Slash-pine and idea for a pulp mill -- Research work -- Changes in technology and their impact on forestry -- "The first conservationists were the foresters" -- Early ecological awareness. Bert's opinion of the value of a worker today -- "I'm a bit sad that a lot of this has disappeared today" -- The importance of unions in Australian history -- "I think unions haven't recognised that they are doing themselves a disservice today" -- Major issues for forestry today -- The importance of dialogue and tolerance of other attitudes -- Rainforests vital to the world. Mrs Clarke's participation in the Arts Council in Coffs Harbour -- Dorothy Helmrich, the original founder -- Formation of a small orchestra -- Her house became a meeting place for people -- The misperception that Arts Council members were Communists -- The influence of Father Ryan, the Catholic Priest -- The motivation for forming the Council -- Play readings at her house and the encouragement of Headmaster Hodge -- Performance of "The Beggars Opera".