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Interviewee

Vera (Shephard) Williams

Place Recorded

Coffs Harbour-NSW

Interviewer

Sheridah Melvin

Collection

Agency

Yarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)

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Vera Williams Interview

Details

IntervieweeVera (Shephard) WilliamsInterview Date17 February 1987Place RecordedCoffs Harbour-NSWDuration1h22m41sAccession NumberLS2020.1.41Credit LineCoffs Harbour City Council, 1988.

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Description

This interview focuses on early life in Nana Glen on the family dairy farm, where a strong picture of village life emerges. The nature of courtship and the general aspirations of young women provide an interesting contrast to social trends today.

InterviewerSheridah MelvinCollectionYAM Museum CollectionVoice of Time oral history projectAgencyYarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)SummaryShephard family lived on a property in Shephard's Lane, Coffs -- Vera was born in 1908. The move to Nana Glen -- Dairying -- The history of the Shephard family's arrival in Coffs (Vera's grandparents) in 1881 -- The halftime school between Bonville and Coffs -- Living off the land. Mr Shephard's work as a builder -- Delivery work in Bellingen for Matthew's store. Vera's mother worked as a housekeeper. Marriage in 1897 and the move to Shephard's Lane -- The attraction of farming in those times; self-sufficiency -- Food exchanging was common -- Earliest memories of Nana Glen. Social activities. Vera was one of 13 children, all of whom survived, schooldays -- The horse paddock --The respect for teachers; lining up to walk with Miss Chambers -- Empire Day. The School Inspector's visit -- Cleaning up after school each day; sawdust and phenol -- The importance of sewing for girls. Knitting eye-bandages for World War One soldiers -- The route march through Nana Glen -- The Comforts Fund. Aboriginal children at Nana Glen school. Their fathers worked at the mill -- The lower side was called 'The Holy City' and the top side was 'New Jerusalem' -- There were half a dozen Aboriginal families at Nana Glen -- The timber industry. Attitudes to Aboriginal people -- The petition against a hotel in Nana Glen -- The trouble with alcohol at Glenreagh amongst the railway men -- The strong church traditions at Nana Glen. The Flanders family -- The distance involved meant that people had to be self-sufficient in health care -- Treatment for croup was rubbing the chest with turps and olive oil -- Helping one another. Mrs Morrow, the midwife, "a marvellous women" -- Forms of payment -- The travelling salesman, Ted Babarden sold patent medicines, salves, Epsom salts, etc. Sports played in Nana Glen, included tennis and cricket -- Dances and their supervision. The constable's spot check -- Bushfires, the methods used to prevent bushfires and the firefighting techniques. Floods and the change in weather patterns -- The death of Mr Hoschke, the mailman, during a flood -- Transport in 1920. The service cars -- Teamsters and their work -- Discipline at home during teenage years. Energy supplies in Nana Glen -- The Gloria Light in her family home, which was petrol fed -- Sanitation was a hole in the ground or a pan system to empty and bury -- Electricity came in the 1940s -- The family had a telephone in 1925, for business and social reasons -- Pig farming -- Celebrating traditional holidays. Show Day. Opportunities for girls then. Marriage was a priority -- Writing letters to each other as a form of courtship -- "He'd come out every two months or so" -- The young man's visit -- "That glory box was growing all the time" -- Once married, always so. Depression years in early married life. Standard disclaimer. Visit the 'Voice of Time' web site to read or listen to the disclaimer (Internet link is below). The difficulty in meeting the land instalments - their decision to not sign the 99-year lease on the Bonville property -- Childbirth at Sunnyside Hospital with Sister Sue and Doctor Tunks -- Growing vegetables under contract to the army during World War Two -- The Vegetable Growers Association -- Comparison with hard times now on the land. Enlistment in Bonville. Women's war work on the farms and making parcels for the soldiers -- The rotary hoe accident. The need for an ambulance service -- The homeless men during the Depression. The man who stayed a week. The evacuation plan for Bonville during World War Two -- Blackout material -- Christmas holidays at Bonville Reserve -- "There was a dance every night and no thieving" -- The changes in education opportunities for girls -- "You educate a man, you educate an individual, you educate a woman, you educate a family" -- Starting off in life, then and now. The materialism of newly married couples. Personality portrait: the Baker family. Garnie Baker, steward and Ringmaster, son of pioneer parents -- Harry Bailey, Shire President. He created the Civic Centre and had a plan for water supply from the Bobo River to Coffs Harbour.