Suzanne Mulligan Oral Histories Archive

Collection

Accession number
31267
Date
ca. 1939-2017
Abstract
The collection includes oral histories of 32 Queenslanders of varying backgrounds as well as research material and other documents associated with their production. Other related material such as the obituaries of participants is also often included. Interviews were organised and conducted by Suzanne Mullligan. The collection includes a range of materials such as hard copies of internet articles, clippings, photographs, transcripts and online access to oral histories and transcripts.
Scope and content

The collection includes oral histories of Eric Abraham - World War I veteran; Jackie Trembling - former hairdresser and "Ten Pound Pom"; Jim Iliffe - World War II veteran who escaped the fall of Singapore; Eve Scott - WAAAF veteran who worked with the codebreakers in Brisbane; Bob Downey - Korean War veteran, fought in Battle of the Hook; Ron Perkins - Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, fought in the significant Battle of Kapyong in the Korean campaign; Ron Mahony - oldest "Old Boy" of the Toowong Rowing Club; Geoff Voysey - the last Chief Property Officer for Queensland; Hugh Willis - Queen's Harbour Master in the immediate aftermath of the Falklands War; Cal Malouf - member Toowong Rowing Club, Charlie Gibbs - member of the 1936 Antarctic expedition to rescue Ellsworth and Kenyon, Cecil Smith - worked in the Fingerprint Bureau from 1934 to 1959; Edith Edwards - member of Australian Women's Land Army during World War II; Keith (The Count) Blicharski - champion speedway rider/driver of the 1950s and 1960s; Doreen Balfour - trained at Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay in 1940s; Les Keefer - Club Captain of Toowong Rowing Club in the 1950s; Hazel Hernsdorf - stenographer for US Navy during WWII, ABC Toowong and United Nations; Jim Stratton - Dunkirk veteran; Paul Vandeleur - pioneering Northern Territory cattle property owner; Betty Vandeleur - trained at Mater Hospital then lived at a Northern Territory cattle station; Alan Roaf - international rowing coach; Muriel Bath - one of Queensland's first policewomen; Bob Dansie - New Guinea war veteran and first principal of Centenary Heights State School, Toowoomba; Bill Kearney - former prison warder at Boggo Road and Wacol Prison; John Ready - engineer involved with building dams and the Ghan Railway; Geoff Swindells - turret gunner on Lancaster bomber during World War II; Peter Marsh - Australian Paralympian; Doug Davis - served in Royal Navy during World War II; Trevor Clifford - botanist; Mal Lancaster - defence force photographer, specialising in F-111 fighter jet; Bill Smit - photographer and photography judge; and Father Peter Brannelly - Catholic priest who helped amalgamate Jubilee Parish, Brisbane. [Information from Mulligan, Suzanne n.d., Oral History Interviews : interviewees, blog, Suzanne Mulligan, Queensland, viewed 6 April 2018, http://mulliganoralhistory.blogspot.com.au/].

System of arrangement
Arranged into 32 series
Description
29 digital audio files (35 hr. 54 min. 50 sec.) :
Additional format
Digital copies available for selected items.
Guides
Transcripts available.
Administrative / Biographical history

Oral historian Suzanne Mulligan is interested in recording the life stories of the older generation. She conducted her first unofficial interview of her grandmother in 1987. She later completed a major in journalism in 2001 and an oral history workshop which helped equip her with the skills to professionally conduct oral histories. Her first professional oral history was with World War I veteran Eric Abraham in 2002. Suzanne Mulligan has since conducted a large number of oral histories 32 of which are available in this collection and is an active member of Oral History Australia.

Access restrictions
Unrestricted access.
Conditions of use
Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Preferred citation
31267, Suzanne Mulligan Oral Histories Archive, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland.