Oral History Collection
The Shire of Capel Ron Maidment Archives collects and preserves the oral history of Shire residents in its oral history collection.
The collection consists primarily of audio tape-recorded, structured interviews in which interviewees talk about their lives or events and experiences in the past.
The collection may contain stories of war, migration, personal and family relationships, mining, prevailing social attitudes and farm life. Interviews in the collection span over 120 years of memories and many are with people born in the late 19th Century.
Oral history is, by nature, spoken memory. It is personal opinion and is not intended to present the final verified or complete narrative of events.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that the following may contain images, sounds and names of people who have passed.
All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.
Listen to Tommy's Story
Part 1 - Interview with Tommy Griffiths of Boyanup (dec. 2007)
Interviewed on 21 June 1994 with Barbara Reid
Synopsis:
- Griffiths, Thomas (Tommy) Bowen born 26 December 1910 at Wales
- Father - Thomas Griffiths (flippin Tom)
- Mother - Helen Mary Griffiths (nee Littlewood)
- Came to Australia circa 1911
- Arrived in Boyanup 1925
- Tommy married Elsie Hall
- Children - Allan Thomas and Nola May
- Parents buried at Boyanup
- Tommy was a musician who played the trumpet and saxophone for 54 years with other local musicians.
- Tommy worked with his father building together 23 years.
The interview talks of:
- AJ Payne and wife Sara, Reilly's, Trigwell's, Trigwell Estate, Ted Smith, trapping dingo's and wildlife in the 1920's.
- Abrosom brothers, Gardiners, Duces, Bbidecudb Winery, Emmett's, Prowse's, Digger Kilpatrick and wife Elsie.
- Ecclestone’s, Hurst’s. Chinese family, Simmons’, Peacock’s, Malberg’s, Neill’s, Leach’s, Scott’s, Roberts’, Vickery’s, WW Hutton, Higgins’.
- Marron catching in Preston river
- Shooting with Karl Clifton.
- School teachers, storekeepers, postmistress, station master, publican, gangers and navvies.
- Boyanup pub burning down in 1923.
- Crawford Young storekeeper 1920’s.
Transcript of Interview - Tommy Griffiths
Part 2 - Interview with Tommy Griffiths of Boyanup (dec. 2007)
Share your Story
If you would like to share your story with us, or know someone whose story should be recorded, please contact the Shire of Capel - Ron Maidment Archives on 08 9727 0290 or email localhistory@capel.wa.gov.au.
Ron Maidment Archives
