This Rotary Oral History Project records the memories of people who lived in Wallington, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove, Point Lonsdale, Queenscliff and surrounding areas in the post- World War 11 period of the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. These interviews provide ‘eye-witness’ testimonies of everyday life during that time. Often these are the only available accounts of these events. The aim of the project is to record these memories before they are lost forever. They are being made available to current residents of these towns and other interested people so that they can better understand the histories of the area they now call home.

 

Oral History memories provide fascinating details of places and community life in the recent past. These recordings give descriptions of Bellarine towns before the rapid residential growth of recent times. They tell of a community life when economic and social activities were more self-contained and limited transport and communications infrastructure constrained interaction with larger urban centres. People’s memories tend to focus on the good times and events that were important to them. Thus, while many of those interviewed lived in the same towns at the same time, their memories can be quite different. 

 

This Oral History project is conducted under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Ocean Grove and covers all areas within our ambit. All the interviews have been conducted by Rotary members who have been trained in the techniques and ethics of the professional Oral History discipline. We thank all interviewees who have generously contributed their time and precious memories to this project.

 

This site allows you to access recordings of the memories of people who lived on the lower Bellarine Peninsula in the post-World War 11 period. They are made available to the general public to be watched or listened to for personal or research purposes. Anyone wanting to use them for other purposes, should obtain permission by contacting the project coordinator on annhod712@gmail.com.

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