Cirrus@Austlit

'Denis Kevans, born in 1939 talks about the background of his parents; his brother; his school days; his poetry; playing University First Grade cricket and the Prime Minister's Eleven against England; his education; poetry awards; work history; study; disarmament marches; realist writers with Merv Lilley, Frank Hardy, Dorothy Hewitt; New Theatre's "Reedy River"; Alex Robertson; Paul Mortier; joining "The Rambleers" with Alex Hood, Chris Kempster, Harry Kay and Barbara Lisyak; John Baker (Union Organiser); quotes poem and songs; experiences in the 1960's; marrying in 1964; returning to university; Communist Party (C.P.); Clover Moore; teaching (1968 to 1972); poems mounted at Echo Point; teaching (1977); Helen Palmer; prizes for songs and poems; comments on C.P. directives and pronouncements; his divorce (1982)

'Kevans speaks about moving to Wentworth Falls; Sonia Bennet; local environment struggles; Isabella Bowden; the Golf Course Resort; the protest and struggle by conservationists (1985); the lower mountains grab by developers; reads monologue; Justice Pelman; "Louie the Wheel"; letter writing; Chris Kempster; songs about Glenbrook; angophora forests; A.B.C. FM Broadcasts; songs of World War One; Mary Doran; songs of Teddie Roach; Brian Dunnett; stories of Banjo Paterson; Milton Taylor; the mountains; writing a book about Ted Roach; poetry at "Parakeet" restaurant, Katoomba; being known as "Poet Lorikeet"; his non appearance in History of Australian Verse; wanting to write books on Gallipoli and C.P.A. history; "H. Block" poems; Irish- Australian movement; reciting for Gerry Adams; Gary Shearston; Melbourne Trade Unions; recites "Concreta" poem.' (Trove)

'Merv Lilley born Rockhampton, Qld. talks about his family background and ancestry; the Murphy Murders in Gatton, Qld.; reading the book "Gatton Man"; the book "The Channels"; his father and his relationship with his two sons; his father teaching his sons to fight; living on the farm while his father was away working as a commercial traveller; suffering a "rupture" from heavy lifting, his work and relatives; Charles "Bluey" Bostock; dairy work in Mackay; the possum season, skinning of possums; the shooting of koalas; working on Cleve Station, out from Marlborough; an operation for his "rupture"; joining the army following an argument with his father; his mother and her relationship with father; his writing beginnings, a teacher's encouragement for writing and recitation; leaving school and his first jobs; the reality of life in the bush; his interest in the Communist Party; smoking.

'Lilley speaks about working for Brett's sawmills for 12 months (1944) after leaving the Army; training for boxing at "Snowy Smith's" Gymnasium; a bike accident; George McKinnon; Army life and being on Goods Island when John Gorton was shot down; the army refusing to recognise the men of island service; a post-war battle for recognition; the bombing on Horne Island; a court marshal; his decision to leave the army; being unable to box due to injury, his regrets about this; talks of fighting techniques; his fitness; the last fight; "Bronco Johnson" and his troupe; Cassius Clay; Tom O'Flynn; Alex Hood talks about Merv's songs, published by the Bush Music Club; a misunderstanding with John Meredith; how he met Dorothy Hewitt; meeting Zoe O'Leary from "Realist Writers"; advice given about how to write; meeting Dorothy in Melbourne when she wrote "Bobbin Up"; being regarded as a "Revisionist"; the Australasian Book Society; being asked by Dorothy to go to Perth to learn to write poetry; communicating through John Meredith.' (Trove)

 'Folkloric recording. Edgar Waters speaks of the early days of the Bushwhackers; Wattle records and films; experiences in England; Russell Ward; Geoff Way; Cecil English; John Meredith; Communist Party of Australia (C.P.A.); the Folk revival; Hans Bandler; his interest in Australian folklore and old "bush" songs; Eureka Youth League; the collection of folklore; Joe Cashmere; A.L. Lloyd; the influence of Australian folklore in England; the Bushwhackers; Sally Sloan; Duke Tritton; Alan Lomax; Jimmy Macbeth; Tim McMahon; re-writing and re-working material; the Rambleers; Folk Clubs; English-Irish influences; Declan Affley; Nationalists; Melbourne folk revivalists and collectors; the Brisbane revival; Joe Furnside; Jack Hughes.' (Trove)

'Folkloric recording. Keith Bain speaks about his parents; his childhood in Wauchope, N.S.W.; attending primary school; being an enthusiast and disciplinarian; Tonic Solfa method of music teaching; learning piano by nuns at the convent; playing duets with his brother; eldest of three children; being an athlete; attending Kempsey High School; attending Teachers College in Armidale, N.S.W; Dorothy Helmridge; being a good ballroom dancer; dance band the Jesters; learning dancing; 'Polish Australian Dance Company'; Reisa Kuznetsova; travelling to Warsaw; meeting Reisa; Bodenweiser dancers, modern dance; becoming a teacher, wanting to teach out west; being the music specialist to Kogarah Boys' High; organising outside music trips for students; meeting of ex-student; teaching ballroom dancing (1946-1950); completed university course in Arts; being involved in Drama and theatre; dancing ballroom style; Trocadero; Frank Coghlan Orchestra; Big Band period; moving to Temora school; travelling to Sydney every weekend attending matinees and Gallery exhibitions; organising performances locally; choreographed performances; Royal Ballet; being involved in the Metropolitan Theatre; first big show 'The Tempest'; Anita Ardele; joining classes with Madame Bodenweiser.

'Bain speaks about retiring from teaching; teaching at Arthur Murray's Dance School; Bodenweiser; meeting his dance partner Joyce Lofts; exhibition work with another partner Doris Fitton; teaching at The Independent Theatre, remaining for 20 years; Ensemble Theatre; Jane Street Theatre; Margaret Barr and Val Tweedie; Jane St. Theatre; developing techniques to assist actors; Peggy Watson; his work on 'Snowy'; how choreographers work today; Keith and Peggy Watson; Robert Allnutt; Kathryn Durham; visiting dance companies; Ronnie Arnold; Carole Johnson; Joe Jenkins; Kai Tai Chan; Annette; Helen Fong; Jamie Macintyre; Margaret's works; Margaret's great sense of theatre; 'Water Lily' piece; 'short ballets' of Bodenweiser and 'Dance Poems'; choreographic competitions; difficulties for performers; comeback of Ballroom dancing; suffering mini-stroke, limiting his teaching; Bill Gill and the Festival Ballet; Les Peterkin; Marilyn Burr; Nagy; Cissy Burr; Festival Ballet; 'Dreaming'; ageing and memories fading; explains how preservation works.' (Trove)

'Folkloric recording. Abraham 'Jock' Levy, born 1916, in London, talks about his family background; coming to Australia with his family in 1925; the Salvation Army; Bondi; politics; leaving school aged 12; wages; discrimination at school; Jock Garden; Tommy Jones; joining the Communist Party; Bella Weiner; Jewish Youth Theatre; Maxim Gorky; 'The Lower Depths'; 'The Yellow Star'; Sid Mostyn; classes on Marxism; the New Theatre; 'The Ghost Sonata'; Clifford Odetts: 'Waiting for Lefty'; directing and acting for 12 years; J. C. Williamson's; the banning 'Til the Day I Die'; Anti-Nazism; the history of New Theatre; attending Jewish School (London); being an avid reader; Molière; Ben Johnson; a fall out with the New Theatre (1948/​49); WWII joining the AIF; New Guinea; working for the De Havillands and later as a clerk for the army ships; Waterside Workers' Federation; Keith Gow; putting on a play for the 'Wharfies' and filming the event.

'Levy discusses being asked to make films for the Unions about current issues; the support from the rank and file 'Wharfies'; 'The Hungry Miles'; Norma Disher; winning the gold medal, at the Warsaw Film Festival; Robert Menzies; a strike; the film 'November Victory'; the Communist Party of Australia; Wattle Films; Miner's Federation; filming at Nebo Mine; more on Keith Gow; CPSU 20th Congress (1956); working in the film industry for many years; a special unit to assist overseas film makers; making commercials; Ross Wood; Stanley Kramer and the film 'On the Beach'; marrying in 1942; his two sons; the death of his wife; clubs 'All Nations' and 'Friends of the Soviet Union'; Peter Hamilton; his acting and directing; 'The Star Turns Red' by Sean O'Casey; socialism; 'Rags' Henderson; Jim Healey; the 'Wharfie's' films now being available on DVD; the book, 'Fighting Films' by Lisa Milner; the John Hughes film on the work of the unit, 'Film Work'.' (Trove)

'Folkloric recording. Roger Millis, born 1934, in Katoomba, NSW speaks about his family background; the evolvement of the surname Millis; Richard Norris; Catholicism; Norfolk Island; his brother David; the Labor Party; the Communist Party of Australia (CPA); his father being Chifley's campaign director and being expelled from the Labor Party (1946); the family purchase of a guest house "Wykehurst" (1937); Unionism; schooling; Frank Walford; the Cold War; his parents decision to leave Katoomba (1951); Socialism; attending Sydney University; his involvement in university politics; being Secretary of the Labor Club and assistant secretary of the Australian Student Labor Federation; Roger Coates; his brother David joining the New Theatre (1952); doing a Dip. Ed. course (1955); joining the New Theatre (1956); John Malas; ASIO; Noel Collie; George Sharman; being active in New Theatre and Teachers' Federation activities; refers to "Under the Coolibah Tree"; becoming Assistant Director at the New Theatre; Laurie Booth; Mona Brand; his teaching posts; directing first revival of "Reedy River" (1960); the "Bushwhackers"; National Service experiences; Ted Hill; Normanhurst High School; Wagga Teachers' College; Dan Dempsey.

'Millis discusses the New Theatre organisation; cricket; George Tribe; Don Scott and David De Cavahlo; C.L.R. James; George Muir; Paul Williams; Stalin's death; Kruschev's speech (1956); Ted Hill; Jim Staples; developments in U.S.S.R; China; "New Dawn Films"; Petrov Commission; taking a position in Moscow as an editor; Susie Wolfe; the Youth Festival of Peace and Friendship, Helsinki; working for Foreign Languages Publishing House; Moscow News; marrying in Moscow, moving to Kenya; his work as editor on Pan Africa Magazine; returning to Australia (1966); the breakup of his marriage; working on the Sydney Tribune and rejoining the New Theatre; directing "On Stage Vietnam" at St. Peter's Lane, Kings Cross; the death of his parents (1970); Anne Whitehead; acting for TV and writing scripts for radio and television; the 'Middle Eastern Digest'; his book about his father "Serpent's Tooth" published by Penguin Books (1984); his previously published books and later book "Waterloo Creek"; Keith Windshuttle; Australia Council grants; racism in Australia; Chris Koch; celebrations of 75 years of New Theatre (2007); the changes in U.S.S.R.; Joseph Stalin; John Manifold. (Trove)

'Folkloric recording. Jack Mundey talks about the fight for Kelly's Bush in Sydney; the involvement of the Union; Robert Askin years; Green Bans; Norm Gallagher; Building Workers Industrial Union (BWIU); Pat Clancy; union involvement in society; Bob Pringle; Arthur King; Juanita Neilson; his involvement in Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF); Neville Wran; Heritage Legislation; the saving of Centennial Park (1972); Patrick White; saving of The Rocks and Woolloomooloo; how the legislation saved all Green Ban buildings; Queen Victoria building; setting up Urban Environment Coalition; being on the Executive of ACF (1973-1993); in the '80's being elected as a community independent to City Council; the demise and sacking of the council; Frank Sartor; earlier council members; Tweed Council; Green Councils; Byron Bay.

'Mundey discusses his work after sacking of City Council; speaking to environmental groups; Jim McLelland; Bob Carr; being appointed to Historic Houses Trust and its beginnings (1980); Leo Port; saving of Elizabeth Bay House; Greiner Election; Helen Coonan; Local Government Associations; Honorary Awards he has received; Leonie Kramer; the 'Hungry Miles' docks area; land developers; Clover Moore; Frank Hardy; a delegation to USSR (1969); Ted Macalear; Russia's new emergence; his marriages; playing for Parramatta Rugby League team; finding employment after the sacking of union, NSW Branch; Citizens for Democracy; Denis Kevans; Judy Mundey.' (Trove)

'Folkloric recording. Maris Morton speaks about her family and their background; her artistic talents; her father's trade and hobbies; her schooling and university life; Monica Maugham; Harold Holt; her early work following graduation, Public service, PR work; a teaching position in Ballarat; her marriage to Ken Morton; moving to Katanning, W.A. (1962); her 3 children; life in Katanning; the move to Perth (1969); joining M.E.N.S.A.; George Melgrue; her appointment at W.A. Art Gallery (1970); cultural life in Perth; the gallery collection; marriage break-up; her resignation from Gallery, and return to Katanning for teaching position; returning to Perth, to administration job in Fremantle (1983), Fremantle Art Co-operative; meeting Charles Blackman (1978); her painting and later travel to Queensland with Blackman.

'Morton discusses moving to Canberra (1987) via Melbourne; her activities in Canberra; working in Centrelink until taking up a position with Overseas Aid; applying successfully for the position of Director of the Tweed Regional Gallery; her life in Murwillumbah; establishment of the Gallery; Doug Moran; refurbishment of building and the gradual development of a working gallery; volunteers; promotion of local artists and exhibitions; Tweed Valley Art Prize; Moran Prize; the need for bigger gallery, in a new location, donation of land; Doug and Margot Anthony; fund raising; gallery designs; Budd Brannigan; Council support for project; resigning in 1998 before building was completed; the new gallery flourishing; her move to Uki; being a published writer, crime fiction, short stories and poetry; difficulties in being published; winning several awards.' (Trove)

'Russell Hannah, born in 1943, discusses his first involvement with folk music; his interest in writing; his involvement in the local newspaper (1977-1981); joining the local Folk Club; that Club’s committee members; singers who performed for the Club; Club events; a local radio program; the first local Folk festival (1986) which led to the Jamberoo Festival (New South Wales); changing the festival’s name to the Illawarra Folk Festival (ca. 2005); festival sites; difficulties with ‘hoons’ at a festival; public transport; Festival supporters, programs and performers; Festival ‘Tripe night’; community support for the festival; the festival committee and finances; animals; the Folk in the Foothills event; the Kangaroo Valley Festival; various other festivals in the region; volunteers; Folk week in Wollongong; his current writings; the community, changes and local issues in Shellharbour; his family.' (Trove)