Recording Our Heritage.
Rotarian Rob Stewart introduced an audio recording produced by The Committee for Drouin in collaboration with 3BBR fm and the Drouin History Society. The recording is one of a series where 40 stories as told and recorded by those who were there, or were close to those who were there.
This particular edition told the stories of our very own Max Hine who spoke of the early days of banking in the District and of the many changes that he had worked through and observed over time.
Roy Cheeseman speaks of his childhood memories of growing up in the area and of the household appliances that were used prior to the days of electricity.
The story of local veterinarian Dr. Bill Martin was recounted by his wife, she told of his love of animals and how he was encouraged into practice by Bill Kraft and assisted in establishing his practice through contacts via the Butter Factory. She told of the joy he felt in seeing a healthy animal with a shiny coat.
The story of the much loved and well known identity, Jack Cuthbertson, was told by his sons and daughter. The modest beginnings in timber, earth works, quarries and farming and his pride in owning his Chevrolet motor vehicles which ended up as just another work vehicle, despite his passion.
The daughter of Dr. Geoff Cornish told of her father’s experiences in WW11. He was the youngest pilot, at 19 years of age, to qualify to fly Lancaster bombers over Europe. He was the only survivor of his crew when the aircraft was shot down and spent more than 4 years in a German POW camp. Whilst there he volunteered to work in the hospital to gain knowledge of medicine. He was also in the Stalag featured in the movie The Great Escape and he was to be one of the escapees only to be withdrawn at the last minute, as he was needed too much in the hospital.
Rotarian Keith Pretty is heard recounting the story of the development of Bell Bird Park and the indoor sports complex with the roles played by Vin Bibby and Don Kelly.
There were also stories from the Drouin Cemetery, where our own Anita Coonan recounted the story of grave digger Josephine Smith, Ellen Burrows spoke of the Leith family who built the Railway Hotel, along with other stories of former residents who were of note for their deeds.
It was an extremely entertaining presentation that highlighted the need to gather, record and preserve such oral histories.
Copies of all compact disc recordings in the series can be borrowed from the Drouin Library or by contacting the History Society.
The Team lead by Judy Farmer is also planning to upload the recordings through the History Society's website.