Recent projects include family and corporate history projects, radio documentaries, and community storytelling programs. Examples are below:
Oral history training workshop for NT Writers Centre, 2024
I recently teamed up with Charlie Ward, NT historian and author, to present oral history training to writers, researchers, and people embarking on family history projects. Thanks NT Writers Centre for putting it together.
Helen and David Bond. Over 30 years working at Maningrida, NT
In these far-ranging interviews, Helen and David talk of their experiences working in, and being part of, this remote NT community, as community workers, advocates, teacher, mechanic and much, much more.
Interviews will be online soon at Library and Archives NT.
Fiona Darcy. Life at Mallapunyah Springs NT, travel agent
Fiona discusses her travels in the 1960’s in India, Iran, Pakistan, and Australia, her life at Mallapunyah Springs, Northern Territory, rodeo life the 1970s, and her travel agency Frangipani Holidays during the early days of Australian tourism in Bali.
Interview available at Library and Archive NT: Interview with Fiona Darcy
Lurdes Pires. East Timorese independence advocate, film maker
Lurdes Pires and her family fled East Timor in 1975 during the Indonesian invasion and settled in Darwin. For the next twenty-four years Lurdes fought for East Timor’s independence. Lurdes returned to East Timor in 1999 to help with the historic referendum for independence. Lurdes has worked as a film director and producer in Australia since 2000.
Interview available at Library and Archive NT: Interview with Lurdes Pires
Lyn Serventy. Teacher, community theatre worker
Lyn came to Darwin in the early seventies as a teacher. She describes Darwin life, working in schools, community theatre, and her ordeal surviving Cyclone Tracy with her husband and newborn baby. Lyn also discusses her role in the establishment of Browns Mart, Darwin’s long running community arts centre, and early arts projects at the centre.
Interview will be online soon at Library and Archives NT.
Peter Jones. Quaker and lifelong peace and human rights activist
Peter discusses his life as a Quaker, teacher, and as an activist for human rights, peace and environmental causes, his years travelling the world linking with activist organisations and participating in campaigns, being arrested and gaoled, and many of his other achievements and adventures!
Interview available at University of Tasmania library: Interview with Peter Jones.
Colin Dennison. Tasmanian collector and historian
Colin discusses his life collecting images of Tasmania, and his recent donation of the collection to University of Tasmania Library.
Interview available at University of Tasmania library: Interview with Colin Dennison
Michael Kieran Harvey and Arjun von Caemmerer: The Green Brain Cycle
Ben interviewed contemporary composer and performer Michael Kieran Harvey and poet Arjun von Caemmerer about their collaboration on the project The Green Brain Cycle. The interviews document Michael’s composition process, and the collaboration with Arjun and visual artist Brigita Ozolins.
Interviews available at University of Tasmania library:
Interview with Michael Kieran Harvey
Interview with Arjun von Caemmerer
Margaret Steadman
Ben interviewed prominent Hobart community member Margaret Steadman. The interviews capture her parents’ and grandparents’ family histories, and Margaret’s life story, from her childhood in England, immigration to Australia and early years in Western Australia, work and study, moving to Tasmania, community activism and more. Interview not available to the public.
Tony and Carol Prichard. Family history
Ben worked with Tony and Carol Prichard, Tasmania to create a booklet presenting their family history. It contains 14 hours of life stories on CD and usb, indexed for easy access, photos and a family tree. This was packaged in a glossy booklet for current and future generations. Interview not available to the public.
Australian Generations Oral History Project
Ben worked as an interviewer on this national research and archive project which collects hundreds of interviews for the National Library of Australia. A radio series has been produced for ABC Radio National.
Interviews available via National Library catalogue here
Colony 47
The Oral History Company captured the stories of staff members and ex-clients of this wonderful community organisation. The stories are used in Colony 47’s promotional and archival resources.
Radio documentaries for ABC Radio National:
The Church is Open. Where are the People?
Documentary exploring the history of the Catholic Church in Argentina. Broadcast 2013.
Figurines, Buenos Aires
The Tasmanian Mt Lyell mine disaster, 1912. Forty two miners died after a fire broke out the mine’s pump house. Broadcast 2012.
A rescued miner emerges.
Youth Justice series. ABC Radio National and JJJFM
Young people talk about their experiences with the NSW Juvenile Justice system. We trained the young people in story telling for radio and audio production.
I believe there is a serious problem between young people and police
I’m perceived as the good boy with morals among my friends
I seen a lot of bad stuff happen
I was a very stressed and angry young woman
History project for New Town Primary School.
Lenna Grainger went to New Town Primary School, Hobart during the time of the Second World War. In these three oral history pieces she tells of air raid shelters at the school, food rationing, school and home life.
Gloria and Lenna (reproduced with permission)
A. Lenna. The War Years (Photo story)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiuWyHYc2DI
B. Lenna. School (Audio)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMh98wOzAHE&feature=related
C. Lenna. Food shopping, family dinners (Audio)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjtILwR3f54&feature=related
Woman Sucked Into Pokie
Stories from people with gambling problems. These pieces came from a community writing project Ben directed. Radio, written text, video and visual art content was created, telling the stories of people surviving poker machine addictions.
When I first started gambling
Your account balance is zero zero zero
Community Broadcasting Association of Australia mental health project.
Ben collected stories from people with mental illness for this national project.
Chrissy. All my thoughts were spiralling downwards
Chrissy. Mum and Gran
There’s more info about the project here
oralhistorycompany.com 