Personal Stories
Join the Facebook Group
Childhood and Other Memories – Woolgoolga Facebook group
This group is about sharing our memories and making new ones
Reminiscences of Gwenyth Patricia Swan, née Pollack, 1986
From "Who are the Pollacks?" (Jo and Allen Brown, editors, Aug 1986, privately published, pp71–76). This book is subtitled "The Phyl Brown Octenary Celebration Booklet", and was produced to celebrate the 80th birthday of Phyllis Marjorie Pollack, the eldest of seven children of Alfred John Pollack and Janet Laura, née Watson. Gwenyth Patricia Pollack (1916–2003) was their youngest child.
Reminiscences from Who are the Pollacks - Gwenyth Patricia Swan - 1986.pdfJackie Remembers
Jackie Ganderton was born 10 February 1916 at Grafton. Her family moved to Woolgoolga when she was just seven years old.
This seven minute interview was recorded on 28 September 2017, at the Woolgoolga Retirement Village, by Mitchell Huthnance. Norm Michener asked the questions. Jackie’s daughter, Denise Macgregor-Skinner, kindly helped to set up the interview.
My Time In Woolgoolga
Don Clinch, 2015
My Time in Woolgoolga - Don Clinch - 2015.pdf Ron Rediger Reflects on His Life in the Bush
Written by Don Clinch, August 2013
Ron has made a most significant contribution to the development of forestry in the region and the Woolgoolga community.
Ron Rediger August 2013.pdf
Doing the Messages
A memory of childhood from a resident, 2004
Doing the Messages - A memory of childhood from a resident.pdfInterview with Ron Gray, Woolgoolga
Don Clinch, 5th July 2012
This interview consists of a history of the Gray Family but also involves the history of the banana industry in Woolgoolga as it involved the Gray family. Ron has a distinguished record in the industry.
Interview with Ron Gray - by Don Clinch.pdfA Punjabi Sikh Community in Australia
Chapter 2: From sojourners to settlers
Rashmere Bhatti conducted a number of interviews during 2000 and early 2001 with people living in the Woolgoolga-Coffs Harbour area and elsewhere about the Punjabis when they first came to this area. You can read at this site the responses she received regarding Marjorie Hedges, Peter Newman, Peter's wife, Berril Newman, Earl Richards, Vivian Thomas Slater, Janice O'Connell, Harry Gale, Robert John Laugher, Frederick George (Dood) Unwin, Iris Unwin (Dood's wife), Jean Robinson and Harbhajan Kaur Bains (the granddaughter of Baba Ram Singh who died in 1983, aged 106 years).
A Personal History of Woolgoolga Art Group
by Dianne Collins
Dianne Collins PERS HIST OF WGA ART GROUP.pdfInterview with Jenny Storum
Interview with Mrs Storum.pdf
A Short Story of My Life
by Beryl Hubbard Finedon
Beryl_Hubbard_Finedon.pdfReminiscences
Mrs Anna Martha Younger, née Hofmeier, as told to Nug Ganderton
Reminiscences of Anna Maria Younger nee Hofmeier from Nug Ganderton 1956.pdf
Roy Atkins and “The Meat Palace”
As told to Don Clinch and Doug Prendergast by family members and from personal knowledge, July 2013
Roy Atkins and the Meat Palace.pdfAlice Jane "Ma" Whitton
As related by Marj Haines to Don Clinch 20 May 2013
Alice Jane Whitton - by Marj Haines.pdf
Harold "Peter" Thompson
Interviewed in 1984 by Dr John Kramer
Peter Thompson interview with Fayle & McNeil.pdf
Alice Thompson Stories
Stories and Recollections compiled by Alice May Thompson née Younger, including “A VILLAGE IS BORN”, extracted from 1932 article by Thomas Richards
Alice Thompson stories.pdfMemories of Woolgoolga
Memories of Woolgoolga, by Peggy Graddock, July 2022
Memories of Woolgoolga, by Peggy Graddock, parts 1 and 2.pdfDigital Stories from Aged Care Residents
Sawtell Catholic Care of the Aged is a dynamic, innovative aged care organisation offering quality living experiences to its resident community.
In 2016 SCCA they wanted to start to capture some of the amazing life stories of their wonderful residents. Sharing a life story can be a validating and life affirming experience for the storyteller and has been shown to have beneficial effects on well being from depression through to mental cognition.
SCCA collaborated with Coffs Coast Community College and volunteers who worked with the storytellers from the SCCA community. It’s sometimes been quite an emotional journey for the storytellers to revisit their pasts, but they all say it’s been a wonderful positive experience in so many ways.
SCCA’s intention is to continue their community collaborations next year and build on this pilot project. They’d love to involve schools and other community participants to capture more stories for residents and their families as a way of building connection through generations and preserving this fascinating living history.
You can view the videos and there will be more to come!