Erskineville Stories - Interview with Annie Kennedy
This short interview piece was published March 1st in City News from Alternative Media Group. The debut screening of the film is on Saturday, March 8th. See below for details.
Preserving Local History - Erskineville Stories
By Lachlan Jobbins
How well do we know our elderly neighbours? What do we really know about their lives?
These questions are the inspiration for Erskineville Stories by artist Annie Kennedy. The film traces the lives of 10 residents who have lived in the suburb since the 1920s. It screens for the first time at 6.30pm on Saturday March 8th at Harry Noble Reserve, Swanston St Erskineville. All are welcome.
After a neighbour passed away in 2006, Kennedy learned that the woman had lived in Macdonald St all her life. “I started hearing snippets of information, and I realised how little I knew about her. Although we had talked about this and that - local issues, the weather - I began to regret that we’d never had a conversation about her.”
“It occurred to me that we often aren’t having these conversations with the people around us, and that as they die, they take so much history with them.”
She decided to learn more about the elderly residents and to preserve their stories on film. She began interviewing locals in their homes, and was amazed at how receptive they were. The resulting film is a combination of interviews and archival images.
The residents’ tales are interlaced with experiences of the Great Depression and WWII, the transition of women to work in the 40s and 50s, and the development of the factories and the union movement. They illustrate the incredible changes that have swept through the area in the last 100 years.
One resident, Frances Cusack, has lived in Malcolm St almost all her life. During the war she worked in the tailoring trade, making soldiers’ uniforms and two-piece suits. She moved to Albert St after she married, then returned to Malcolm St with her mother. Her home has been in the family for 75 years.
Brian and Arthur Dunningham were born on Prospect St. They lived at one end until their family grew too big, then moved to their grandparents’ home at the other end of the street. Their father, Arthur “Spargo” Dunningham, was a prize fighter who trained at the gym above the local dry cleaners.
Kennedy hopes the screening will be an opportunity for people of all ages to come together as a community and share their stories. From April, the film will also be available to borrow from local libraries.
Erskineville Stories was funded by the community with the sponsorship of Ray White Newtown, the City of Sydney, and support from FedEx Kinko’s and Purple Goat Design. For more information, email erskinevillestories@gmail.com.au
Tags: Alternative Media Group
