Darebin Memories - Oral history recordings

Les Atkins

Les Atkins was born in Clifton Hill in 1924 but spent his early formative years in Spencer Street Preston.  In 1942 he joined the Australian Army and served in New Guinea, fighting in Wau, Salamaua and Lae.

After the war he returned to Preston and married Joan and raised his family in Preston.   He was interviewed in 2010.

Maise and Don Baker

Don and Maise Baker have spent their entire lives in Preston with Maise being born in Shakespeare Avenue about 1928.  They have many memories of life in the Preston and Resevoir area including the pubs, schools and nearby shops.

Joan Clinnick

Joan Clinnick has lived her entire life in Reservoir, indeed in the same house in Ralph Street Reservoir.  She attended Preston Girls School in Gower Street Preston, and after attending secretarial training worked for National Mutal for over thirty eight years.

Merv Lia

Merv Lia arrived in the Preston in the early 1960s and quickly established himself in the community.  An early member of the Preston Historical Society he quickly became an expert on the area.   Amongst his many passions was a deep interest in John Batman and the Batman treaty.   He was a leading participant in the saving of Bundoora Homestead from demolition in the 1990s.

Lexie Luly

The Luly family has links to Preston and Reservoir going back well into the 1800s when Lexie's grandfather established his flower gardens in Spring Street Reservoir.  His market gardens supplying flowers to the Queen Vic Market.    A local all her life, Lexie mixes a love of local history with a passion for travel which dates back to the early days of post war Europe.

Maurice O'Keefe

Maurice O'Keefe served in Bomber Command during the Second World War, flying as part of a Lancaster bomber crew.   His family ties to Northcote and Preston include his ancestor John O'Keefe who served as Shire President of Preston in 1879/80.  

Donald Thompson

Donald Thompson hails from Keon Park, an area he calls the posh part of Reservoir.   He spent most of his life working from Florsehim Shoes in Separation Street Northcote, progressing from an apprentice to a senior management role.