Gordon and Avor Taig and sons Geoff and Peter interviewed by Gregg Borschmann in the People's forest oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2976360
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Taig, Gordon (Gordon Edward), 1912-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1993
- 4 digital audio tapes (335 min.)
- Series:
- People's forest oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Avor, Gordon , Geoff and Peter are members of the Taig family that established one of the first commercial distillery of eucalyptus oil in northern Victoria in the mid 1960's. Avor, born in Arnold, Vic. 1914 speaks of how her grandmother, Mrs McKean was the founder of the family's eucalyptus oil business in the late 1890's, providing employment for cutters from around the area; customers from as far as Bendigo & Melbourne; her grandmother's early battles with theState government to retain her lease; the business lapsing during the war years; Avor's problems with Health Dept. regulations during the 1960's which put an end to liniment making. Gordon, her husband, born in Kingower, Vic. in 1912 speaks of working as a contract timber worker with his 2 brothers and father for the Railways, Post Dept.,Southern Electricity Commission, local power stations, Bendigo mines; marrying and moving to Arnold in 1942.
Gordon Taig speaks of the Depression and his experiences training & working with "sustenance gangs", a forest work project established by the government at the time; being commandeered during WWII by the Forest Commission to work in what was classed as an essential service; a work accident which finished his career as a wheat and wood merchant; his decision in the late 1950's to re work the eucalyptus leases and of his sons Geoff & Peter joining the business; the introduction of mechanised cutting in the 1960's; problems of competition with inferior, imported oils introduced onto the market by major Australian distillers & wholesalers; the need for State & Federal government support and tax incentives to survive; potential problems from environmental groups lobbying to remove eucalypts from crown lands in central Victoria and to create new national parks; the next generation of Taigs.
- Partial contents:
- Interviews: DAT 1: Gordon Edward Taig; DAT 2: Avor Beryl Taig and Gordon Edward Taig; DAT 3: Geoff Edward Taig and Peter David Taig; DAT 4: Gordon Edward Taig, Geoff Edward Taig and Peter David Taig.
- Notes:
-
- No transcript available for combined interview of Geoff and Peter Taig; combined interview of Gordon, Geoff and Peter.
- Recorded on July 11-12 1993 in Arnold, Vic.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary available. Corrected transcript available for interview with Gordon Taig and combined interview with Gordon and Avor Taig (typescript 56 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Taig, Gordon (Gordon Edward), 1912- -- Interviews
- Taig, Geoff (Geoff Edward) -- Interviews
- Taig, Peter (Peter David) -- Interviews
- Taig, Avor Beryl, 1914-1994 -- Interviews
- Truck drivers -- Victoria -- Social conditions -- 1901-1945
- Truck drivers -- Victoria -- Economic conditions -- 1901-1945
- Loggers -- Victoria -- Economic conditions -- 1901-1945
- Distilling industries -- Victoria -- Eucalyptus
- Eucalyptus -- Victoria -- Ecology
- Loggers -- Victoria -- Social conditions -- 1901-1945
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the People's forest oral history project.
This collection contains 93 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2063 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1993
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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