Milton Whiting interviewed by Rob Linn in the Drought oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 4497848
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Whiting, M. S. (Milton Stanley), 1922-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2008
- 1 sound file (ca. 60 min.)
- Series:
- Drought oral history project.
- Summary:
-
Milton Whiting discusses his family background; the settlement of his father on an irrigation block after WW1; his earliest memories of the block and school; memories of block irrigation; the late 1930s and the intensity of dust storms at Merbein, caused by methods of cultivation; ideas on how to conserve Murray River water by building of temporary weir; his father's death in 1958 and taking over work on the block 1945-1947; his war service in WWII in RAAF including being interned in a POW camp; his post war life on the block at Merbein; moving to Robinvale (1947); work on the Robinvale block and memories of early years there; the nature of community and closeness of first 39 settlers; entering into Victorian parliament as MLA local member in September 1962; elections and influence of Commonwealth legislation on local affairs, local politics and experiences of father; the difficulties of parliamentary life; rural constituents and the problems they faced with the environment.
Whiting talks about farming life and situations in the 1960s and 1970s; his view on how a local member can assist in times of drought; an overseas study trip on desalination plants and informing parliament of the need to address dry land salinity; a visit to USA (1986) to study how communities cope with drought and the applicability to Mallee district life; commencing his involvement with the new social welfare organisation Mallee Family Care based at Mildura; the Government and its reaction to drought; informing parliament of rural needs; water issues and conservation, the over commitment of Murray River water to irrigation; the community reaction to water problems.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on August 15, 2008 at Mildura, Vic.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (2 p.) and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 28 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- Whiting, M. S. (Milton Stanley), 1922- -- Interviews
- Victoria. Parliament -- Officials and employees
- Politicians -- Victoria -- Interviews
- Droughts -- Victoria -- History
- Farmers -- Victoria -- Mallee -- Interviews
- Salinity -- Victoria -- Mallee
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, Australian -- Personal narratives
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Linn, Rob, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Drought oral history project.
This collection contains 23 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2078 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2008
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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