Thomas McKernan speaks about his life and career for Mel Pratt in the Mel Pratt collection [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 667963
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- McKernan, Thomas James, 1912-1979, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1978
- 2 sound tape reels (ca. 250 min.) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono. ; 7 in.
- Series:
- Mel Pratt collection.
- Summary:
-
McKernan, a journalist and overseas correspondent, publicity officer for the National Capital Development Commission, speaks about early childhood in Northcote; his family background; living conditions during World War I such as food rations, illness brought on by Spanish flu epidemic, education at St. Patrick's College from age 8-17; Melbourne cable trams, police strike of the 1920s as he was told by his father; lawlessness and looting by returned soldiers from WWI; death of father and poverty of McKernan family; first job as student teacher at Brighton Road School in St. Kilda; how he entered journalism in 1948 with Radio Australia; the aftermath of World War II; his work in publicity with Dept. of Immigration to attract migrants plus produce a newspaper promoting Australia; how Australians reacted to immigrants; how the Dept. of Information in 1949 headed by Kevin Murphy; was replaced by Menzies with the News and Information Bureau; Kevin Murphy's view of these events; his opnion of Mel Pratt as Director of the Bureau and Ian Hamilton; migrants' convention held in Melbourne celebrating the one millionth migrant to Australia.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on 6 February 1978.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-221588265
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (10 p.) and uncorrected draft transcript available (typescript, 97 leaves)
- Subject:
-
- McKernan, Thomas James, 1912-1979 -- Interviews
- Australia. National Capital Development Commission -- Officials and employees -- Interviews
- Australia. National Capital Development Commission -- Public relations
- Foreign correspondents -- Australia -- Interviews
- City planning -- Australian Capital Territory -- Canberra -- History
- Regional planning -- Australian Capital Territory -- Administration
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Pratt, Mel, -1986, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Mel Pratt collection.
This collection contains 99 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2048 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1978
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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