Today, few can comprehend what it was like to live through the trauma of the
Great Depression as a child. Grinding poverty meant that many children had to
work - they had no option, for there was no social security, and an extended
childhood was an unaffordable luxury.
Despite this, the Depression Generation did not become hard a bitter.
Overall, they were a generous and relatively socially cohesive group.
This collection of interviews with people who grew up through the Depression
- men and women, urban and rural dwellers, native-born and migrant - portrays
the essence of this era. These are the speakers' own stories in their own words,
presenting a moving tribute to the courage, resourcefulness, resilience and
humour of the Depression Generation.
Contents:
Conversion Table
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Olive Rodgers: 'I've No Regrets'
2. Doug Martin: "Everything's More or Less Worked Out Well'
3. Kathleen Beatrice Sweeting: 'I've Taken History ... I've Lived It'
4. Jack Kirkpatrick: 'I Wouldm't Change My Life in Any Way'
5. Lorna May McLaren: 'I've Always Been Able to Have a Good Laugh'
6. Hans Christian Valdemar Dane Peder Sorensen: 'I Want to Go Back to My Own
Country'
7. Mary Campbell Johns: 'I've Been Happy'
8. Reg Baker: 'The Luckiest Day of My Life Was When I Met Marlene'
