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Evelyn Healy Oral History (1912-2009)
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DescriptionThis interview consists of three audio recordings and transcripts. Evelyn Healy was interviewed on 20 November 2002 at Mrs Healy's home by Shirley Kingsford McLeod
Interview SummaryEvelyn Healy was born in Ballarat, Victoria. Her parents were of Northern Irish heritage. She had one sister. Her father was a bank teller in Ballarat and his first posting as a manager was to Stoney Creek in South Gippsland and from there they were sent to Euroa where Evelyn received her primary education. Her secondary education was at Numurkah in the Goulburn Valley until her father was once again moved, to Echuca this time. She completed her education at the age of 18 at Northern Church of England Girls’ Grammar School in Warnambool.
Her family intended for her to study Law but she did not particularly like it. Instead she chose Art. She left home to go to Melbourne in 1938 and was to remain an artist for the the rest of her life. Evelyn worked in commercial art then became a reporter for a trade journal which dealt with women’s and men’s fashions. At night she attended classes at the Victorian Arts Society where she did life modelling and it was here that she became involved in left wing politics.
The War began in 1939 and she tells of life during the war. She also tells of her rapidly growing interest in politics and her involvement in the Communist Party. She joined a group of leftist artists and moved to Sydney.
In Sydney she worked in industry and did an engineering course. At one time there she began working for De Havilland at Camperdown. It was no secret that she was a Communist and she well remembers the Petrov affair of the 1950s.
Evelyn married Charlie Walters and they had a son named Max. The marriage did not work out and she and her son moved into what was little more than a shed in Cabramatta. She later remarried and it was during this marriage that she attended more life are classes. Evelyn describes how mothers would send their sons to those classes so that they could become familiar with ‘the birds and the bees’.
In her interview she gives very strong opinions of art in Australia such as ‘Blue Poles’ and the art of Brett Whitely, William Dobell and many other popular artists of the time. She became a member of the Fairfield Art Society and was later involved in forming the Cabramatta and District Art Society.
Evelyn taught art at various places and at schools including at Cabramatta and continued her study of various forms of art. She details interestingly the art scene of the time and her friendship with Ray Mount Speers, a well renowned artist who lived at Horsley Park.
Evelyn describes her work with Anthony Horderns and Grace Brothers where she did lightning sketches for about 15 years. She also details her study and work using various media. She also tells of her three marriages over many years and her continuous involvement with many social issues such as Nuclear Disarmament and Aboriginal issues.
At the time of this interview, Evelyn was still very much involved in art, particularly in portraiture.
Evelyn Healy passed away in 2009.
Interview SummaryEvelyn Healy was born in Ballarat, Victoria. Her parents were of Northern Irish heritage. She had one sister. Her father was a bank teller in Ballarat and his first posting as a manager was to Stoney Creek in South Gippsland and from there they were sent to Euroa where Evelyn received her primary education. Her secondary education was at Numurkah in the Goulburn Valley until her father was once again moved, to Echuca this time. She completed her education at the age of 18 at Northern Church of England Girls’ Grammar School in Warnambool.
Her family intended for her to study Law but she did not particularly like it. Instead she chose Art. She left home to go to Melbourne in 1938 and was to remain an artist for the the rest of her life. Evelyn worked in commercial art then became a reporter for a trade journal which dealt with women’s and men’s fashions. At night she attended classes at the Victorian Arts Society where she did life modelling and it was here that she became involved in left wing politics.
The War began in 1939 and she tells of life during the war. She also tells of her rapidly growing interest in politics and her involvement in the Communist Party. She joined a group of leftist artists and moved to Sydney.
In Sydney she worked in industry and did an engineering course. At one time there she began working for De Havilland at Camperdown. It was no secret that she was a Communist and she well remembers the Petrov affair of the 1950s.
Evelyn married Charlie Walters and they had a son named Max. The marriage did not work out and she and her son moved into what was little more than a shed in Cabramatta. She later remarried and it was during this marriage that she attended more life are classes. Evelyn describes how mothers would send their sons to those classes so that they could become familiar with ‘the birds and the bees’.
In her interview she gives very strong opinions of art in Australia such as ‘Blue Poles’ and the art of Brett Whitely, William Dobell and many other popular artists of the time. She became a member of the Fairfield Art Society and was later involved in forming the Cabramatta and District Art Society.
Evelyn taught art at various places and at schools including at Cabramatta and continued her study of various forms of art. She details interestingly the art scene of the time and her friendship with Ray Mount Speers, a well renowned artist who lived at Horsley Park.
Evelyn describes her work with Anthony Horderns and Grace Brothers where she did lightning sketches for about 15 years. She also details her study and work using various media. She also tells of her three marriages over many years and her continuous involvement with many social issues such as Nuclear Disarmament and Aboriginal issues.
At the time of this interview, Evelyn was still very much involved in art, particularly in portraiture.
Evelyn Healy passed away in 2009.
Details
IntervieweeEvelyn HealyInterviewerShirley Kingsford McLeodDate of interview20/11/2002DurationTotal interview 01:23:55Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City CouncilAccess ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use
Connections
Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldCollectionAll Oral Histories
Evelyn Healy Oral History (1912-2009). Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 26/07/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1442