Denise Ann Restall Oral History

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DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. Denise Ann Restall was interviewed on 26 July 2003 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Marilyn Oshana.
Interview SummaryDenise Ann Restall, nee Bristow, was born in London, England on 21 July 1948. At the age of seven she and her family came by boat as assisted migrants to Australia arriving at Pyrmont on 31 August 1955. She was accompanied by her parents and two brothers and a sister. Two more children were to be born after arrival in Australia. Times in England were not happy after World War Two and many British families migrated away to other parts of the Commonwealth in the hope of a better life.

The boat voyage took six weeks and on disembarking they were driven by bus to Cabramatta Migrant Hostel where they remained for six years. They later moved to a Housing Commission house in Mount Pritchard. Denise returned to Cabramatta later and was still living there to the date of this interview in 2003.

Denise describes in detail the life lived by migrants in hostels and the hardships they endured. She shares about rules, foods and enforced living but also the fun parts of hostel living.

Her schooling in Australia was initially at Cabramatta Public School then later at Cabramatta West Public School and Mount Pritchard Primary School. Later she attended Cabramatta High School and Bonnyrigg High school.

At the age of fifteen Denise had a baby out of wedlock and she shares the story of that pregnancy, the subsequent parting and eventual reunion with her ‘stolen’ baby boy. Denise later married and had two more children. This interview shows her love in particular for Cabramatta.

Transcript

Interview Transcript - Denise Ann Restall - Part 4

Interview Transcript - Denise Ann Restall - Part 3

Interview Transcript - Denise Ann Restall - Part 2

Interview Transcript - Denise Ann Restall - Part 1

Audio

Interview with Denise Ann Restall - Part 4

Interview with Denise Ann Restall - Part 3

Interview with Denise Ann Restall - Part 2

Interview with Denise Ann Restall - Part 1

Details

IntervieweeDenise Ann RestallInterviewerMarilyn OshanaDate of interview26/07/2003DurationTotal interview: 01:35:82Transcripts 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 FairfieldAll Oral Histories