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Kathy Curran Oral History
Main
DescriptionThis interview consists of two audio recordings and transcripts. Kathy Curran was interviewed on 3 August 2006 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod.
Interview SummaryKathy was born in October 1971 at the old Fairfield Hospital which was on The Horsley Drive at Fairfield and she has lived at Canley Vale from her birth. She has two sisters both of whom are school teachers. Kathy’s parents grew up in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney and married in 1958. They later moved to Canley Vale where they built a family home. Her mother worked for Waltons in Sydney and her father was a customs agent. Her father sadly passed away from cancer at the age of 53.
Kathy has a vivid memory of the home they lived in. It was made of fibro as most of the new homes were in those days however her father renovated it and extended it to make it more liveable.
Her education was at a pre-school at Canley Heights, then Sacred Heart School in Cabramatta where she spent her primary years. She went to Our Lady of the Rosary in Fairfield, and later to Cerdon College at Merrylands to complete her secondary years.
After school she worked at a law firm in Sydney and studied at TAFE at night where she did library practice. She endured a culture shock when she needed to go through the Devonshire Street tunnel to get to TAFE and also on train travel home at night. She worked in the city for three and a half years and then worked at the University of Western Sydney at the Campbelltown campus.
Kathy tells of her life in the Cabramatta area especially of the multitude of migrants who made it their home. She understands and applauds those who for various reasons came and settled the area and of the contributions that they have made. She particularly loves the foods they have brought with them.
Kathy worked at Bankstown Library and has strong views on the problems women encounter in that area. She voices her opinion of the culture that existed there at the time of the interview. She has strong thoughts of different cultures and is very observant of the pros and cons.
In her job at the Family Court Library in Parramatta she encountered immense security when entering the building and in her subsequent work at Auburn Library she once again found a culture shock in that she, as a woman, was treated as inferior.
At the time of the interview Kathy is working at The Royal Australian Historical Society in Macquarie Street Sydney where she specialises in NSW local history. She describes the workings of the Society and its worth to this country, especially in the manner in which old books are repaired and conserved. Kathy also voices her opinions on the value of volunteers in maintaining books and newspapers for future generations.
Kathy at the time of this interview was also studying for the Advanced Diploma of Local, Family and Applied History through University of New England at Armidale. She is particularly interested in truth in history rather than a one sided version.
In Kathy’s memoirs she describes her birthdays and Christmases....how they were celebrated, what they ate and the gifts they received. She also describes how Empire night was celebrated with bonfires and crackers and it is a wonderful description of life in the seventies and eighties.
Kathy’s interview was most enlightening and she has shown that she is a thinker who does not judge until she has weighed up all the options. She was very candid and most impressive in her observations of people and lifestyles.
Interview SummaryKathy was born in October 1971 at the old Fairfield Hospital which was on The Horsley Drive at Fairfield and she has lived at Canley Vale from her birth. She has two sisters both of whom are school teachers. Kathy’s parents grew up in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney and married in 1958. They later moved to Canley Vale where they built a family home. Her mother worked for Waltons in Sydney and her father was a customs agent. Her father sadly passed away from cancer at the age of 53.
Kathy has a vivid memory of the home they lived in. It was made of fibro as most of the new homes were in those days however her father renovated it and extended it to make it more liveable.
Her education was at a pre-school at Canley Heights, then Sacred Heart School in Cabramatta where she spent her primary years. She went to Our Lady of the Rosary in Fairfield, and later to Cerdon College at Merrylands to complete her secondary years.
After school she worked at a law firm in Sydney and studied at TAFE at night where she did library practice. She endured a culture shock when she needed to go through the Devonshire Street tunnel to get to TAFE and also on train travel home at night. She worked in the city for three and a half years and then worked at the University of Western Sydney at the Campbelltown campus.
Kathy tells of her life in the Cabramatta area especially of the multitude of migrants who made it their home. She understands and applauds those who for various reasons came and settled the area and of the contributions that they have made. She particularly loves the foods they have brought with them.
Kathy worked at Bankstown Library and has strong views on the problems women encounter in that area. She voices her opinion of the culture that existed there at the time of the interview. She has strong thoughts of different cultures and is very observant of the pros and cons.
In her job at the Family Court Library in Parramatta she encountered immense security when entering the building and in her subsequent work at Auburn Library she once again found a culture shock in that she, as a woman, was treated as inferior.
At the time of the interview Kathy is working at The Royal Australian Historical Society in Macquarie Street Sydney where she specialises in NSW local history. She describes the workings of the Society and its worth to this country, especially in the manner in which old books are repaired and conserved. Kathy also voices her opinions on the value of volunteers in maintaining books and newspapers for future generations.
Kathy at the time of this interview was also studying for the Advanced Diploma of Local, Family and Applied History through University of New England at Armidale. She is particularly interested in truth in history rather than a one sided version.
In Kathy’s memoirs she describes her birthdays and Christmases....how they were celebrated, what they ate and the gifts they received. She also describes how Empire night was celebrated with bonfires and crackers and it is a wonderful description of life in the seventies and eighties.
Kathy’s interview was most enlightening and she has shown that she is a thinker who does not judge until she has weighed up all the options. She was very candid and most impressive in her observations of people and lifestyles.
Details
IntervieweeKathy CurranInterviewerShirley Kingsford McLeodDate of interview03/08/2006DurationTotal interview: 01:59:06Transcripts 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
Kathy Curran Oral History. Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 07/03/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1538