Shirley Kingsford McLeod Oral History

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DescriptionThis interview consists of four audio recordings and transcripts. Shirley Kingsford McLeod was interviewed on 25 July 2001 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Julie Adamson.
Interview SummaryShirley Kingsford McLeod was born at Fairview Private Hospital in Fairfield on 6 March 1934. Her parents were Norman McAlister McLeod of Smithfield, who was a quarryman at Widemere Quarry at Wetherill Park and Edith Gwendolyn Hunt (Gwen) of Wetherill Park, a secretary at AGC in Sydney. Shirley also had two brothers: Norman Frank and Kevin William (Bill). Her father later became a part time journalist for The Biz newspaper in Fairfield where he wrote a news column about the people of Smithfield.

Shirley first lived at 33 Neville Street Smithfield and after World War Two moved to a newly built home at 81 Oxford Street Smithfield. Her education was at Smithfield Public School and later at Parramatta High School. On leaving school aged 14 she attended Burroughs Business College in Sydney where she learnt to be a comptometer operator. Before her marriage she worked at The Metropolitan Meat Industry Commission at Homebush.

Her husband was German Ernst Willi Jurgeit and together they had five children: Chris, Lisa, Steven, Helene and Martin. Shirley and Ernst separated in 1973. Shirley now has 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Over the years Shirley was employed by Bonds, Rheem and Rexona, she also obtained a cab driver’s licence and drove at night after work and at weekends to help support her family.

Always an adventurer at heart she took up gliding at RAAF Richmond in 1977 where she had 24 flights. Then came skydiving where she survived 36 solo jumps at Wilton. In 1988 she also signed on as a crew member with the Bi-Centenary Fleet of square riggers and sailed from Hobart to Newcastle on the Swedish barquentine ‘Amorina’.

In 2005, aged 71, Shirley obtained an Advanced Diploma of Local, Family and Applied History from the University of New England at Armidale. Since then she has volunteered for Fairfield City completing over 200 oral history interviews and assisted in the editing of local history publications.

Details

IntervieweeShirley Kingsford McLeodInterviewerJulie AdamsonDate of interview25/07/2011DurationTotal interview: 1:54:20Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City CouncilAccess ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use

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Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldCollectionAll Oral HistoriesPeopleShirley Kingsford McLeod

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