Format: Oral History

Linked To

Oral History Project

All Oral Histories

People

Shirley Kingsford McLeod

Photograph

Related Items (19)

Transcript

Oral History (4)

Audio

Oral History (4)

Recollections

Add

no stories yet

Tools

Download Add to My Collection Contact us about this Citation for this item

Shirley Kingsford McLeod Oral History

Main

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.

Photograph

Norman McAlister McLeod

The Hunt Family

Norm McLeod with dead snakes, Smithfield NSW, c. 1920

Members of the Hunt family posing at tennis court at their home at Hillview, Wetherill Park NSW, c. 1929

Shirley Kingsford McLeod in a split sit pose outside the Smithfield Literary Institute, Smithfield NSW, c. 1943

The McLeod children, Smithfield NSW, c. 1908

Edith Gwendolyne McLeod (nee Hunt), Smithfield NSW, c. 1975

The McLeod children wearing dad's air-force gear, Wetherill Park NSW, c. 1938

Four generations of Robson/Hunt/McLeod Families, Smithfield NSW, c. 1936

Shirley Kingsford McLeod age 41, c. 1975

Shirley Kingsford McLeod- Sailing in Bass Strait on sailing ship "Amorina", c. 1988

Shirley Kingsford McLeod- Skydiving, Wilton NSW, c. 1979

Shirley Kingsford McLeod age two, Smithfield NSW, c. 1936

Shirley Kingsford McLeod dressed as a Powder Puff, Smithfield NSW, c. 1937

Family of Shirley McLeod and Ernst Jurgeit, Smithfield NSW, c. 1988

Wedding of Shirley Kingsford McLeod to Ernst Willi Jurgeit, Smithfield NSW, 1955

Norman Frank, Kevin William (Bill) and Shirley Kingsford McLeod, Wetherill Park NSW, c. 1938

Norman McLeod and wife Gwen McLeod, c. 1944

Portrait of Alderman Frank Richard Hunt, c. 1920s

Transcript

Interview Transcript - Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 3

Interview Transcript - Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 1

Interview Transcript - Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 4

Interview Transcript - Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 2

Audio

Interview with Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 1

Interview with Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 3

Interview with Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 2

Interview with Shirley Kingsford McLeod - Part 4

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

Connections

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