Margaret Jean Perrett Oral History

Main

DescriptionThis interview consists of three audio recordings and transcripts. Margaret Jean Perrett was interviewed on 12 May 2004 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Shirley Kingsford McLeod.

The interview was for the "War Veterans oral history project" in partnership with Fairfield RSL.Interview SummaryMargaret Jean Perrett was born in Australia on the 5th June 1923. Her mother's maiden name was O'Malley, her father’s name was Alexander Thompson, she has three brothers, Patrick (born in 1923), John (born in 1925) and Alexander (born in 1927).

The Thompson family migrated from Scotland to Australia; they travelled by ship to Australia. The family initially lived in Balmain, then moved to Coogee, Lidcombe, Blacktown and eventually settled in Pendle Hill.

Margaret attended Lidcombe Public School and Blacktown Public School for her primary education. She then attended high school in North Parramatta, studying Domestic Science.

Margaret comes from a family of Servicemen, her father was in the Navy and her brothers were in the Army. Margaret herself enlisted at 19 in the AWAS (Australians Women's Army Service) from 1942 to 1945 where she served as a Signal woman and then a Driver. Her military career saw her train and work in Ingleburn, Port Kembla (as a signal woman and learning to drive convoy trucks), Bonegilla and Victoria Barracks (driving military staff).

She married Thomas Noel Perrett (an electrician who worked on the railways) in 1947 in Pendle Hill; the couple had three children, Russell, Neil, and Jane.

After the war, Margaret worked for many years as a model milliner; she worked at Tony Rodd, in a workroom above a shop in the Imperial Arcade in Sydney specialising in Modern millinery, making hats for the Melbourne Cup.

At the time of the interview, Margaret lived in Canley Vale.

Transcript

Interview Transcript - Margaret Jean Perrett - Part 3

Interview Transcript - Margaret Jean Perrett - Part 2

Interview Transcript - Margaret Jean Perrett - Part 1

Audio

Interview with Margaret Jean Perrett - Part 3

Interview with Margaret Jean Perrett - Part 2

Interview with Margaret Jean Perrett - Part 1

Details

IntervieweeMargaret Jean PerrettFull/other names, TitlesMargaret Jean ThompsonInterviewerShirley Kingsford McLeodDate of interview12/05/2004DurationTotal interview 00:57:11Transcripts availableYesRightsFairfield City Council Access ConditionsAccess open for research, written permission required for personal copies and public use

Connections

Oral History ProjectThe Way We Were - People of FairfieldLocal War VeteransAll Oral HistoriesCollectionMilitary Collection