Photographer David Roberts gets set to record living history. Members of the Upper Yarra Living History Project joined local timber industry identities and their families to have their photo taken as as part of the project.By Kath Gannaway
FORMER timber workers and their families came together recently to share their memories of the pre World War II timber industry in the Upper Yarra and to have their photo taken for posterity.
The gathering was one component of an oral history project Upper Yarra Living History, which is part of a wider project, the Upper Yarra Community Forests Program.
The 80-year-old camera recording the event, an ultra-large format camera, is in itself a piece of living history.
Photographer David Roberts said the type of camera, generically called ‘banquet cameras’ was perfect for the occasion.
“With the eight-inch by 20-inch format, it was made initially for photographing large groups of people. I don’t just use them just because they are nostalgic or old. The detail and tonality you get from this type of camera is just stunning and you can’t get it otherwise,” he said. UYLH committee member John Ridley said the aim of the oral history project was to capture as much material as was possible, going as far back as possible, on what life was like working in the bush.
“Taped interviews were done back in 1988 but the quality of some of them is quite poor and we are trying to find people who are still around to do fresh interviews,” Mr Ridley said.
Another part of the project has involved groups of two or more timber workers visiting local schools to share their experiences with the students. Mr Ridley said the aim was to produce a collection of material, which tells the story of the Upper Yarra and, ultimately, to have the collection lodged with the National Oral History Archives.
The project is ongoing and anyone who would like to contribute can contact James Ashton on 5967 3675.
