Below are some of the interviews we conducted – all the interviewees requested that they approve any final published product and permission has been given. Two interviewees have decided to withdraw from the project.
Jim and Sandy – Seamus interviewed 16/5/2013 for around one and a half hours. Discussed “Idlewild” – a large property cooperatively owned by many of the “first round” of hippies at Chili Beach. Talked about various characters including Barbara Holdsworth who kept plaster casts of animals paw prints she had found in the area (including a 16 clawed cat). Barbara was well-known eccentric in the Cape and actually lived in the house where Jim and Sandy now live.
Lucy – Cate and Seamus interviewed on 26/5/2013 – 1 hour. It was fascinating interviewing Lucy. She is one of the elders in Lockhart River and a traditional owner. She told us about her grandmother being dis-possessed from her traditional country (up near the Pascoe River) and being taken back there once a year on a trawler – and being terribly upset by this.
Geoff & Helen – Seamus travelled to Cooktown on 26/6/2013 and talked for 2.5 hours. Geoff was the postmaster at Portland Roads for quite a few years as was his father, Ross before him who was considered the “mayor” of the area. Geoff is a font of knowledge on the area and history – also had some great photos.
Brian and John – Seamus interviewed on 13/7/2013 at Cape Weymouth – 2 hours. John currently lives in Brian’s house (Brian now lives mostly in Cairns). Between the two of them I got a huge amount of history. John Pritchard also used to lived on Restoration Island from 1987 to 1995. They talked about a great many things including the “full moon markets” at Portland Roads. Also remembered some of the eccentric characters who lived up here.
Jeff H – Seamus interviewed on 11/7/2013 Jeff has lived in the area since 1983 – he came up here with his wife and her brother, Shane who said: ‘don’t bother about anywhere else, go to Chili Beach. You spend your three months there, you’ll have more fun there…’. They took the advice and Jeff has never left. He’s been a fisherman and resident. He had quite a few photos.
Seamus visited Restoration Island on 21/5/2013 with Ewen and Jo from the Queensland Museum and talked to Resto Dave (Dave Glasheen), Gregor, Lindsay and a couple of other people for about 2 hours.
Resto Dave lives on the island and is quite famous – we discussed the hippies who lived on Chili Beach; French Stephanie (who now lives at Ayton) and owned the original Bligh’s Galley (a well-respected restaurant at Portland Roads); Big Stephanie, who was the matriarch of Chili Beach; the unfortunately nick-named “Slack” Dick – a well-educated alcoholic black-sheep from a respected family; and many others. This was just a chat – I’ve got notes and photos but no actual interview.
We have also collected photos which we’ve scanned – some are here