Jim Powell has had an eventful life. During his time as a firefighter, he was heavily involved in tragedies such as the Christmas Day bushfires and the Waterfall train disaster. He also talks about his childhood memories of Helensburgh and his mother Rona teaching children evacuated from Croker Island during WWII. Jim was a member of the Helensburgh Conservation Society, which was instrumental in saving the Garrawarra State Conservation Area from development. 

Listen to Jim’s Interviews

[Part One] with interviewer Edie Swift:

[Part Two] with interviewer Edie Swift:

[Part Three] with interviewer Stuart Traynor:

Jim’s audio interviews can be downloaded here: Part One, Part Two, and Part Three.

Jim’s interview transcript: Part One

Keywords

Helensburgh – Family History – Bushfires – Firefighters – Surf Life Saving – Croker Island Aboriginal Children – Garrawarra – Helensburgh Conservation Society

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Jim Powell’s Interview Transcript – Part 2
Jim Powell’s Interview Transcript – Part 3

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Jim’s Photo Album

Jim Powell playing in his grandfather’s cart – 1947

Jack and Sarah Foulds with their first grandchild, James (Jim) Powell – 1945

1942, 3 July – Wally Powell and Rona Foulds on their wedding day – 3 July, 1942

Jim Powell

Jim Powell (fifth in back row) in Fifth Class at Helensburgh Public School – 1955. The teacher is A. Hogben.

Jim Powell on his Mum’s horse Prince at Blue Gum in 1954

Jim Powell in Second Class with his mum Rona as the teacher – 1952

P22712 – Jim Powell, 1987

Wally Powell (wearing hat) with workmates constructing a new igloo in Walker Street, Helensburgh – 1951

P03910 – Helensburgh Life Savers, c.1910

Rona (teacher) with Second Class students – 1947

Rona shopping in Sydney with Croker Islands girls – 1942

Rona Foulds and Norma Jones – beach patrol Stanwell Park Beach – 1940

Mary and Rona with horse Prince at Blue Gum in 1939

Rona (middle) at St George High School – 1935

Rona with parents Jack and Sarah in new home, Blue Gum – 1933

Rona Foulds (shortest) in Helensburgh Public School play – 1932

1932 – Jim’s mother Rona (eighth from left in middle row) in Sixth Class, Helensburgh Public School – 1932

Helensburgh Public School in 1950

Jim with his Dad at Blue Gum in 1947

John Foulds with his parents while on leave during World War Two – 1942

Jim demonstrates grafting at the NSW Camellia Show in Ravenswood Girls’ School, Gordon – 2016

Helensburgh Bushfires

Jim being elected President of Camellias Australia – 2011

Jim receiving his two Commissioner’s Commendation Awards in 2008

Jim working at Rhonrae Jewellers in Sydney – 1970

Helensburgh Town Band in the street parade opening of the town’s swimming pool – 1969

First of the sixty plus Nissan Huts built for immigrants in Walker and Heathcote Streets, Helensburgh between 1950 and 1953

Leaving the house in Blue Gum in 1964

Arriving at house in Robertson Street next day – 1964

The Bush Fire truck that lost its battery on way to a fire at Cemetery Road – 1955

Jim, Chris, and John on the front step at Blue Gum – 1954

The new St. Joseph’s Catholic School – 1954

Jim Powell

More photographs of Aboriginal children from Croker Island at Otford (1943-1946) can be viewed in the library catalogue here.