Everyone has a story. Listen to the memories of local residents as they recount their experiences of living in the Warrawong, Port Kembla & Cringila regions.
Click on the residents’ names or photos for more information and to listen to their stories.
In early 2023 Maxyne Graham, retired co-ordinator of the centre, interviewed people who had been part of the activities and services at the Warrawong Community Centre over the years. You can hear their memories and reflections.
Listen to Warrawong Community Centre interviews here.
Chris Adams
Port Kembla
Chris grew up in Lake Heights and worked at Lysaght’s. His parents were members of the Communist Party.
Listen to Chris’s story here.
Preview:
Reminiscences of the Port Kembla Waterfront during the Depression Years
Port Kembla
Between 23 September 1976 and 6 January 1977, Glenn Mitchell interviewed several people about their experiences on the Port Kembla waterfront during the Depression years of the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. The audio files have been digitised from cassette tapes and are uneven in quality.
Listen to the stories of the Port Kembla Waterfront here.
Preview:
Lance Puckeridge
Port Kembla
Lance Puckeridge gives a candid account of his experience growing up in Port Kembla and his work as a Pastor for Missions to Seamen.
Listen to Lance’s story here.
Preview:
Greg Firman
Primbee
Greg has lived in Primbee all his life and worked in the building industry. He now volunteers at Warrawong Community Centre’s community lunches and Men’s Group.
Listen to Greg’s story here.
Preview:
Doug Cox
Primbee
Doug grew up in Port Kembla and worked as an engineer at the Steelworks from 1964 to 2007.
Listen to Doug’s story here.
Preview:
Ray Jones
Port Kembla
Ray and his family have lived in Port Kembla for generations, have worked locally and been active members of the community.
Listen to Ray’s story here.
Preview:
Barbara Jones
Berkeley
Barbara was born in England and migrated to Australia by ship in the 1950s, spending a few years at the Unanderra hostel before settling into Norfolk Street, Berkeley.
Listen to Barbara’s story here.
Preview:
Noeline Maloney
Berkeley
Born in the 1930s, country girl Noeline moved to the city and then to the Illawarra.
Listen to Noeline’s story here.
Preview:
John Mallia
Port Kembla
John migrated to Australia from Malta in 1949 and made a better life for his family. He was interviewed by Barry York in 1984.
Listen to John’s story here.
Preview:
Nella Keenan
Port Kembla
Nella was born in Port Kembla to Italian immigrants in the early 1960’s.
Listen to Nella’s story here.
Preview:
John Garcia
Warrawong
Born in 1940 in a Spanish refugee camp in France, John came to Australia when he was twelve. He lived in Victoria for four years before moving the Warrawong/Port Kembla area.
Listen to John’s story here.
Preview:
Port Kembla
Diana worked tirelessly for the Jobs for Women Campaign in Port Kembla in the 1980’s. She is the author of “Najdovska and others – a history of the Wollongong Jobs for Women Campaign 1980-1994”.
Listen to Diana’s story here.
Preview:
Frances Chick and Mary Mackenzie
Cringila
Born in 1930 and 1942, Frances and Mary share recollections of their father, Joe Cassar, who migrated to Australia from Malta in 1924.
Listen to Frances and Mary’s stories here.
Preview:
Joe Cassar
Cringila
Joe came to Australia from Malta in 1924 when he was 19 years old and stayed all his life. This interview was recorded with Barry York in 1984.
Listen to Joe’s story here.
Preview:
This is an ongoing project and we welcome your contribution. If you are interested in sharing your recollections of Warrawong, Port Kembla, and Cringila please contact us.
Be a digital volunteer and help edit the computer generated transcripts of Illawarra Stories interviews using Amplify