Newmanhistory6753 Podcast

Saad Didan Part 1 - Arrival in Newman, Living in the SMQ, Homesickness, Getting married

In this podcast, Saad Didan, in conversation with Lisa Rickert,  describes his arrival in Newman in 1980. After his arrival in Perth from Baghdad his brother, Basil, brought him straight up to Newman where he found a job as a Shovel Greaser. He describes his journey to Newman and his struggle with homesickness. He lived in Q block in the SMQ and describes the facilities available. After 4 years he took long service leave and then he journeyed to Jordan and met his wife in 1984, whom he brought back to Newman to live in K block. They are still together after 40 years.

Samantha Jenkinson Part 7 - Going to Jigalong, Experiencing the Aboriginal Culture

In this podcast, Sam Jenkinson, in conversation with Lisa Rickert, recalls her experience of going to Jigalong and how it changed her opinion of  some aboriginal people in town. She was grateful to her teachers for exposing her to that new understanding of the aboriginal culture, and the multicultural aspects of Newman.

Samantha Jenkinson Part 5 - NSHS School Ball, Exchange Students

In this podcast, Sam Jenkinson, in conversation with Lisa Rickert, continues to recall  her experiences at Newman Senior High School. Sam describes how her class was part of the first Year 10 School Balls, which were held at the Community Hall. She also remembered how Exchange students came to the school, and that inspired Sam to apply  to become an exchange student herself. She describes the process of her application and how that was an important part of her development.

Samantha Jenkinson Part 4 - NSHS, good and bad, drama, NATS, water polo, English teachers, entering State-wide Speaking Competitions

In this podcast, Sam Jenkinson, in conversation with Lisa Rickert, recalls her experiences at Newman Senior High School. These include being an Exchange Student in USA, and using computers in Year 8 Maths (provided by the Mine). The school had both advantages and disadvantages, as the subjects offered were often dependent on the teachers' skills. Sam recalls her interest in drama and the formation of NATS (Newman Amateur Theatrical Society) and the affinity she felt for that. She remembers playing water polo and playing in the State Country Team. Sam discusses her excellent English teachers at the High School, and how she entered the Plain English Speaking Awards. She went on to represent the North West and joined the competition in Perth, which was an eye-opener for her! NSHS also entered the Drama and Speaking Competition for Country Week in Perth.

Samantha Jenkinson Part 3 - Friends, Dancing, Movies, No oldies, Life from a teenager perspective.

In this podcast, Sam Jenkinson, in conversation with Lisa Rickert, together pool their memories of many random things that happened in their childhood. These include the  dancing classes and their mothers slaving over their costumes, and their participation in the Fortescue Festival Float Parade. Sam remembers going to the Community Hall to watch the movies, especially Star Wars and The Castaways. They reflect on their isolation in town, with little contact with the outside world. Children were unaware of the role of older people, as there were not many in town. Sam also reflects on how many things went unsaid, as everybody knew everybody. This could be especially  a problem for teenage girls, with the lop-sided proportion of young, single, adult males.

Samantha Jenkinson Part 2 - Newman Primary memories, events, square dancing, Mixing with teachers socially, Concerts, School Socials, Barn Dance

In this podcast, Sam Jenkinson, in conversation with Lisa Rickert, discuss their Primary School lives at Newman Primary. They both recall their homemade uniforms, and Sam remembers various events that happened - Arbour Day, Sports Day, Square Dancing. She also comments on how hard it often was to delineate between the roles of teachers in both the school and the social context. They both recall how Music teachers came and went, but when they were available, it could lead to a Concert in the Community Hall. The school socials were memorable including the compulsory Barn Dance.

Samantha Jenkinson Part 1 - Memories, Drive in, Playing in the bush, Pool, Camping - Waterholes, Wittenoom, Karijini

In this podcast, Sam Jenkinson, in conversation with Lisa Rickert, recalls memories from her childhood in Newman - both good and bad. Sam lived in Trotman Ave, and attended Newman Primary -walking to school through the shortcut. She recalls how the kids would watch the drive in from houses in Giles Ave, or go wandering through the bush and get spinifex splinters. As her Mum (Pat) was the Swimming Pool manager, she spent quite a deal of time at the Pool, but preferred water polo to swimming laps at the Swimming Club. The family also spent quite a lot of time camping out at the waterholes, and also in Wittenoom and Karijini, and her memories always included the travel involved on the remote dirt roads.

Pat Jenkinson Part 6 - Reunions, Dust, Christmas, Parties, Market Garden

In this podcast, Pat and Sam, together with Lisa Rickert, remember the Newman Reunions and catching up with long lost friends. Pat observed that there seemed to be more dust in town, after more satellite mines were added. Sam and Pat recall what Christmas was like in Newman, and also some of the fabulous parties they had. It concludes with memories of the Newman Market Garden.

Pat Jenkinson Part 5 - Work, Liquor store, Cleaner at the Crusher, Sampler at the Bene Plant, Analyst at the Laboratory, VER 1988, Moved to Kalgoorlie,

In this podcast, Pat and Sam, together with Lisa Rickert, recall Pat's  work both in the town and at the Mine. She recalls being the licensee of the Liquor Store and was held up with a shotgun! After that scare, she moved on in 1978 to become a cleaner at the Crusher. She eventually  became a sampler in the Metallurgical Department for the Bene plant. Her final job was a move to the laboratory, where she became a shift analyst. She took VER in 1988 and moved to Kalgoorlie where she was employed at AAL, and while she was there, did a Fire Assay Diploma at the School of Mines.

Pat Jenkinson Part 4 - The origins of the Fortescue Golf Club in Newman and Pat's involvement in that story.

In this podcast, Pat and Sam, together with Lisa Rickert, recall Pat's involvement in the original Fortescue Golf Club and she also outlines the construction of the new one in Giles Ave, which was completed with voluntary labour using the company's machinery. She also recalls how vibrant both the Walkabout and the Club were in those early days.