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View Transmission Lines 1955 to 1974 in a larger map.
This interactive map reproduces the map produced by my father. It documents the power lines he worked on through image and text. Click on the towers.

26 March 2009

The Making of Modern Australia

This morning I emailed the ABC project, The Making of Modern Australia, to ask if I could include some extracts from Transmission Lines. I received a positive response with the suggestioned that I write a bit of a story about my father's experience working as a rigger and linesman, some anecdote from his past, and include a photo or two, and some audio perhaps, from your archives. The story of energy infrastructure (and the people who ‘powered’ it) is very much one of modernity and progress in Australia (as well as migration and multiculturalism), so I am delighted to be able to include an extract from it!

The Making of Modern Australia is a new online history project – and soon to be ABC TV series – that is inviting people from all over Australia to tell their personal and family history stories online. As both a broadband project and TV series, The Making of Modern Australia will be an unofficial people’s history, with individuals and families sharing their stories of life in Australia since 1945.

By logging onto www.makingaustralia.com.au people can upload their stories through a combination of photos, home movies, live webcams, sound recordings and text. Dust off the old family albums, or finally grab a digital camera and interview a friend or relative about what life was like for them growing up, getting married and making a home in Australia.

Those interested in having their family stories featured in the TV series are urged to get started and upload their material before mid-April. All stories will be showcased on the website as a lasting record for others to enjoy and comment on.

If you’d like more information on the project, visit the website or contact Elissa McKeand on 02 8568 3100 or email elissa.mckeand@essential-media.com

Post your story to PO Box 283 Annandale NSW 2038.