In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as a journalist for the ABC, John Francis began recording people in Outback South and Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Many were elderly, living mostly in remote communities or in isolation, working as prospectors, on stations or in virtual ‘ghost towns’.
John Francis in 1989 recording a radio documentary at Mount Tom Price, Western Australia.
After ‘another lifetime’ in newspapers and magazines John is once again recording, this time using video. In his video blog (vlog) below, John discusses a journalist’s approach to recording oral history, reflects on his experiences and includes samples of interviews.
John Francis specialises in producing personal and family life histories at Let’s Remember This: www.letsrememberthis.com.