Head down, tail up : memories of a South Fremantle farrier [oral history] / / interviewer: Larraine Stevens

DESCRIPTION

AuthorMollett, Albert, 1908-1991; Stevens, LarraineDescriptionBorn in Kent, England -- Family of 9 children -- Family emigrating to Australia -- Father opening a farrier's shop in Perth -- Albert apprenticed to his father, starting at 6 a.m. every day -- Horses and stables of large firms in town -- Daily routine -- Family horses -- Story of Jim Kelly and King -- Military training -- Night school at Perth Tech -- Basic wage -- The farrier's daily routine -- Shoeing a horse described in detail -- Making horseshoes -- Move to W. Mollett and Son in Douro Road in 1926 -- Incidents while serving apprenticeship -- The best time for taking horses back to their owners after shoeing -- Brewery workers -- Albert's love of horses -- All horses are different -- Compulsory Cadet training -- Queen's Birthday Parade and other events -- Rehersals for the 1927 Royal Visit escort group -- Cleaning and polishing riding equipment -- Losing the Royal car -- Competition activities on horseback -- Cadet camp -- Cows and horses in the Douro Road area -- Taking horses for a swim on Sunday morning -- Children and the farrier -- Other characters in the neighbourhood -- Running the shop in Douro Road -- Going to work by train and tram -- Spraying water to keep the dust down on roads -- Collapse of the Railway Bridge in 1926 -- Tram services -- Farrier on the racecourse -- Racing people -- After the War -- Fremantle a clean city -- Clean up for the America's Cup -- Memories of Albert's first customer -- The role of horses in the community -- Tinny Thomas the ginger beer seller -- Roads when horses were about -- America's Cup celebrations in Douro Road -- "Jolliett" the race-horse -- People visiting the Douro shop -- Advantages of using horses instead of lorries -- St Patrick's Day -- Horse-floats in the 8 Hour Day parade -- A close-knit community -- Tram shelters -- Business progress -- Good and bad customers -- Chinese market gardeners -- Fremantle Markets -- Quarry horses -- Horse training -- Accidents at work -- Work clothes and safety -- Lecturing at the Farriers School at Wembley Tech, also at Muresk College -- Charged excess luggage for a pig -- Lectures in the country -- Horseshoes for winners -- Shoeing styles and types -- Practical and correct shoeing -- Harnessing -- Quarantine work for the Agriculture Department at Bicton and the airport -- Decline in the use of horses and closure of the Douro Road shop -- Shop at Richmond raceway -- Council rules -- Retirement at 69 -- Inspector at Belmont and Ascot race-courses -- Decline in the blacksmith and farrier's art -- Other farriers remembered -- Differences in the work of a blacksmith, a coachbuilder and a farrier -- Ben Stringfellow the lecturer and blacksmith -- Role and membership of the Master Farriers Association -- Training horses -- Leasing horses -- Dead horses -- Feed merchants: L.V. O' Hara's, in Marine Terrace and business with Singapore -- Horse racing industry -- Stables in the Fremantle areaImprint1988Collation15 sound cassettes (900 min.) + Guide to contents (18 leaves)LanguageEnglishDate Published1988NotesInterview conducted by Larraine Stevens between 30 March and 7 December 1988. Access: openContent NoteSUPPORT MATERIAL: See also B/MOLLETT at 798.4 [pamphlet file] Fremantle City Library Local History CollectionDewey ClassOH/MOLAudio FormatCassetteDigital ItemYes

COPIES

Barcode30118000399489LocationOral History Collection

PeopleAlbert (Alby) MollettStreetCollie StreetSuburbHiltonSubjectHorse racing industryW. Mollett and SonRichmond RacewaySouth BeachCollectionOral History Collection

ACCESS

Request AccessPlease email the Fremantle History Centre: lhc@fremantle.wa.gov.au