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Joe Dixon (1908-1996) -- Ambulance officer, Cessnock. Recorded 9 November 1984. Part 1/1.
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SummaryJOE DIXON
Recorded 9 November 1984
Part 1/1
0:32
Joe was born Minmi in 1908
1:17
Moved to Cessnock, 1909 (aged 1)
1:32
Daniel Dixon was his father.
2:50
Jack Morrison - brother to Bill. Bill Morrison
3:24
Recalls pneumonic 'flu outbreak.
3:36
School was held at Anglican church.
3:45
Quarantine barrier erected on the top of Neath Hill.
4:03
Dixie and Adelaide Russell were his neighbours.
4:19
Melvin Jefferies
5:34
First worked at Barringham & Johnsons for a couple of weeks in their joinery. Worked at Aberdare Colliery with the prospect of working in the carpentry section. When he was 18 he moved into the pit.
7:23
George Walker gave Jack work "galloping" on the mine top whilst the Railways were out. Joe also did "galloping".
8:37
Joe attended South Cessnock Tech. College
8:46
Tom Coaldrake - finished up in NESCA in Newcastle.
8:56
Bill Coaldrake - blacksmith. Tom was probably Bill's brother. "You had to be in the trade before you went to the Tech".
10:02
Ab Kirk - taught the electrical trades.
10:29
Vic Collins - taught mining.
10:39
Mr Stephenson was teaching maths and was teaching carpentry also at the school. He was a Minister. Fred Price was the manager. Job description of skip repairer.
13:47
Wages, working on pit bottom.
14:42
Jack Lewis was his brother-in-law Dick Armstrong
15:19
Mary Lewis, wife - they were married 56 years ago in 1984. Joe was 19. "Still haven't killed each other yet".
16:48
How he became involved with ambulance work. The pit shut down after the Lock Out. There was only one pit working - Aberdare Ext.
18:00
Bernie Searle used to drive the ambulance. "He used to love everything but work"
18:37
Fred Hayles
18:55
Tom Callaghan and Kurt Wells were in front of him when there was a job available. Neither was able to take it on. There was a misconception that Joe got the job because of his father's position.
22:42
Paddy Slavin, Bernie Searle, Billy Price, Wal Smith and Joe were the ambulance drivers - Recalls first ambulance uniform worn
24:15
Recalls accident at level crossing signal box where 3 were killed - The Darcys and Archie Grace.
27:34
Bill May - Mines Inspector
27:48
Matt Thompson - originally from Paxton pit.
28:00 Ted Maughan - Maitland Main Russell Maughan
28:23
Jack Hancock
28:29
Tom Burke - Pelton Lodge
29:28
Les Masters, Eric Roxby, Fred Adams, Arthur McDonald Ambulance Superintendent from Singleton, Jim Jack, Bill Wallace, Alec McCrohan, Jack Hope, Bert Gilpen, Harry Bell was Collector ambulance man, Mr Saunders, Billy Springbat.
31:56
Uniforms were sent up but because they were second hand they decided not to wear them.
32:56
Jack Wakely and Mr Mayby were both tailors who made 14 suits for the ambulance men through a public raffle.
33:35
Description of first motor ambulance
34:05
Jack Hope
36:00
Recalls tutoring first-aid classes in Cumberland St.
37:06
Recalls sitting for Mining Ambulance exams - 4th, 5th and 6th year exam at Tech. He was after the Gold Medal after the 6th year.
38:58
George Perkins was the examiner. Joe exposed two people who left without doing the test and received their medal. Perkins realised the error - their names were on the roll and there was no mention of them failing. Joe went from The Coal Board to the pit as the ambulance officer.
41:48
Harry McKenzie was with the Coal Board.
42:12
Jack Costello and his wife, Val Hennessy
42:47
Molly Hogan, nee Costello married Judge Hogan.
43:15
Joe replaced Perc Radimey who went to Kurri Ambulance Depot.
44:60
Jack Hancock was in charge - he went from Cessnock to Kurri. The Kurri Kurri ambulance headquarters were in Weston where the old wine shop was.
Tape duration: 45:53
Dixon, Joseph, 1908-1996PersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToTom CoaldrakeCollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Cessnock, NSWIdentifier290B
Recorded 9 November 1984
Part 1/1
0:32
Joe was born Minmi in 1908
1:17
Moved to Cessnock, 1909 (aged 1)
1:32
Daniel Dixon was his father.
2:50
Jack Morrison - brother to Bill. Bill Morrison
3:24
Recalls pneumonic 'flu outbreak.
3:36
School was held at Anglican church.
3:45
Quarantine barrier erected on the top of Neath Hill.
4:03
Dixie and Adelaide Russell were his neighbours.
4:19
Melvin Jefferies
5:34
First worked at Barringham & Johnsons for a couple of weeks in their joinery. Worked at Aberdare Colliery with the prospect of working in the carpentry section. When he was 18 he moved into the pit.
7:23
George Walker gave Jack work "galloping" on the mine top whilst the Railways were out. Joe also did "galloping".
8:37
Joe attended South Cessnock Tech. College
8:46
Tom Coaldrake - finished up in NESCA in Newcastle.
8:56
Bill Coaldrake - blacksmith. Tom was probably Bill's brother. "You had to be in the trade before you went to the Tech".
10:02
Ab Kirk - taught the electrical trades.
10:29
Vic Collins - taught mining.
10:39
Mr Stephenson was teaching maths and was teaching carpentry also at the school. He was a Minister. Fred Price was the manager. Job description of skip repairer.
13:47
Wages, working on pit bottom.
14:42
Jack Lewis was his brother-in-law Dick Armstrong
15:19
Mary Lewis, wife - they were married 56 years ago in 1984. Joe was 19. "Still haven't killed each other yet".
16:48
How he became involved with ambulance work. The pit shut down after the Lock Out. There was only one pit working - Aberdare Ext.
18:00
Bernie Searle used to drive the ambulance. "He used to love everything but work"
18:37
Fred Hayles
18:55
Tom Callaghan and Kurt Wells were in front of him when there was a job available. Neither was able to take it on. There was a misconception that Joe got the job because of his father's position.
22:42
Paddy Slavin, Bernie Searle, Billy Price, Wal Smith and Joe were the ambulance drivers - Recalls first ambulance uniform worn
24:15
Recalls accident at level crossing signal box where 3 were killed - The Darcys and Archie Grace.
27:34
Bill May - Mines Inspector
27:48
Matt Thompson - originally from Paxton pit.
28:00 Ted Maughan - Maitland Main Russell Maughan
28:23
Jack Hancock
28:29
Tom Burke - Pelton Lodge
29:28
Les Masters, Eric Roxby, Fred Adams, Arthur McDonald Ambulance Superintendent from Singleton, Jim Jack, Bill Wallace, Alec McCrohan, Jack Hope, Bert Gilpen, Harry Bell was Collector ambulance man, Mr Saunders, Billy Springbat.
31:56
Uniforms were sent up but because they were second hand they decided not to wear them.
32:56
Jack Wakely and Mr Mayby were both tailors who made 14 suits for the ambulance men through a public raffle.
33:35
Description of first motor ambulance
34:05
Jack Hope
36:00
Recalls tutoring first-aid classes in Cumberland St.
37:06
Recalls sitting for Mining Ambulance exams - 4th, 5th and 6th year exam at Tech. He was after the Gold Medal after the 6th year.
38:58
George Perkins was the examiner. Joe exposed two people who left without doing the test and received their medal. Perkins realised the error - their names were on the roll and there was no mention of them failing. Joe went from The Coal Board to the pit as the ambulance officer.
41:48
Harry McKenzie was with the Coal Board.
42:12
Jack Costello and his wife, Val Hennessy
42:47
Molly Hogan, nee Costello married Judge Hogan.
43:15
Joe replaced Perc Radimey who went to Kurri Ambulance Depot.
44:60
Jack Hancock was in charge - he went from Cessnock to Kurri. The Kurri Kurri ambulance headquarters were in Weston where the old wine shop was.
Tape duration: 45:53
Dixon, Joseph, 1908-1996PersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToTom CoaldrakeCollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Cessnock, NSWIdentifier290Bloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Joe Dixon (1908-1996) -- Ambulance officer, Cessnock. Recorded 9 November 1984. Part 1/1., [290B]. Living Histories, accessed 29/09/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/55968