During the final years of the nineteenth century, an international pandemic of bubonic plague was carried throughout the British maritime trading world. This pandemic took only a few years to spread to every continent, reaching Australia via Sydney in January 1900, then Western Australia only a few months later.

Between 1900 and 1906 Perth and Fremantle experienced repeated outbreaks. Throughout the State’s experience of bubonic plague, only thirty-three lives were lost to the disease. Western Australia’s experience of plague was not about the swathes of dead bodies it left behind. Rather, the experience highlighted a crisis in health and sanitation whilst at the same time revealing our socio-cultural frailties, including some of the worst of our post-colonial prejudices.

Dr Michelle McKeough joined us to discuss her research into the bubonic plague in Western Australian.

 

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Local Kingsley man Geoff Boughton has been announced as Australia’s best neighbour in Nextdoor’s annual nationwide competition to recognise Australia’s best neighbours.

Geoff was nominated by his neighbour Con for all the help and support that he has given her and her young children Archie and Sally.  From helping build vegetable gardens and chicken pens, to fixing broken toys and doing other odd jobs around the house, Geoff is always there to lend a helping hand. Con and the kids have even named their chicken “Geoff” after him. 

The Nextdoor app is a social networking platform for local communities and neighbourhoods and this years theme to celebrate national Neighbour Day was social connection.

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The federal and state governments have announced tough new restrictions on non-essential gatherings to take effect tomorrow from Midday WST. Clubs, pubs, restaurants, cafe's, cinemas, gyms, churches and the casino will close. Restaurants and cafe's however will be allowed to serve takeaways and home deliver.

Esssential businesses such as supermarkets, shopping centres, retail shops, offices and bottle shops to remain open. Hairdressers and beauticians are also allowed to remain open.

WA Schools are to remain open but parents can choose to keep their children home if they want. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy reiterated the risk to schoolchildren from the virus was very low and said that 'the consensus view of all of the chief health officers is schools should stay open'

Bradley Woods, CEO of the Australian Hotels Association WA said that around 40,000 pub workers will be stood down and there will be restrictions announced tomorrow on the quantities that bottle and liquor shops will be able to sell.

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For about 66 years, the Sons of Gwalia mine supported the population of the town of Gwalia and Leonora which was 3 kilometres away. In 1936, approximately 40% of Gwalia’s inhabitants were Italians, 20% Yugoslavs and other southern Europeans.  Only about 40% were Australians, who were referred to as “Britishers”.

Now a ghost town Lorraine Kelly, Author of Goldfield Stories of Western Australia joined Harvey Deegan on Remember When to talk about the history of the town and the Italian Community of Gwalia. 

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The WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2020 Posthumous Inductee has been announced as Councillor Elizabeth Clapham. Elizabeth was the first woman elected to Local Government in 1920.

The Labor Women’s Organisation was formed in 1905 and Clapham was elected to the executive of the Women’s Service Guild, WSG, in 1917. During the 20s and 30s, she continued to be an active supporter of these women’s groups and it was through the support of the WSG she was elected as the first woman councillor in WA, to the Town of Cottesloe. This was only possible because of an amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act to remove the words ‘no female’ from the list.

Cr Clapham went on to become the first women Inspector of Factories in 1926 and as the first woman to hold public office in WA, she led the way for hundreds of women to follow. 

Karen Wheatland, President of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association WA joined Harvey Deegan to tell us more about this remarkable lady.

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As part of International Women's Day next Sunday, Fremantle Prison are running two special tours about incarcerated women prisoners from 1886 until 1970. 

Interpretations Officer Oonagh Quigley joined Harvey Deegan on "Remember When" to talk about the tour and also spoke about some of the notable inmates including the last woman to be hanged in WA Martha Rendell.

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Retired travel agent James Kwan has been identified as the first Australian to die from the coronavirus. The 78 year old Perth man was diagnosed with the virus after being infected on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship.  Mr Kwan passed away on Sunday morning at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

The family have released a statement saying “My husband passed away peacefully knowing that his family loved him”

Presenter of “Remember When” Harvey Deegan and George Booth, former State President of the Australian Federation of Travel agents both paid tribute to James describing him as a kind, well travelled man who loved a joke.

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In this history of the charities segment on "Remember When" we speak to Steve Martin from Foodbank who recently celebrated their 25th birthday. In that time Foodbank have distributed a staggering 50 million kilograms of food which is equivalent to almost 100 million meals.

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The first Kmart store in WA was opened by Premier Sir David Brand on 6th November 1969. A reunion for workers that worked for Kmart between 1969 and 2004 will be held at the Merrywell on April 1st.

David Butler one of the organisers of the reunion joined Harvey Deegan on "Remember When" to share his memories of working there and his memories of opening day which he described as utter chaos. 

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Albert Facey's "A Fortunate Life" is being adapted for the stage in a world first which will see this live performance being performed in front of a moving screen at Midland Ace Cinemas.

Jenny Davis from Theatre 180 joined Harvey on Remember When to talk about this exciting new performance. 

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