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Jack Clarke Interview

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Telling it as it was

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Jack Clarke Oral History

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BiographyJack Clarke was born 1918 in Newtown. His parents were Arthur Blakemore Clarke (whose mother was Charlotte Lord of Lords of London) and Jessie Fairhurst Grounds. The family moved to Como approximately 1930.SynopsisJack Clarke's family moved to Como around 1930, where he remained throughout his life. In this interview he recalls his early days in Newtown and Como. Jack's father Arthur Blakemore Clarke was an old Newtown identity who had his own gymnasium and worked on Les Darcy's muscles before he went to America. He was also a gambler with his own two-up school owned trotters that he brought to the Shire to exercise. Jack's mother's people were theatrical they owned a fish shop on King Street, Newtown. Jack's mother had a beautiful soprano voice his Aunt Violet was one of the Gresham sisters who did show work around Newtown Jack was a tenor - he sang while his sister played piano - at shows, but not much in Sutherland Shire. Jack recalls attending school at Newtown School and Como School teachers at Como were Miss Newton and Mr Bridge, Headmaster later to Hurstville Technical College. Jack was a mechanical fitter and worked on the boats in the bay, as well as motor bikes which he raced mechanical ability from his mother. He recalls his filling of Scylla Bay over 8-10 years, working on the dredge with Ray Lawson. Includes boxing friend Alan Rogers boxing at Sutherland Como School of Arts, run by Billy Lawrence Como Pleasure Grounds Como pub owning and riding ex-racehorses their doctor was Dr Eric Miles gypsies and Aborigines at Como horsedrawn coach from Como Station to Oyster Bay local shops - grocer, butcher, George Head was estate agent Horn's owned the boatshed at Gymea Bay - had control of the land where Clarke's weekender was. He recalls a crash on the railway crossing when he was 14 - fatality when train collided with a car. Includes his marriage to June from Redfern and purchasing land next door to his family owned by old Skipper Rowlands - rebuilt the house approximately 1948 purchase of fish shop at Como as member of the Army Jack worked at Leichhardt on the Hawthorn Canal and as a despatch rider.

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Jack Clarke Interview

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Oral History AudioJack Clarke InterviewDate of interview27 March 1995IntervieweeJack ClarkeInterviewerMerle Kavanagh

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PlaceComo School of ArtsComoComo Pleasure GroundsSubjectsClarke, JackCollectionTelling it as it was