Summary

Reference written by J. H. Harris of T. Harris & Sons (builders, contractors, plumbers and decorators), Dunmow, Essex in England, 12 March 1962. It was provided to Hubert Halls who was an apprentice and then 'first class' carpenter threre for 20 years and attests to Hubert's skills, character and good conduct. Hubert was a carpenter by trade, and would have taken this and three other work references with him when he migrated to Australia in 1963.

This item is one of a collection of material relating to the migration and settlement story of Hubert Halls who left Southampton for Melbourne on the MV Fairsea with his wife Dolly and five children in 1963. Hubert and his family lived on the Isle of Wight and he was a carpenter by trade.

Hubert had contracted polio and was ineligible for military service during World War II and he was employed to make coffins for deceased soldiers. In Australia he worked for the Melbourne City Mission until he retired. The collection also includes two Fairsea shipboard newsletter/ information sheets, a 'Tools of Trade' booklet issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and 13 digital photographs featuring Hubert with workmates in England, a family portrait, dockside departure and activities onboard ship.

Significance

This collection enables the representation through images and artefacts the working life of migrants prior to migrating to Australia and the skills and trades they brought with them. The booklet entitled 'A Handbook of Tools of Trade' published by the Commonwealth Dept of Immigration is an evocative example of methods used by the Australian Government to assist tradespeople adapt to Australian working conditions, especially those of a non-English speaking background. It also speaks to the importance placed by the Dept of Immigration on building a construction and manufacturing workforce. The booklet was produced to 'help the assimilation of migrant tradesmen...Migrants will recognise the tool from the drawing, and will read and learn its English name. Foremen and Australian workmates can help by pointing out in the booklet the tools that the migrants will use, and by helping him with the correct pronunciation.'

The shipboard photographs also document the kinds of activities and entertinments organised for passengers during their migrant voyages.

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