White Coolies

4/19/2015

Grace Gibson Productions have released a 2CD set of the 52 x 30 minute episode serialization of Sister Betty Jeffery's Book 'White Coolies'. http://gracegibsonradio.com/?product=white-coolies

I am very pleased. I suggested this release to Reg James and Bruce Ferrier a few years ago. I was very fortunate in having a copy of the series thanks to the niece of Betty Jeffery who asked me to convert Betty's cassette copy of the series to CD. They were also missing the last episode. The one that contained the audio where Betty Jeffrey got to meet the cast. A request to the National Film & Sound Archives or Screensound as they were then, resulted in them supplying the final episode to me to give to the family. This was one of the first complete series I got to hear and what a beauty.

For those of you who don't know the story. White Coolies is the true story of Australian Army Nurses caught by the fall of Singapore in WWII and the three & a half years they spent as POW s under Japan. There was a more recent television movie called 'Paradise Road' also based on the story.

Sister Betty Jeffery kept a diary on scraps of paper hidden in a cushion, a bottle and even up her jumper, at great risk to herself and others. After the war she wrote the book and called it 'White Coolies'. At the time the serial was broadcast in 1955, Betty Jeffrey commented that the book had enjoyed 6 reprints. It certainly was popular when it was released in 1954. Today you can find it in charity shops or 2nd hand book shops. It is worth buying.

I enjoyed the book for many reasons. I love Australian history. I grew up with my Fathers 'war stories' and when I went through the school system, very little Australian history, apart from Captain Cook and Convicts, were a part of the curriculum. You had to find it out for yourself from family and books. I grew up with very little information about Women at war. My Aunt was in the Army in Queensland and I knew about Nurses being involved, but very little actual information. White Coolies told some of the story. In recent years Canberra author, Ian W. Shaw wrote 'On Radji Beach' in honour of the Australian Nurses. Another book on the subject I recommend reading.

White Coolies was also a game changer in Australian Radio Production. The Producer, Fifi Banvard, Script Writer Gwen Friend and all the lead actors were women. This was a first. A big deal in Australia in 1955. Yes there were some men involved in the production. The announcer and the actors playing the Japanese guards were the only men involved.

This time of the year, thoughts turn to ANZAC Day on 25thApril. For those of you not Australian, this is our Veterans Day. On ANZAC Day we remember those who lost their lives defending this country. We remember those involved in War and the sacrifices made. Usually the stories evolve around men, so it is good for young girls to learn that it isn't all about men. It is also about young women sacrificing homes, family, jobs and sometimes lives, for their country. These things should not be forgotten.

The story of White Coolies needs to be read or listened to by every Australian. It is a powerful and true story of these remarkable women.

- The Cast contains the cream of Australian Radio talent:

Producer: Fifi Banvard
Scriptwriter: Gwen Friend
Commentary: Gordon Chater
Sister Jeffrey: Ruth Cracknell
Sister Woodbridge: Joan Lander
Matron Paschke: Viv Bullwinkel
Sister (Del) Delforce: Margaret Christensen
Matron Sage: Betty Suttor
Sister Greer: Marie Clark
Sister (Win) Davis: Marcia Hathaway
Sister (Dot) Freeman: Barbara Brunton Gibb
Sister (Mitz) Mittelheuser: Coralie Neville
Sister (Rene) Singleton: Marjorie Halt
Sister (Ray) Raymont: Muriel Steinbeck
Sister (Blanche) Hempsted: Madge Ryan

Also including:

June Salter
Richard Davies
John Ewart
Gordon Glenwright
Max Osbiston
Queenie Ashton
Maree Austin - Sister Short

"White Coolies, the story of Australian Army Nursing Sisters is dedicated to those nurses who did not return" a quote from the end of episode 52.

I haven't spoken with Bruce Ferrier about this, but I know from experience ordering from the Grace Gibson website, that if you order in the next couple of days you should get the CD BEFORE ANZAC Day.

Ian Grieve

Blog Update - April 2020

After reading the comment of Peter McGreevy, I contacted Bruce Ferrier of Grace Gibson Productions to request permission to include the first episode of the series in this blog. Bruce's reply was immediate "Yes, of course you can, Ian. Get it up ASAP! :-)"

Thank you Bruce.

A couple of things I would like to point out about the audio I have used here.

1. It is not even close to the quality of recording that Grace Gibson supplies. Their sound is excellent, I know, because I bought a set of theirs myself.

2. This recording is special. This has been taken from Sister Betty Jeffery's personal set of cassettes she was presented with at the end of the series. They were safely kept by her Niece and I transferred them to CD for her and her brother many years ago. But when I created an mp3 file from the wav file (which I have kept as an archive copy) it was just as a listening copy, so the bit rate is low.

26 Comments

Ben

6/10/2015 11:18:10 am

That is nice Da it took me a long time to read the. Ben

Marillian Jackson

2/18/2016 02:37:13 pm

I remember the studio series "White Coolies" from when I was a little girl living in Queensland in the 3A sixties. I would dearly love to purchase the CD having just recently read the book again. Can you advise me how to do this? Cheers Marillian Jackson

Cathy Bosotti

4/10/2016 05:35:22 pm

Loved listening to the serial when I was still at school late 50s early 60s. Where can I ger the book and CDs please. Cathy

Ian Grieve link

4/23/2016 03:37:24 pm

The link to buying the CD set of White Coolies is in the article:
http://gracegibsonradio.com/product/white-coolies/

As far as the book goes, it has been out of print for many years, however you can find it in 2nd hand book shops or places where 2nd hand books hang out. I see it often while searching such places.

If you are interested in this type of history, this ANZAC Day I have put up 39 episodes of CITATION in the Features section. These stories were made by Australian Army Publicity and were dramatisations of the events leading to the awarding of VC, MC, GC etc. Very interesting stories. Highly recommended. They are only up until the end of April.

Karen link

7/23/2016 05:32:04 pm

This is a great post share. Thank you

Maree Austin link

1/27/2017 06:02:27 am

The photograph is of Maree Austin , not Marie Ormiston, with Fifi Banvard and Ruth Cracknell. It is of me, I played Sister Short, there was no one named Marie Ormiston in the cast. I am very proud to have been associated with the production of White Coolies, and have a complete cassette recording of it given to me by Gwen Friend.As far as I know I am the only cast member still living.

Ian Grieve link

1/27/2017 11:38:13 am

Very pleased you made contact. I will gladly correct that straight away. I would love to be able to ad your recollections of the serial.

Peter schultz

4/19/2017 07:26:51 am

My father used to sharefarm for sister short on a farm near dalby. As children we lived in a house beside her and she would tell us about her experiences of scavanging food. We had to have regular xrays for tuberculosous given our contact with shorty. She returned to australia weighing 3.5 stone and never gained much weight I think 5 stone.

Diane Wells

4/25/2018 02:07:52 am

The intro to the radio serial still is chilling after 50 yrs. and that is just the roll call. I found the diary, or it found me, 20 yrs ago, in 2nd hand book shop, I still cannot bring myself to reading it, i' m afraid I'll have nightmares. Very impressed with the cast of the serial, no wonder it is so good. I would suggest teenagers be exposed to this story to introduce them to the real world and their responsibilities. I would love to know their response. Ps 18 is old enough. In hope Diane

Ian Grieve link

4/25/2018 04:26:27 am

Yes Diane Wells it can be chilling, but it can also be positive. The tricks the Nurses used, some of the things they did, shows how they didn't give up. Whilst more recent stories have included detail guessed at, but never before confirmed, the Betty Jeffrey's book isn't as confronting. Only now, some of the other stories of Japanese atrocities are becoming know.

Thank you for commenting. I feel guilty for not keeping the blog up. I must get back to it.

Peter McGreevy

4/23/2020 04:49:58 pm

I can always remember the sombre music at the beginning of the serial and would love to hear it again some day.

Ian Grieve link

4/23/2020 04:57:58 pm

G'day Peter, you can hear it, the link I provided to the Grace Gibson website is still active and the whole series can be purchased on CD. I just checked but unfortunately they don't have that series sampled in the Listening Room.

Hamish Guthrie

4/23/2020 07:02:30 pm

Congratulations on managing to extract something from Screen Sounds! If only they would release a bit more of what they have stored there ....(sigh)

ian Grieve link

4/23/2020 09:23:27 pm

Bit harsh Hamish. I thought it was just me NFSA (ex Screensound) annoys. The chances of NFSA allowing real access to audio they are storing for...... future generations (apart from Academics) to whom it will mean nothing, is slim. They have no funding, staff or inclination, to allow Australians to really get to enjoy or learn about that heritage.

But in this case, nothing to do with NFSA. This permission has been granted by the copyright owners of the recordings, Grace Gibson Productions. They make many thousands of their radio series/serials available on CD at very reasonable prices.

https://gracegibsonradio.com/ check out the titles.

In fairness I have to add that NFSA does assist in making the discs lent to them previously, available back to Grace Gibson Productions for the production of those CDs. So its not all doom and gloom from NFSA. The Grace Gibson Productions shop have more episodes there than you can listen to in your lifetime. I know, I try.

Allan Black.

4/25/2020 05:19:35 am

HI Ian. I notice the studio mic in the picture above is an RCA 44bx, and the badge on the mic. stand says, ARC. At age 16 I worked with some of those actors doing studio sound fx., for Ron R. Beck Recording, at the same Australian Record Company studios, 3rd floor 29 Bligh St. Sydney.

A wonderful professional atmosphere that set my career up for life.
Cheers.

Ian Grieve link

4/27/2020 03:43:36 pm

G'day Allan, you ex radio guys are all the same. Whenever I post a picture containing a microphone or any other piece of equipment on Radio History or Radio Memories, out come the magnifying glasses to identify every piece in the picture :)

Thank goodness you do have a keen eye and memory or we wouldn't have your reminiscences in the Readers Contributions on this site.

Trevor Young

7/31/2020 02:50:42 am

I've noticed that Dymocks has White Coolies available on a 2CD set, with an introduction by Bud Tingwell. Is that the same set available from Bruce? I've noticed Angus and Robertson have the book listed in paperback priced at $24.99, but currently out of stock http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/books/paradise-road-betty-jeffrey/p/9780207196287

In Grieve link

7/31/2020 04:35:31 am

That is not the Grace Gibson radio series. It is an audio book (book reading) based on the book of the Movie Paradise Road which was based on White Coolies by Betty Jeffrey. You can buy the movie on DVD and it has been on Television previously.

Briana link

12/30/2020 06:07:41 am

Lovely blog you havee

Brian Watson

1/30/2021 10:02:23 pm

Just to let you know that I was a very junior engineer at 2GB and worked on the third floor producing the the tapes that went out to the network. My boss was Paul Nobscoski and the chief engineer was Len Schultz.
Next year will be the 80th annversay of the sinking of the VYNER BROOK and there are very big things plabbed to commemorate the event.
If your interested please get in touch

Rosemary Mangiamele

7/18/2021 03:13:47 am

My mother, Grace Cuming, nee Dunstan, grew up in Broken Hill, and lived next door to Viv Bullwinkel. She used to play tennis with Viv Bullwinkel over the high back fence, even though they couldn't see each other!

Elizabeth

8/10/2021 10:04:25 pm

I'm currently reading the White Coolies book and forever shaking my head at the disgusting treatment of these poor women. I'm also very proud of the guts and determination of them make the best of a terribly bad situation not of their making. I'm also wondering how all the whining sods existing during COVID, would have coped! White Coolies, should most definitely be compulsory on the school book list.

Ian Grieve link

8/10/2021 11:51:30 pm

I agree totally.

When you finish White Coolies, I suggest you read Ian Shaw's book 'On Radji Beach'. It is a recent update on the information in White Coolies which was suppressed by the Government at the time.

Colin Burgess

4/8/2022 06:39:47 pm

Hi Ian,

I am currently researching and writing a book for Simon & Schuster on the life of Sister Betty Jeffrey of "White Coolies" fame. I will be mentioning the radio serial (which I listened to as a 9-year-old), and I noticed the post above by Maree Austin. I'm not sure if Maree is still with us (she posted 5 years ago) but if she is I would love to contact her for her recollections of that time if possible. Do you still have the email address she would have supplied, or if you'd rather not give this for privacy reasons, could you contact her and ask her if she'd like to get in touch with me?

Many thanks,

Colin

Ian Grieve link

7/10/2024 12:58:46 am

Colin, I owe you an apology.

I only saw your post today when replying to another. I checked my email and I did receive it. But somehow I missed replying.

Please folks if you need to contact me other than a comment on a Blog, use the Contact Us in the Home menu.

I bought and read your book "Sisters in Captivity" on Betty Jeffrey OAM, only recently when a friend turned up at the gym and said he got a shock reading my name in book. that morning.

I do have memory issues due to drug trials for my Cancer, but I would have loved to have given you the information you needed. Its what I do, normally.

Please keep me in mind in future. Great book bye the way, well researched and lots of gaps in the knowledge filled.

Ian Grieve OAM

Kaye Wayper

7/9/2024 04:10:31 pm

I remember as an 11 year old listening with my parents to "White Coolies"
on the radio in Melbourne. My Father Frederick Dixon remained in the Army after the war and appeared to me to know Sister Viv Bullwinkel but I didn't know the connection.
I found the series confronting as a child. I have since read two books published about Sister Viv. and On Radji Beach.

Author

Ian Grieve has been Collecting, Researching and Documenting Australian Old Time Radio since about 1998. He enjoys the thrill of finding and identifying shows thought to have been lost and then researching their history as well as the people involved in their production.

White Coolies

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