Michaeleem Monsour Oral History

DETAILS

Alternative NameMicki MonsourMicki MassoudOverview
Michaeleem (Micki) Monsour provides a detailed oral history of her family’s long-standing presence on Gympie Terrace and their role as early settlers in Noosaville. She recounts how her grandparents and the Ely family moved from the Gympie goldfields in the early 1900s, establishing some of the first homes and businesses in the district. Fishing became the family’s livelihood, with several generations working the river, operating boats, and supplying locals, visitors, and later the military. During the Second World War, the family’s café—then known as The Favourite—fed members of the 2/14th Battalion, fostering enduring friendships.

Monsour describes a close-knit community characterised by cooperation, resilience, and resourcefulness. She highlights stories of wartime hospitality, early transport challenges, makeshift entertainment, and the family’s contributions to local infrastructure, including ferrying children to school and supporting the Double Island Point Lighthouse through supply runs undertaken in all weather conditions. She also reflects on social life, festivals, and local characters who shaped the identity of Noosaville.

Throughout the interview, Monsour emphasises the profound connection her family maintained with the river, the land, and the evolving township, offering a personal perspective on Noosaville’s transformation from a sparsely populated settlement to a thriving modern community.

Photograph

Michaeleem Monsour, Maisie's Seafood and Steakhouse, Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, 15 October 2016

Michaeleem Monsour, Noosaville, 15 October 2016

Oral History Transcript

Michaeleem Monsour Oral History - Transcript

Audio

Michaeleem Monsour Oral History - Audio

IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)World War II

CONNECTIONS

PlaceMaisie's RestaurantPersonStan BissettHarry SpringMichaeleem MonsourFamilyMassoud FamilyBusinessMaisie's Restaurant

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Michaeleem Monsour Oral History