Bert Dun Oral History

DETAILS

Overview
Bert Dun, born in 1924 in Gympie, reflects on a life deeply connected to the Noosa, Wolvi, and Cooloola regions. Raised on his family’s dairy farm in Wolvi, he recounts the histories of the Dun and Salmon families. Both families were early settlers involved in farming, timber work, and river log rafting. His childhood memories include early travel to Noosa before bridges existed, journeys by Parkyn’s passenger boats, and assisting his uncle on the Cooloola lease during the Depression, where cattle were grazed along the beaches and freshwater valleys.

Dun describes the cultural landscape of Noosa in the 1930s and 40s—its unsealed roads, early guesthouses, and undeveloped beaches. His recollections extend to mullet fishing operations, oil drilling attempts on Cooloola Beach, and early holidays at Fig Tree Point and later in Hastings Street, long before modern development transformed the coastline.

During World War II, Dun trained as a wireless operator and served in England, where he met and married his wife, Clarice (“Ricky”). After the war he briefly farmed before relocating to Brisbane, working in shipping, wholesale distribution, and finally sales and marketing with Australian Paper Manufacturers.

Throughout the interview, Dun expresses admiration for Noosa’s environmental protections, recounts family histories, and offers rich insight into the region’s evolution across a century.

Oral History Transcript

Audio

IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)World War IIEnvironmentFishing

CONNECTIONS

PersonBert DunMenuTopic | Early SettlementDecade | 2020-2029