Oral history kit : Murray Rayment 2017

Murray Rayment was born in Narrogin in 1942 but moved to Gosnells when he was about six months old. Murray's father rented two houses in Gosnells before finally building his own house in Dorothy Street, which Murray lived in from the age of 10 till he married at the age of 23. During the interview Murray talks mostly about his childhood and the great times he had growing up in Gosnells. He talks of his fondness for the River and the many games and activities he and his friends would play at the River. Murray discusses the different aged children in the neighbourhood and the areas they would spend their time in. His close childhood friend was Steven Wilkinson and Murray talks about his friendship with Steve and recollects the time spent at the Wilkinson Homestead and the layout of the home. He talks of growing up and losing touch with Steven as they grew apart and took interest in different things, but then how they reconnected almost 50 years later. Murray talks about the different swimming holes in the Gosnells area and the activities that his older brothers did, such as shooting ducks and collecting birds' eggs. He talks of the changes in the area when the Kelmscott swimming pools were built and when cars became more popular. Murray talks of his first job working in the city and his adult life moving from home to home. Murray built his final home in North Coogee and is happy he's surrounded by so much entertainment. He talks about the negative changes to Gosnells but thinks fondly of the place he grew up. Murray talks about the community spirit of Gosnells when he was growing up, particularly surrounding the football club, and saw Gosnells more as a country town in those days