National Library of Australia

 

FROM THE WENDY LOWENSTEIN AUSTRALIAN FOLKLORE AND SOCIAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Access conditions: Open for research and public use

Wendy Lowenstein (1927-2006) was an author, folklorist and oral historian. She was a founding member of the Folk Lore Society of Victoria. Her collection of sound recordings in the National Library relates to social history, songs, music, yarns and recitations. Most recordings were made during 1969 when Wendy Lowenstein was travelling with her family around Australia.

Selected excerpt from this collection

In 1969 Wendy Lowenstein recorded children in Perth, Western Australia, about the rhymes and games they played. They also told her a number of jokes, and at one stage acknowledged learning some from a book, 'Fifty Best Riddles', although all the jokes are well-known in the oral tradition.

Why did the tomato blush?
Because it saw the salad dressing.

What letter is never found in the alphabet?
The one you put in the post-box.

Why are bees so affectionate?
They're always thinking of honey.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Egbert.
Egbert who?
Egg but no bacon.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Freezer.
Freezer who?
(Sings:) Freezer jolly good fellow,
Freezer jolly good fellow,
Freezer jolly good fellow,
And so say all of us.

Children's folklore items found in this collection

TRC 2915/12. View record

Mumble-the-Peg. Recorded 1969.

TRC 2915/13. View record

Mumble-the-Peg and Knucklebones. Recorded 1969.

TRC 2915/29. View record

Children in Western Australia, chants etc. Recorded 1969.

TRC 2915/92. View record

Children's rhymes, south-east suburbs, Melbourne.

TRC 2915/100. View record

Children's rhymes, Collingwood, Victoria.

TRC 2915/100. View record

Children's rhymes, Collingwood, Victoria.
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