Researchers
Mayday Hills Research Team
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin
Dr Jennifer Munday is an Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University teaching in the disciplines of Creative Arts, and Technology. Jennifer co-ordinated the Collections from the Asylum: Past Lives, Present Tense exhibition on Mayday Hills at the Albury Library Museum in 2020. She has served on the Arts Victoria Advisory Panel and is a member of the Advisory Committee for Write Around the Murray, the Albury–Wodonga Writers Festival and is currently engaged in a number of other research projects as well as the Mayday Hills Research Group.
Dr Eileen Clark is an adjunct Research Fellow at Charles Sturt University. Eileen holds Masters degrees in sociology and genealogy. Her genealogy dissertation was an archival study of patients admitted to Beechworth Asylum between 1900 and 1912. She worked as a university lecturer for 25 years, mainly in health sciences, and now operates her own writing and research business (Clarks Clerks). She has authored or co-authored over 50 refereed publications and has been a member of several teams receiving major grants. In this project, she has been responsible for researching the biographies of veterans admitted to the asylum and their families and for liaison with Beechworth Cemetery Trust.
Dr Alison Watts is an Adjunct Lecturer at Southern Cross University. Alison was awarded her PhD titled ‘Maternal insanity in Victoria, Australia: 1920-1973.’ She has a strong familial connection to Mayday Hills, as her grandmother lived as a patient there in the 1950 and 1960s. Alison curated artefacts from private family collections in the Collections from the Asylum: Past Lives, Present Tense exhibition on Mayday Hills at the Albury Library Museum in 2020. Her article on Experimental Treatments: Women, Gender, and ‘Maternal Insanity’ in Victorian Psychiatric Institutions, 1920–36 is published in the Health and History Journal and has several articles under review. Twitter @alison_watts
CONTENT, VIRTUAL TOURS AND WEBSITE DEVELOPERS
This project is funded by a seed grant from Telematics Trust to provide virtual tours of the grand buildings and grounds of Mayday Hills Mental Asylum and the Beechworth Cemetery. The Mayday Hills Blog content is managed by Alison Watts and written by the Mayday Hills Research Team.
The drone footage, virtual tours, visual and audio content created by Timothy Crutchett, Dr James Farley and Patrick McKenzie.
Patrick McKenzie Technical Manager, Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University
Timothy Crutchett Creative Artist, Faculty of Arts and Education, Charles Sturt University
Do you have a story about living and working at Mayday Hills you want to share with us?
Do you have a story about living and working at Mayday Hills you want to share with us?
Our research team has conducted many recorded interviews as part of our ongoing research to increase our understanding of the history of Mayday Hills psychiatric hospital. Jenni, Eileen and Alison are particularly interested in valuable first-hand information from your own perspective.
We have interviewed people who worked at Mayday Hills in the past including nurses, doctors and grounds-keeping staff as well as family members of patients.
An interview would take around 30 minutes, is very informal and will be recorded. We are trying to capture your thoughts, perspectives and experiences of Mayday Hills.
There is no compensation for participating in this study. However, your participation will be a valuable addition to our research and findings could lead to greater public understanding of past mental health practices and sense of the Beechworth community.
If you are willing to participate please suggest a day and time that suits you and we will do our best to be available. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Contact Jennifer Munday via email at jmunday@csu.edu.au
- Interviews are approved by Charles Sturt University, Human Research Ethics Committee
