AustLit

'Folkloric recording. Craig Rob Roy McGregor speaks about his family background as dairy farmers; siblings; his schooling; the family move to Gundagai, during WWII; correspondence education then Cranbrook School, Sydney; the family move Sydney; his 'uni-culture' experiences at Cranbrook; his father, parent's separation and family break-up; graduating from Cranbrook, obtaining a scholarship to Sydney University; Libertarian Movement; his cadetship at Sydney Morning Herald (1950), working as a journalist while attending university; his emergence as a feature writer; his interest in music and involvement in performance work at 'The Troubador', the folk revival; journey to England (1959) working for his passage; his life on arrival, working as a 'supply teacher'; quitting teaching and returning to freelance journalism; meeting his wife Jane, their courtship and marriage; their return to Australia 2 years later. McGregor discusses his first book 'Profile of Australia', establishing him as a Social commentator; the realisation that Australia had changed radically; he reflects on his writing career, his interest in music and politics; his book about Mark Latham, the man, his ideas; his novels and short stories; his methods in writing, research, synthesis, his essays; his work as a freelancer; his 1960's publications; winning 'Harkness Fellowship' to America (1969); his book about Bob Dylan; his love of Folk and Blues and Modern Jazz; time spent at Repentence Creek; his appointment at Sydney College of the Arts until 1985; becoming Professor of the Faculty, his innovations; their move back to Byron Bay; the importance of his family; his memoirs, currently being written; his and Don Henderson's Rock Opera 'Hero', content and process, Don's songs; Grahame Bond; his love of people and his life.' (Trove)