Every story told is a piece of Douglas Shire history saved
The Low Isles Preservation Society is gathering the voices and memories of Port Douglas, Low Isles and the wider Douglas Shire, and we'd love your help. Whether you have a story of your own or would like to record someone else's, this is the place to start.
When a voice is lost, the story goes with it
The history of this region isn't only in books and archives. Much of it lives in people's memories: the fishermen who knew every bommie on the reef, the families who worked the wharves, the lighthouse keepers and their children, and the characters the town wouldn't have been the same without.
Oral histories capture those memories in people's own words and voices. Once recorded, they become a permanent record that researchers, families and future generations can return to. We're especially interested in the region's maritime life, but every story that reflects the unique character of this place is welcome.
Stories we're looking for
The waterfront
Boats, wharves and the people who worked them. How the Port Douglas waterfront looked, sounded and changed over the decades.
The sea and the reef
Fishing trips, memorable vessels, close calls and encounters with crocs and sharks, and how the reef has changed in living memory.
Low Isles (Wungkun)
Life on the island, the lighthouse and its keepers, and memories of visits out to the isles over the years.
Community life
The Mossman Show, race days, regattas and picnics, plus the gatherings that brought the Shire together.
Local characters
The people who shaped the town, and the stories that get told again and again at every family gathering.
A changing town
How Port Douglas grew from a small community into the place it is today, told by the people who watched it happen.
Record a story in four simple steps
No interview experience is needed, just genuine curiosity and a willingness to listen. Our guide walks you through everything.
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Download the guide
Our Interview Guide includes question prompts, interview tips and the permission form you'll need.
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Get set up
A smartphone works well. Or borrow our recording equipment for better sound. Find a quiet spot and do a quick test recording.
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Ask permission
Before you record, explain how the story will be used and have the speaker sign the permission form.
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Record and send
Email your recording, a portrait photo (if permitted) and the completed form to lipsinport@gmail.com.
LIPS Oral History Interview Guide
Everything you need for your first interview: warm-up questions, prompts about life in the Douglas Shire, the sea and reef, community life and Low Isles, plus the permissions and record form. Print it or keep it on your phone.
⬇ Download the guide (PDF)Borrow our recording kit
Want clearer, archive-quality sound? LIPS has recording equipment available to lend to volunteers. Get in touch to arrange a time to collect it, and we'll show you how it works.
✉ Ask to borrow equipmentGetting the best from an interview
- Let them talk. Your job is to listen, not to fill silences.
- Follow the thread. If they mention something interesting, ask about it before moving on.
- Don't rush. Some of the best stories emerge after the third or fourth sentence.
- Use the questions as prompts, not a script.
- "Can you tell me more about that?" and "What happened next?" are your best friends.
- Jot down names, dates and spellings as you go. Specific details bring a story to life.
- Choose a quiet space. Background noise is the enemy of a good recording.
- If the speaker becomes upset or uncomfortable, pause and check in. It is always okay to stop.
"You are the custodian of someone's story. Treat it with care, respect and patience."
Tell us who we should speak to
You don't have to do the interview yourself. If you know someone with memories of Port Douglas, the waterfront, the reef or Low Isles (a parent, a neighbour, an old friend from the fishing fleet), let us know and we'll match them with a volunteer interviewer. And if the story is your own, we'd be honoured to record it.
✉ Suggest a storytellerProud member of Oral History Queensland
LIPS is a member of Oral History Queensland (OHQ), the Queensland branch of Oral History Australia. OHQ promotes training and ethical practice in oral history, and supports the preservation of oral history collections and access to them.
Our membership connects Douglas Shire volunteers with a statewide network of experienced oral historians, so the stories we collect here are recorded with care and preserved to a recognised standard.
Want to build your skills?
Help us keep the Douglas Shire's stories alive
Questions about the project, borrowing equipment or sending in a recording? We'd love to hear from you.