Mr Peter Tillotson Griffin

GRIFFIN, Peter Tillotson

Born 18 March 1925

Peter Griffin was born at Strathalbyn. He attended Strathalbyn Primary School and High School before his family moved to Ashford in Adelaide when Peter was aged fourteen. He finished his schooling at Adelaide High School. In 1942 Peter enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy serving as a coder, in New Guinea and in the Pacific area. After his discharge Peter held various labouring positions before taking a job as Traffic Inspector with the Adelaide City Council in September 1950. In 1957 Peter took on the additional role of Inspector of Weights and Measures. During his employment as Traffic Inspector he studied part-time at the School of Mines to gain qualifications in Health Inspection. In 1957 he left the Adelaide City Council to take on the position of Health Inspector with the Unley Council. In June 1958 he returned to work with the Adelaide City Council as Health Inspector, initially assigned to work in Grey Ward, then Young Ward and finally in the City Wards. In 1974 he was appointed Inspector of Restaurants. In 1985 he was promoted to the position of Principal Health Surveyor, retiring in 1990 after 38 years of service with the Council.

The interview deals vividly with Peter's childhood, growing up and war service. It then focuses on his experiences as Traffic and then Health Inspector. In his many years on the streets of Adelaide Peter witnessed great changes. He discusses in detail the many and varied aspects of his work as a both a Traffic and a Health Inspector. As Principal Health Surveyor Peter was responsible for setting up control programmes for pigeons and European wasps. He also established a fully equipped Health Services Laboratory.

Interviewer: Karen George
27 May & 3 & 10 June 1994
7 hours (7 x 60 min tapes)
Full Transcript (117 p.) Open Access

Extract from 'City Memory' written and prepared by Oral Historian Dr. Karen George for the City of Adelaide © Corporation of the City of Adelaide 1999