Bryce Radford interviews Les Lawlor on ABC Radio in 1985 for a series called “Voices from a Vanishing Australia”.

Leslie William Lawlor (1901-1994) is my great grandfather (my Mum’s Mum’s Dad). He founded Lawlor’s Pest Control in Adelaide (“Lawlor’s – the white ant people”) after catching rats during The Depression. In this chat, he talks about what life and employment was like at the time, selling Bryant & May matches, the pest control business, salt damp and termite issues in Adelaide and Australia, as well as a fascinating method of how he caught rats in butcher shops.

I recall spending time with him when I was very young. He lived in the Adelaide suburb of Cowandilla, which is right under the flight path of the main runway at Adelaide Airport. This interview was obviously recorded at his home because at one point you can hear a plane coming in to land. I found this interview absolutely fascinating and I really wish there was more.

-DMG