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FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETIES INC

 

e-BULLETIN No. 110 – 7 April 2013

 

Hon Editor, Dr Ruth S. Kerr

 

1) National Cultural Policy

 

2) RACQ Foundation grants for flood affected Queensland organisations

 

3) Railway heritage

 

4) Gayndah (Queensland) - historical society museum flooded

 

5) Institute for Professional Practice in Heritage & the Arts courses

 

6) New Wesfarmers Chair in Australian History at University of Western Australia

 

7) New South Wales History Fellowships

 

8) New South Wales Government grants for Western Crossings groups

 

9) Blue Mountains Crossing seminar

 

10) Nominations for FAHS Merit Awards invited

 

 

1) National Cultural Policy

 

The then Arts Minister, Hon Simon Crean MP, announced the Australian Government’s Arts Policy on 13 March 2013. There are very positive elements in it for the cultural heritage sector including digitization of documentary heritage in Australia. This follows the arguments submitted by the Federation of Australian Historical Societies and other bodies such as Museums Australia in response to the Arts Minister’s 2012 Discussion Paper. Many of the proposed changes in policy lie in the areas of education and inter-agency co-operation.  Total funding is $235 million (generally over four years) and levels are set out on pages 34-35 of the policy document, Creative Australia.

 

Significant funding elements announced are:

  • $75.3 million for the Australia Council over four years. Base funding will be increased 9% in the next financial year;

  • $8.595 million for Creative Partnerships Australia to establish a funding program for the cultural sector based on new models of funding, including micro-loans, crowd sourcing and matched funding;

  • $20.8 million to elite arts training organizations;

  • $13.983 million to extend the Indigenous Languages Support program;

  •  $9.3 million to six major performing arts companies;

  • $3.4 million for an ArtsReady program students in on-the-job training;

  • $8.1 million to establish the Creative Young Stars Program which will encourage, support and celebrate creative, academic and community achievement in every federal electorate and participation of students in primary and secondary schools and post-school young people to 25 years;

  • $10 million immediately for screen production for digital platforms including television to support innovation and augment Screen Australia's multi-platform;

  • $9.7 million to continue the ArtStart program for graduating practitioners;

  • $11.26 million to continue the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program;

  • $5 million to continue the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project through the Community Broadcasting Foundation;

  • $20 million for a new Location incentive for film makers to increase Australia’s competitiveness; and

  • $40 million for the Regional Development Australian Fund (RDAF)–Arts and Cultural Infrastructure through RDAF Rounds 3 and 4.

Historical Society members are invited to read the policy noting the key sections which affect our sector:

  • Expansion of digital access to national collections by building partnerships with community organizations;

  • $3.2 million has been allocated for Creative Partnerships Australia to help bring cultural organizations closer together;

  • Streamlining of the administration by the Australian Tax Office of Gifts to cultural organizations;

  • Development of a National Arts and Cultural Accord between each level of government to set out the principles of support for arts and culture; and

  • Establishment of a national network of museums and galleries through Museums Australia and the National Museum by sharing resources and improving access to collections.

The new Minister for The Arts, Hon Tony Burke MP, has announced his intention to implement the National Cultural Policy.

 

(Source: http://creativeaustralia.arts.gov.au/; Australian 20 March 2013)

 

 

2) RACQ Foundation grants for flood affected Queensland organisations

 

The RACQ Foundation is providing grants to community organisations significantly affected by the Australia Day Floods in Queensland. The grant may be up to $200,000 and is to help small to medium sized organisations to regain their position before the natural disaster resulting from cyclone Oswald. The grant may be used for purchase of material items, funding social and community support services and costs of cleaning and restoration of flood damaged property. Applications close on 29 April 2013. Further information available on Phone 131 908 (RACQ Foundation).


(Source: Central and North Burnett Times 21 March 2013 p.6)

 

 

3) Railway heritage

 

News such as in North Central Review News (Victoria) on 12 February 2013 about dissension and lack of compliance with rail Workplace Health and Safety requirements provides disturbing reading for all those railway volunteers and heritage supporters in Australia.  Identification of the issues leads to a suggestion that rail heritage bodies unite into one overarching association.

 

(Source: North Central Review News (Victoria) on 12 February 2013)

 

 

4) Gayndah (Queensland) - historical society museum flooded

 

During the Australia Day weekend Burnett River flood of unprecedented levels, the Gayndah and District Historical Society’s museum was severely flooded. President, Mrs Cynthia Berthelsen, spoke of the excellent work that the police and council workmen did to assist townspeople during the flood. Mrs Berthelsen, President of the Gayndah and District Historical Society wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Central and North Burnett Times on 7 March 2013 thanking all the helpers for the Society following the damage to the museum’s machinery and displays. Water is being drained out of all the machinery progressively. Korean backpackers had worked on the first day after the floodwaters went down to clear the yard to provide access to the buildings and also lifting furniture. Carpenters and people from other towns assisted with the clean-up. The work is on-going with people coming every day to work.

 

(Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-31/frustration-grows-as-flooded-communities-clean-up/4494406 - 31 January 2013; Central and North Burnett Times 7 March 2013 p.12)

 

 

5) Institute for Professional Practice in Heritage & the Arts courses

 

The Institute for Professional Practice in Heritage & the Arts (IPPHA) is pleased to offer the following professional development courses for March/April 2013. (Click on the links to view course fliers)

Physical conservation of buildings and structures 15-19 April 2013 at Kakadu National Park and Pine Creek Historic Township, NT

A 5-day field-based Professional Development Short Course covering a range of physical conservation issues and strategies for conserving buildings and structures in place. In 2013, for the first time, this course will be delivered in collaboration with Kakadu National Park and will provide hands on access to an intriguing range of historic buildings within the park and Aboriginal associations with and perspectives on these. (Only a small number of places left.)

Memory of the World: assessing the material records and links to other forms of heritage in international practice Wednesday 24 April at the Australian National University, Canberra.


This one-day Professional Update explores our growing heritage of archives and documents, oral and visual recordings, as well as the strong links to places and intangible aspects of heritage, with case studies from Australia and the Asia-Pacific.


Where detailed flyers are available, registration is now open at the IPPHA website.

(Source: ICOMOS Australia E News No.575, 15 March 2013)

 

 

6) New Wesfarmers Chair in Australian History at University of Western Australia

 

Two organisations synonymous with the State’s economic and social development – Wesfarmers and University of Western Australia  – are joining forces in a new multi-million-dollar project to boost the study of Australian history at tertiary and secondary levels.

This week Wesfarmers announced a $5 million gift to establish a Professorial Chair in Australian History at UWA– the first such position fully privately-funded in Australia and the first Chair of Australian History in Western Australia.

 

(Source: http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201303125474/arts-and-culture/new-wesfarmers-chair-australian-history-guide-was-future - 12 March 2013)

 

 

7) New South Wales History Fellowships

 

On 18 March 2013 Arts New South Wales released the findings of their one year review of the History Fellowships Program.

 

A copy of the findings and recommendations of the review are available at the Arts NSW website here.

 

The report recommends that the New South Wales Indigenous History Fellowship and the New South Wales Archival Fellowship be abolished. The History Council of New South Wales is seeking the review of the recommendations - http://historycouncilnsw.org.au/news/post/nsw-history-fellowships-to-be-cut/

 

The New South Wales History Fellowships will be replaced and offered this year as New South Wales Centenary of Anzac Commemoration (2014-2018). The New South Wales History Fellowship will be offered biennially (previously annually), with a focus on established and mid-career historians and the (new) History Fellowship will be offered biennially to emerging historians, both for $20,000. Therefore the New South Wales History Fellowship has been divided into two targeting different career levels each year, subsequently there is no additional Fellowship.
Historians may support the review of the recommendations by writing to Arts New South Wales and the Minister for the Arts, Hon George Souris MP, calling for funding for retention of the funds for the fellowships. www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/members.nsf/0/7a505361a172eec24a2567450001659c?OpenDocument


(Source: History Council of New South Wales -http://historycouncilnsw.org.au/- 18-3-13; RAHS E-Newsletter March 2013 Issue 2)

 

 

8) New South Wales Government grants for Western Crossings groups

 

New South Wales Government grants totalling $40,000 will be issued by the Royal Australian Historical Society to help groups commemorate the Western Crossings bicentenary. RAHS president Dr Anne-Maree Whitaker announced the grants at the February meeting at the Western Crossings committee.

Recipients of the grants include Ancestral Pathways of the Blue Mountains (Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association), Western Crossings Foundation (Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.), Blue Wave reenactment (Blue Mountains Blue Wave), Crossing A Play! (Marian Theatre for Young People).

The grants result from a delegation to the New South Wales Premier by the previous RAHS President, Emeritus Professor David Carment and Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage.

For more information about Western Crossings events:
click here

 

(Source: RAHS E-Newsletter March 2013 Issue 2)

 

 

9) Blue Mountains Crossing seminar


On 11 May 1813 Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth set out from South Creek accompanied by four servants, five dogs and four horses. They walked for 17 days through the bush, marking the bark of the trees to trace their steps. Exactly 100 years later an obelisk was erected at Mt York on 28 May 1913 to mark the centenary.

 

How did it happen that an event that was modestly reported at the time, and which had limited immediate consequences, by the turn of the twentieth century came to be regarded as one of the most significant events in Australia’s European history? In this day long seminar, four of Australia’s leading historians: Richard Waterhouse, Grace Karskens, Martin Thomas and David Roberts will explore the mythologising of the 1813 crossing, its impacts and reflect on the wider importance of this event to Australian history. The day will conclude with a presentation by a National Parks Discovery Ranger on the Aboriginal heritage of the region and a tour of the World Heritage Exhibition.

Lunch and morning tea included.

 

Presented by the History Council of NSW.

 

This event is supported by the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre.

 

When: Thursday, 10 May 2012 to Thursday, 10 May 2012
Where: Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, 50 Parke Street, Katoomba
Cost: General $30.00 / Concession $25.00
Contact: Mandy Kretzschmar, 02 9252 8715

admin@historycouncilnsw.org.au

 

Click here to book tickets

 

(Source: History Council of NSW – 28 March 2013)

 

 

10) Nominations for FAHS Merit Awards invited

 

Nominations for the FAHS Merit Awards for 2013 close on 30 June 2013.


Information about the Awards, guidelines (in PDF format) and nomination form (in PDF and DOC format) are available at
www.history.org.au/Merit%20Award.html.