Queensland Local Studies Group Minutes

Participants onsite Annabel Lloyd - City Council Archives Andrew Darbyshire – guest speaker, coordinator history publication ‘Brisbane spreads west’ Andrew Yeo – photographer / UQ Fryer library Marianne Taylor – House Detective / researching the history of houses Melanie Rush – Digital Archivist, Jane Harding – Noosa Council Raylene Jensen – Regional Council Karen Harper – Heritage Library, Sunshine Coast Jenny Hayne – Heritage Library, Sunshine Coast Helen Cossins - Moreton Regional Council Kelly Ashford – regional Council Joanne Seccombe – State Archives Stephanie Ryan - State Library of Queensland Anne Scheu - State Library of Queensland Olivia Robinson - State Library of Queensland

Participants online Cheryl Rickard – Rockhampton Regional Council Gillian McNeil – Council Angela Puata – Redland City Council Kyla Stephan – Librarian, Southport and Local Studies Library, Lisa Ryan – Librarian, Gympie Regional Council Rochelle Bull - Local History Officer, Gympie Regional Council Raylene Jensen – Scenic Rim Regional Council Deannah Vieth – Library Public Program, City of Ipswich Carol Hawley – Heritage Library, Sunshine Coast Hilda (Dr) Maclean – Heritage Specialist, Council Kate Balderson – Mackay Regional Council Alexis Adams – Burdekin Regional Council, Ayr Jayne Royal – Toowoomba Regional Council Juanita Jones – Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Innisfail Troy Keith – State Library of Queensland Christina Ealing-Godbold – State Library of Queensland

Recorded Meeting – 15 April 2020 – https://vimeo.com/537099926 Access all meetings in the QLSG Showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/qldlocalstudiesmeetings Password: QldHistory

Brisbane City Council Archivist Annabel Lloyd invited three presenters. The topics they covered included:

• Working across local history groups – a collaboration, a personal experience Presenter: Andrew Darbyshire

Retired consultant project manager Andrew describes himself as a ‘hobby historian’ co-ordinating the St Lucia History Group, treasurer of the Brisbane History Group, former member of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland and co-editor of ‘Brisbane Spreads West’, a collaboration. Andrew is happy to respond to questions if you email him direct at [email protected]

• A photographer’s perspective Presenter: Andrew Yeo

Andrew shared the challenges of digitising special collections for the University of Queensland’s Fryer Library. His presentation showed the numerous challenges, variances and outcomes in getting the best result for digitisation purposes. Contact Andrew directly for professional services at [email protected] or through UQ Fryer Library at [email protected]

• The House Detective – the person behind the name Presenter: Marianne Taylor

Marianne’s work as a freelance architectural historian has taken her on an interesting journey specialising in investigating and documenting the history of houses and private homes. Marianne has many followers on her Facebook site if you are keen to follow her posts which extend beyond Brisbane and the SE. https://www.facebook.com/thehousedetective

Lunch – 12:45 - 1:30

Group discussion - brainstorming session identifying Local Studies strengths and potential QLSG advocacy campaign.

Action: State Library to organise a facilitated workshop in November, identifying advocacy opportunities for Local Studies in Queensland.

Queensland State Archives update

Senior Reference Archivist Joanne Seccombe updated the meeting on the exhibitions currently touring Queensland and a project overview. See them listed in the documentation provided. For more information about the projects or to book the exhibitions for your library contact Kathryn King on Ph 07 3037 6707 or email her at [email protected]

Local Studies updates by Council

Redland City Council Completed projects: • Local History pages in the library catalogue. Local History Resources last page. • Standalone PC in each mainland branch providing access to a range of resources in copyright and not on the library catalogue. • Coffee & Conversation sessions held in 3 mainland branches (not restricted to Local History. • Suburb timelines completed for each suburb or island.

Ongoing: • Scanning, digitizing local newspapers back to 1931 continues • Scanning and uploading photographs and images - 10,000 scanned so far, estimate nearly as many left to scan • Scanning historical documents, Rates books, Council Meeting Minutes on microfilm. • Assembling new ‘people’ timelines and converting them Presentations • Uploading presentations, resources suitable for Prep – Year 4 history curriculum

Future planning: • Oral History Project focusing on Covid 19 starting October 2021: Coronavirus Covid 19 – Oral History project. (i) Starting with council decision makers, frontline staff, library staff; (ii) Community with museums and history groups interviewing community members, small businesses, aged care staff, residents and families etc.

Gold Coast Local Studies, Southport • Gold Coast Libraries Local Studies Collection resumed offering customers access to the physical collection on Tuesday 6 April 2021. • Customers continue to receive online assistance but are welcome to visit between 10-12 and 2-4 Monday to Friday. • Feedback very positive. Clients appreciate staff’s ability, and the new appointment system enables staff to identify and set aside the most relevant resources prior to each visit.

Noosa Regional Council • Noosa News and Noosa Advocate digitisation complete – now live on Trove • Recollect implementation progressing well – go live scheduled for 19 May • Plaques and Memorials Policy adopted by Council in March. Development of this policy was tasked to the Heritage Unit, and Jane Harding)

Moreton Bay Region Libraries Local History

• Recollect implementation moving along - Moreton Bay - Our Story • Moreton Bay History Seminar - Thu 13 May 9 -3 https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/libraries/Events/Moreton-Bay-History-Seminar-NL • New structure - Local History is now part of the Museums and Heritage team - still working with and in Libraries. • Heritage trail at Corscadden Park Redcliffe under development in conjunction with History Redcliffe and Rotary.

State Library of Queensland

QLS Group Meetings – Recordings available online at Showcase : - https://vimeo.com/showcase/qldlocalstudiesmeetings Password: QldHistory

• Online community contribution tool - Explorer – share your stories Curated sets include Anzac Day in Queensland;

• Dangerous women: the podcast - https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/dangerouswomen The story of five women who have challenged the status quo and inspired change in their chosen fields and beyond.

• Queensland Memory keeping you connected

Stay in touch with Queensland Memory via our Social Media channels, John Oxley Library blog and the Queensland Memory enewsletter.

Next Meeting: Thursday 12 August 2021 Where: Mackay City Libraries will host the meeting Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm

Agenda items can be emailed to Kate Balderson for consideration.