Australian NSW Branch May event Society of Archivists Meet the Students

NSW Branch Newsletter Report by Guy Tranter JUNE 2016 18 May 2016

THIS ISSUE CONTAINS: About 25 Branch members and guests (current or recent students) gathered at the Fisher Library to share ideas on studying archives, records and • ‘Meet the Students’ information management. May Branch event Pauline Garland spoke on the history of the • ASA Awards and Scholarships Archdiocesan Archives (SAA) including their foundation as • Report on Advocacy Workshop a collection in 1820 and her own appointment as Archivist in 2002. The collection is extensive but the records are • 2016 ASA Conference Update not complete nor continuous. In the past the SAA relied • RAHS Event on volunteers but now only employ qualified archivists and manage the records according to archival standards. • Rivendell Open Day

• NSW Branch Information Continues on page 2…

NOTICE OF THE NEXT ASA NSW BRANCH MEETING JUNE 2016 SITE VISIT CAROLINE SIMPSON LIBRARY & RESEARCH COLLECTION AT THE MINT

Date Wednesday 15 June 2016

Time Refreshments will be served from 5:30pm Business Meeting will be held at 5:40pm, prior to the site visit

Donation $5 to cover drinks and nibbles

Venue The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney Meet in the courtyard behind the Mint Building, near the door to the building For entrance after 6pm please phone/text Vipasha Mukherjee 0481 371 792

RSVP Numbers for the site visit are strictly limited to 20 Please email Richard Lehane if you would like to attend

Speaker Megan Martin, Head of Collections and Access, will give a short talk about the resources held at the Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection. We will visit the Scholars Gallery, where there are changing displays (often wallpaper) and where Megan will speak to the group. The strength of the collection lies in its wide range of formats, including architectural pattern books, architectural fragments, wall and floor coverings, manufacturers’ trade catalogues and sample books, garden or- nament, fittings (including curtain and blind hardware, door and window furniture), soft furnishings and trimmings, personal papers and manuscripts, pictures, photographs, books, periodicals and oral histories. For more details about the Library’s collection, visit the Sydney Living Museums website.

NSW Branch Business Meeting A business meeting will PRECEDE the talk and tour, an agenda for which will be supplied prior to the meeting. Please send apologies and agenda items to: ASA NSW Branch Secretary, Richard Lehane at [email protected] Minutes of previous business meetings: http://www.archivists.org.au/community/branches/new-south-wales Continues from page 1

Kate Riseley, Archivist at Shore Tim Petterson of RIMS spoke from School (North Sydney) and an employment agency viewpoint. Convenor of the NSW School SIG, In his 14 years in this business he spoke on working in the school has noticed a shortage of qualified archives sector. The School SIG, archivists (the cessation of the with 130 members nationally, is UNSW course had not helped) but the ASA’s most active SIG. Apart that there are a number of recent from traditional archiving, school archivists are likely to graduates in the room who were spoilt for choice after also require digital and IT skills (for communicating with registering and are now gainfully employed in the industry. the ITC department), museum skills, digitisation skills for Kerry Gordon of Recordkeeping dealing with photos and other documents, database Innovation has been a consultant management skills (archives, museum, student records for several decades and has and alumni), writing skills – articles for school publications, enjoyed the challenges that various research skills, presentation skills and skills with managing jobs have presented. This has volunteers and passionate alumni. included assignments in Hong Robin Perry spoke on her entry to Kong, Singapore, East Timor and the archives profession. Two years Papua New Guinea. They need people with technical ago she started as a volunteer for competency and the ability to analyse organisations and an council. She has systems quickly. Kerry herself has had many roles and is now gone on to execute digitisation just as much a ‘change manager’ as an ‘archivist’.. programs and finds working with Sabrina Elias spoke on her career after graduating in 1992. material held in local archives very She has been in a range of workplaces but it is a continuing rewarding because of the influence they have on citizens. challenge to convince people of the benefits of good Sigrid McCausland of Charles recordkeeping. In the process she has had to be a self-starter Sturt University gave an archival and has worn many hats in the field of information management educator’s perspective. CSU including being a workplace trainer, change manager, project has taught records and archives and knowledge manager and has had to use judgement and management since 2010, all initiative as well as understand the cultural differences between online. Part of the course however the public and private sector. Many roles in the archives sector is a group visit to archives in a are not well-defined – and Sabrina has found that employers major city and then a 3-week work placement – she is may not be certain what they want or need. very appreciative of the institutions which host students. Chris Hurley of the Commonwealth Teaching is also aided by CSU Archives being a regional Bank had been asked to speak on repository under the State Records system. “Activism in archives”. A very informative Tim Robinson finds that much of handout addressed such questions as: his role at the University of Sydney In a profession that handles dark secrets, (Manager, Archives and Records can we keep our political and social Management Services) is working opinions to ourselves? Would we follow to further integrate the records in the footsteps of Bradley Manning or Edward Snowden? system with business systems The profession does not currently have a code or canon that that do not meet recordkeeping obliges practitioners to report abuses, as do doctors, nurses requirements. Privacy and access issues in line with the or engineers. While archivists and the ASA had engaged in GIPA Act are also often overlooked. Recordkeeping in lobbying activities, these had been intermittent and ad hoc, fact underpins the entire existence of a university. Informal whereas successful activism needs focus and persistence. networks and contacts are vital in achieving outcomes, and Keep as involved as you can for both your own personal benefit you should have an attitude that ‘there’s no such thing as and the profession: keep the dialogue going at conferences, a stupid question’. He would always be glad to hear from listservs (including overseas) and social media. Lengthy and interested students, and the University has jobs in many involved discussion among ASA members should precede archives- and records-related areas outside the Archives offering solutions. Finally, activism may not always bring the (for example in the University of Sydney museums). results you expected! (Click here for the full transcript.) Continues on page 3… ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 2 Continues from page 2

Angela McGing and Louise Trott Our thanks to all who attended, and to Tim spoke about ASA membership: the Robinson for his assistance in again having benefits of a student membership rate the University of Sydney host us, and to Robin including Keeping Archives 3 (KA3), Perry for her help in organising the evening. and informal mentoring. Online courses based on KA3 are to be released shortly, and the Advocacy and Communication workshop to be held in Sydney was an example of ASA professional development.

Recent news

ASA Conference Bursary Sharman Award

In 2000 the ASA introduced this annual award in honour of Robert Charles (Bob) Sharman, colleague, foundation member and long serving supporter of the ASA, in recognition of his significant contribution to the Australian Society of Archivists and the archival cause generally in Australia.

The Sharman Award is in the form of either direct financial assistance or other aid to attend the annual ASA Conference (this year in Parramatta, Sydney, 17–21 October 2016). The Award includes conference registration and travel to and from the conference venue.

Applications close 29 July 2016

For information on how to apply Sharman Award Guidelines

Click here to see a list of previous Sharman Award Recipients

ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 3 Recent news

The recent Sydney Advocacy and Communication Workshop for Archivists

The Advocacy and Communication for Archivists workshop, developed for the ASA, was held in Sydney on 20 May.

As a profession, one of our core needs is communicating what we do to the wider world, often including our employers.

The workshop taught us to think more carefully, and feel more as well, about whatever we communicate – from the intellectual putting together of a case, to the basics of interaction between two people at any time.

Our thanks to David and Annie for an absorbing, informative and entertaining day.

Guy Tranter

ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 4 Upcoming events

Registrations are now open! Parramatta Secrets Register by 31 July to take advantage of early-bird rates. Guy Tranter, Document Archivist at the ABC writes about Parramatta’s trams, in Join us in the heritage city of Parramatta, the geographical centre the past and in the future: of Sydney, to explore the themes of collaboration, sustainability, accountability and transformation. Forging links: People, Systems, Parramatta has had some interesting Archives will look at how technology is changing our work and how outposts of Sydney’s trams. A steam we relate to users, to records and content. tram ran along George St from 1883 to 1943, to connect with ferries to Sydney. Our keynote speakers include: Justice Jennifer Coate, Mark Matienzo, The wharf was at Duck River, several Dr Tim Sherratt and Dr Laura Millar. For full program details and a list of kilometres downstream unlike the all events from Monday 17 October to Friday 21 October, please see the modern wharf right in the CBD. A steam Conference Website pages. tram was really a miniature train – a small locomotive (motor) hauled carriages The Conference week offers members a range of options including (trailers) or goods wagons. Special Interest Group meetings, workshops, and tours. Some highlights include: The photo below (courtesy of the City of Sydney Photo Library) is of the Parramatta Forging Links Conversation & Digital Archives Workshops steam tram 5a taken in 1940. This tram service connected with the ferry service Forging Links Conversation – sponsored by Recordkeeping Innovation at Redbank Wharf, near the join of the Tuesday 18 October, 9am – 12pm with Duck Creek. $35 for Conference Delegates. $85 for general participants.

Workshops – Friday 21 October, 9am – 5pm 1: Presenting Archives Online: From the basics to the cutting edge 9am – 12.30pm with Mark Matienzo and Tim Sherratt 2: Parallel Lines: Processing born-digital collections 1.30pm – 5pm with Ross Spencer, Jan Hutař, Andrea K Byrne Prices range from $100/$150 for Conference delegates. Open to general participants for $150 to $250 per workshop depending on your member status.

Both the Conversation and the Digital Archives Workshops are open To read Guy’s full article click here. to general participants. For those not attending the Conference, go to ASA Events for registration details.

ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 5 Upcoming events

RAHS/ASHET Lecture Sydney’s Horse-drawn Buses

Sydney’s horse bus industry has had very little attention from transport historians. Starting in the 1840s and lasting until nearly 1920 horse buses provided public transport in the city’s street and suburbs until the electric trams eclipsed them. They were heavily criticised for poor timekeeping, filth and quality and subjected to regulations by the City Council and then the State Government under the Metropolitan Transit Commission. From 1870 things improved with the formation of the Sydney Tramway and Omnibus Company, which for a while monopolised the horse bus industry and attempted to develop a horse tram network. The decline began in the 1880s as the steam tram network developed and by 1904 the only This picture is from the Kerry collection horse buses were to be found in the suburbs. The talk will cover politics, people showing two buses in George Street and vehicles. around 1890 (Photograph courtesy of ASHET) Duncan McAuslan has a particular interest in 19th Century Sydney transport and is a regular contributor to transport history journals. He is a board member of the Sydney Bus Museum as well as their archivist. His book on Sydney’s horse bus industry will be published later this year.

Date Thursday 30 June 2016

Time 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Venue History House 133 Macquarie Street, Sydneyt

Cost $10 to $12

Buy tickets Online

Organiser Royal Australian Historical Society (02) 9247 8001 [email protected] www.rahs.org.au

ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 6 Upcoming events

City of Canada Bay Heritage Society Rivendell Open Day

On his death in 1886, Thomas Walker of Yaralla, left a legacy of 100,000 pounds to build a Convalescent Hospital on 13 hectares of his land at Rocky Point, to the west of his Yaralla Estate.

The building was designed by Sir in the Federation style based on a pavillion format, the central block for administration with two service wings separated by Italianate Renaissance-style inner courtyards and fountains.

The two storied central block includes an intricately detailed three-storied tower over the main entrance, with its roof supported by caryatids.

One of the more famous patients there was the poet Henry Lawson, who wrote ‘The Unknown Patient’ while convalescing there.

Date Sunday 31 July 31 2016

Time 9:30am to 2:00pm

Venue Rivendell (Thomas Walker Hospital) Entrance through the gates at the end of Hospital Road, Concord West

Cost Adults – $15 Concession – $10 Children – free

Devonshire Teas & BBQ Lunch can be purchased on site

Bookings essential Online at www.canadabayheritage.asn.au

ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 7 NSW Branch Information

CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE 2015-2016 NSW BRANCH COMMITTEE Did you know that donations to the ASA Co Convenors are tax deductible? Guy Tranter (ABC Archives) [email protected] Donations to the ASA go Vipasha Mukherjee to support [email protected] • Awards Secretary • Scholarships Richard Lehane (State Records NSW) • Courses [email protected] • Publications Treasurer Enquiries on how to donate: Christine Yeats (Consultant Archivist) Mark Brogan (ASA Treasurer) [email protected] [email protected]

Elected Committee Members Pauline Garland (Sydney Archdiocesan Archives) Donate to the ASA [email protected] and support your community! Laura Harris (UNSW Archives) [email protected]

Barbara Hoffman (MLC School Archives) Newsletter Editor [email protected]

Co-opted Committee Members Robin Perry [email protected] Louise Trott [email protected]

PREVIOUS MINUTES & NEWSLETTERS OF THE NSW BRANCH

At the NSW Branch webpage, you will find • Annual Reports to Council

• AGM Minutes

• Newsletters

• Rules

• Branch Minutes

ASA NSW Branch Newsletter – June 2016 8