April 2015, No. 52 Contents ► Editorial ► New members ► ASSOCIATION NEWS & EVENTS ► Looking back to the early years of Oral History NSW ► Remembering Judy Wing ► Mitchell Library Consultative Group ► REPORTS & PROJECTS ► Australian Generations Project – Final Report ► Michael Frisch at the State Library of Victoria ► ‘Collecting Diversity’ – State Library of NSW ► ‘On the Fringes – South West Sydney 1994–2014’ ► Oral History NSW & the Museum of the Riverina ► NOTES & NOTICES ► Possibilities & Pitfalls in Oral History: The Interview in Perspective ► Oral History & Digital Narrative ► Addison Road Talks – StirUp Gallery ► One-on one training: technical assistance ► CREDITS Oral History NSW Voiceprint No. 52, April 2014 1 EDITORIAL WELCOME TO THE 52ND EDITION OF VOICEPRINT. Therese Sweeney’s remarkable twenty-year We hope the oral history community, particularly project: ‘On the fringes – South-West Sydney in NSW, will find it informative and interesting. 1994-2014’ has also provided a superb legacy of material – sound recordings, photography and Many thanks to Margaret Leask, who stepped video recordings and a book – for posterity. We down as co-editor after last issue, for her much report on three phases of process now being valued input since 2011. Continuing her mounted by UTS to archive collected material, contribution, in this issue Margaret has provided undertake preservation work and provide access a report on the keynote address by visiting US to the project’s outcomes – which will include Professor Michael Frisch, University of Buffalo, digital preservation, web access and exhibitions – State University of New York, given at the and we provide links both to the archive and an Australian Generations Conference last October excellent press report about the project and its in Melbourne, where he described his ideas collaboration with UTS. about working on oral history applications of new media, provoking interest and awareness of ways In other news about important collections, two we might work as oral historians in the near were launched recently at the State Library of future. The Australian Generations project has NSW, one of interviews with former refugees and now concluded, but a rich legacy of material immigrants from culturally and linguistically remains, and we include a brief guide to the final diverse (CALD) communities in Sydney and report and how to access audio of its interviews, regional NSW, and the other of interviews with radio programs and discussions of activity and members of Sydney’s Muslim communities. rationale. Oral History NSW’s regional outreach is However, we begin this issue with a reflected in a report on developments at the remarkable review of the early days of Oral Museum of the Riverina, where we have recently History NSW – although she is one of its earliest provided workshops and a master class in Wagga members, Joyce Cribb learned much to add to Wagga, and we also include information about her memories from sorting boxes of the forthcoming Oral History NSW workshops in association’s archives recently placed with the Sydney – which no doubt will attract much State Library of NSW. This included interesting attention, so book early! And lastly, do check out details about the genesis of the Oral History the talks being held in May about the Addison Association of Australia as well its NSW Branch, Road Talking History Project in Marrickville. forerunners of our current associations. Also Editor Sally Zwartz and her new co-editor looking back, we recall the work of long-term Francis Good will soon be seeking your member Judy Wing, who passed away recently, contributions for the next issue of Voiceprint, due and who will be remembered with fondness and in October 2015. Deadlines will be publicised in admiration by many. Sandra Blamey recalls her our monthly Network News and the website. If achievements, and provides tributes from you would like to discuss ideas for contributions, Professor Paul Ashton and Dr Margaret Park. please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Sally Zwartz and Francis Good BACK TO TOP Oral History NSW Voiceprint No. 52, April 2014 2 NEW MEMBERS Catherine Shirley – St Ives Justine And David Good – Wagga Wagga Marisa Ramos Gonçalves – Gwynneville Rob Walley & Ann Rollins – Wollstonecraft Louise Whelan – Avalon Paul Szilard – North Sydney John Holt – Potts Point Susan Dowley – Florey Ann Howard – North Sydney Christina Mimmocchi – St Pauls Marilyn Leeks – Ocean Shores Pip Newling – Petersham Rosie Heritage – Stroud ACT Heritage Library – Phillip Anisa Puri – Double Bay Lyn Keily – East Maitland Danna Johnston – Rocky Point Donald Keast – Dubbo Julie Evans – Cheltenham Neva Berryman – Bilgola Plateau ASSOCIATION NEWS AND EVENTS Looking Back to the Early Years of Oral History NSW By Joyce Cribb LAST YEAR I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH (DEPENDING Members from across Australia belonged to which way one looks) to sort through boxes of this one association. oral history archives for placement in the NSW The interstate members soon realized that a State Library. The luck comes from uncovering local association would be more able to such an interesting story; a story that I knew provide them with the educational support and little about despite all the years I spent on the guidance that they needed and thus branches committee and editing Voiceprint. The began to be set up in the states. South downside – dust, rust, crumbling paper, fading Australia was first, February 1979, with NSW ink, almost impossible-to-read handwriting, setting up a branch later in 1979. Running the pricked fingers, sneezing fits – such association from Western Australia with discomforts now forgotten. As I sorted I made contact to the branches by post was not easy. some notes and can now tell you a little of the Reading through the early correspondence a early history. degree of tension is apparent between what Oral History Association of Australia one might call ‘head office’ in Perth and Members will know that the OHAA was ‘branch’ in Sydney. The underlying cause founded in Western Australia in July 1978. seems to have been about money, as the Members may not know all the story of the membership dues were paid to the Australian development of oral history in Australia; suffice Association and the branches had to raise to say that oral history was alive and well in other money to provide for their Australia in the early 1970s. Conferences had administration and educational workshops. been held at La Trobe University in Melbourne In those early years, all the records had to and connections were being made across be entered by hand, the branches sent the Australia between oral historians. money and names to Perth, and Jean Teasdale Jean Teasdale, a social worker who lived in kept the membership list and receipted the Perth had recorded many oral histories, money. It is obvious that Jean was burdened especially for the Battye Library in Perth. Jean by the amount of work keeping the was instrumental in setting up the Oral History membership list up to date and the branches Association of Australia. Jean, it can be said, were often not ‘on time’!!! was the driving force in establishing the 1 It is interesting to note that the states association and became the first secretary . remained as ‘branches’ until a revised constitution was adopted in 2013, and the Oral History NSW Voiceprint No. 52, April 2014 3 NSW Branch became a separate organisation, ● “to promote the practice and methods of Oral History NSW, taking in the NSW and ACT Oral History members of OHAA at that time, and the ● to educate in the use of oral history methods national organisation became Oral History ● to encourage discussion of all problems in Australia, a peak body with each state oral history organisation being the only members. For ● to foster the preservation of oral history NSW from 1979 to 2013, some 34 years in all, records in Australia and membership fees, and the proportion of ● to disseminate information by publication of capitation remitted to OHAA were at times a regular newsletter”. points of difference between OHAA and NSW I think the current organization continues to Branch. reflect similar aims – over thirty years of Oral History Association of Australia, promoting oral history and supporting and NSW Branch educating oral historians. In recent times so In Sydney a meeting was called in July 1979 to much oral history has been digitized and stored discuss setting up of a group or branch in NSW. for the future. We can be grateful that This meeting was chaired by Baiba Irving (now preservation was one of the early aims. Baiba Berzins) and notes were taken by Alan The original committee almost immediately set Roberts. A motion was moved by George about organizing a conference. This was held Hanna seconded by Richard Lucas that: “This on 12 April1980 at Macquarie University. The meeting approves the setting up of a New speakers listed were: Associate Professor Ken South Wales Branch of the Oral History Cable; Dr Peter Spearritt; Ms Louise Douglas; Association of Australia”. Passed unanimously. Mr John Marshal; and Mr Marius Webb. It was further agreed to form a committee to Certainly an active committee – a conference investigate and report on a constitution and organized in six months after the branch was rules of association and for a future meeting to formed. take place to inform on its deliberations. Members of the committee were Alan Roberts, The committee later in 1980 agreed to take Richard Lucas, Bill Gulson, George Hanna, over the management of the National Helen Malcher, Lorraine Murphy and Sue Committee in 1981. Originally the South Masters. Australian Branch was to undertake this role but withdrew, and the NSW committee agreed The committee met several times and called a to take on the role. Louise Douglas was meeting for 27 September 1979.