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ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 53| October 2001


Voices of a Twentieth-Century Nation

Biennial National Conference of<BR> Peter Rubinstein & the Hon. McGauran, Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation

Oral History Association of Australia President Rosemary Block, addresses delegates
at the Association's Biennial National Conference

Peter Rubinstein, Joint chief executive of Radiowise
Media Networks presents Centenarians: The Children of Federation,
An Oral History Project to the Hon. Peter McGauran, Minister for
the Arts and the Centenary of Federation

The Biennial National Conference of the Oral History Association of Australia was held recently at the National Library. Most of the papers and sessions were held in the Library’s theatre and conference room, with field trips to key associated institutions, such as ScreenSound, the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives. The Conference was held from 30 August–2 September and was attended by approximately 150 delegates, from many parts of Australia.

Major speakers were Peter Emmett, who gave the opening keynote address and the speakers of the International Perspectives Panel. Peter Emmett is a curator, historian and writer and currently the Senior Curator (Maritime Communities) at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

The panel consisted of Alistair Thoms (Centre for Continuing Education, University of Sussex), Jokita Singh (Fiji Museum) and Alben Reuben a field worker from the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, who was assisted and translated by Dr Darrell Tryon (RSPAS, ANU). Alben’s talk was particularly interesting. He has spent the past 16 years raising the awareness of the population of Malakula in Vanuatu, about the importance of maintaining cultural heritage. Using audio and videotape he has recorded many of the inhabitants talking about the area's culture and customs.

A major theme of the Conference was Indigenous oral history and discussion sessions on the Bringing Them Home Oral History Project were well attended by delegates.

The Welcome Ceremony was enhanced by a hand-over to the Library of recordings made for the Centenary of Federation oral history project Centenarians: The Children of Federation. The materials were received from Peter Rubinstein by the Hon. Peter McGauran M.P., Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation.

The great social event of the Conference was the dinner held at the National Museum of Australia. Delegates not only wined and dined in great style, but were ‘let loose’ in the exhibitions after the dinner. It was a wonderful opportunity for our international and interstate visitors to experience the treasures of the new museum.

Overall the Conference was a great success with many tributes of thanks going to the National Library.
—Dianne Dahlitz

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Please address any comments and enquiries to The Editor, Gateways: dthomas@nla.gov.au

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