President's Report

The History Council has worked had this year to encourage collaboration and partnerships in planning for 2029. Early next year we’ll be working with key partners, including regional and Indigenous stakeholders, to convene a History Summit. This will be an important, agenda-setting event for the next decade.

    Member
    Office
    Representation


    Deborah Gare
    President
    The University of Notre Dame Australia

    Bruce Baskerville
    Vice President
    Centre for WA History 

        Local and regional history/heritage

    Lucy Hair
    Secretary
    Local history and government Heritage

    Nick Drew
    Treasurer
    Royal Historical Society of WA

    Pam Harris
    Membership Secretary
    Fremantle History Society

    Toni Church
    Committee Member
    Old Court House Law Museum

    Lorraine Clarke
    Committee Member
    Western Australia Genealogy Society
Friends of Battye

    Kyra Edwards
    Committee Member
    Local government Indigenous communities

    Jenny Gregory
    Committee Member
    The University of Western Australia National Trust of WA

    Vanessa Kirkham
    Committee Member
    History Teachers Association of WA

    Bri McKenzie
    Committee Member
    Curtin University 
 Gender and inclusivity

    Geoff Moor
    Committee Member
    Local history and government

    Helen Munt
    Committee Member
    Professional Historians Association Heritage
        
 City of Perth Cultural Advisory Committee
    

    Bobbie Oliver
    Committee Member
    The University of Western Australia 

        Labour History Society 

        State Records Office of WA 

        NAA Perth Consultative Forum
    

    Samantha Owen
    Committee Member
    Curtin University 

        Chamber of Arts and Culture

    Justin Owen
    Committee Member
    Curtin University 

        Heritage and built materials 

     Cindy Solonec
    Committee Member
    Indigenous communities
    

    John Toohey
    Committee Member
    Local and community history

It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve with my colleagues, and I thank them sincerely for their impact, enthusiasm and dedication to the History Council.

I particularly thank several colleagues who have declared their intent to retire from the committee at the 2021 AGM, following significant service to the History Council (and other organisations in the history and heritage sectors): Nick Drew, Pam Harris, Vanessa Kirkham and Geoff Moor.

We have received an exceptional number of nominations for committee in 2021-2022, which, for the first time, will include representation from regional communities in Albany, the Kimberley and the state’s Mid-West. The History Council’s constitution no longer sets limits on the number of committee members. Given the significant tasks ahead for the following year, we welcome the contribution that each existing and new member will make.

Preparing for 2029

Western Australia will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Swan River Colony in 2029, in addition to the 200th anniversary of Britain’s settlement at Albany in 2026. The anniversary presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to interpret, reflect upon, commemorate, and teach others about the origins of our community.

Most importantly, it will provide momentum in the reappraisal of Western Australia’s past, including that of the frontier, in which Indigenous voices will shape our understandings.

Advocacy and influence in preparing for 2029 was the most significant issue to occupy the History Council in the past year, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

The committee has worked hard to influence policy and preparations of the state government, and continues to be in conversation with representatives of the Premier and Minister for Heritage and the Arts.

I am delighted that we have made new friends with Danjoo Koorliny, a Noongar advocacy organisation situated within UWA’s Centre for Social Impact that is led by Indigenous elders Richard Walley, Noel Nannup, Colleen Hayward and Carol Innes. The History Council shares similar values and intent with Danjoo Koorliny, which are principally to encourage collaborative, inclusive and impactful outcomes from the state’s bicentenary.

In a major contribution to the design of and momentum for 2029, the History Council has been working with colleagues at Reconciliation WA, Notre Dame, UWA and Curtin to convene a public lecture by Henry Reynolds on ‘Truth Telling’.

This event, proposed for May 2022, will be followed by a History Summit, at which we hope to gather participants and stakeholders in Western Australian history and heritage to establish strategic principles for research, commemoration, interpretation, community engagement and other activities that will shape the 200th anniversary.

We hope the event will be partnered by government and Indigenous groups, and inclusive of regional participants, and have been negotiating with key stakeholders to this effect throughout 2021.

History Council of WA: Annual Public Lecture, 27 October 2021

To begin the conversation regarding truth-telling, collaboration and preparing for 2029, the 2021 public lecture (delivered on 27 October, at the conclusion of the AGM) will feature several voices: ATAR history students from Lakeland Senior High School, Lenore Layman, Simon Forrest and Danjoo Koorliny colleagues. We have asked them to consider two key questions:

What does truth in the past mean to you?
What do you hope will be achieved in 2029?

History Council of Western Australia, Inaugural Awards

I am delighted that, in 2021, the History Council will present its inaugural History Awards to individuals and organisations who have made outstanding contributions to advocacy for and/or understandings of Western Australian history.

This year we received more than 20 nominations from individuals, students, museums, local government organisations, community associations, professional associations, and journals. Nominations were assessed by an experienced panel of judges and ratified by the History Council Committee. Awards will be presented for the following categories at the 2021 AGM:

an outstanding and enduring contribution to understandings, impact and advocacy in Western Australian history;

a significant contribution to understandings of Indigenous history in Western Australia;
a significant contribution to understandings of local history in Western Australia;
a significant contribution to the teaching of Western Australian history;
an innovative student contribution to understandings of Western Australian history; and
an innovative project, published or unpublished work by an emerging historian.

In 2021, we are also delighted to present a special award to the newly completed Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip, in recognition of the outstanding contribution to public history and cultural heritage that the project has achieved and will continue to achieve.

Advocacy

The History Council’s work in advocacy for history and heritage has continued in the past year. We have made submissions to local, state and federal governments on matters relating to social, material and Indigenous history and heritage. These have included:

City of Fremantle proposed changes to planning in the heritage-listed West End, including in-person representation;
Minister for Heritage and the Arts, the Hon David Templeman, regarding operations of the Heritage Council and review of the Windsor Hotel (Nedlands) application for entry to the state’s register of heritage places;
Minister for Water, the Hon Dave Kelly and the Minister for Environmental Protection, the Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson, regarding water management schemes in Marturwarra-Fitzroy River, a significant Indigenous heritage site;
Commonwealth Government, following the Tune Review of the National Archives of Australia, submitted jointly by the History Councils of Australia, advocating for preservation of archives and continuing access to local researchers in Western Australia; and
Town of Bassendean, encouraging them to retain the Pensioner Guard Cottage in public hands.

In 2020 we signed a Memo of Understanding with the History Council of New South Wales, History Council of Victoria, and History Council of South Australia to form the History Councils of Australia. Its intent is to (i) maintain and develop the Value of History Statement; and (ii) advocate for the discipline of history, the work of historians, and history in the broader public sphere. In 2021, the HCA is being chaired by colleagues in New South Wales, which will be rotated to other states in future years.

Communications

The History Council has continued to issue quarterly newsletters to its members in 2020 and 2021, disseminating important information regarding activities, policy and advocacy in the history and heritage sectors. I thank the editors who have coordinated the newsletters of the past year: John Toohey, Helen Munt, Bri McKenzie and Bruce Baskerville, and Grace Kaspe from Flametree for her work in disseminating those to members.

However, we recognise that emailed newsletters aren’t always the most agile form of communication for members, and in 2022 we intend to conduct a review of our communications strategy. Feedback from members about the platform and regularity with which they prefer to receive information is welcomed.

Events

In September 2020 the AGM was followed by an excellent public lecture offered by Prof Andrea Gaynor, from The University of Western Australia.

In December 2020 the History Council’s annual Christmas event commenced with a tour of the newly-opened Boola Bardip museum by Alec Coles, CEO; and followed by a shared meal at the PICA bar in Northbridge.

Important dates

Please note the following important dates in the next year. Confirmation and further details will follow closer to each event:

  
      6:30pm, Tuesday 7 December 2021
    
      HCWA Christmas event (TBC)
    
      5:30pm, Thursday 19 May 2022	
    
      Henry Reynolds, ‘Truth Telling’, public lecture
    
      10:00am – 4:00pm, Friday 20 May 2022
    
      2029: History summit 
    
      1 July 2022
    
      History Awards, nominations close

Prof Deborah Gare
27 October 2021

Flametree CreativeNovember 15, 2021