President's Report | Secretary's Report | Management Committee | PHA Services

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

This reporting year is one in which great changes have been gathering momentum. We are now on the threshold of a move to national unity for professional Historians, the first manifestation of which is the new national standard for accreditation of professional Historians. Not only will there be many structural changes in the way we operate in the next couple of years, but there will also be heightened awareness of the place of qualified historians in the professional community. This can only lead to an improvement in our working environment.

Some of our intrastate issues, such as relationships with training institutions are now starting to mesh with national initiatives, heralding the fact that a lot of our activity will move into a national sphere. This is important for our advocacy for our profession and for its profile.

Naturally, all of the states will continue to have local issues to keep them busy. PHA NSW is now two-thirds of the way through its first three-year strategic plan and this gives us a valuable opportunity to measure our resources and our ability to achieve. The summary of progress in our strategies elsewhere in this report indicates that we have achieved well in some areas and not at all in others. This will, of course, help us to reassess our priorities, but it does also indicate the difficulties we operate under in a volunteer environment.

Members' working lives have probably never been busier than in the 1990s - an encouraging sign in itself, but of great concern for the effective and productive operation of the PHA. At a time when the Association needs more than ever to push forward its objectives, its resources are buckling under the strain. As usual, my overwhelming gratitude is extended towards the members who voluntarily 'staff' the Association's various functions but, at the same time, the demands of their working lives have impacted on areas where, more than ever, the Association needs to produce, notably standards and professional development. This reflects the terrible dilemma we are in where, on the one hand, we are so successful that we are operating on a higher plateau yet, on the other hand, we do not have the financial resources to hire assistance.

I raise this issue because it is important that the membership appreciate that the management of the Association operates under severe pressure, often overwhelming when nobody is available to delegate tasks to. Short of raising membership fees to a level (probably prohibitive to many members) where we can pay for assistance, the only answer continues to be the contribution of more volunteer effort.

The Management Committee and office-bearers who served during the year have my great appreciation, as do the Phanfare collective members who continue to perform miracles every month. Special appreciation must be extended to Beverley Johnson who has brought her highly efficient skills to bear on the business management of the Association, as well as coordinating Phanfare. Beverley has reached the end of her last term as Treasurer and we very much need a member with business management skills to fill the office for the next term.

I would also particularly like to thank Bruce Baskerville for his excellent work as Executive Officer and Secretary, and Pauline Curby who has helped develop the expanded role of Vice President, dealing increasingly with state issues as the President is drawn further into the national arena.

Tony Prescott, President
 

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SECRETARY'S REPORT

The reporting year appeared to begin rather quietly but soon became caught up in the whirlwind-spirit of the misleadingly named ‘new millenium’.  By year’s end committee members were feeling the blues but could look back with some sense of  achievement that they had collectively guided the Association towards a third phase of its existence.  The main lament of committee members has been a feeling that they have inadequately conveyed the achievements enumerated below to the wider membership.

Register of Historic Places & Objects

Grant funding was received from the NSW Heritage Council of $15 000 to develop a Register of Historic Places & Objects.  Tenders were called from amongst the membership and, after due consideration, the project was awarded to Sue Rosen & Associates.  Stage One of the project has now been completed, and the whole project is scheduled for completion and operation by October 2000.

Review of fee scales

Review of the fees brochure re-commenced this year under the leadership of Sue Rosen.  An entirely new approach to the fee scales based upon the role and responsibilities of a historian on a particular job has been developed.  As a common national fee scale has now been proposed by ACPHA this work has now been forwarded for consideration at the national level.

The GST

The introduction of the Goods & Services Tax on 1st July necessitated several changes for the Association.  Although this was planned to be as smooth as possible there were several glitches, such as the issuing of receipts for membership fees without the words ‘tax invoice’ and our ABN on them.  A seminar for members was held on the 9th June with a presentation from the ATO.  Although very well attended some complaints were received about the short notice for this seminar.  Those attending did consider it worthwhile, however, and thanks go to Nicole Secomb and Carol Liston for organising the seminar and to the RAHS for the venue.

Continuing Professional Development

The ‘History in Heritage Works’ seminar was conducted in September 1999 at Tusculum with support from the RAIA.  The seminar was extremely well attended by members and non-members and provided an effective showcase for the work of members who chose to participate in the presentation of a very diverse range of papers, clearly indicating not only the diversity of contemporary heritage but the diversity of historical approaches and practises of PHA members. The whole issue of continuing professional development has been under much recent discussion by the committee.  The availability of PHA resources, possibilities for joint programs with other organisations, suitable CPD topics, potential for a compulsory points
system linked to membership, and recognition that members are generally involved in their work to such an extent that CPD activities cannot be held too often are all issues that have informed these discussions.

Tenders for Commercial Work

Several members expressed concerns during the year that universities, and in particular Centres within universities, have been competing with members for commercial contracts for work.  Informal contacts and discussions have been held with the appropriate Centres.  While the commercial pressures being forced upon universities are understood, the Association cannot support the competition from the Centres with PHA members in commercial tenders when it seems apparent that the Centres have access to much greater public resources and so abilities to submit cheaper tenders than the private sole-trader or small business member of the Association.  Discussions are moving to the ACPHA national level where there is greater experience in dealing with such situations.

Social Activities

The Social Activities unit, ably managed by Pauline Curby and Nicole Secomb, organised a number of social events during the reporting year.  It has been gratifying to note that, despite initial low attendance rates, attendances have been steadily increasing.  As well as the obvious focus for each social event, opportunities for increased networking amongst members attending such events must be counted as a real benefit from the social functions. Thanks to Pauline Curby, Nicole Secomb and Alison Comrie for ensuring the growing success of social functions this year.

Public History Review and Phanfare

Public History Review has been in production since 1992.  An exciting new move for the journal arose during the year with a proposal from Halstead Press, publisher of several scholarly journals such as Southerly and UTS Law Review, to enter into a contract with the Association to publish Public History Review.  This proposal is currently under negotiation.

Phanfare continues its long and unique publication, with four collectives of members currently responsible for producing each successive edition.  Beverley Johnson, as Phanfare Coordinator, has been the central hub around which the collectives have revolved. Thanks are due to the Central Coast collective (Christine Cheater, Grace Karskens and Tony Prescott), the harbourside collective (Rosemary Broomham, Rosemary Kerr, Christa Ludlow and Terri McCormack), the Cumberland collective (Beverley Johnson, Terry Kass and Carol Liston) and the three birds collective (Bruce Baskerville, Alison Comrie and Nicole Secomb). There has been some emphasis in this year's editions on identifying and discussing new archival and history Web sites. It is hoped that members have found these articles useful in their work. The reappearance of the renowned Phyllis Phame on one occasion this year has led to widespread but unconfirmed sightings of Phyllis. Phyllis, where are you?

Web site

The Association's Web site was formally launched in February 1999. The site includes all the published brochures of the Association, as well as the Consultants' Register. From a quiet beginning the site rapidly rose to prominence. By April 2000 it was rated by some search engines as world number one in the top 10 'historians' sites, ahead of bodies such as the Organisation of American Historians. We have now recorded an annual average of over 36,000 visits to all site pages, averaging about 100 visits a day. Visits through the Consultants' Register front page averaged about 500 per annum, with the most visited consulting member's page averaging about 200 visits per annum. The site has dramatically reduced the time and financial resources previously devoted to responding to general inquiries to the Association. The forthcoming closer linking of the site to ACPHA should facilitate greater work opportunities nationally for NSW and ACT based members. Thanks to Tony Prescott and
Christine de Matos for constructing and maintaining the site.

Membership applications

A total of 13 membership applications were received during the year.  Ten new members (members or associates) were accepted during the year, one application was refused (for lack of minimum academic qualification), and 2 applications have been held over pending the outcome of the proposed national membership criteria and related constitutional amendments to be voted on by the members at the AGM.  The number of applications received this year equals those received last year.

Committee meetings

The Management Committee continued to meet at the Hero of Waterloo Hotel in Millers Point on Thursday, later Tuesday, evenings, and met seven times on a formal basis.  This was the same number of meetings as last year.  A record of member’s attendance is included on the inside cover of this Annual Report.

Future directions

In the context of the moves towards a national or federal association and the need to review the Association’s directions, much committee discussion over the past few months has focussed on assessing what we do and seeking new ways ahead.  These issues are more fully explored in the President’s report and his discussion paper issued to members with this Annual Report.

Thanks to…

No Secretary works alone, and this case is no different.  I would like to thank all of my fellow committee members for their support and assistance during the year (despite train crashes, lift shaft accidents, hospitalisations, marriages and other events).  Every one of the committee members has a very busy working life and their extensive contributions to the Association, although so often unheralded and unheeded, nevertheless make an essential contribution to what has probably been for several years the country’s ‘leading edge’ PHA.  In particular I want to thank Beverley Johnson, our retiring Treasurer, for her practical and constant help with the correspondence, and Tony Prescott, our President who has done more than anyone else in NSW to bring about the creation of a national association.  This work, like all of Tony’s work, is undertaken so quietly that many people don’t realise it is happening.  But it is, and it becomes all the stronger for its quietness.

Bruce Baskerville, Secretary

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MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
SUB-COMMITTEES, DELEGATES AND WORKING PARTIES

The Association's Management Committee sets up standing advisory sub-committees and appoints delegates to assist it in its work. These appointments are on an annual basis. Temporary working parties are also set up from time-to-time to advise the Committee on specific issues.

STANDING SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Standards Committee

Convener: Christa Ludlow
Members: Shirley Fitzgerald, Hilary Golder

The Standards Committee advises the Management Committee on accreditation, contracts, ethics and professional fees. Much of the standards work for professional historians is being carried out at national level at present. ACPHA has prepared a national membership accreditation standard, which is being endorsed by the State Associations, and is currently looking at standardisation of the various State Codes of Ethics. On behalf of the Standards Committee, member Sue Rosen examined the recommended consultancy fee scales during the year. This information will be passed to ACPHA which is in the process of preparing national recommended fee scales.

DELEGATES OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Australian Council of Professional Historians Associations

PHA Representative: Tony Prescott
Alternate: Nicole Secomb

Major progress has been made during the year at the national level. National accreditation standards were finalised and submitted for endorsement by the State Associations. PHA NSW prepared material for ACPHA to consider on long-term national strategies and on accreditation of training courses in History. Much of this work should come to fruition in the coming year.

History Council of NSW

PHA Representative: Bruce Baskerville
(to January 2000 only, then observer pro tem.)

The History Council functions as the peak body for organised history communities in NSW. Bruce served as treasurer of the Council until his retirement, and after an unsuccessful call for a PHA member to attend the Council as an observer has taken on that role temporarily.  The Council has taken the lead role in lobbying on matters regarding archival access and archival issues, and the accessibility of public library resources.  The PHA has supported these moves.  The Council plays an important role in the nomination of judges and other matters relating to the Premiers History Awards, and a PHA member has been included in the judges for the 2000 Awards.  The Council has taken a proactive stance in seeking to have government agencies include historians on their staff and governing or advisory bodies, a stance that is strongly supported by the PHA; and is seeking to engage with local governments and their use (or otherwise) of historians, again a move strongly supported by the PHA.  Given these important functions it is vital that the PHA has a continuing involvement with the Council, and interested members are urged to consider nominating for election to the Council later this year.

History Advisory Panel

PHA Representative: Joan Kent
Alternate: Sue Rosen

The History Advisory Panel provides broad policy advice to the Heritage Council of NSW, the State’s principal heritage policy and regulatory body.  Joan Kent has attended all meetings in the reporting year, and contributed to discussions on guidelines for using the State Heritage Register criterion of ‘Association’ (now separated from the ‘History’ criterion), the development of the
Community-based Heritage Study concept, review of the State historical themes and their compatibility with the new Australian Historical Themes Framework, revision of the ‘History & Heritage’ section of the NSW Heritage Manual, and more generally to developing cross-disciplinary relationships within the heritage field in which historians are partners with archaeologists, architects, planners and other heritage practitioners.  Given that these discussions feed into the formulation of public policy regarding the identification and conservation of our cultural heritage, and the critical role of history and historians in policy making, the ongoing
membership of the Panel by a PHA nominee is essential.

State Records Community Advisory Committee

PHA Representative: Baiba Berzins

The Community Advisory Committee was established during the year, replacing the former Customer Council on which Sue Rosen represented the Association. The new representative, Baiba Berzins, has also initiated representations on related issues such as the NSW privacy legislation, and State Records Special Access guidelines, as well as participating in national representations through ACPHA.

Australian Historical Association

Correspondent: Paul Ashton

Towards the end of the financial year, the Management Committee approached ACPHA, suggesting that liaison with AHA be conducted at a national level in future.

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PHA SERVICES

The Association's organisation consists of three divisions: Administration Services, Professional Services and Information Services. Within each division are a number of business units responsible for the Association's services.

ADMINISTRATION SERVICES

Secretariat

Executive Officer (Secretary): Bruce Baskerville
Finance Officer (Treasurer): Beverley Johnson
Database Officer: Beverley Johnson

See Secretary's Report.

Public Relations

Public Relations Officer: Vacant
Alternate: Tony Prescott
Media contact: the President

Public relations activity during the year continued to focus on use of the Web site and regular updating of directory entries. The Public Relations Officer position continued to remain vacant due to lack of volunteers.

Social Activities

Co-ordinator: Pauline Curby
Alternate: Nicole Secomb

Apart from the AGM and Christmas function and regular gatherings after Management Committee meetings, there was a regular program of organised outings during the year. Whilst there has been a reasonable turnout for these events, it is hoped that members will increasingly reward with their support the effort put into organising these occasions.

PHA Collection - Mitchell Library

Co-ordinator: Sue Rosen

The Association's collection of members' unpublished work in the State Library of NSW was maintained and augmented with some new accessions.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Consultants’ Register
(to September 1999 only)
Co-ordinator: Paul Ashton

The Association's Register unit was closed in the early part of the financial year due to the transfer of the Register to the Web site. The Management Committee expressed its appreciation to Paul Ashton for his work in setting up and maintaining the Register.

Professional Advisory Service

Professional Adviser: Sue Rosen

There was minor usage of  the PHA's Professional Advisory Service during the year.

Library

Librarian: Terri McCormack
Alternate: Eve Stenning

The Librarian's monthly summary of  incoming material in Phanfare continued together with the usual regular acquisitions.

Professional Development

Co-ordinator: Grace Karskens
Unit members: Paul Ashton, Pauline Curby, Chris Keating, Tony Prescott

A workshop on the Goods and Services Tax was presented during the year, as well as a very successful seminar on history and heritage, organised by Sue Rosen.

INFORMATION SERVICES

PHA Publications

Co-ordinator: Tony Prescott
Alternate: Paul Ashton
Website Manager: Christine de Matos
Acting Project Manager, Heritage Register: Joan Kent

The Association's publishing focus has continued to be digitally-based. The major resource is the Web site (www.phansw.org.au) which now contains  all possible information about the Association, forms (including an email membership application form) and the Register of Consulting Historians. Site statistics indicated a relentless increase in the usage of the site and, by the end of the reporting year, visits to all site pages totalled an average of about 36,000 per year. Feedback from search engines indicated that the site was probably the most visited professional history Web site in the world.

The site's Links page and What's On in History have been particularly successful, especially since both were upgraded to a national and Pacific region resource early in 2000. The consultants register pages are regularly visited.

The Association's heritage database project, the Register of Historic Places and Objects, commenced during the year, funded by a grant from the NSW Heritage Office. The work is being undertaken by members, the contract having been awarded to Sue Rosen & Associates.

Christine Cheater was appointed during the year to take over the editing of the monograph on Native Title. Production is anticipated in the new financial year.

Phanfare

Co-ordinator: Beverley Johnson

Editorial Collectives:  Rosemary Broomham, Rosemary Kerr, Terri McCormack; Bruce Baskerville, Alison Comrie, Nicole Secomb; Grace Karskens, Christine Cheater, Tony Prescott; Terry Kass, Beverley Johnson, Carol Liston

Feature writers: Christine de Matos (What's On); Terri McCormack (Library Report)

The members of the four Collectives listed above have been responsible for the production of Phanfare over the past year. On behalf of the members I thank them all for their combination of excellent content and attractive layout. It is only when one becomes a member of a Collective that one fully appreciates the time and effort contributed by members, all of whom have very busy professional lives.

Some members may be unaware that not only those in a Collective can contribute. Please, write an article, make an observation or raise an issue of concern to you. Reviews of relevant books, films, plays or exhibitions are also welcome. Then, there are the many issues that members discuss over a cup of coffee. These need to be more widely shared and debated, both for the well-being of the membership and to reinforce within the larger community an awareness of the professional and intellectual abilities of our members. Phanfare goes out there. It is the public face of the PHA.

Public History Review

PHA Editor: Paul Ashton

Public History Review continues to be published annually by the Association. Subscriptions have risen to around 300. And the journal is attracting attention from public historians in other states and countries.

This year, Halstead Press approached PHR with a view to taking over production and distribution of the journal. An agreement is currently being negotiated. For the moment, Halstead has been commissioned to print and distribute the journal which will be marketed in a book format. It is envisaged that subscriptions and sales will improve as a result of this development. Public History Review has gone as far as it could given the Editorial Committee's resources. It is hoped that the cooperation with Halstead will launch the journal into a new stage of growth.

Copyright PHA NSW 2000

Web version
Site URL: www.phansw.org.au
Last updated 1 August 2000