President's Report | Secretary's Report | Management Committee | PHA Services
This year is the end of my final term as President and the end of a long, exhausting and yet invigorating period as a member of the Management Committee (since 1991) and as an office-bearer. Mind you, when I say the end there is no easy way out: I still await relief as Publications Officer and ACPHA delegate! I have, I admit, made heavy work of the Association over these years and I hope it has been to members' benefit. I will accept the judgment of history (or is it fellow-historians?) in that regard but I do hope I have had members' support for the changes I have developed over these years and have not fazed anybody too much in the process! These changes would also not have been possible without the cohesive support and individual initiatives of fellow-members and office-bearers over the years and, though I am reluctant to start listing names because of those many who will be left off the list, members should be aware of the gigantic efforts of the likes of Shirley Fitzgerald, Christa Ludlow, Paul Ashton and Chris Keating and of the foundations well-laid for us by the likes of Terry Kass and Rosemary Broomham.
During the year the Management Committee has had much of its time taken up by the issue of qualification for membership, culminating in its advice to ACPHA that the National Accreditation Standard was not working for NSW at the lower-end entry levels. As a result a revised Standard has been drafted (the subject of a separate report to members to accompany this Annual Report). Nevertheless we are entering a difficult period as far as accreditation is concerned due to the fragmented and inconsistent training scene in history which has developed in the universities over the last twenty years. This is going to take a long time to resolve. On the positive side, however, the national process continues to bring benefits through the common standards and resources which are available through the ACPHA Web site (www.historians.org.au). Of particular note are the national Code of Ethics and Scale of Fees which came into effect during the year.
On the State and Territory level the Management Committee has continued to implement the Strategic Plan (see separate report in this Annual Report) but resource limitations continue to inhibit implementation of some objectives. The major achievement has been the revival of a Continuing Professional Development program under the excellent and assertive direction of Andrea Humphreys as coordinator. The Management Committee also continued to pursue cases in which it was considered that the services of members were not being appropriately sought or reimbursed. These included history projects tendered by the NSW State Library and the NSW Hunter Area Health Service which provided budgets which were clearly inadequate for the scope of work envisaged.
On the administration side, the benefits of employing an Executive Officer have been vastly realised as Annette Salt worked her way through the Association's administrative backlog. The Association's records have been sorted and rehoused and our archives are now with the State Library. Towards the end of the financial year Annette commenced the huge task of improving and consolidating our financial management.
I would like to thank all members of the Management Committee, all office-bearers and Phanfare collective members who served during the year and all those who have helped me in so many ways over the last ten years. We reached the end of the financial year with a fully professional membership of just short of 100, more than double what it was ten years ago: this itself is a measure of how far we have come.
Tony Prescott, President
It is hard to believe that I have reached the end of a full year as Secretary – the time has gone by incredibly quickly. When I put myself forward for the position at the last AGM (in a moment of misguided madness undoubtedly fuelled by too much red wine) I had no idea what was in store for me. The relieved look on Bruce Baskerville’s face at the thought of no more minute taking should have twigged me to the fact that there is more to the Secretary’s role than meets the eye.
A good deal of my daily work over the last year has involved responding to literally hundreds of email requests from all around the globe. It is nice to know that we have such a prominent international presence (at least in cyberspace), although many of the requests do not reflect the true nature of our organisation. Close to 80% of all email requests are from students, both secondary and tertiary, seeking answers to assignments. One of my firsts tasks was to draft a standard response to these requests that encourages students to seek the information themselves whilst making it clear that the PHA is not an online research service catering to lazy students for free. Around half of the remaining 20% of requests are from people undertaking family history research, who also see us as an online research service. Usually the mention of money is enough to make such requests disappear, but there is the occasional serious family historian amongst the amateurs who is genuinely seeking professional assistance (hence the need to actually read all the emails).
As many of you know I have spent much of my energy this year on developing a professional development program. The first step in this was the member survey carried out in early 2002. The results of the survey were interesting, often surprising and sometimes alarming. However, the information gained from the survey has provided a more defined focus for professional development over the coming year. I would like to thank all our members who supported this program either by attending the first seminar or by expressing their support via email. Our first seminar, “How to be a Successful Tenderer” was extremely well received and we were lucky to attract the services of high quality speakers who were prepared to share their hard-earned knowledge with us. Continuing Professional Development will continue to be a high priority for me over the next 12 months (and beyond) with several major events planned.
My other main focus this year has been “waving the historian’s flag” amongst the wider heritage community, in order to improve work opportunities for our members as well as enhancing our professional profile. Historians are well placed to take a broader role in heritage and conservation work, and there is a considerable pool of work available for those who are prepared to “step outside their comfort zone.”
The topic of history apprenticeships was raised its head a number of times in the past year. Unfortunately, the number of enquiries from graduates seeking such a place far exceeds the number of experienced consultants prepared to offer places. This is something that needs to be addressed, particularly as the new draft ACPHA Accreditation Standard makes clear the need for professional experience, both to improve professional skills and advance through the membership ranks. Ideally, I would like to compile a database of consultants who are prepared to take on students/graduates and invest the necessary time in training them well. This may sound onerous, but in reality it is very rewarding and benefits the profession as a whole (as well as providing reasonably priced research services for busy historians). All of us were beginners once, looking for our first big break in the industry; we would do well to remember this.
Finally, it is my intention to stand down from the Secretary’s position (although I may nominate for a different position). For a variety of reasons, I do not think I can devote sufficient time to the position to do it justice. I will be continuing with the professional development program and the various other activities mentioned above and intend to continue playing an active role in the Association.
Lastly, I would like to thank Annette Salt, our Executive Officer, whose tireless efforts throughout the year have streamlined our operations. Annette’s assistance with the professional development program was vital to the success of the first seminar (which was not without its teething troubles). She is the den mother and Sergeant-Major of the Management Committee and on behalf of the Committee, I thank her for her expertise, organisation and patience.
Andrea Humphreys, Secretary
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. There were no sub-committees or working parties during the year.
DELEGATES OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPRESENTING THE ASSOCIATION ON OUTSIDE BODIES
Australian Council of Professional Historians Associations
PHA Representative: Tony Prescott
Alternate: Nicole Secomb
The year opened with the ACPHA Annual General Meeting in Melbourne in July 2001. This meeting approved further national material such as a Code of Ethics, a Scale of Fees and membership certificates, all of which had been considered by the state associations. The Code and Scale of Fees subsequently came into effect and were placed on the ACPHA Web site along with other material, much of which (such as History as a Career) had previously been produced by PHA NSW and modified for national use.
A more detailed report by the ACPHA President is in a supplement to this Annual Report.
During the year it became apparent to PHA NSW Management Committee that there were profound problems with the qualifications standards in the National Accreditation Standard, a problem which seems to have originated in former CAEs, which subsequently became universities, introducing non-traditional history streams and the increasing tendency to accept post-graduate history enrolments without prior history qualifications. This has resulted in a great increase in applications for membership from graduates whom the Committee considered were not adequately trained in history. As a result PHA NSW made representations to ACPHA to have the National Standard amended. This is to progress in the new financial year, but it has exposed a number of profound difficulties which are outlined in a separate report to members distributed with this Annual Report. The NSW representative to ACPHA was very intensively involved in discussions with ACPHA on this matter during the latter part of the year under review.
History Council of NSW
PHA Representative: John Petersen
The History Council of NSW functions as the peak body representing history and historians in NSW. In addition to PHA NSW, members include the State Library, Australian Archives, RAHS, the National Trust, university history departments, museums and libraries, local government and a myriad of professional and community groups. Membership by individuals is also valued. John Petersen, an historian working as the head curator at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, has served as the PHA representative since February 2001.
The History Council organised a successful History Week in September 2001 with the theme of “Journeys and Pathways” The launch event for the week was the 5th Annual History Council Lecture: Intertwining Histories: Heritage and Diversity by Prof. Ien Ang. Held at Government House the lecture program included the presentation of the annual history citation to Heather Radi for her lifetime commitment to history. To promote discussion and debate the Council hosted three forums in 2001; Public Heritage- Who Cares? Publishing and Children’s History and Different Stories Many Voices; History and Cultural Diversity. Additionally papers from the 2000 forum on History, Archives and Privacy were published in an issue of the State of History. To promote the 2002 Indigenous History Fellowship the database of indigenous contacts has been researched and rebuilt. The History Council has lobbied the Ministry for the Arts for a State Historian position and is making recommendations in a number of areas regarding the representation of historians and history.. The Council has representatives on the Heritage Council of NSW History Advisory Panel, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Cultural Heritage Committee, and the Migration Heritage Centre
2002 saw the launch of a History Council Web page to link the history community through the whole state and serve regional as well as metropolitan-based historians. “State of History” is now being produced as an on-line journal. The next issue will explore cultural diversity and history. To expand its membership the History Council has successfully approached a number of corporate sponsors and a working party is preparing a discussion paper on exploring local government employment opportunities for historians with input from the Professional Historians Association. The History Council works closely with the NSW Ministry for the Arts in relation to the NSW History Prizes. In July 2002 the Council hosted an event to celebrate the handover of the work of the inaugural Indigenous History Fellow, Shino Konishi, to the State Library of NSW. In 2002 it will award the Max Kelly Medal, the 6th Annual History Citation, and continue to administer the 2000 and 2002 Indigenous History Fellowships
History Advisory Panel (NSW Heritage Council)
PHA Representative: Sue Rosen Alternate: Nicole Secomb
The new membership of the History Advisory Panel took office at the beginning of the reporting year. Of the nine members of the new Panel, six are also PHA members (including the Chair), as is the one observer appointed, ensuring that the historian’s profession is well represented on this important advisory body.
The Panel has engaged in several activities during the year to which the PHA NSW representatives have made a substantial contribution. Most notable has been the discussions and guidance offered to the Heritage Office historians on the formulation of a guideline for using State Heritage Register criterion A ‘important in the course or pattern of NSW history’. This follows the Panel’s production of a guideline on using Criterion B ‘historical associations’, which is now available on the Heritage Office Web site and for which the Panel members were specifically thanked by the Heritage Council. Discussion has covered definitions of ‘course or pattern of history’, the cultural and historical values attributed to natural features, explicating concepts of the layers of meanings in landscapes and places, the ability of physical fabric to demonstrate historical patterns and processes, the role of place names in place research and interpretations, the importance of reading fabric as documents, taking account of both audiences and presentation media, and including notes for historians working in heritage, and for commissioners of such historians.
The Panel members have also begun to provide comment upon the State Heritage Register Project’s thematic history of the Central West region of NSW. This is an evolving work in progress, and continues the Panel’s ongoing discussions of the utility of themes and thematic approaches to history in heritage work.
The Panel is considering what advice to provide to the Heritage Council on the review of the State Records Act in 2003 (in particular relating to access to records for historical research on heritage items), and on what may be appropriate roles for the Heritage Council in the lead-up to the sesquicentenary of self-government in NSW in 2006.
The PHA members of the History Advisory Panel have made a substantial contribution to the meetings of the Panel, and have attended all quarterly meetings for the 2001/02 year.
State Records Community Advisory Committee
PHA Representative: Baiba Berzins
The PHA continues to be represented on the NSW State Records Community Advisory Committee. Four meetings of the Committee were held during the year. Matters dealt with included:
· the compilation of the new Convict Guide,
· the transfer of all original materials to the Kingswood repository
over the next five years,
· the digitisation of selected materials on the State Records
website,
· the development of a State-wide Archives Access Preservation
and Management system to facilitate better control over the collection,
· measures to promote the State Archives (including the publication
of a new magazine Vital Signs and an Open Day at Kingswood),
· assessment of the community access points program and
· the updating of the State Records website.
One of the meetings was held at the Western Sydney Records Centre where Committee members were able to inspect the newly refurbished Reading Room. The Committee received regular reports about indexes available on-line (including indexes to Colonial Secretary’s Papers, 1788-1825, the Surveyor General’s list of maps and plans and the 1841 Census) and about new publications.
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: Annette Salt
The Association's records have been culled and organised on the basis that they should reflect the organic activity of the organisation. Archival materials are now lodged with the State Library of NSW. Remaining materials have been moved from the Australian Professional Centre to member Sue Rosen's office at Crown Street, Epping. All members should have received their Certificate of Membership from ACPHA. These will be re-issued in July and January every year for new members and upgraded members. Eleven applications for membership were received during the year of which 3 were rejected and 8 accepted; of the latter, 7 accepted the offer of membership. One member's membership was upgraded.
Public Relations
Public Relations Officer (Acting): 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.
PHA Internal Network
Co-ordinator: Nicole Secomb
The Association runs an email contact network with the majority of members with email addresses. The primary purpose of the network is to internally disseminate employment opportunities which come to the attention of the Association. The network has continued its useful function during the year.
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
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
Much of the material which comes into the PHA Library consists of reciprocal publications from other PHAs and related historical organisations with occasional donations from individuals or other bodies. Although it could function as a reference or lending library, this has not been the case to date although a few queries are occasionally received for copies of incoming material. The librarian sees her main function as a provider of information about the activities of interstate PHAs through her regular Library Report in Phanfare. This also contains brief reviews of or references to recent publications as well as summaries of interstate professional and social activities, enabling NSW historians to have a national overview of history happenings - and even plan their research trips to coincide with some of these events.
Professional Development
Co-ordinator: Andrea Humphreys
A member survey of CPD needs was carried out in early 2002. The information gained from the survey has provided a more defined focus for professional development over the coming year. The first seminar in a new series, “How to be a Successful Tenderer” was organised for holding in July 2002. Continuing Professional Development will continue to be a high priority over the next 12 months (and beyond) with several major events planned.
INFORMATION SERVICES
PHA Publications
Co-ordinator: Tony Prescott
Alternate: Paul Ashton
Web site Manager: Christine de Matos
Project Manager, Heritage Register: Joan Kent
Usage of the Association's Web site, (www.phansw.org.au) has stabilised this year with visits to all pages of the site averaging about 45,000 per year. This levelling-off is attributable to the transfer of major pages to the ACPHA Web site. The Register of Consulting Historians pages continue to be heavily used, most individual entrants now attracting 500-1000 hits a year. The Association's Register of Historic Places and Objects was also placed on the Web site during the year.
As part of its participation in the national process led by ACPHA, PHA NSW continued to contribute the expertise of its Publications Unit to managing the ACPHA Web site (www.historians.org.au) and other state association pages. Further pages from the NSW site, such as History as a Career, were edited and transferred to the national site. The PHA NSW Publications Unit (through Christine de Matos) also designed and set up a Discussion Forum on the ACPHA site. The benefit of all this work continues to show in the national site, the use of which now averages over 35,000 visits a year to all of its pages. The greatest input to this statistic continues to be the NSW-originated What's On in History and Internet History Links, both of which attract large audiences.
An attempt was made to have the Library Shop at the State Library of NSW act as an outlet for the Association's monographs. This was unsuccessful, however there have been some direct sales of the monographs.
Phanfare
Co-ordinator: Beverley Johnson
Editorial Collectives: Rosemary Broomham, Rosemary Kerr, Christa
Ludlow, Terri McCormack; Bruce Baskerville, Alison Comrie, Nicole Secomb,
Anna Wong; Grace Karskens, Christine Cheater, Tony Prescott; Terry Kass,
Beverley Johnson, Carol Liston. Feature writers: Christine de Matos (What's
On); Terri McCormack (Library Report)
Another year has passed during which Phanfare has again been put together with regularity, skill and wit. The magazine is the one thing that links our members and it continues to be the public face of the PHA, revealing the issues that concern us, the way we function and the things that make us laugh. The regularity and standard of its publication is an indication of the intellect, reliability and layout skills of the members of the various Collectives and, consequently, promotes these as an aspect of our professional abilities.
The Phanfare Coordinator has continuing respect for those who put the pages together, coordinate with the printer, fill the envelopes then somehow find time to get to a post office. Do not underestimate the time and work involved. Phanfare is in the very best of hands.
Public History Review
PHA Editor: Paul Ashton
Volume 9 of Public History Review – 'Changi to Cabramatta: Places and Personalities' – was published this year again with the generous assistance of a grant from the New South Wales Ministry for the Arts. The arrangements with the new publisher, Halstead Press, are working well and volume 10 is under way.
Copyright PHA NSW 2002
Web version
Site URL: www.phansw.org.au
Last updated 19 August 2002