Activities

The Oral History Association of Australia NSW Inc
Projects, Seminars and Workshops 2012              


 Please note that seminars and workshops will be held at various locations in 2012 so be sure to check details. 

 

Sat 18 February 2012

 



Location:
History House 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney 

9.45 am registration and morning tea Concluding 4.30 pm

NOW FULLY BOOKED

To put your name on a contact list for future workshops

phone RAHS at 9247.8001 or email the Oral History Association NSW at ohaansw@hotmail.com

 

 Capturing Memories - Oral History in the Digital Age

 A practical workshop on oral history theory and practice.

Presented by the Oral History Association Australia NSW inc. in conjunction with the Royal Australian Historical Society NSW.

                                                                                                                                                                              
Topics covered include preparing and structuring an oral history interview, choosing and using a digital recorder, downloading recordings to a computer, editing using Audacity (free access software), how to log and transcribe a recording with Express Scribe (also free access software), saving sound files, burning to disc, transfer to other storage mediums and so much more.

 
The charge for this professionally presented practical workshop facilitated by experienced facilitators Trish Levido and Carol McKirdy will be $85 for OHAA and RAHS members.  Others $95. Your seminar fee includes a very useful reference notebook.  Morning and afternoon tea is provided. Please bring or buy your lunch nearby.

Bookings essential as numbers will be limited to 35 Please note that no refunds are available for cancellations of less than seven days notice; 90% refund if more than seven days’ notice.    

 These workshops provide an opportunity for you have a practical experience of interviewing.   You will also meet people involved in oral history projects and be inspired by the many innovative ways oral histories
are being gathered and presented.  
                                                                                                                                                                  
  

Sat 25 February  2012 
 2 - 4 pm

Location:
Kirribilli Neighbourhood Centre, 16-18 Fitzroy St, Kirribilli

 

 Oral History Discussion Group - A new venture for OHAA NSW
A lot of us working in oral history do so independent of an organisation or team.  There is little opportunity to discuss our
projects, issues arising and our questions with others.  This informal Discussion Group will be facilitated by OHAA Committee Member Frances Rush.   She will ensure that the topics discussed arise from the interests of those present and that air space is shared.  Some of the topics that might be covered, the list is limitless of course:

  • how to scope (design) a project - work out a plan of action
  • various approaches to structuring interviews/content
  • areas of improvement/enhancement of personal style 

There is a cost to hire the room so the charge will be $10 per person (including good coffee).  Frances is very keen to hear from those who would be interested in attending - please email her direct at francesrush@optusnet.com.au  ASAP
We are trialing this program and will be make further opportunities available if there is sufficient interest


 Not to be missed

Sat 31 March 2012

Location:
The Australian Museum

  

A special invitation to OHAA NSW members and friends
to chat and tour with John Carty, Anthopologist and Co-curator
of the Yiwarra Kuju: Canning Stock Route Exhibition



This technically pioneering exhibition includes visually stunning indigenous artworks and stories drawn from 250 oral histories gathered from indigenous communities along the Canning Stock Route.  John will talk about his own story and use of oral history, including playing and discussing some of his recordings.  He has offered to then guide us around the Exhibition. 
More details later.


                    

Seminar 
Sat 12 May 2012
 

9.45-12.30 pm

Location:
Dixson Room
State Library of NSW

Using Oral History to preserve your family history
Presented by the Oral History Association of Australia NSW and the State Library of NSW

Memory and remembering   Dr. Janis Wilton

At the core of oral history interviews are the memories people are willing to share. In family history, these include memories of events, people and places relating to the family as well as the experiences that shape an individual’s life story.  What is the nature of these family memories? What influences them? How are they reconstructed? What and why do people remember and not remember? How do we, as oral history interviewers, tap into these memories to create interviews that are rich in descriptions and insights?

Dr. Janis Wilton is an award winning public and oral historian based at the University of New England.

Also meet three oral historians who will talk about their experience with family history projects followed by a panel discussion moderated by Janis Wilton.


Watch for more details
  

 


                                                                                                      

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Archived OHAA NSW Program

Highlights of the 2011 Seminar and Workshop Program

•   TWO DAYS OF EXPLORATION – NEW WAYS WITH ORAL HISTORY

Oral History Association of Australia NSW in collaboration with - State Library of New South Wales, Museums and Galleries NSW and Institute for Professional Practice in Heritage and the Arts, Australian National University presented two days of inspiring presentations focused on the use of oral history in creatively capturing and recording our past.

Day 1  :  The Use and Abuse of Oral History  

Themes covered included:  creating content; working critically and ethically; preserving oral histories; challenges of using oral histories in interpretation; educational potential. Key Presenters were Kevin Bradley, Curator, Oral History and Folklore and Director, Sound Preservation, National Library of Australia, Associate Professor Paula Hamilton, Australian Centre for Public History, University of Technology Sydney, and Dr. Sandy Blair, Rock Art Research Centre and Institute for Professional Practice in Heritage and the Arts, Research School of Humanities and the Arts, Australian National University. Showcase Presentations were made by: Dr. Ian Hoskins, North Sydney Council Historian - reworking oral history into new works, focus on the DVD "Shifting North Sydney" Therese Sweeney, Director, Memory Bank Cultural Media - social media and new ways of collecting oral history with regard to the film "The Diner" Andrea Fernandez, Migration Heritage Centre at the Powerhouse Museum - capturing and using oral history in virtual exhibition showcases Jacqui Wasilewsky, Project Manager of Community Stories at the Sydney Jewish Museum - embedding oral history into exhibitions.

Day 2 :  Talking Objects: The place of objects in our remembered experiences Janis Wilton, Assoc Professor in History, University of New England, spoke about the place of objects in our remembered and shared experiences: the memories they evoke and the doors they open. She explored some of the different ways in which objects feature in oral history interviews and shape how objects are interpreted and presented both within museums and galleries and within our families.
How Oral Histories/Stories Save Lives – Louise Darmody in discussing her theme, gave two poignant examples:  Spirit and Survival oral histories of the experiences during the devastating fires in the Snowy Mountains region in 2003, and Many Hands Make Mike Work a very personal story of how CPR saved her husband's life.  This film is now being promoted by St. Johns Ambulance.
Capturing Memories – Oral History in the Digital Age Trish Levido presented a digital oral history workshop building on the OHAA Oral History Handbook - using a digital recorder; downloading recordings to a laptop; editing with Audacity; saving and burning recordings to disc.  Other topics include choosing and using digital equipment; appropriate recording standards and preservation; and a practical session recording an oral history interview.


Another Practical Workshop on CAPTURING MEMORIES - Oral History in the Digital Age 
With experienced Oral Historians Trish Levido and Carol McKirdy offering a comprehensive introduction to Oral History theory and practice

OHAA Member Bob Mitchell, also known as the 'Memory Man' was the speaker at our Annual Meeting, brought us stories from his most recent oral history interviews with retired foresters in the Eden region and retired miners from Broken Hill.  In addition to his oral history work, Bob talked of his Memories and reminiscences program which he conducts with frail aged people living in nursing homes.

CONNECTING THE 'HISTORY' IN ORAL HISTORY
A stimulating seminar program in collaboration with three guest historians discussing how their oral history practice connects with broader historical narratives followed by a panel discussion examining oral history's place in historical work moderated by Dr Sue Rosen, OHAA NSW Committee member.
Panel Members: Dr. Judith Godden, Professional Historian and author Dr. Paula Hamilton, Historian and Author, Co-Director, Centre for Public History, UTS Emma Dortins, Historian with a strong interest in heritage 
                  

OHAA NSW PROJECT for HISTORY WEEK 2011  ..  EAT HISTORY

Sound Bites is a series of short audio extracts on EAT HISTORY from oral history projects  by members of the Oral History Association NSW.  The  Sound Bites paint a picture in words of the importance of food to ordinary Australians in varied circumstances.
You can listen closely to a poignant story of food availability in a refugee camp or laugh with Luigi as he explains how he ate food served from Snowy Mountains camp kitchens.  Overall be enlightened by a person's voice telling history.
View at www.historycouncilnsw.org.au/history-week/sound-bites

 

Make sure you view and listen SOUND BITES, an oral history webpage for History Week 2011