NSW LIFE MEMBERS OHAA     See OHAA National Website for full list

Margaret Reid, one of the earliest members of the OHAA NSW joined the oral history group of the Sydney Maritime Museum (now the Australian Heritage Fleet) in 1983. Her task was to interview the varied members of the maritime community who had lived and worked on Sydney Harbour. She attended all the early seminars organised by the OHAA NSW branch and State Library of New South Wales, shared her excellent advice on these occasions and proved to be a pioneer in persuading a large institution to donate their project to the Mitchell Library. (1997)

Tim Bowden made the iconic programs ‘Taim bilong Masta' on life in New Guinea and ‘Prisoners of War: Australians under Nippon' for the ABC in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1985 he established the Social History Unit at the ABC with its many programs based on oral history. An early member of OHAA NSW Tim has addressed seminars and conferences on several occasions and while giving good advice succeeds in amusing and enchanting his audiences. (2001)

Ros Bowden was a pioneer feminist in the 1970s and a foundation member of OHAA NSW. She encouraged the ABC to present her programs on the role of women in Australian history. Unusually for a journalist she preserved her recordings and presented them to the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, where they form an important archive. In 1989 she became head of the Social History Unit and fought for its continued existence - and succeeded. She has participated in many OHAA seminars and conferences. (2001)

Louise Douglas was a founding member of OHAA NSW in 1979, editor of the 1980 journal, a promoter of the use of oral history in academe and one of the compilers of 'Oral History. A Handbook' in 1988. She was a driving force in the major oral history project, NSW Bicentennial Oral History Project and edited the oral history component of ‘Australians 1938'. It was she with a few others who kept the NSW branch of the OHAA active through the 1980s until the State Library of New South Wales set up the Oral History Program in 1991. (1999)

Judy Wing's introduction to oral history was to be appointed organiser of the NSW Bicentennial Oral History Project in 1987 where she was also an interviewer. She went on to complete many oral history projects as a professional oral historian and is the author of several historical publications. She was secretary of the NSW branch from 1987 when she joined until 2003 and was also national secretary of the OHAA for over 10 years.

Richard Raxworthy was a pioneer professional oral historian. His important interviews for Sydney Harbour Bridge Builders in 1982 represented his introduction to oral history. Many projects followed and Richard's enthusiasm and expertise made him an important member of OHAA NSW. He gave presentations at almost every national conference from the mid-1990s and attended seminars on a regular basis where his practical advice was much valued. Shortly before he died in 2003 he donated all the master recordings of his projects to the Mitchelll Library, State Library of New South Wales. (2003)

Rosemary Block was for over 10 years the national president of the OHAA, retiring in 2007. She has been the president of the NSW branch since 1993 to date. During this period she has fostered an active partnership between the OHAA and the State Library of New South Wales where she is curator of oral history. She has conducted numerous seminars and workshops in Sydney and regional NSW and has attended all the national OHAA conferences from the 1990s to date - at all of which she has presented a paper. She was a co-convener of the international oral history conference in Sydney in 2006.  Together with the NSW branch committee she established the Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History. Actively seeking out oral history projects she augments and promotes the Mitchell Library's collection. (2007)  

Janis Wilton: an early member of the Oral History Association of Australia, Janis has served on the  National Council on a number of occasions, and co-edited the OHAA Journal.  More recently Janis has served on the Editorial Committee to support the establishment of peer review and recognition of the journal for both academic and general audiences.  Janis has been President and Journal Editor of the International Oral History Association and initiated the hosting of the very successful IOHA conference in Sydney.  Oral History has been integral to her academic teaching career. She pioneered the teaching of oral history as a university subject and has inspired many of her students to pursue oral history. Participation in many community oral history workshops has been complementary to Janis’ academic work. Her published work is extensive – books, monographs, articles, conference and seminar papers all reflect her passion for bringing the oral history message to diverse audiences. (2009)