NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA Heritage in Trust (ACT) November 2013 _________________________________________________________________ Centenary of Canberra Rally One Hundred Years Of Motoring In The ACT: National Trust Centenary of Canberra Rally After months (and years for some) of planning, the National Trust’s Centenary of Canberra Rally took place on the weekend of 19-20 October 2013. The rally symbolically brought together Jervis Bay Territory, originally envisaged as the port for the Federal Capital Territory, and Canberra during this, the year of the ACT’s centenary. On a beautiful spring morning, on Saturday 19 October, a small number of “classic cars” were flagged off from Jervis Bay Territory by Rally Chair Scott McAlister. Inside From the new President p 5 Travels with the Trust p 9 Heritage Diary p 8 From the outgoing president p 16 Building Australia p 18
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collectively as the National Trust (ACT) 2013 Volunteer
of the Year. The Rally Committee brought together the
National Trust and car people without whom the rally
could not have been run. Thanks to the chairs of the
Committee at different times, Alan Kerr, Bill Lewis and
Scott McAlister, and particularly to Chris Wain, Rally
Director and former Executive Director of the National
Trust (ACT) , who had the vision and perseverance for
the Trust to run the rally.
Others without whom the rally would not have been a
success include Liz McMillan and the team in the office
who were involved over many months - sending out
information, answering inquiries, registering and
recording entrants, preparing participants' packs and
many, many other tasks. In addition, volunteers on the
day of the rally from Jervis Bay, HMAS Albatross,
Tarago and Bungendore assisted participants along the
way and on Sunday more volunteers turned out to help
at Old Parliament House as well.
Would we do it again? We certainly learnt a lot and
could improve! Maybe for the Bicentenary of
Canberra?!!
Mary Johnston
Mary Johnston has been a Councillor for one year and
is a long term member of the Trust. She is particularly
active with Trust events and tours.
Photos: Graham Gittins
Contents
One hundred years of motoring in the ACT: National Trust Centenary of Canberra Rally ____________ 1 From the new President _____________________ 5 Trusted Recipe ____________________________ 6 Heritage Diary _____________________________ 8 Travels with the Trust - Australia _____________ 9 Travels with the Trust - Overseas _____________ 10 Trust Tour Reports ________________________ 12 From the Outgoing President_________________ 16 Report on INTO conference __________________ 17 Building Australia __________________________ 18 Rally photographs __________________________ 20
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The National Trust acknowledges the support of our Corporate Members and Benefactors:
Old Parliament House Library Patinations Conservation Services ContentGroup Slater & Gordon
Benefactor: Mr Rob McL. Johnston
Heritage In Trust November 2013
Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au Page 5
From the New President
Hello Members As you may already know, our long-standing President, Eric Martin, stood down from the role at our recent AGM and I have accepted the Council’s invitation to take over as President. I will also be retaining the role of Treasurer. For those who have read or have access to our latest annual report, have a look at page 1 and you will see that Eric has served the NTACT for 30 years. The next longest serving (current) Councillors have nine years, then me with four years! It goes without saying that Eric’s service and commitment to our organisation are unrivalled in recent times and I’m sure you will all join me in sincerely thanking him for his efforts. The positive news for us is that Eric will continue as a Councillor focusing on heritage advocacy and I look forward to having his continued expertise available for NTACT and its members. It would be remiss of me not to also acknowledge the efforts of a number of retiring Councillors who have also contributed tirelessly to NTACT over a long period of time: John McDonald (28 years) who has been Secretary and Treasurer for various periods, Helen Cooke (eight years), Linda Roberts (five years), Di Johnstone and Sandy Blair (three years each) and Sally Brockwell (one year). These individuals have brought their own unique skill sets to the Council and their experience and passion will be sorely missed. Having said this, I know that they will continue to work on members’ behalf behind the scenes and I welcome their continued support of the NTACT cause. I have written previously about NTACT’s deteriorating financial position but I want to focus on the future. The Council’s decision not to renew the contract of our Executive Director has significantly reduced our operating expenses and we have commenced the implementation of a business plan that has identified a number of areas that Council feels can generate long term income streams that can support our reduced level of operations. It’s a long road ahead but I am confident that we have now stabilised our financial position and we can focus on consolidating our reputation as a leading advocate for built, natural and aboriginal heritage both locally and nationally.
Finally, with the exception of our Office Manager, NTACT is now a purely volunteer organisation and I commend and thank all of you who have provided your services to our cause both recently and in the past. Without you we cannot exist – it’s as simple as that. Our business plan will require additional support from volunteers to implement some of the strategies and I ask that you consider helping where possible to share the load. One of our first priorities is to develop and maintain a database of volunteers and their skills, contact details etc so that we can both seek your support and keep you, as volunteers, engaged. So please give us your details. We saw with the Centenary of Canberra Rally that when volunteers are given specific tasks they take to them with a rare amount of passion! Scott McAlister President
YOUR NEW 2014 TRUST COUNCIL
Scott McAlister - President and Treasurer
Lisa Norman - Vice President
Eric Martin AM
Peter Lundy
Jim Nockels
John Tucker
Mary Johnston
Graham Carter
Dianne Dowling
Graeme Crocket
Heritage In Trust November 2013
Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au Page 6
People and Places
Trust office new opening hours From 1 December, the Trust Office will be open Monday to Thursday, from 9.30am to 3.00pm.
Method • Mix together flour and baking power. • Rub in dripping and salt. • Add the currants and enough water or milk to make
a soft dough.
• Roll out the dough on a floured board in a rectangular shape.
• Spread a layer of jam over the dough. • Sprinkle sultanas over the dough/jam. • Roll up the dough and place it in a baking dish. • Mix the extra water with the brown sugar and then
pour over the rolled up dough.
• Bake in a moderate oven until brown.
Trusted Recipe
Canberra Pudding
Food is more than a necessity for basic survival. It
helps us celebrate significant events, defines our
Australian cultural identity, and reflects social and
economic changes. Trusted Recipes preserves our
history and shows we can have our cake and eat it
too.
"On 12 March 1913, the foundation stones of the
new capital, Canberra, were laid. A luncheon was
held to mark the occasion. The menu reflected
Australia’s British heritage, with roast turkey; ox
tongue; beetroot, cucumber and tomato salad; iced
asparagus; and fruit salad. The drinks list, however,
was proudly Australian, including local champagne,
chablis, port, lager and Colonial ale.” (C. Mann and K.
Abbott, 2008, A feast of food in the Archives in Memento
Issue 34, National Archives of Australia, pp6-9. )
This British heritage was still followed for the first
two courses in the official lunch menu at the 1927
inaugural opening of Parliament but dessert was
Canberra Pudding, presumably specially created for
the day or for Canberra.
It has been difficult to find the recipe for Canberra Pudding. This recipe comes from ABC Canberra recipes http://www.abc.net.au/local/recipes/2007/05/10/191
9297.htm and was published in May 2007 for the 80th birthday of Old Parliament House. The website states that the historian at Old Parliament House, Michael Richards, was unsure exactly what Canberra Pudding was, but Lorna Fazldeen remembered her grandmother making the dessert for her as a child. Ingredients • 1 and a half cups of flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 2 tablespoons of dripping • A pinch of salt • Half a cup of currants • Enough water or milk to make a soft dough • Blackberry or plum jam • A handful of sultanas • 1 and a half cups of water, extra • ¾ cup of brown sugar
Annual Members’ Christmas Party
at “Huntly”
Sunday 8 December 2013
3-5pm
Members: $20; non-members: $25
Drinks and refreshments included
We are delighted that Lucy Quinn will be our Guest
Speaker. Lucy is co-author, with Betty Churcher AO, of
the recently published Centenary publication Treasures
of Canberra. Copies of the book will be available for
Thank you for your donations We thank those who so generously donated to our
Supporters Appeal and everyone who donated this year.
Heritage In Trust November 2013
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Heritage Diary 2013-2014 A selection of heritage-related events in Canberra
Note: CAS is the Canberra Archaeological Society
Details of National Trust (ACT) outings are provided in Travels with the Trust, starting on page 9.
Date and time Event and location
Organiser Contact
Until
31 December
The Original Canberra House – a model version of the
original ‘Canberra House’. Cockington Green
C100 www.canberra100.com.au
click on “See events”
Until 10 March 2014
Mapping our World – Terra Incognita to Australia – display
of international and Australian maps that inspired the idea of Australia
C100 www.canberra100.com.au
click on “See events”
Until 17 August 2014
Canberra: Then and Now – an exhibition of historic photos matched with modern day photos. National Library of
Australia
C100 www.canberra100.com.au
click on “See events”
Sunday 8 December
3.00-5.00 pm
Christmas Party at Huntly (including volunteer
recognition). Bookings essential.
National Trust
6230 0533
Sunday 9 February
2014
7.30am – 6pm
Burnima, Bombala and Delegate bus trip
National Trust
6230 0533
Sunday 16 February
9am-3pm
Early European Historic Sites in Kowen
(postponed from 22 September and 10 November)
National Trust
6230 0533
Sunday 23 February
1-5.30pm
Far South Border Walk
National Trust
6230 0533
Saturday 1 March
1.30-4.30pm
Hall Village walking tour
National Trust
6230 0533
Saturday 5 to
Monday 21 April
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
ACT
Environment and
Sustainable
Development
Directorate
6205 0255
TBA An evening with Bill Gammage National Trust 6230 0533
1-16 November
Colours of Autumn, Japan National Trust 6230 0533
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Travels with the Trust Burnima, Bombala and Delegate bus trip Sunday 9 February 2014, 7.30am – 6pm
Do you want see where the national capital might have gone? Burnima near Bombala and Yarralumla were built by the same builder and Burnima could have been the Governor-General’s residence. The tour will visit the homestead and garden of this 101 year old residence, where we will also enjoy morning tea. Also on the itinerary is Lavender House, an historic engine and machinery shed, onto Delegate for lunch and the old private property of Cambelong. A return stop at Cooma will round off our travels Meet: Car park behind the Deakin Fitness Centre, Deakin Shops. Also a northside pick up at Netball courts, Southwell Park on Federal Highway. Cost: $95 members, $105 non-members Bookings essential: 6230 0533 or online at
www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events
Early European Historic Sites in Kowen NOW Sunday 16 February 2014, 9am – 3pm Luke and Mary Colverwell, both convicts, were the first Europeans to settle at Kowen in 1831. Colin McAlister, a member of the Friends of Glenburn, will lead a tour of the area that will include the oldest marked European graves in the ACT which are those of the Colverwell girls who drowned close to their home at ‘Dirty Swamp’ in 1837. The tour will also include the stone ruin of Colliers Homestead, built for George Campbell of Duntroon, in 1880 on land he did not own; the ruins of Coppins Homestead; the site of Kowen School (1882); and the Edmonds’ Glenburn Homestead, made up of a slab home and pise section, plus more. See the new interpretive signs and the great work the Parks Service and The Friends of Glenburn volunteers have done. Morning tea
included. Not a lot of walking involved. Please bring lunch, water and wear closed shoes.
Meet: Canberra Railway Station, Kingston for car pooling. 2WD cars are fine on the well maintained dirt roads. Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members Bookings essential: 6230 0533 or online at www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events
Far South Border Walk Sunday 23 February 2014, 1pm – 5.30pm
Join historian and high country expert Matthew Higgins as we delve deep into Namadgi National Park. The approximately 8km walk is on moderate terrain and will start at the Mt Clear Campground. We will head south along a fire trail to the NSW border passing ruins of early European settlers. This part of the border was surveyed in 1915 by Freddie Johnston and his team. We will return via Westermans and Brayshaws Huts. Refreshments will be provided. Bring water and wear sunscreen, a hat and sturdy walking shoes.
Meet: Namadgi Visitors Centre, Naas Road, Tharwa, to then car pool and drive the 35km to Mt Clear Campground. There is some dirt road.
Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members
Bookings essential: 6230 0533 or online at
www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events
_______________________________________________ National Trust of Australia (ACT) Office
PO Box 1144 Civic Square ACT 2608 Telephone 02 6230 0533 Fax 02 6230 0544 Email [email protected] Net www.nationaltrust.org.au ABN 50 797 949 955 Opening times: 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Thursday Office Location: 1st Floor, North Building Canberra City [above Canberra Museum & Gallery], entry from Civic Square
Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au Page 10
Travels with the Trust Hall Village walking tour Saturday 1 March 2014, 1.30pm – 4. 30pm Hall Village is named after Henry Hall who obtained a land grant of about 3,500 acres in the Ginninderra district in 1833 and was the first resident landholder of the district. The village dates from 1882 and was developed using a rectangular grid layout which still exists today. Hall has a distinctive village character which this tour will explore. The National Trust (ACT) has previously visited the cemetery and churches of Hall so this tour will concentrate on other heritage features of the village. It will be led by Tony Morris, a long term resident of Hall with direct family ties to early settlers taking up or purchasing land in the district. Tony will be able to relate some aspects of early village life from details given to him by older and past family members. We will finish with afternoon tea provided by the Hall Progress Association in the school grounds. Meet: TBA Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members Bookings essential: 6230 0533 or online at www.nationaltrust.org.au/act/events
International Tours 2014 and 2015
Colours of Autumn – Japan 1 to 16 November 2014
Colourful leaves (koyo) are to the Japanese autumn what
cherry blossoms are to the Japanese spring. The viewing
of autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for
centuries and today it draws large numbers of travellers
to famously beautiful ‘koyo’ spots, both in the mountains
and in the cities. Some of the most famous Japanese
gardens have been designed with the blending of autumn
colours in mind.
Each year, starting in mid-September, the autumn colours
move southwards from the northern island of Hokkaido
until they reach the lower elevations of central and
southern Japan towards the end of November. Some
trees around Tokyo and Kyoto remain colourful into early
December.
Our tour is designed to ‘hit the
high spots’ of central Japan’s
spectacular autumn and to visit
some of the most important
historical and cultural sites.
The tour leader will be Michael
Hodgkin, President of the
Australia Japan Society (ACT),
and the travel agent is
Travelmakers of Kingston.
Highlights
Tokyo: the Capital of Japan and one of the world’s
biggest and busiest cities, but also the site of the
Imperial Palace and some of the most famous
temples and gardens
Mt Fuji and Hakone
Kyoto: Nijo Castle and numerous temples,
including the famous Golden Pavilion
Nara: Canberra’s ‘sister city’ and a former capital
with beautiful temples and gardens
Matsumoto and Takayama
Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Museum
Kurashiki and Himeji Castle (the best of the
original castles of Japan)
Ride the famous ‘bullet’ trains – the shinkansen
Stay in a traditional ryokan hotel and relax in an
‘onsen’ (hot spring)
Group size: minimum 10, maximum 16
Cost: (ex Tokyo) is expected to be between $7200 and
The Tours Committee of the ACT Trust is organising
another of its historical and archaeological tours for 2015.
After successful tours of Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Italy and
Scandinavia, we are going to Germany to experience the
history and culture of this country. We will follow the
country’s history from the Iron Age through the Roman
era, Medieval period and into modern times.
The tour will be around 21 days and is scheduled for May-
June 2015, but we are calling for expressions of interest
for the tour so we can plan well ahead.
Our travel agent will again be Gay at Travelscene
Canberra City and we will be following the same format
as the other tours we have done:
The tour group will have an accredited English-
speaking guide throughout the tour.
Travel through Germany will be primarily by
coach but may include a river cruise.
Accommodation will be at least three star rated
hotels or higher
Breakfasts will be provided each morning with
lunch and dinners occasionally throughout the
tour according to finalised itinerary.
The tour will focus on selected UNESCO World
Heritage listed places, but other places of
national significance to the history and cultural
development of Germany will be included.
Dr Peter Dowling, historical archaeologist, will be the
group leader and Dianne Dowling will be assisting the
group throughout the tour.
If you are interested please contact the ACT
National Trust Office on
(02) 6230 0533
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Trust Tour Reports
Blandfordia 5 Sunday 13 October
The walk was described as taking place, rain, hail or shine.
It did occur without rain or hail, but with lots and lots of
wind. The area has many tall trees, creating welcome
wind breaks.
Our group included many U3A members as well as
National Trust members, making 15 participants in total,
all fit and interested. The house where Brendan Nelson
lived in the converted garage while Defence Minister was
an amusing point of interest. Many of the street trees and
hedges in the area have had to be replaced, but Bass
Gardens still remains the same, with only a small number
of tree replacements. Those of us who grew up in
Canberra were able to share memories of tree climbing
there.
Thanks to our walk leader, Brendan Priess, we received a
clear explanation of housing design and heritage
requirements, and viewed homes that were renovated
sympathetically and not so sympathetically. Brendan
explained the design layout of the streets, with the
deliberate tantalising aspect of not seeing the end of the
road. He also pointed out the placement of houses on the
blocks, some straight on to the street, others on the
corners being diagonal.
This is an area that can only be fully appreciated on foot,
but it would be nice to be in a high bus and see what is
behind all those high hedges. The “sticky beak” in all of us
would enjoy it.
Lynn Parry
Poster of Blandfordia. Photo: National Library of Australia
Borobudur and Beyond, September 2013
On arrival at Denpasar we were greeted and taken in
hand by Robbie, the owner of TX Travel, the tour
company which had organised the Indonesian side of the
tour. This proved to be a foretaste of things to come
because Robbie gave us priority care the whole time we
were in Indonesia.
Our first night’s accommodation was in the Pertiwi Resort
Hotel, Ubud and after a fairly lengthy bus ride we arrived
there at around 3 o’clock. Some people opted to wander
down to the ‘monkey forest’, others did a bit of early
shopping and others decided to take a rest before the
evening meal (I decided to find a shop selling swimwear -
having forgotten to pack a swimming costume! – then
had a swim in one of the two resort pools). We were
entertained during the evening meal with some
traditional Balinese dances, including a ‘frog dance’ with
some of the ‘frogs’ coming to make our acquaintance!
Next morning there was time for a stroll around town
before heading back down to lunch at ‘Kudeta’, on the
beach front in Seminyak, then off to the airport for the
plane to Yogyakarta and our ‘home’ for the next three
days, Rumah Budayah hotel at Tembi on the outskirts of
Yogyakarta.
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The becak ride to the restaurant
Our Yogyakarta experiences started the next day with a
visit to the ‘Kraton’ – the palace of the Sultan – then the
Tamansari, the private baths built by a former sultan
(unfortunately no longer in use, so no chance for a swim
although the weather would have made a dip very
welcome!). The ‘becak’ ride to a local restaurant for
lunch was an interesting experience and lunch itself was a
bit of a surprise when we discovered that the ‘restaurant’
was actually the private home of the Sultan’s sister (the
lady in the centre of the photograph)!
In the afternoon we met representatives of the National
Trust of Indonesia and were shown around central
Yogyakarta, including the central mosque, a truly
magnificent wooden building a mere 130 years old.
We wandered on and some of us tried our hands at batik
making (and batik shopping!!)
before heading back to Tembi and a magnificent
ceremonially served ‘ricestaffel’ meal at a
hotel/restaurant in the same village.
Thursday was a ‘temple tour’ day – Candi Plaosan, Candi
Ijo, Candi Kalasan and various others (‘Candi’ is
Indonesian for temple), before ending up at Candi
Prambanan.
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Yogyakarta was the centre of a number of Hindu and
Buddhist kingdoms for many centuries and the temple
ruins in and around Yogyakarta are a mixture of both
religions. While some of them were lost in the jungle or
buried in volcanic ash and all of them have been shaken
by repeated earthquakes, the Indonesian government has
spent a lot of effort (with international assistance)
restoring many of them.
The two most famous are, of course, Borobudur and
Prambanan.
Above: Borobudur Below: Floodlit Candi Prambanan
Our evening meal with the floodlit Candi Prambanan
temple ruins in the background was a memorable
experience, followed by watching a spectacular
performance of the Ramayana Ballet.
Next day involved a very leisurely 12 noon start, a few
more temples, an exceptional lunch at a very classy hotel
overlooking Borobudur, an afternoon visit to Borobudur
itself, then overnight at the Plataran Hotel Resort near
Borobudur. It was a very nice hotel, but some of us found
the steep climb up to the restaurant a bit of a struggle,
particularly after having climbed to the top of Borobudur
that afternoon!
A few brave souls rose before the dawn to do the
traditional visit to Borobudur to see the sunrise from the
top of the temple.
Saturday was a ‘volcano’ tour! Well, we didn’t actually
climb the volcano, since it is fairly active and very steep,
and climbing it is strictly for the enthusiast, but we toured
some of the sites where the volcano had devastated the
surrounding countryside in its most recent eruption. It
was slightly nerve wracking to venture so close to a
volcano that was still busily smoking, but we were
assured that nothing was likely to happen to us!
Lunch was at a little village community centre which,
although the village was extensively damaged by the last
eruption, was now the centre of a program
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demonstrating how a community can recover after
disaster if the right people get involved.
Back down in Yogyakarta we stayed the night in the
Phoenix Hotel and dined out in the ‘nonya’ restaurant
across the road. The Phoenix is a magnificently restored
colonial building, originally built as a private residence but
now a five star luxury hotel. VERY comfortable!!
Sunday was our last day in Yogyakarta. Some people
elected to add to their batik collections before we
headed off to the Hyatt for ‘brunch’, others were just
content to loll around the Hyatt pools and make use of
the water slide. Sunday brunch at the Hyatt is one of the
‘must dos’ of Yogyakarta: the smorgasbord is wonderful
and the Hyatt’s complex of pools is one of the best in
Indonesia.
We flew back to Bali in the afternoon and booked into the
Mercure resort at Sanur beach. Although navigating
around the complicated groupings of apartment blocks in
the resort proved a bit of a challenge, it is ‘a very nice
pub’ with lovely swimming pools and a very good
restaurant.
Next day we ‘did’ the adjacent sights of Bali – a visit to
the Garuda Wisnu Kencana for lunch and to watch some
Balinese dancing, viewed the gigantic Garuda statue
under construction, visited the Uluwatu Temple on the
cliffs overlooking the ocean (be careful of the monkeys!),
Balinese dancing
,
visited ‘Dreamland Beach’ and had an icecream, stopped
off to try ’crispy duck’ for dinner, then a bit more batik
shopping near the airport before heading for the plane
home.
I don’t know what everyone else thought, but I
thoroughly enjoyed my flying visit to Indonesia. I hope to
do it again some time soon and, perhaps, visit some more
and different sights. Does anyone want to join me?
Michael Hodgkin (Photos and text)
Michael Hodgkin is a former Councillor and Executive Officer
of the Trust and has led a number of fascinating international
tours. Details of his new tour to Japan in November 2014 are
on page 10.
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From the Outgoing President
The 38th AGM of the National Trust of Australia (ACT) was
held on 29 October 2013 at the National Archives. A good
number of members attended and after the formalities
enjoyed a fascinating talk on Japan's traditional and
industrial heritage. At that meeting, our long term
president Eric Martin stood down. The outgoing President
here reflects on the changes affecting the Trust during his
30 years as a Councillor and most particularly over the
last decade as President.
A Reflection on Nine Years as President
Although I have been involved in the heritage industry for an extended period it is useful to reflect on the period as President of the ACT National Trust from 2004.
When Ken Taylor, president of the National Trust resigned and passed the role to me I recall his words: “I am pleased that over the period of my presidency I leave the National Trust in a better position than when I started”. Unfortunately I cannot offer the same words. The past nine years have seen a vastly different environment evolve through a series of factors:
the global financial crisis
perceived need to have development at all costs
reduced government support for and interest in heritage at all levels, Federal, State/Territory and local. This has resulted in less staffing and fewer financial opportunities for non-government organisations, especially for general administration.
The other change facing the National Trust is an ageing population including among our members, and the competition of engaging with a younger generation. Associated with this is the strength of social media as a communication tool and how the National Trust can better use, interest and develop these networks to expand interest in heritage and Trust membership.
There are many people who are passionate about heritage, who are strong supporters of the National Trust and invaluable contributors, and we must nurture them and give them strength.
There are many that see heritage as a negative to development when in fact it can be an aid to development and at worse nothing more than another control, not unlike the planning and building controls that
are taken for granted, accepted and worked within. It is a proven fact that heritage conservation areas increase the value of houses. Commercially this story is not as clear-cut and it varies greatly.
This changing situation has resulted in a heavy reliance on volunteers, and the heritage industry has many including the National Trust. Even statutory bodies such as Heritage Councils do not get remuneration commensurate with the time and commitment they make.
The strength in our communities and the challenge is how to engage and share their voices and how organisations can collectively reinforce the fact that there is a large group of people who believe “this place matters” even though the places often vary from individual to individual. With this collective community strength the voice can be heard and listened to. It is not an easy challenge but one we must strive for.
I firmly believe our past is important in appreciating today and must be made available to future generations, and that we must passionately press on. The challenge is not small but we must try.
Eric Martin AM
2014 DESK DIARY –
Jenny Phillips’ Australian Botanical Artists
$22.50 NT members; $25.00 non-members.
Available in the office in Civic NOW!
These and NT Christmas cards are also available in
the Combined Charities Card Christmas Shop .
Combined Charities Christmas Card Shop
A reminder that the Combined Charities Christmas Card
Shop is operating at the Uniting Church Centre, Pilgrim
House on Northbourne Avenue until Thursday 12
December.
Heritage In Trust November 2013
Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au Page 17
2013 INTO conference, Entebbe, Uganda 30 September – 4 October 2013 on Cultural Diversity for Responsible Development
Eric Martin AM reports on his attendance at this conference.
INTO, the International Organisation of National Trusts, brings together more than 60 national trusts and equivalent organisations from across the world, globally diverse but united by a shared commitment to serving and sustaining our shared heritage – built and natural, tangible and intangible.
Through cooperation, coordination and comradeship between the international community of national trusts, INTO works to develop and promote best conservation practices, increase the capacity of individual organisations, establish Trusts where they do not presently exist, and advocate in the interests of heritage conservation.
Every two years, INTO organizes an international conference. This year the conference took place in Uganda, the 'Pearl of Africa' and a foremost tourist destination. It provided an opportunity for delegates to share and explore new insights on the diversity and relevance of global well-being. It also looked into strengthening the heritage movement, including in those areas where cultural assets are under increasing threat.
One of the unusual features of the conference was a one day learning journey to underscore the conference themes and to provide delegates with an exciting opportunity to explore examples of intangible and tangible heritage promotion work in Uganda. This included visiting a forest site where traditional herbalists and healers are trained to provide important physical and spiritual healing to ordinary Ugandans; and to a National Park where efforts are being made to integrate the cultural values of neighbouring communities in its management.
Members throughout the world made new linkages between their more usual work (often the conservation of our built heritage) and issues of sustainable development (in both 'rich' and less well-endowed countries) and people's rights to access and enjoy their culture.
The INTO Conference delegates endorsed the ‘Entebbe Declaration’, which will call upon governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental authorities worldwide to place a much greater emphasis than is currently the case on the importance of preserving and promoting tangible and intangible heritage especially within developing nations in the quest for sustainable and responsible development.
A few pertinent points related to culture and engagement of a younger generation were:
1. Engagement of a Younger Generation
Engage families in local heritage as parents are part of the teaching process. Find a common interest.
Promote a program of 50 things you need to do before you are eleven and three quarters among children. Establish this within local areas and include heritage related items and then promote it.
Engage with children at the earliest possible age.
Develop and use social media on a regular basis and have someone to contribute to and monitor it daily. See what excites and promote these. Put stories onto the social networks and see what generates interest. A social media acceptable use policy for the NT should be established.
Education is a process and not a happening and needs to be set up well if youth are to be engaged.
The values of youth are important.
2. Culture
Culture is not elitist but a popular interest.
Culture is important for development and should reduce the fear of heritage.
Undertake collaborative research on cultural heritage with universities.
Intangible heritage is powerful if taken in small steps and can make a difference.
While we may consider that our heritage issues take prominence I suggest that we can learn from others and such conferences are worthwhile to participate in. The 2015 INTO Conference will be in Cambridge, UK with the theme “Shape a better future from our heritage. New tools for new challenges”.
Heritage In Trust November 2013
Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au Page 18
Building Australia
Building Australia is a six-episode television programme
produced by Bearcage Productions in Canberra with the
assistance of the National Trusts of Australia and is
presented by TV personality, John Doyle (remember him
in Two Men in a Tinnie?)
The series explores the history of the Australian house in
its many temporal and stylistic incarnations from the
early terrace buildings in Sydney, the archetypical
Queenslander, homesteads of the affluent in cities and
regional areas of Australia, Federation style houses, to
the classic weekender, the ubiquitous suburban houses
and the humble but functional mine worker cottages of
Burra in South Australia. The series examines not only the
houses but also the evolving historic and social contexts
in which they were built and for whom. The series
included houses in all the states and territories.
In 2011 Bearcage Productions approached Mr Eric Martin
AM, National Trust (ACT) President, asking the Trust to
assist in the production of the programme and seeking
the Trust’s permission to use several properties as
examples of Australian houses. The Australian Council of
National Trusts (ACNT) Board readily agreed and Eric
Martin and the ACNT office were tasked to liaise with
Bearcage throughout the production stages of the series.
Eric and Dr Peter Dowling (National Heritage Officer) met
several times with the Bearcage team throughout the
2012-13 production and filming period assisting with
architectural and historical advice. State and territory
National Trusts facilitated the use of the specific
properties used in the series. In the ACT, the series
featured the Manning Clark House, Lanyon and the
Tocumwal Houses in O'Connor. These structures were
built for the RAAF base in Tocumwal, NSW. The base was
built during the Second World War as an inland defence
against Japanese invasion. As camouflage, the sleeping
quarters for air force personnel were built in the form of
houses. After the War, the acute housing shortage in
Canberra gave the houses a new purpose.
The National Trust properties shown in the series were
Creek Street Dugouts and Paxton Square in Burra, SA;
Ayres House, Adelaide; Tasma Terrace, Melbourne;
Burnett House, Darwin; and Mangowine Homestead,
Nungarn, WA.
The series premiered on Foxtel’s History Channel on 30
July 2013. It has proved very popular and has received
enthusiastic reviews for its historical content and
entertainment values. It is now being shown on Foxtel
New Zealand.
The commercial release of the series on DVD will be in
December in time for Christmas gifts, so watch out for it!
This project involving the National Trust has provided an
extra facet to the Trust nationally. The participation of
the Trusts in the production and in the use of properties
has been acknowledged in the credits of each of the
programmes.
Peter Dowling National Heritage Officer, ACNT
Burnett House, Darwin
Heritage In Trust November 2013
Heritage in Trust www.nationaltrust.org.au Page 19
National Trust (ACT) First Floor, North Building Cnr London Cct and Civic Square, Canberra ACT 2601 PO Box 1144 Civic Square, Canberra ACT 2608 Telephone (02) 6230 0533 Facsimile (02) 6230 0544 Email: [email protected] www.nationaltrust.org.au
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About Heritage in Trust
Heritage in Trust is published quarterly as an electronic
magazine in conjunction with the national magazine
Trust News in February, May, August and November.
The editors invite articles and letters from Trust
members with an interest in the heritage of the ACT