ALIA Local Studies report - January 2004

Springtime in Albany! Beautiful scenery, balmy days, interesting visits to Kodja Place at Kojonup (on the trip down), Albany Public Library and its expanded Local History Collection, Whaleworld, Mt Clarence with its military installations and associated museum ... these were the pleasures that awaited a busload of ALIA Local Studies members on their annual country tour in November.

While it's easy to programme a year of meetings in Perth, the group always tries to arrange an out-of-town excursion too. Regional visits allow country members to meet and share ideas with their counterparts in the city. Perth members extend their knowledge of WA and regional collections. Networking that benefits both parties is always the result. It's good to share common experiences as well as celebrating the differences.

Perth members gathered again in December to exchange notes, photos and Christmas wishes over breakfast in King's Park. Another lovely morning, lots more animated chatter and detailed plans for the 2004 programme.

Over coming months there'll be a visit to UWA Archives and a sunset tour of the beautiful UWA campus (5:30pm Wednesday 11 February); a visit to the Heritage Council in April; a Thesaurus Workshop in June to move to the next stage of the process begun in 2003; a panel discussion on the role of volunteers in August; a springtime tour to Local Studies collections in the wheatbelt; and in late November a final session on collecting and managing Performing Arts ephemera. Then it's time for the Christmas breakfast before we all begin again in 2005!

With ever increasing interest in Local Studies and Family History, more collections are being established and more networking needs to be done. ALIA Local Studies (WA) welcomes anyone engaged or interested in the field to any of their meetings. Just contact secretary Barbara Hellriegel barbara.hellriegel@joondalup.wa.gov.au (remove '.nospam' from address) or convenor Alison Gregg gregg@vianet.net.au (remove '.nospam' from address) (ph 08 9298 9442) for more details.

Alison Gregg, convenor

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