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Heritage Volunteer Award Recipients 2009

The following individuals and organisations from across NSW were presented with a NSW Government Heritage Volunteer Award by Hon. Kristina Keneally MP, former Minister for Planning, and Chair of the Heritage Council of NSW, Gabrielle Kibble on 16 November 2009.

Recipients

Susan Duyker is honoured for her commitment to cultural heritage preservation locally and worldwide. The Award recognises her volunteer work with ICOMOS International Secretariat in Paris and in Australia as the English language author of a major ICOMOS report on the risks posed to significant World and Commonwealth Heritage sites from climate change. While in Paris, Susan was also instrumental in developing the ICOMOS Secretariat new membership base to enable it to provide services to members worldwide. A specialist on built heritage, Susan is a member of ICOMOS Australia, the Urban Conservation Committee of the National Trust of Australia (NSW) and on the Board of AusHeritage.

Michael Mannington has been a key figure in the successful community campaign to save Currawong Workers' Holiday Camp at Pittwater. This award recognises his pivotal role as IT Manager for the Friends of Currawong and his dedication in ensuring the protection of the State heritage site that holds great historical value for the residents of Pittwater. Michael's role included developing the campaign website, managing the network (which received more than 4000 emails last year alone) and solving computer problems - all absolutely critical issues for a community campaign fought mainly online. Michael is also an outstanding photographer whose images of Currawong will become a valuable historical resource for future generations.

Beth Mathews has spent many years researching, promoting and giving presentations on Parramatta's heritage, focussing on the early colonial period. Her outstanding contribution to the Women Transported - Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories exhibition, publication and DVD learning resource - now touring across NSW and interstate - which has greatly enhanced our understanding about the convict women transported to work in the Female factories. Beth is a volunteer at the Parramatta District Historical Society, assists at least one day a week as a Local Studies and Family History Librarian and for the past 10 years has worked as a volunteer with the Parramatta Heritage Centre.

Anne Mathews is a researcher, promoter and presenter on a range of topics from archaeology, the early people of Parramatta to the Parramatta River story. She curated the successful exhibition on the Burnside homes: We were Burnie Kids. And catalogued more than 2000 objects in the Centre's recent successful exhibition on Parramatta's distinctive archaeological history: Breaking the Shackles. Anne was also a major contributor to the travelling exhibition and learning resource Women Transported - Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories for which she researched the lives of women in the Parramatta, Bathurst, Port Macquarie, Newcastle and Moreton Bay factories. Anne is also a member of Parramatta City Council's Heritage Advisory Committee and is a volunteer with the Local Studies and Family History Library.

Beryl Winter has made an outstanding contribution of 27 years with the National Trust, working as the Membership Secretary and more lately in a voluntary capacity using her extensive administration skills. She helps out with transcribing lectures, assisting with the organisation of Trust conferences and events, oral history translations and documenting photographs, along with processing orders for the Trust's online bookstores. Dedicated to heritage and passionate about young people, Beryl is an inspiration to her colleagues. She is unflagging in her willingness to help others and in many ways epitomises the ideal National Trust volunteer.

Kent Mayo has been the driving force behind McCrossin's Mill Museum Precinct. His vision and relentless momentum, leadership and encouragement of other volunteers of the Uralla Historical Society are an inspiration to the whole community. Through Kent's guardianship and adoption of sympathetic development and aesthetic heritage principles, McCrossin's Mill Museum leads the way in the development of regional museums and the promotion of Australia's cultural heritage. While the McCrossin's Mill mob received a group award in 2005, this is an individual nomination of the 'quiet heritage hero' that is the group's leader

Aboriginal researcher and family historian, educator, author and elder of the Kamilaroi nation, Noeline Briggs-Smith is building reconciliation between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians through our shared heritage. She was instrumental in setting up the Indigenous Unit within the local Library and in restoring the formerly neglected Aboriginal section of Moree Cemetery - both building local employment opportunities-and is currently working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans to establish a national Indigenous ex-Servicemen's database. 'Aunty' Noeline is a member of the Gwydir Family History Society, Acting Chairperson for the Aboriginal Corporation for Historical Research and is author of several articles relating to Kamilaroi history.

Les Bursill of the Dharawal area, is a proud promoter of the Indigenous and non Indigenous heritage of Sutherland Shire and the Illawarra. He has recorded more than 300 local archaeological sites and developed a catalogue of archaeological and built heritage items for the Shire. Les has served as archivist, bulletin editor and research officer during 30 years with Sutherland Shire Historical Society, is a member of the Sutherland Shire's Council's Heritage Committee and also Chair of the Sutherland Shire Aboriginal Advisory Committee among his many roles. Recently he took on the demanding role of founding editor of a new journal of local history and heritage.

Through her prolific research, writing and community education projects, Colleen Morris has made an outstanding contribution to garden history. Recent Chair of the Australian Garden History Society and champion of its "Gardens of Memory" project, Colleen served on the National Trust (NSW) Parks and Gardens Classification Committee for 16 years. Colleen has also prepared conservation plans for Trust properties, contributed significantly to "The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens", curated 2008's "Lost Gardens of Sydney" exhibition and catalogue for the NSW Historic Houses Trust. Colleen has also provided a range of public lectures, media interviews and seminars around NSW and co-generated the Trust's online Colonial Plant Database.

Adelong Falls Gold Mill Ruins Committee comprises a group of local volunteers who are helping to transform a significant site from our gold mining history into a heritage tourism venture. The Committee first came together to advise Tumut Shire Council in the management, conservation, promotion and future development of the site and their professional commitment to heritage conservation is outstanding. Working in partnership with other community organisations and with funding from the NSW Government, the Committee has recommended conservation works programs that have made the site safer and more accessible to the public. Stimulus package funding from the Federal Government will assist in the erection of a viewing platform.

James Cutbush is a genuine heritage hero. For over 30 years he has worked for the Sutherland Shire Historical Society in many roles including deputy president, editor of the society bulletin, curator of the museum and lately, Acting President. Passionate about his local history, committed to excellence and willing to share his knowledge with all, Jim has overseen many successful local community events and historical displays marking History Week and Australia Day that have won plaudits from experts in the field. In another achievement Jim recently acquired the Parke Davis pharmaceutical collection and the RSL Caringbah memorabilia for the Society's local museum.

Keith Parsons has been a prominent face of heritage conservation in Newcastle and Lower Hunter region since joining the National Trust 37 years ago. From 2004 - 2008 he served as Chair of the Trust's Hunter Regional Committee. Researcher, heritage promoter, City councillor and community campaigner, Keith has been involved in several successful campaigns to protect state significant heritage sites across Newcastle and the Hunter as well as helping save many buildings from demolition following the 1989 Newcastle earthquake. Keith took part in Maitland Council's Morpeth Heritage Study and Newcastle Council CBD Heritage Study and helped prepare listing proposals for more than 100 local buildings for addition to the National Trust Register and ultimately listed in Council's 1987 LEP heritage schedule. Keith was Chair of Council's Strategic Heritage Committee from 2004-08 and in 2008 was appointed to the Coal River Working Party investigating Newcastle's convict history. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the National Trust in 2003.

After a distinguished career as a landscape architect, educator and academic, Professor Richard Clough retired in 1986, but has not slowed down. Not only has he donated several extensive book and photo collections and writings for public access and use, he continues to research, publish and speak to advance our knowledge of Australian landscapes. Hidden in the basement of the Mitchell Library, Professor Clough is cataloguing its collection of garden-related material, with particular focus on the nursery trade during the colonial, Victorian and Federation eras. Professor Clough remains an inspiration, teacher and mentor in the field of landscape and heritage design.

After a call out for volunteer guides Rouse Hill House and Farm can boast a core group of 14 dedicated and hardworking men and women. Each member successfully completed a professional training program through Baulkham Hills TAFE. The group is now assisting Historic Houses Trust staff in developing an exciting, new historically based Farmstead Tour and visitor program. They are also actively involved with the current restoration of the 1888 School House and improvements to visitor and interpretation facilities. Thanks to these volunteers, Rouse Hill House and Farm can now open its gate five days

With childhood memories of the site once known as the Castle Hill Government Farm and a passionate interest in the story of the Battle of Vinegar Hill, Warren Bowden is among Castle Hill's greatest advocates for promoting and protecting its unique history. The area is a significant rural convict site and a surviving legacy to Governor Macquarie's aspirations for the colony of NSW. Warren was Baulkham Hills' Citizen of the Year in 2005, in recognition of his work in heritage conservation, and is today a driving force behind community efforts in creating a national heritage site that captures Castle Hill's distinctive colonial past for future generations.

Established in 1997 on the site of a former snack food factory, the National Transport Museum has grown into a major tourist attraction for the North West and New England region. The Museum complex features 120 vehicle exhibitions, car memorabilia, an extensive library, a gift and coffee shop and has welcomed more than 127, 000 visitors and won the endorsement of car clubs around Australia. And it is all run by a dynamic and enthusiastic committee of volunteers! In conjunction with the local TAFE the volunteers are developing a Heritage Trades Training Course to teach the conservation, restoration and repair of historic motor vehicles, aimed at creating employment opportunities for local young people.

David Richards has been a member of the Greater Taree City Council's Strategic Heritage Advisory Committee for the past 13 years. During that time he has undertaken surveys, studies and assessments on a range of built heritage. After a severe illness about three years ago, David turned to a less strenuous but still mentally challenging project-assessing the significance of the large volume of records of the former Manning Dairy Co-operative Society. Drawing on his own agricultural background, David is providing a critical review of the social, economic and cultural importance of the dairying industry in the Manning Valley and developing a photographic record-a valuable addition to our bank of knowledge about our State's agricultural heritage.

The 2009 Heritage Volunteer Awards honours another member of the Greater Taree City Council's Strategic Heritage Advisory Committee. In 2007 Penny Teerman co-ordinated a major survey of 200 households to determine community attitudes to the built environment and future development of a significant local conservation area. Her report 'St John's Precinct Community Consultation Project Report' has become a pilot study for use as a model for other community groups. Penny has been an active member of the Committee for the past five years, researching built heritage and publishing several articles in the local paper to educate residents about the heritage values of local properties.

The success of heritage organisations can often be attributed to a dedicated core of volunteers. Our next award goes to such a team, the Archives Room Volunteers of the Yass and District Historical Society. They have worked together for the past 20 years, answering queries on family history, researching and cataloguing records covering the range of archival material including businesses and organisational records, court and church records, maps, newspapers and photographs and now newspaper clippings files. The group produces its own newsletter and organises conferences on local history. Their research benefits Council in assessing development applications and recently they assisted in a ground survey that helped identify 154 surviving 19th century buildings.

The Goulburn Heritage Group was formed in 2003 in response to a spate of demolitions of 19th century buildings in Goulburn's main shopping area. Their early work focussed on the preservation of 1880s terraces built in Goulburn's boom period and which give the city its distinctive architectural character. Since then the Group has evolved into a citizen's forum to pro-actively lobby for the preservation of urban features and to promote suitable development guidelines including sympathetic infill development. The group's members share a range of professional backgrounds which has proven invaluable in assisting Council with heritage studies, preparing development plans and in promoting Goulburn's heritage and history to the wider community.

A prominent activist and former local government councillor, Fran McKinnon is well known in the Broken Hill region as a dedicated heritage campaigner. Fran is currently Chair of the National Trust's Broken Hill and District Branch and is a pioneering force in the local heritage movement. Through her interest in built and natural heritage, Fran worked on the Broken Hill Regeneration Area in 1991 and has also contributed to the National Trust's submission for the National Heritage Listing of Broken Hill. She was instrumental in saving Broken Hill Miner's cottage, the Broken Hill Town Hall Façade and restoration and the Walter Sully Emporium restoration and redevelopment.

With her passion for her local community, and her unflagging energy and zealous approach to heritage, Margaret Whyte can transform generations. Currently Chair of Wentworth Branch Committee National Trust, she has been a volunteer since 1986, mainly involved with youth and fundraising in the Wentworth region. A published writer and illustrator, Margaret reflects her commitment to natural flora and fauna in her popular stories for children. Her latest achievement was raising funds to commission a life size statue of local historical identity, Captain John Egge, which was unveiled during the town's 150th anniversary celebrations held earlier this year.