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2005 News

 

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Feedback from 1st SRO Consultative Forum

 

On the 28 July 2005, the State Records Office held its first Consultative Forum for government employees and non-government recordkeeping practioners on the State Records Act 2000.

This forum was intended to bring together as many parties involved in the implementation of the Act as possible. The aim was to provide more detailed feedback on the operation of the Act to date. Most importantly, however, this event was an opportunity for all parties who, in one way or another, are directly involved in some aspect of the implementation of the Act, to share their views, observations, or concerns about the implementation of the Act to date, and any suggestions for the future.

Approximately 50 representatives from the public sector and private industry attended this forum. For the benefit of those who were unable to attend this session, the State Records Office recorded the presentation and question and answer session and an online transcript is now available.

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1974 State Cabinet records released

 

On Foundation Day 1 June 2005, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and member for Girrawheen, Ms Margaret Quirk MLA, officially released the 1974 State Cabinet records from their 30 year access embargo at a public launch held at the State Records Office. The Cabinet records record the key decisions made by the Tonkin Labour Government in its closing months, as well as the newly elected Court-McPharlin Coalition Government.

At the official event, Ms Quirk also launched the State Records Office's new education initiative "The Schools Archive Challenge". Developed to encourage school students to use primary source materials from the State archives collection, the Schools Archive Challenge uses the 1974 Cabinet records as a starting point for investigations into the history of the State and the political process.

All high schools in WA are invited to participate in the Schools Archive Challenge and a competition is being held for schools to compare and contrast an issue from 1974, using the 1974 State Cabinet records as the primary source of information, with a related issue in 2005. The competition closes on 23 September 2005 and an announcement will be made soon after on the winning entries.

The Schools Archive Challenge is an initiative of the State Records Office, supported by the Politics and Legal Educators Association of Western Australia and with assistance from the Constitutional Centre of WA and the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library.

To see what political and social issues were on the boil in 1974, please refer to the Guide to the 1974 State Cabinet Records.

For further information about the Schools Archive Challenge, please contact Lise Summers at the State Records Office on ph. (08) 9427 3436 or email: lsummers@sro.wa.gov.au.

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State Records Office turns 60

 

In March 2005 the State Records Office celebrated its 60th birthday. This milestone was celebrated with a special event to commemorate the work of the four State Archivists and their teams.

The State Records Office is responsible for the State Archives collection and, through the State Records Act 2000, for regulating recordkeeping in state and local government organisations. The beginning of the State Records Office is traced to the appointment of the first State Archivist, Miss Mollie Lukis, in 1945.

Special guests to the anniversary celebration included all four occupants of the position of State Archivist to celebrate the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the State Archives. The four State Archivists/Directors are Miss Mollie Lukis; Miss Margaret Medcalf; Mr Chris Coggin and the current Director Mr Tony Caravella.

Miss Lukis, 94 is remembered through her work rescuing and preserving records from across the State. She played an important role in raising awareness amongst Government departments as to the historical importance of their archives. Starting in 1945 with the records in the Colonial Secretary's Office, she built the Archives office into a department with 4 staff and 2.14km of records by 1971.

Margaret Medcalf led the State Archives between 1971-1989 and is remembered for her work to make archives more accessible to the public.

Ms Medcalf and Miss Lukis are active members of the State Historical Society and National Trust.

Chris Coggin was in charge of the State Archives between 1989-2002 and is remembered for his contribution in drafting and guiding the first piece of records specific legislation in Western Australia, the State Records Act 2000, to its proclamation.

Tony Caravella took over the role of State Archivist in 2003 at which time the role was retitled Director of State Records.

The State Records Office currently employs 20 staff and holds 15 km of records. The team at the State Records Office are currently working to implement provisions to ensure the sound regulation of records management practices across State Government and increase access to the State's archives. As part of this work in the past year the State Records Office has:

The State Records Office 60th Anniversary presented a rare opportunity for the four State Archivists to reflect together on 60 years of changes within the archive sector and culture and heritage arena. Whilst the State Records Office is currently tackling new challenges posed by the move towards digital technology, the commitment to preserving and providing access to State Archives and to sound government recordkeeping remains constant.

Photo of the four State Archivists at the 60th anniversary(from left to right): Mollie Lukis, Margaret Medcalf, Tony Caravella, Chris Coggin.

 

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