Documenting the worst bushfires in Australia's history

Residents of Whittlesea, Banyule and Nillumbik, Darebin and Moreland are encouraged to memoralise the recent tragedy online via Wikinorthia, along with personal reminiscences in whatever way the fires may have touched you. You can place these under the disasters (events) and reminiscences (people) subcategories. Wikinorthia uses wiki technology similiar to Wikipedia where individuals are able to add and edit their own content. Wikipedia already has an article about Black Saturday with a number of links.

Please contact your local library if you need assistance with uploading your article. YPRL will be having workshops later in the year which you will also be able to attend.

Picture Australia is also asking for contributions, via their Flickr project. Details about how to go about this are here.

ABC Online is also collecting, stories, photos and videos.

St Andrews heirloom recovered but historic properties lost

After the devastating fires in our local community a little story has come to light about a hand made cot that had served young families in the St Andrews area. It had gone missing some months ago, and in fact there was an article in the "Diamond Valley Leader" asking the community to find it. It has now has been located in Canberra.

Thank you to the person who forwarded the article to me. Here are his comments:

"The story of the cot alone is fantastic - such a great treasure for the community and to think it survived by being removed temporarily is just fate and is an absolute bonus for the St Andrews folk."

The archival material of the St Andrews Historical Society is safe. The President recently wrote: "... as the fire did not come into the township...it stopped about 2km north of the school. However I do know of two homesteads appox. 120 yrs old that were destroyed. These homes survived fires in 1896,1926,1939 & 1962."

Help for collections damaged by fire

Many people affected by fires in Victoria, may be looking for advice on how to salvage their family heirlooms and local history collections in the coming weeks. The following advice comes from the Australian Archivists Mailing list.

While many things will be permanently damaged or lost entirely, it may be possible to salvage surviving photographs, documents, books, jewellery, medals, pictures and other keepsakes.
Links to online resources about salvaging fire and flood-damaged material can be accessed via the front page of the AICCM website .
If you know of someone who is looking for assistance in such matters, please direct them to this website or suggest that they call a State or National cultural organisation, and ask to speak to someone in the Conservation Department.
Private and consultant conservators can be located via the AICCM's Directory of Members in Private Practice - go to www.aiccm.org.au and follow the link to "Find a Conservator".
Health and safety should remain everyone's top priority:
* Anyone attempting to salvage their possessions should wear protective clothing - especially gloves, masks and eye protection.
* Never attempt to salvage belongings at the expense of your own safety.
* Avoid breathing in or touching hazardous materials.
* Risks in fire-damaged areas can include particulates, exposed asbestos, lead-containing building materials and chemical residues. Some objects themselves can pose health hazards when damaged - e.g. lead-containing glass, lead paint, objects treated with pesticides etc. If water has been used to put out the fire, mould may also be an issue.
* Risks in flood-affected areas include mould, bacteria, disease pathogens and exposure to waste matter and effluents carried with flood waters.

General handling advice:
* Minimise handling of damaged material - handling surfaces can drive soot and other particulates further into fabrics and other porous materials and make them impossible to remove.
* Avoid handling objects by damaged or weakened areas - e.g support ceramics from the base, rather than lifting by handles.
* Avoid placing pressure on blistered or lifting surfaces - e.g. on paintings and photographs.
* Place items in supportive boxes or plastic containers until you can obtain further advice.
* Keep dirty, wet or fire-damaged items separate from cleaner/drier items to prevent contamination.
* Place wet items in areas with good air circulation to aid drying and to help prevent mould growth.

The Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) is the professional organisation for conservators in Australia.
www.aiccm.org.au
secretariat@aiccm.org.au
(03) 9013 0933

Further information available at the Australian Society of Archivists
See also Public Records Office Victoria support for bushfire victims which refers to
The Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation free downloadable guide "Bushfires protect your precious possessions"

Sonia Skipper Founding artist at Montsalvat

A retrospective exhibition of the late artist Sonia Skipper is currently on show at the Barn Gallery at Montalvat until March 3rd, 2009. Sonia was a founding artist at the artist's colony under the tutalage of Justus Jorgensen. Many of her early works are on exhibition.