Biennial Oral History Conference held in Adelaide

O beautiful Adelaide.  What a treat to travel to this fine city for the Biennial National Conference of the Oral History Association Australia from 21-24 September 2013. Combined with the 21st South Australia State History Conference, there was a delightful agenda of events put on by the SA branch.  Something for everyone about the latest in oral history techniques and ideas from leading experts in Australia.  OHAA-QLD was well represented, making for a good reunion and lots of fun. Parts of the conference were held in the historic State Library of South Australia. What a beauty of a building. How interesting that they have incorporated the old with the new. Glass additions connect the complex (and free wi-fi!)  But staff continue to work away in rooms more than 100 years old. They were eager to tell the story of the building.  Good idea to go on a tour if you get a chance. There are free tours every week day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also held at the State Library was the final committee meeting of the year for the National Oral History Association of Australia.  Al Thomson chaired the committee meeting and did a lovely job wrapping up the board meetings for the year.  This past year had been fraught with intense meetings, mostly about whether or not to adopt a new constitution and a possible name change. Thanks from OHAA-Qld to all board members who worked hours and hours on end to provide all of us with best practices and thoughtful consideration about the future of the organisation.

Catherine Cottle
OHAA-Qld President