| Rich Rewards: Cultural Diversity and Heritage Practice |
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Community Consultation Project
Held on Friday 15 October 1999
From 10am - 12pm
At level 4 Albury City Council
533 Kiewa Street Albury
Present: Daniella Bangazov, Herman Blom, Art Bosman, Peter Butko, Pheng Bounsombath, Claude Burk, Elaris DeSilva, Clare Douglas, Werner Felke, Slavko Gorupic, George Kotsuros, Les Langford, John Mamootil, Tony Newland, Bruce Pennay, Mara Ronald, George Veneris, Roko Vlasic, Carol Whitbourn, Natasha Woods, Diana Zmajer
Convenor: Kate Rea
Welcome
The Lord Mayor of Albury, Les Langford declared the meeting open and welcomed the delegates. He noted that heritage was often thought of only in terms of 'main street,' public buildings, such as the post office, hotels and churches. While these are the important public buildings they do not tell the whole story of the people of Albury-Wodonga. They mayor expressed his support for culturally diverse heritage in Albury, noting that Albury City Council would be pleased to work with ethnic communities in its up coming heritage review.
Background
Kate Rea, of the NSW Heritage Office and Migration Heritage Centre, explained that the meeting had been one of the outcomes of the Albury-Wodonga Heritage Workshop, held in Albury on Friday 7 September 1999. The NSW Heritage Office and Migration Heritage Centre hosted the working with the aim of creating greater recognition for ht heritage of ethnic communities in the area and ensuring its preservation for future generations.
It was explained that the aims of the workshop had been three fold;
The workshop was attended by members of Albury-Wodonga's ethnic communities in addition to representatives from across the cultural network. At the conclusion of the workshop the participants agreed that they would like to continue to develop the skills and initiatives raised at the workshop by forming a committee. It was proposed that the committee undertake the important role of ensuring that heritage items significant to ethnic communities are recognised and protected for future generations to enjoy. It would also serve a s a point of consultation , to ensure that the perspectives of ethnic communities are considered in all relevant heritage decisions.
She explained that the propose of today's meeting is to form the committee and to discuss possible areas of activity.
3. Presentations by Heritage Organisations
Tony Newland, Town Planner, Albury City Council, Mara Ronald Cultural Program Manager, Wodonga City Council and Helen Pithie, Senior Curator, Albury-Wodonga Regional Museum, all made presentations outlining the role of their organisations in relation to heritage and describing some of the initiatives that they are involved in. Following these presentation's the meeting developed a list of possible areas of activity.
4. Areas of Activity
Developing ways to focus on the heritage of newer communities
Making heritage of all communities a feature of the Bonegilla festival
Working with Albury City Council on the Heritage Study Review
Developing a heritage study with the Wodonga City Council using community consultation
Explore possibility for an oral history project
Contributing to the Regional Museum's register of collections
Developing a walking tour that would identity places and sites of significance (possibly to be held during Heritage Week or History Week.
To make a video celebrating local cultures
Making a video of the Kosovo refugees
5. Formation of the committee
Following discussion that touched on the formation of the committee, its size and composition it was agreed that the committee should have
Two representatives from each of the ethnic communities
The Town Planners or Heritage Advisors from Albury and Wodonga City Councils
The Cultural Planners Albury and Wodonga City Councils
A representative
from both the Ethnic Community Council and the Migrant Resource Centre
The Local Studies Librarians, Albury and Wodonga City Libraries
One representative from the Regional Gallery, Charles Sturt University, Albury District Historical Society and Wodonga Historical Society
It was also agreed in the discussion that the structure of the committee would be flexible, to accommodate the interest and shape of the projects.
The importance of having a chair and secretary was also identified.
Kate Rea called for nominations for the position of chair.
Dina Znajh
Nominated Tony Newland as Chair
Pheng Bounsombath seconded the nomination
Tony Newland accepted the nomination
No other nomination were made
The meeting appointed Tony Newland as Chair
Kate Rea called for nominations for the position of Secretary
Pheng Bounsombath
Nominated Mara Ronald for the position of Secretary
Elaris DeSilva seconded the nomination
Mara Ronald accepted the nomination
No other nominations were made
The meeting appointed Mara Ronald as Secretary
The Meeting agreed that the committee would be named the Albury-Wodonga Ethnic Communities Heritage Working Party.
6. Date for Next Meeting
Dates and times for the next meeting were discussed. Following a vote it was agreed that the next meeting would be held from 4-6pm on Wednesday 10th November at a venue to be announced.
7. Agenda for Next Meeting
The following items were identified for the agenda of the next meeting.
Identifying issues for action
Continue the process of identifying places and sites for the Albury Heritage Study
Develop a strategy for the working party
Meeting closed 12.10pm