Heritage People

Who are the people behind the Heritage Office and Heritage Council? In the first of a regular series of profiles, Heritage NSW introduces Dennis McManus and Victoria Throp from the Heritage Office, who between them administer the largest State funding program for heritage conservation in Australia. In this twentieth anniversary year of the NSW Heritage Grants Program, Dennis and Victoria share their thoughts on grant applications and the future of heritage funding. What exactly do you do in your job? Dennis: My main job is to assist people to successfully undertake a wide range of heritage work. If the program can't help applicants directly I'll suggest other funding sources and put them in touch with professional advisors who can either assist them in applying for grants or give them other help. I see my role as a networking one, putting applicants in touch with the right people for a successful outcome to their project.

Technical Advisory Group During Heritage Week the NSW Heritage Office will introduce the revamped Technical Advisory Group (TAG), formerly TAGMAC. Originally established in 1978, this expert subcommittee of the Heritage Council provided advice about conservation techniques to heritage professionals and owners. TAG will continue the valuable work of TAGMAC, and will consist of a small core committee with a large panel of technical experts, drawn from many fields, who can be called upon to help solve technical problems related to materials conservation. The fields of expertise will include masonry, metals, paints, polymers and stained glass. Technical enquires for TAG can be directed to Rajeev Maini at the Heritage Office, Ph: 9849 9557. The Technical Advisory Group will promote excellence in materials conservation through advice, publications and seminars. The launch of TAG will also coincide with the launch of The Maintenance of Heritage Assets: A Practical Guide, produced with guidance from the Group. "My favourite projects are those where a town or area has been given a huge lift by an individual project." "I provide advice to grant applicants on project management"

Victoria: I handle all the administrative aspects of the program, and provide advice to grant applicants on project management and any queries they may have. During each year we could be dealing with as many as 700 projects.

What's the best part of the job?

Dennis: Seeing tangible things happen in a relatively short space of time and giving good advice which has a positive outcome. Victoria: Talking to people and giving them guidance and timely advice so their project is a complete success, regardless of whether heritage funding is involved. And the worst part?

Dennis: Never having enough money to fund projects, although we're in a far better position than most of the States.

Victoria: Telling people that they haven't been successful in getting a grant is always hard, but we try and turn a negative into a positive by suggesting other avenues they might turn to, such as their local council.

In such a competitive market, what will give a grant application the edge over others?

Dennis: Put simply, a really top project which will have lasting impacts on heritage conservation as a whole, with those impacts reverberating through the general community. The Main Street program has been one of those ground-breaking projects, for example. But these projects don't come along very often. Our predetermined checklist is very thorough in sorting out worthwhile projects, as is evidence of good project management skills.

Victoria: For larger projects, evidence of good professional advice in determining priorities in the work is always highly regarded. Also, the level of urgency of the work required and whether there are any other funding sources available to applicants.

What future do you see for the Heritage Grants Program?

Dennis: The relative stability of funding for heritage conservation in NSW means we can plan for the future. I think there'll be better targeting of grants. I also think that grants will be aimed more at projects which show integration of heritage conservation with good urban design principles.

Victoria: I think with the focus now on looking after different kinds of heritage such as Aboriginal and movable heritage, there will be more emphasis on innovative grant applications and increased funding for advisory services.

Do you have a favourite project that has been funded through the Program?

Dennis: My favourite projects are those where a town or area has been given a huge lift by an individual project. To give you an example, a small town near Wagga Wagga called Lockhart applied to us to set up a Main Street study. With the backing of the local Council and the support of the local community, that study formed the basis for 30 buildings - the entire main street of the town - to be refurbished, transforming the whole place.

Victoria: Not specifically, but I do enjoy seeing communities achieve more than they ever thought possible when they started thinking about their heritage.

Go to Article 1 - Heritage Office News