Difficult because this is our own history we are considering, not the past
of previous generations. We are making decisions about places and things
that we have seen come into being and which are now an inextricable part of
our lives.
But as the new millennium approaches it's an issue that time itself is
forcing on us. Soon the 20th century will be over. Soon it will be part of
the past. The recent past perhaps, but the past nevertheless.
That is why a major focus of the Heritage Office and the Heritage Council
in 1999 will be the 20th century. And it's also why the National Trust has
chosen "The Century in Review" as the theme for this year's Heritage
Festival.
Some of this century's heritage is well recognised. As our
first Federation suburb, Haberfield is a conservation area of particular
importance. Similarly, the Griffin houses in Castlecrag have been the
subject of much admiration. On a more sombre note, Ken Inglis's recent
study of war memorials reminds us of the community's monuments to thousands
of sacrificed lives in towns and suburbs across the State.
But there is less agreement on the evidence of more recent decades. Will
this year's Snowy Mountains Scheme celebrations, for example, remind the
community at large of the places that are important to the postwar migrants
who came to this country from Europe and Asia?
Our main contribution to this year's Heritage Festival is a series of talks
and a debate featuring four of my expert colleagues on the Heritage Council
- Evelyn Crawford, Joan Domicelj, Ian Jack and Richard Mackay. We've given
them a free rein to tackle the subject of 20th century heritage from any
angle that interests them, informed by their experience in Aboriginal
heritage management, international heritage organisations, historical
research and historical archaeology.
I will certainly be interested to hear what they have to say.
I hope you will join us at the State Library on Wednesday evenings,
starting on 17 March.
As we begin the new year, I have the pleasure of announcing that Michael
Collins is now Deputy Chair of the Heritage Council. Michael is a very able
and pleasant man and he has made a great contribution in his first two
years on the Heritage Council. He is a land economist and valuer and brings
his extensive experience in property agency and real estate consulting to
the Council's deliberations. We also welcome four new members to the
Heritage Council: Elsa Atkin, Executive Director of the National Trust
(NSW), Terry Barnes, City Manager at Fairfield City Council, Richard
Mackay, Managing Director of Godden Mackay Logan, Heritage Consultants and
Joan Templeman representing the NSW Labor Council. I look forward to
working with them and all the members of the Heritage Council over the
coming year.
1998 saw the retirement of some of my valued colleagues on the Heritage
Council, namely Anne Conway, Stephen Davies, Colin Mills, Howard Tanner and
Bill Woolridge. I would like to thank them all for their dedication and
support. In particular, I have appreciated the expertise and commitment of
Howard Tanner who was the previous Chair of the Heritage Council and has
been Deputy Chair since December 1996.
