Grant to keep the past

By Jim Mynard
BERWICK Mechanics Institute and Free Library has received a $3000 Federal Community Heritage Grant to fund a preservation collection survey of the institute’s heritage collection.
Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport Senator Rod Kemp announced the grant during a visit to the National Library of Australia in Canberra last Wednesday.
Berwick Library president Graham Hughes attended a three-day intensive preservation and collection management workshop held at the National Library, the National Archives, the National Museum of Australia, and the National Film and Sound Archives in Canberra.
Mr Hughes said the grant was important in supporting the effort to preserve the library’s collection at the grassroots.
“This grant provides the funds, and the workshop provides the expertise to help us protect our collection and make it accessible while it remains in the local context,” he said.
“The heritage collection includes almost 1000 books from the early 19th and 20th Centuries, early records of the institute itself, some early photographs of the Berwick area, 2000 books from the private library of Lord and Lady Casey catalogued by library volunteer Judith Dwyer, and three works of art on silk by Ellis Rowan, one of Australia’s foremost early women artists.
“These items all portray a significant outline of the life and times in Berwick and surrounds and of the early times of people of the City of Casey.
“Early in 2006 a professional conservator will conduct a survey of the collection.
“From the findings and recommendations of this survey some of the library volunteers will be invited to participate in a training program to further develop the collection.”
Mr Hughes said part of this project would include the image digitisation of the library’s heritage collection to preserve the collection.
“Eventually it will be available for access through the regional online searchable database Picture Victoria in partnership with the Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation,” he said.
Senator Kemp said this year saw the community heritage grants program come of age with a stronger emphasis on training, the inclusion of artefacts and the participation of the National Museum.
“The program’s maturity and national significance as part of the government’s Strengthening Australian Arts commitment is recognised with a near-doubling of grant funding and the raising of the grant ceiling to $10,000,” he said.