Tonight we come together to celebrate the establishment of a fledgling organisation with a broad vision for its future. The Society's main role stated in our constitution is to support and promote scholarship, nationally, of the Lebanese who have made Australia their home, and their descendants.
Five meetings were held between February and September this year. Without the legitimacy of being an elected board there was some difficulty deciding the Society's directions. However, we did have the guidance of the enthusiastic discussions at the Archive function last year that did help us focus and agree on the Constitution.
Before we move on we must acknowledge the work of the original "committee", for want of a better word, who ensured the outstanding success of the launch of the Lebanese Archive and the preliminary establishment of the Society.
History teaches us how precarious and fragile individual lives are, no matter how great the person or how outstanding their achievements. A number of our original committee members fhave had a year where they have been forced to reassess their commitments. They have had to cope with changes in their personal circumstances none of us could have imagined only 12 months ago.
The nature of the original greoup ensures our continuing love and support for those that have had to curtail their activities in the ALHS. Thier work and their ability to attract people and ideas to their vision provided a firm foundation that has enabled the Australian Lebanese Historical Society to become a reality.
During the year your Interim Board felt its way forward, developing the Constitution and hosting 2 workshops of interest identified by members.
The Powerhouse Museum has been a most generous supporter of our endeavours. It has assisted by covering the costs of mailing the first Newsletter and hosted an interesting and informative afternoon dedicated to conservation of paper documents. Teresa Werstak conducted the afternoon and has most generously offered to advise members on tecniques and products if they wish to contact her at the Powerhouse.
The State Library has continued to support and resource the Interim Committee. Particular thanks go to Alan Tasker for his encouragement and support of our Archive and the genuine interest and expertise he has offered to people regarding their family papers. He also conducted a workshop to assist people to sort their family papers for the Archive.
Rosie Bloc, responsible for the Oral History collection at the State library, also extended a warm welcome and support to our members. John Koorey contacted members who ticked an interest in the Oral History box on our form and Rosie invited them to attend a seminar to expand their skills. The working group, convened by John are meeting to organise their interview program for 2001 and I urge those with an interest to get involved. The interviews will become part of the Lebanese Archive at the State Library. Our Society is now a member of the Oral History Association of Australia as well.
The Interim Committee meetings throughout the year were held with the aim of establishing and incorporating the Australian Lebanese Historical Society and setting some goals for the next 12 months.
It is envisaged that the next year will be one of consolidation:
I would be remiss if I did not mention the invaluable work on our behalf by member Paul Convy. Keeping in mind we are a Society of volunteers, he has taken full responsibility for doing the dogs work on our Incorporation. He also wrote, set out and posted out the current Newsletter. This is not the way a group should operate we acknowledge however because of the ad hoc nature of the exercise until now that is just the way it happened to be... without him we would not be here and we would not be anticipating our exciting agenda. Now, as an incorporated body the incoming Board will be better structured to ensure a more even distribution of work.
And thank you members for you support and dedication. I know there are people who are not able to be on the Board but who are willing to contribute their time or expertise to particular projects that interest them. I believe the next year will give participating members and supporters of the Australian Lebanese Historical Society a choice of projects to work and play on both for our own satisfaction and for the value our goals have to contribute to a deeper understanding of what has become the Australian community. - Thank you again for your support.
Freda Backes
Interim Convenor - 1999/2000.
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