State funding to assist history projects in Armidale and Glen Innes

Historical groups in Armidale and Glen Innes have received cultural grants at this year’s Royal Australian History Society Conference.
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay made the presentations to the 25 recipient groups at the conference held at the Armidale Bowling Club over the weekend.
“We are indebted to our local historians for gathering, interpreting and preserving our history and heritage,” he said. “It is good to see them receive this funding to assist with their work.
“ I rely on these historians for information when I need it and I know that is true of the community. What always strikes me is their enthusiasm and commitment to this very important task.”
This year’s local awards included
· $900 to the Armidale and District Historical Society for the publication of its monthly journal and to support its program of research and guest speakers.
· $800 to the Glen Innes and District Historical Society for the Land of the Beardies History House Bulletin which includes researched articles of local history and local identities.
· $500 for the Museum of Printing at the New England Regional Art Museum towards a project to record the oral history of the printing industry between 1930-1970.
The State Conference was last held in Armidale in 1980 and attracted over 120 delegates from across NSW. In all there are 380 branches and around 30,000 members in the State with an outreach to a further 300,000 who subscribe to the journals and activities.
The cultural grants from the NSW Ministry for the Arts help to promote the study of Australian history.
Vice-President Lesley Muir said that as well as their research and other activities society volunteers provided information to professional historians for heritage nominations, information for plaques and for councils for tourism promotion.