Media releases

The resilience of Queenslanders in times of adversity is at the heart of Floodlines, a new exhibition opening this coming weekend at State Library.

State Librarian Janette Wright said Floodlines was about Queensland’s people and stories and the strength of community.

“This is a special project that shares contemporary and historical memories of Queensland’s floods - making sense of the past and celebrating the spirit of recovery,” Ms Wright said.

“As we remember, reflect and rebuild from the devastating natural disasters of the summer of 2010-11, and more recently, it is timely to pay tribute to the resilience and community spirit of Queenslanders."

Award-winning investigative journalist Phil Dickie, whose articles helped to uncover Queensland corruption in the 1980s, has donated his research notes to the State Library of Queensland.

This collection of Mr Dickie’s personal papers includes the raw materials, notes, interviews and records used to write the famous articles published in The Courier-Mail in 1987.

The articles alleged that widespread criminal activity in Queensland was linked to police corruption and organised crime, and were a catalyst for the Commission of Inquiry, led by Tony Fitzgerald QC, which became known as the Fitzgerald Inquiry.

CEO and State Librarian Janette Wright said that the inquiry and its consequences mark a pivotal point in Queensland’s history that is important to capture for future generations.

“This donation is a wonderful addition to State Library’s existing political collections, including items that are now on display as part of Politics & persuasion at slq,” Ms Wright said.

“Politics & persuasion is a showcase of the state’s political campaigns and commentary. It includes Queensland Votes, a display of election ephemera from a wide range of Queensland political parties, such as Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s campaigns.

“There is also an exhibition of the Brisbane underground magazine Cane Toad Times, which was published in the 1970s and 1980s and set out to poke fun at and expose Queensland corruption.”

The Cane Toad Times exhibition is open daily until 25 March and the Queensland Votes election display will be open until 7 May.

Find out more about Politics & persuasion at slq or contact State Library’s John Oxley Library to access the Phil Dickie collection.

Language expert and Chairperson of the Library Board of Queensland, Professor Emeritus Roly Sussex OAM, said Australians should read anytime, anywhere, anyhow.

In an interview for the National Year of Reading, Reading Ambassador Professor Sussex said that he reads whenever he can grab a moment, including on an exercise bike, and encourages others to do the same.

“Reading is fun. Whether you read in solitude or with your children or friends, it’s fun,” Professor Sussex said.

Visit www.love2read.org.au to read the full interview with Professor Emeritus Roly Sussex OAM and to find out more about National Year of Reading events and initiatives.

State Library of Queensland is proud to be a founding partner behind the National Year of Reading along with other National and State Libraries and Library Associations.

State Library of Queensland has invited nominations for its 2012 John Oxley Library Fellowship, valued at $20 000.

“The John Oxley Library Fellowship offers a cash component of $20 000 along with the opportunity for the recipient to have their own personal work space within the State Library of Queensland’s John Oxley Library,” Louise Denoon, Executive Manager, Queensland Memory said.

“With this fellowship, the winner will have the information-rich collections and resources of the John Oxley Library at their fingertips.

“The fellowship is aimed at those with a particular Queensland story to tell, and who would welcome the chance to work in their own space within the John Oxley Library.”

Nominations for the 2012 John Oxley Library Fellowship close at 5pm, Tuesday 10 April 2012.

The recipient will be announced at the Queensland Memory Awards ceremony on 2 June.

Visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information.

The State Library of Queensland offers advice to those affected by this season's floods on how to salvage their family's keepsakes.

The State Library has developed online preservation guides for those Queenslanders affected by flood for quick and simple intervention to potentially save their treasured photographs, books, papers, artworks and videos.

The State Library has made the following preservation guides available online:
- Caring for your collections: Recovery of water damaged collections
- Salvaging water damaged collections
- Caring for your collections: Mould – how to salvage and prevent it
- Caring for your collections: Freezing water damaged and insect infested collections

Visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/services/pres/advice for more information or contact the State Library’s Conservation team at conservation@slq.qld.gov.au.

One of Australia’s best-known language experts and Library Board of Queensland Chair, Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex, has been named in the Australia Day 2012 Honours List.

Professor Sussex has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the development and understanding of languages in Australia.

Arts Minister Rachel Nolan congratulated Professor Sussex on receiving the prestigious honour.

“Roly has dedicated his life’s work to the development and understanding of languages in Australia and it is wonderful to see recognition of this,” Ms Nolan said.

“He is a master of the English language, an enthusiastic student of many languages and a warm and generous man. We are fortunate to have his passion and expertise on Library Board of Queensland.”

Professor Sussex has served as Chair of the Library Board of Queensland, the governing body of the State Library, since 2009.

Art and library lovers have a last chance to get up close with State Library's internationally-acclaimed Light from Light installation this month.

State Library Acting CEO Helen Brodie said Light from Light has surprised unsuspecting visitors since October 2010, with its artworks embedded amongst library collections and public areas.

The installation of 22 contemporary artworks that has been mirrored simultaneously across China, closes on 31 January 2012.

The Light from Light Curator and Artists Tour is on Saturday 21 January at 2pm at State Library.

Assistant conservator Sidney Furber has celebrated his 50th anniversary working at State Library of Queensland.

‘Sid’ Furber commenced working at State Library in 1961 and was the first apprentice hand bookbinder/finisher ever recruited by the library.

He is now the longest serving staff member of State Library.

State Library of Queensland is celebrating Indigenous writers from Australia and around the globe in a new monthly performance series.

BL.INK: black ink, hosted by Brisbane artist Steven Oliver, takes audiences on an exploration of black words – introducing well known, emerging and sometimes anonymous Indigenous writers using the power of the pen to influence and inspire.

From 9-20 January 2012, children and young people aged 9-16 with a love for cartoons, animated movies or Manga can find out how to make their own stories come alive with hands-on tips and tricks from professional artists, such as the creator of famous cartoon strip Swamp, Gary Clark.

Children and young people can develop their skills in cartooning, writing and drawing in their own style, caricature, animation using computer animation program Adobe Flash, stop motion animation using clay sculpting, and drawing in the style of Japanese comic book art form Manga.

Professional artists leading the workshops include Gary Clark, Phil Judd, Joanne Brooker, Brian Doyle, Visual Monkies Studio, Bazil Grumble and PixelFrame.

Workshops are priced from $28-$48 with a discounted rate available for a full day of workshops. Cartoon and Manga workshop participants take home a sketch pad, pencils and pencil case, and young animators will receive a copy of their own creation.

Visit www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on for more information. Bookings can be made through qtix.com.au or by calling 136 246.