Queensland Memory Awards 2014

State Library of Queensland has honoured five award recipients through its annual Queensland Memory Awards program.

State Librarian Janette Wright said the Queensland Memory Awards recognise important new contributions to the state’s history and documentary heritage.

“These awards offer those with a keen interest in Queensland history the opportunity to use the materials in the John Oxley Library to uncover our state’s untold stories,” Ms Wright said.

The 2014 award recipients are: Thomas Blake (John Oxley Library Fellowship — 12 months residency in the John Oxley Library), Madeleine King and Nadia Buick (Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship — 6 months residency in the John Oxley Library), Richard Stringer (John Oxley Library Award), and Adopt a Digger (John Oxley Library Community History Award).

Presented by the Governor of Queensland, Ms Penelope Wensley AC, the inaugural Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship was awarded to Madeleine King and Nadia Buick for their proposed project High Street Histories: Queensland’s fashion business leaders, while the recipient of the prestigious John Oxley Library Fellowship, supported by the Queensland Library Foundation, is Thomas Blake for his proposed project Liquid Gold: the history of the Great Artesian Basin in Queensland.

“High Street Histories is described by the judging panel as creative, innovative, engaging; it has the potential to change people’s minds about business history,” Ms Wright said.

“This online project will examine Queensland’s fashion business history and map approximately 12 key fashion sites throughout the state with an aim to link these sites to the communities around them.

“The judging panel believe well-known historian Thomas Blake’s project Liquid Gold will be of great public interest as the project documents the history of the Great Artesian Basin, with a focus on its social and economic impacts.

“Thomas plans to expand on his 2006 historical overview of the Great Artesian Basin and explore the effects on areas such as pastoral industries, towns and settlements, Indigenous groups, health, and recreation.”

Louise Denoon, Executive Manager Queensland Memory, said an extensive list of candidates was compiled in the search for the John Oxley Library Award and John Oxley Library Community History Award recipients.

“Distinguished architectural photographer Richard Stringer was presented the John Oxley Library Award for his work in documenting Queensland’s landscape and architecture heritage over the past 40 years,” Ms Denoon said.

“Richard is renowned for his ability to capture the significance and spirit of structures and places in his photographs and his work has been featured in various landmark publications and exhibitions.”

The John Oxley Library Community History Award, supported by the Queensland Library Foundation, has been granted to Adopt a Digger, a voluntary community project that commemorates the Sunshine Coast region’s men and women who served during the First World War.

“Local residents, historians, school students and descendants are encouraged to ‘adopt a digger’, research the person’s military history and upload this information to the website,” Ms Denoon said.

“This is an outstanding example of a voluntary community project with over 1,300 diggers adopted by the community so far.”

Fellows, researchers, writers, filmmakers, academics, artists and storytellers have delved into thousands of original materials in the John Oxley Library for many years. The Queensland Memory Awards offers the rare opportunity to celebrate excellence in this research and recognise new contributions to Queensland’s documentary heritage.

For more information on the Queensland Memory Awards visit www.slq.qld.gov.au.