Australia ICOMOS E-Mail News No. 339
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An information service provided by the Australia ICOMOS Secretariat
Friday 13 June 2008
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1)  The 4Rs Conference - Rights, Reconciliation, Respect, Responsibility, Sydney September-October 2008
2)  ICOMOS Ireland Vice President extends invitation to Australia ICOMOS members
3)  Cumberland Vernacular 4-5 July 2008 - Places Still Available
4)  Report on UNESCO - ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM) 3rd Strategy Meeting, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 6 - 7 June
5)  Link to Heritage Council of WA's E-newsletter
6)  Streetwise Asia Update - Tax Deductible Donations Sought Pre End Financial Year
7)  Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: Media Release - Myall Creek Massacre Recognised 170 Years On

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1) The 4Rs Conference - Rights, Reconciliation, Respect, Responsibility, Sydney September-October 2008
 
The 4Rs Conference
Rights, Reconciliation, Respect, Responsibility
Planning for a socially inclusive future for Australia
Sydney, 30 September - 3 October 2008
 
The 4Rs frame Australia's future as a cosmopolitan civil society. This conference comes at a critical time for Australia, when the opportunities and desire for change abound, yet older fears still persist.
 
The 4Rs explore the internal debates and the relationships between crucial social, political and cultural questions, with their relevance to public policy, community development and societal cohesion.
 
The conference is designed around the four themes and their interaction - human rights, Indigenous advancement, inter-communal relations, and active citizenship.
 
Rights
Australia remains the only Western democracy without a national human rights framework, yet it is a society in which the struggle for rights has been a central part of history - for Indigenous people, women, ethnic and religious minorities, people with disabilities and those involved in same-sex relationships. The Rights stream (R1) invites contributions that discuss global, national and local concerns across the full range of human rights issues, from the initial engagement with political rights, through social and cultural rights, to the most recent questions raised by action on disability and indigenous rights. It encourages philosophical as well as political and legal approaches. It explores the practical politics of achieving a national human rights framework within the international community.
 
Reconciliation
Wherever colonial powers have settled their populations on the lands of indigenous peoples there have been ongoing crises and conflicts. Reconciliation (R2) seeks to understand the truth of those histories and devise ways through which people from both indigenous and immigrant origins can work and live together in a shared society. Australia has faced a particularly difficult period as it has struggled with both symbolic and practical forms through which reconciliation should be advanced.
 
The reconciliation stream invites contributions that explore the challenges, success and failures in reconciliation across the world, and the specific dimensions of reconciliation in Australia. It welcomes community presentations, and joint presentations between scholars, policy groups and Indigenous activists. It particularly looks towards younger people and their perspectives on future directions for reconciliation.
 
Respect
In the often-heated conversations about relations between ethno-religious communities in pluralist societies, in the past framed by ideas about multiculturalism and tolerance, a key concept is that of respect. Respect (R3) requires recognition of the validity of different approaches to everyday life, and a desire to understand those differences. Respect is multi-directional; it calls on all members of a society to recognise the value of all other communities. In democratic societies it also points to the critical role of respect for individual human rights even though at times this may strain inter-group relations. Australia has experienced serious challenges to the place of respect in societal discussions about diversity, as have many other western societies. The respect stream invites contributions that explore the tensions around the idea of respect, its representation, and its presence or absence in the discourse of difference globally and in Australia. It welcomes collaborative presentations that explore either comparative cases or innovations in community, arts and other practices in which respect is mobilised as a positive value. Responsibilities Societies are made up of reciprocal relationships of responsibilities, in which various benefits are received and various obligations incurred. Citizenship, both political and cultural, provides the context in which debates about responsibilities most often occur.
 
Responsibility
This Responsibilities theme (R4) addresses the debates about citizenship and how these have been affected by the transformations in world society in the current generation. Citizenship has been considered as a purely political question, relating to the legal status of individuals in their relations to nation states. It has also reflected broader concerns with social citizenship, active citizenship and cultural citizenship, where the broad range of human rights is considered to be part of the dynamics of citizenship. It explores the responsibilities citizens have for each other, for the well-being and protection of the state, and the responsibilities the state has for the well-being and freedoms of its citizens. The responsibilities theme invites contributions that explore these multiple meanings of citizenship, and that can expose connections to the other themes of the conference. In particular it invites debates regarding the imposition of various tests for citizenship and what they reveal about the status of the citizen in the contemporary world. Involvement This is a conference for scholars and activists, administrators and policy developers, artists and writers, community leaders and media practitioners, educators and students.
 
It's about connections - exploring how key dimensions of Australian life in a globalized world intersect and interact with each other. Its culturally diverse society - Indigenous people, early settlers and their descendants, and recent immigrants and refugees - tests both how to mobilise the qualities of this diversity to improve the well being of the whole society, and how to ensure that social inclusion can be properly extended to the full range of that diversity.
 
Further information, call for papers, panel proposals, registration, location & program:
 
Conference website: www.The4RsConference.org
 
Conference Convener: Professor Andrew Jakubowicz, Convener@The4RsConference.org
 
Conference Secretary: Maqsood Alshams, Secretary@The4RsConference.org

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2) ICOMOS Ireland Vice President extends invitation to Australia ICOMOS members
 
The World Archaeology Conference is being held in Dublin, Ireland between 29 June and 4 July this year and ICOMOS Ireland would like to extend a warm welcome to all Australian ICOMOS members travelling to Ireland. We would encourage ICOMOS members to contact us so we can host a casual gathering of ICOMOS Ireland and ICOMOS International members. If you're interested in joining us email me at this address peter@carrig.ie.
 
We look forward to welcoming old friends and meeting new ones.
 
Regards
 
Peter Cox
Vice President
ICOMOS Ireland
 
Carrig Conservation Consultants Ltd.,
68 Dame Street,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.
 
T: +353 (0)1 6715777
F: +353 (0)1 6715544
 
www.carrig.ie

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3) Cumberland Vernacular 4-5 July 2008 - Places Still Available
 
A two-day technical symposium and excursion provided - a collaboration between the Association for Preservation Technology, the Historic Houses Trust and Hawkesbury Regional Museum exploring the traditional construction methods and conservation techniques for slab barns and timber outbuildings on the Cumberland Plain.
 
The program includes a demonstration of timber working by craftsmen from rural Victoria and an inspection of the rare group of outbuildings at Rouse Hill House & Farm.
 
Speakers include professors Ian Jack (University of Sydney) and Miles Lewis (University of Melbourne) and local conservation practitioners specialising in structural analysis, timber technology, roofing systems and conservation works.
 
The excursion to significant sites includes an early slab-built vernacular house and outstanding timber barns in the Hawkesbury District.
 
General Fee $130
Conc/HHT and APT Members $110 (Includes refreshments).
Bookings essential Tel (02) 8239 2211.

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4) Report on UNESCO - ICCROM Asian Academy for Heritage Management (AAHM) 3rd Strategy Meeting, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 6 - 7 June
 
Elizabeth Vines, the Executive Committee SA ICOMOS representative, attended this meeting. Currently there are nearly 100 members of the AAHM - and at Chiang Mai approximately 25 members (and some observers, such as representatives from the Getty Conservation Institute) attended the 3rd Strategy meeting. Membership of the AAHM falls into five categories: the core members are the Institutes of higher learning situated in the Asia Pacific region offering post graduate programmes related to culture and heritage management. These are proposed to have voting privileges under the draft statutes currently being finalised. The other four categories include individual affiliate members, institutional affiliate members, associate and provisional members (those who want to learn how to develop capacity) - and these members would not have voting privileges.
 
At this meeting past and current activities and directions of the AAHM were discussed with presentations provided by attendees from a variety of institutions.  The meeting outlined focus of future activities which could include (but not be excluded to) the following:
   
The draft Statutes were circulated to those present with an agreement to distribute these to the wider current membership for endorsement by membership at an agreed to time frame.  The structure of the organisation, location of secretariat and knowledge management hub was agreed upon (with possibility for future rotation to different locations and refinements). 
 
For further information about the AAHM look at website http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=470/
 
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5) Link to Heritage Council of WA's E-newsletter
 
To view the June 2008 issue of Heritage Council of WA's E-newsletter, visit  www.heritage.wa.gov.au/e_pub_list.html and click on "Heritage Matters Newsletter".

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6) Streetwise Asia Update - Tax Deductible Donations Sought Pre End Financial Year
 
The Streetwise Asia Fund has now been in operation for more than a year. This is modest not for profit fund which aims to provide grass roots assistance to conservation projects in Asia, also providing educational and community benefits. The first project is now nearly completed.  Another key objective for the Fund is to provide opportunities for heritage professionals to travel in Asia and become involved in voluntary conservation work assisting with heritage projects. For the first project, Anthony Coupe, a South Australian ICOMOS member and his wife Felicity volunteered, and with their 12 year old son, travelled to Laos in October 2007.  Laos had been suggested by the UNESCO Bangkok Office as there were possible projects identified which required financial support. They travelled to Laos assessing four possible projects and then prepared a report which identified the Community Library and Learning Resource Centre within the Vat Phou Champasak World Heritage Area, an area which was World Heritage Listed in 2001. The building had been vacant for some time and was in a state of decay.  Constructed in the 1930s, it is of a traditional French Colonial style and sits amongst traditional Lao style raised timber houses. The project had received some partial funding provided through the Lerici Foundation and there was a shortfall, with no available budget for re-roofing. As an initial project for the Streetwise Fund it was ideal - as the project management structure had already been established, and other works were underway. Photographs have just been received of the nearly completed project and Liz Vines is able to email interested parties copies of these.
 
The project funding allocation was A$13,000 which included assistance provided for a local architect from Laos to supervise the works.
 
We are now investigating other projects, but the fund requires topping up!! Established initially through the sale of the Streetwise Asia publication, many ICOMOS members have generously contributed to the fund, and this has been the main source of donations. The fund gains its tax effective status by operating under the umbrella of Australind Children's Fund, a South Australian Charity established to provide assistance for educational and health facilities in 3rd world countries focusing at present in Chennai, India and the Streetwise projects are very complementary.
 
Please contact Liz Vines on liz@mcdougallvines.com.au (or mob 0419 816 525), who will email you the donation details and any other details you may require.
 
Thank you again for your generosity - in anticipation!!!
 
PS Kristal Buckley, our International Vice President, will be presenting a paper at the end of May on the Streetwise initiative at the forthcoming ICOMOS conference in Washington, which has as its theme "Developing a comprehensive approach to US participation in the global heritage community".

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7) Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: Media Release - Myall Creek Massacre Recognised 170 Years On
 
Heritage Minister Peter Garrett, today announced the inclusion of the Myall Creek massacre site, near Inverell, on the National Heritage List.
 
Minister Garrett made the announcement while attending a memorial service for the 170th anniversary of the massacre.
 
"The events at Myall Creek resonate across the years and the listing of the Myall Creek Massacre and Memorial Site formally recognises a pivotal moment in Australia's history," Mr Garrett said.
 
 "The fact that so many people gather each year from the Myall Creek community, Indigenous elders and the relatives of those killed to honour and remember those who died and continue the journey of reconciliation is a testament to the communities deep understanding and acknowledgement of this crucial chapter in our history.
 
"During the period of early European settlement, competition for land and resources and a lack of cultural understanding resulted in conflict between Aboriginal people and settlers. In 1838 approximately 30 Wirrayaraay people of the Gamilaroi nation were killed near Myall Creek. Seven settlers were found guilty of, and hanged for, the murder of these people.
 
"It was the first and last time the Colonial Administration intervened to ensure the laws of the colony were applied equally to Aboriginal people and settlers involved in frontier killings.
 
"However, the public response to the massacre, trial and hangings also shaped the way the Colonial Administration dealt with Aboriginal people for the next century. The Administration was reluctant to get involved in any future frontier conflicts, and the event also led to the establishment of Aboriginal missions.
 
"The conflict of 170 years ago has given way to a new understanding of Aboriginal peoples' attachment to the land. Recognition of this attachment and the sometimes brutal ways in which Aboriginal people were dispossessed are important in the journey of reconciliation.
 
"The Myall Creek Memorial was established in 2000. The fact that the descendants of some of the people massacred on that horrific day in 1838 and the descendants of those charged with the crime can come together in their own peaceful and personal reconciliation gives me great hope for our country and makes me very proud to be an Australian," Mr Garrett said.
 
National Heritage listing ensures places are protected for future generations under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.
 
The National Heritage List showcases natural, historic and Indigenous places of outstanding heritage value to our nation. It reflects the story of our development - from our original inhabitants to present day, Australia's spirit and ingenuity, and our unique, living landscapes.
 
Myall Creek is the 79th place to be included in the National Heritage List, joining other Indigenous sites including the Hermansburg Historic Precinct, the Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps, the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape and the Mount William Stone Hatchet Quarry.
 
For more information visit www.heritage.gov.au.
 
Media contact: Ben Pratt 0419 968 734

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the Australia ICOMOS Email News are not necessarily those of Australia ICOMOS Inc. or its Executive Committee. The text of Australia ICOMOS Email news is drawn from various sources including organizations other than Australia ICOMOS Inc. The Australia ICOMOS Email news serves solely as an information source and aims to present a wide range of opinions which may be of interest to readers. Articles submitted for inclusion may be edited.
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Australia ICOMOS Secretariat
Georgia Meros, Secretariat Officer
Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific
Deakin University
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood Victoria 3125
Telephone: (03) 9251 7131
Facsimile: (03) 9251 7158
Email: austicomos@deakin.edu.au
http://www.icomos.org/australia

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