Restrictions continue to limit access to our shelves but there are many collections on both BRAC and PROV websites which are digitised or indexed, as well as a number of Guides that can help you get set up to make your visits as productive as possible when we open our doors again - we can't wait to see everyone, and find out where your research has taken you thus far...
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Information about BRAC Reading Room
Firm dates around reopening remain elusive, though it is unlikely to occur before November. Further emails and Facebook updates will keep you informed as we have more news.
NOTE: PROV have suspended ordering and removed all prior orders from the system. Any orders you had will need to be made again once normal service resumes and you will need to wait to place any new orders.
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RHS-PROV Community History Awards 2020
The shortlist for these annual awards is out, and we are pleased to see BRAC's region covered with entries from Brian Rhule (Maldon: A New History 1853-1923), recent visitor, Paul Daffey (The Totem Poles of Ouyen United: Travels in Country Footy), and Marjorie Theobold (The Accidental Town: Castlemaine 1851-1861).
Best wishes to these finalists! You can see the full shortlist HERE.
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Discovering History: Housing the Diggers
September's event was delivered remotely, with the benefit that everyone can now watch Dr Charles Fahey's seminar online, whenever you like, wherever you are. Exploring how miners experienced housing 1857-1915 across the goldfields, the latest in this successful series in OUR partnership with La Trobe & GLC is available HERE; find others in the series on the GCL Channel.
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Infectious Disease in Bendigo, 1872
We thought it would be an interesting exercise to explore the response to previous outbreaks of infectious disease across the district, and found a brilliant case study - when small pox arrived in Bendigo in 1872, responses show how little some things can change over time when it comes to human nature - you can read the it HERE.
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Accessing History From Home
While visiting the reading room or library isn't possible just now, there's a wealth of history content out there, from indexes (visit our links page for more) to virtual seminars. The ABC produce good history podcasts, including Rear Vision and The History Listen, while online exhibitions can entertain for hours - from PROV's vast list to our own recent exhibitions on Bendigo Women, and Langston Street, can be visited virtually.
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Collection Focus: City of Bendigo - City Engineer's Reports
BRAC holds a collection of Engineer's Reports from the City of Bendigo (1947-1979) and they contain some amazing social history, with information about subdivisions, tree removals, council properties (like the Fire Brigade track (pictured, 1949), budgets, tenders and much more. Later volumes contain an index, but if you're seeking something specific, a date will help immensely.
You can order items from this series to the BRAC Reading Room by searching 'Bendigo City Engineers' on the PROV website.
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Working Remotely - Guidance for Agencies
With a massive and unplanned shift in the working environments of public agencies, extra considerations should be accounted for to ensure record keeping continued to meet Public Record Act requirements - PROV have issued clear, easy-to-access advice HERE for agencies and agency staff.
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PROV Collection Focus
Looking for something to keep you occupied? PROV have released a set of terrific jigsaw puzzles to test your observation and skill! Not exactly a collection, but a range of fascinating images from across the whole PROV collection - you can tailor the number of pieces so they are suitable for any age - puzzle away HERE.
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Coming Up In Heritage
For the moment, many events are on hold or due to be rescheduled. We look forward to bringing you an updated list in Summer - but keep an eye on our Facebook page too.
THU 1 OCT - 5:30PM Discovering History - Dressed & Blessed: Brit Milah, dress and Goldfields Jewish families, free online presentation in the Discovering History series, presented by Elizabeth Offer
THU 5 NOV - 5:30PM Discovering History - Into Deep Water: Goldrush hazards and childhood testimony, free online presentation in the Discovering History series, presented by Natasha Joyce
ONGOING - Swan Hill Remembers: commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the end of World War II, an online exhibition showcasing stories and artifacts from the district
With so many city-based heritage organisations now offering their events online, regional and rural communities now have access to many resources that we haven't before, including some of these webinars coming up:
TUE 15 SEP - 12:30PM Architectural Heritage & Advocacy - a webinar discussion with Australian Institute of Architects six award winners in the Heritage & Advocacy category
THU 8 OCT - 5:30PM Futures Past & Possible: Histories of and for tomorrow - the History Council of Victoria's annual lecture will be delivered online by Associate Professor Ruth Morgan, the director of the Centre for Envionmental History at ANU followed by Q&A
TUE 10 NOV - 5:00PM Victoria's Native Vegetation: History, heritage & politics - a free webinar in History Council of Victoria's Making Public Histories series
If your group has a heritage event coming up in the next quarter, please email us with details.
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Sharing Our History
BRAC's vision is to collect, protect and share the history of Central and Northern Victoria, through researchers, historians, academics using the documents in our collection. Help us share what we hold in our archive by forwarding this email to friends, colleagues or groups that you think might have an interest in our collective history.
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