Victorian Community History Awards

The Victorian Community History Awards are held annually to recognise the contributions made by Victorians in the preservation of the State’s history, and to recognise excellence in historical research. The effect of the VCHA over the period from 1998 to the present has been the stimulation of community history, the lifting of standards and the fostering of diversity and originality. ^[1]

History

The Victorian Community History Awards were established and sponsored in 1997 by Information Victoria. The judges have always been appointed by the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and among the first were Professor Weston Bate, Professor A. G. L. Shaw, and senior journalist at The Age, John Lahey. ^[2]

Funding was suspended in 2006 to provide additional funds for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. After 2010 Information Victoria Bookshop withdrew support for the program, but after a vigorous campaign by the RHSV for the continuance of the Awards, the Baillieu government accepted a submission from the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) to continue the program for a further four-year period. ^[3]

From 2011 the Awards were administered by the RHSV in partnership with PROV.^[4]

In 2012, following consultation between the Public Record Office Victoria and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, award categories were slightly altered and renamed, as below:

Victorian Community History Awards, from 2012

Victorian Community History Award

• 2015: Meredith Fletcher for Jean Galbraith: writer in a valley
• 2014: Anne Vale for Exceptional Australian Garden Makers
• 2013: Robin A Vowels for Victoria’s Iron Lacework The Founders, Part A
• 2012: Maree Coote for The Art of being Melbourne

History Publication Award

• 2015: Lucy Sussex for Blockbuster! Fergus Hume & the mystery of the hansom cab
• 2014: Robert Kenny for Gardens of Fire: an investigative memoir
• 2013: Olwen Ford for Harvester City: The making of multicultural Sunshine 1939–1975
• 2012: Paul Strangio for Neither Power Nor Glory: 100 Years of Political Labor in Victoria, 1856–1956

Special awards

• 2015: Centenary of World War One Award, Helen Doyle for Sururbs at War: the Cities of Malvern and Prahran during the Great War
• 2015: Graeme Davison for Lost Relations: fortunes of my family in Australia's Golden Age
• 2014: Mornington Peninsula Local History Network and Lavender Hill Multimedia for Postcards: Stories from the Mornington Peninsula (DVD)
• 2013: Judges' Special Prize for Excellence - Rod Charles for A Whirr of Many Wheels. Cycling in Geelong: A chronicle from 1869 to 1980 Volume 1: 1869 to 1914
• 2012: Judges' Special Prize for Excellence - Lorne Historical Society & Lorne Aireys Inlet P-12 College VCAL Students for Construction of The Great Ocean Road DVD

Local History - Small Publication Award

• 2015: Fiona Poulton and Katherine Sheedy for Boroondara Remembers: stories of World War 1
• 2014: Margaret Bowman for Cultured Colonists: George Alexander Gilbert and His Family, Settlers in Port Phillip
• 2013: Coleen Bower for Water Races and Tin Mines of the Toora District: A Short History of the Tin Mines at Granite Bar and Toora
• 2012: Ken McKimmie for Chewton Then and Now: A series of studies investigating change over time in the former Mount Alexander Goldfield town of Forest Creek later known as Chewton

Local History Project Award

• 2015: Gillian and John Francis for Strewth! An insight into local involvement in World War One, 2 volumes
• 2014: Marguerita Stephens (et al. for Vol 4) for The Journal of William Thomas, Assistant Protector of the Aborigines of Port Phillip & Guardian of the Aborigines of Victoria, 1839-1867, 4 volumes
• 2013: Kevin O’Reilly for Flyers of Time: Pioneer Aviation in Country Victoria, The First Fifty Years. A Collection
• 2012: Mick Woiwod for Coranderrk Database

Young Historians Award (15–18 years)

• 2015: Discontinued
• 2014: Not awarded
• 2013: Not awarded
• 2012: Chelsea Way for New Horizons: Post-War Migration to Australia

Collaborative Community History Award

• 2015: Craig Cormick (ed) for Ned Kelly Under the Microscope: solving the forensic mystery of Ned Kelly's remains
• 2014: Gerry Robinson and friends for From Apples....to Coffee, the first 90 years of the Heathmont shopping centre, 1923-2013
• 2013: Maree Hanlon and Pam Herbert (editors) for Through Their Eyes: A Glimpse into the Lives of Women from Benalla & District
• 2012: Lyn Skillern and others for From Inkwell to Internet: a century of State Secondary Education in Leongatha

Multimedia History Award

• 2015: Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society for Postcards from Port: an audiovisual retrospective of Port Melbourne (DVD)
• 2014: Lilydale & District Historical Society Inc for Gun Alley: The Forgotten Story of Lilydale's Back Streets 1880 to today (website)
• 2013: Valerie Wilson for A Guide to Pioneer Graves in the Mornington Cemetery Website:
• 2012: Friends of Wyperfeld for Wyperfeld 100: A traverse in time DVD

Historical Interpretation Award

• 2015: Meyer Eidelson for Melbourne Dreaming: a guide to important places of the past and present
• 2014: Friends of La Trobe's Cottage for The garden at la Trobe's Cottage, Kings Domain, Melbourne
• 2013: Chewton Domain Society for The Monster Meeting, The Great Meeting of Diggers 4 pm, 15 December 1851
• 2012: Gib Wettenhall for Goldfields Track Walking Guide

History Article (Peer Reviewed)

• 2015: Alistair Thomson for 'Anzac Memories Revisited: trauma, memory and oral history' in Oral History Review, Vol 42 Issue 1, 2015

Victorian Community History Awards, 1998 to 2011

Victorian Community History Awards - Overall Winner

• 2011: Gunditjmara people with Gib Wettenhall for The People of Budj Bim
• 2010: Jenny Davies for Behind the Facade: Flinders Street more than just a Railway Station
• 2009: Ken Oldis for The Chinawoman
• 2008: Annette O'Donohue & Bev Hanson for Eaglehawk & District Pioneer Register Volume 6 - T-Z
• 2007: Jillian Durance for Still Going Strong: The story of the Moyarra Honor Roll
• 2005: Justin Corfield, Dorothy Wickham and Clare Gervasoni for The Eureka Encyclopaedia
• 2004: Wandiligong Preservation Society Co-ordinated by Coral Bennett and Joy Kit for Oriental Crossing
• 2003: Ann Synan for We Came With Nothing: Story of the West Sale Migrant Holding Centre
• 2002: Gillian Upton for The George: St Kilda Life and Times
• 2001: Warik Lawrance for 1864 (CD ROM)
• 2000: Daryl Tonkin and Carolyn Landon for Jackson's Track - A Memoir of a Dreamtime Place
• 1999: Dr. Andrew Brown-May for Melbourne Street Life
• 1998: Patrick Morgan for The Settling of Gippsland, A Regional History

Best Community Research, Registers and Records

• 2011: Marie Hansen Fels for 'I succeeded Once': The Aboriginal Protectorate on the Mornington Peninsula, 1839-1840.
• 2010: Susie Zada and Pam Jennings for Scots in Geelong and District to 1860
• 2009: Karen T Collins, Collingwood Historical Society for Bitter Roots, Sweet Fruit: A history of schools in Collingwood, Abbotsford and Clifton Hill
• 2008: John McKay and Hamilton History Centre Inc for The Streets of Hamilton, Western Victoria Australia: a History of the People behind the Names
• 2007: Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society for History of a Street Precinct
• 2005: Graeme Massey for Gallipoli Heroes: A tribute to the men from Western Victoria who gave their lives for their country
• 2004: Arthur Yong, North Eastern Melbourne Chinese Association for Chinese Settlement in Darebin
• 2003: Graeme Massey (Warracknabeal Secondary College – History Department) for Fallen Heroes. Warracknabeal War Memorial
• 2002: Dianne Carroll for Carroll Heritage Collection
• 2001: Allan Willingham for Camperdown: A Heritage Study
• 2000: Keith Clarke for Convicts of the Port Phillip District
• 1999: Brendan Fitzgerald and Bayside Library Services for Sin on Disc

Best Collaborative / Community Work

• 2011: Michael Collins and others for Our Boys at the Front: The Mornington Peninsula at War 1914-18 from the pages of the Peninsula Post. (Book and DVD)
• 2010: Yarra Valley Italian Cultural Group for Dreams from a Suitcase ('Sogni Dalla Valigia'): Recollections of Italian Settlers in the Yarra Valley
• 2009: Christine Grayden, Phillip Island Conservation Society for An Island Worth Conserving: A History of the Phillip Island Conservation Society
• 2008: Collingwood Historical Society Inc for Collingwood Plaques Project
• 2007: Andrew Brown-May and Shurlee Swain (ed) for The Encyclopedia of Melbourne
• 2005: Peter Yule (ed.) and the Carlton Residents Association Inc. for Carlton: A History
• 2004: Elizabeth Huf for Courage, Patience and Persistence: 150 Years of German Settlement in Western Victoria
• 2003: Jewish Museum of Australia (in association with Shalom Association) for From Russia with Hope: Australian Jews from Russia 1870-2002 (Exhibition)
• 2002: South Port Day Links and Port Melbourne Historical Society for Linking Us Together
• 2001: Sigrid Borke for In and Out of Port. Voices from the Port of Melbourne. An Oral History
• 2000: City of Whittlesea for Oral History and Poster Exhibition Project
• 1999: Jan Critchett for Untold Stories - Memories and Lives of Victorian Koories
• 1998: Linda Barraclough for historical research and community work in Gippsland

Best Print / Publication - Commercial

• 2011: Ron Hateley for The Victorian Bush: its 'original and natural' condition.

Best Print / Publication - Self or Community Publication

• 2011 Anne Longmire for The Catalysts: Change and Continuity 1910-2010.

Best Print / Publication

In 2011 the Best Print / Publication category was divided into Best Commercial Publication and Best Self or Community Publication. See above.

• 2010: Robin Grow for Melbourne Art Deco
• 2009: Gary Presland for The Place for a Village: How nature has shaped the City of Melbourne
• 2008: Barry Heard for The View from Connor's Hill
• 2007: Richard Broome for Aboriginal Victorians: A History Since 1800
• 2005: Barry Hill and the Borough of Queenscliffe for The Enduring Rip: A History of Queenscliffe
• 2004: John Poynter for Mr Felton's Bequests
• 2003: Vicki Fairfax for A Place Across the River. They Aspired to Create the Victorian Arts Centre
• 2002: Carolyn Rasmussen for A Museum for the People
• 2001: Adrian Jones for Follow the Gleam: A History of Essendon Primary School 1850-2000
• 2000: Peter Yule for The Royal Children's Hospital A History of Faith, Science and Love
• 1999: Janet McCalman for Sex and Suffering - Women's Health and a Women's Hospital
• 1998: Phil Taylor for Karkarook: a Mallee Shire History

Best Walk / Tour

• 2011: Peter Cuffley, Helen McBurney, Geoff Palmer & Janey Runci for Henry Handel Richardson in Maldon.
• 2010: Karen McIntyre for Lake Bolac Heritage Walk
• 2009: Wangaratta Regional Tourist Development Inc for Heritage Walk, Wangaratta
• 2008: Bayside City Council for Bayside Architectural Trail
• 2007: Ruth Gallant, Footscray Reference Group & Maribyrnong City Council for Footscray Trail: a guided walk through the historic central business district
• 2005: Margaret Gardner and Val Heffernan, The Hamilton History Centre for Exploring Hamilton Walks
• 2004: Don Chambers for Melbourne General Cemetery
• 2003: Carmel Taig for Yarraville in 1901
• 2002: Ross Bastiaan for The Kokoda Walk in the Dandenong Ranges National Park
• 2001: Bayside City Council for Bayside Coastal Art Trail. Stage 3
• 2000: Richard Peterson for Brimstone to Bunyip Churches of Collingwood, Clifton Hill and Abbotsford 1852-1999
• 1999: Angela Taylor, Ron Hateley, Tarnya Kruger for The La Gerche Walking Track
• 1998: Mary Ryllis Clark for Discover Historic Victoria

Best Exhibit or Multimedia

• 2011: The Jewish Museum of Australia for Mameloshn: How Yiddish made a home in Melbourne.

Best Audio-Visual / Multimedia

In 2011 Best Exhibit and Best Audio-Visual / Multimedia were combined as a category. See above.

• 2010: Keith White & Will Twycross for Visions of Port Phillip: The Burrells of Arthur's Seat 1851-1925
• 2009: Bendigo Chinese Association Museum Inc trading as Golden Dragon Museum for Creating a Community Museum
• 2008: Malcolm McKinnon and The Victorian Country Football League for Football Stories from Country Victoria
• 2007: Landsborough Festivals Inc for From Gold to Grapes: The Story of Landborough
• 2005: The Euston/Robinvale Historical Society Inc for Happy Birthday Robinvale
• 2004: James McCaughey, Red Finch Films for The First Eleven: The First Australian Cricket Tour of England (Video)
• 2003: Lakes Entrance Family History Resource Centre for Casting the Net – Pioneer Fishing Families of the Gippsland Coast
• 2002: Geoff Russell for Sir John Quick and Bendigo's ANA
• 2001: Lilydale & District Historical Society for Melba - Australia's Greatest Daughter
• 2000: Bronwyn Hughes (Author), Laki Sideris (Developer) and Tim Dolby (Producer) for Lights of our Past: Australian Stained Glass
• 1999: Timothy Lee for Wally's Weddings/The Bush Smithy

Best Exhibit / Display

In 2011 Best Exhibit and Best Audio-Visual / Multimedia were combined as a category. See above.

• 2010: Janine Rizzetti (Heidelberg Historical Society) for An Invitation to the Ball
• 2009: Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society for The Navy in Port Exhibition: A month of celebration for the centenary of the Great White Fleet visit
• 2008: Robinvale Network House for Migration Memories - Robinvale
• 2007: Victorian Jazz Archive Inc. for Jazz Spans the Decades – A History of Jazz in Victoria
• 2005: David Williams for Harvests, Headlands & Halcyon Heritage
• 2004: Jointly organised by the Warrnambool Art Gallery and the Warrnambool and District Historical Vehicle Club. Curated by Brenda O'Connor for Early Motoring in Warrnambool
• 2003: Melbourne’s Living Museum of the West for A Stone Upon A Stone: A Touring Exhibition about the History and Heritage of Dry Stone Walls
• 2002: Laharum Hall Committee for Federation Mural: History of Laharum
• 2001: Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo for Showing Face
• 2000: Tatura and District Australia Day 2000 Committee for Tatura Collage Columns
• 1999: Jan Mitchell for Baywalk Bollards Project
• 1998: Mr Russell Jack - Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum

Special awards

• 2011: Judges' Special Prize for Excellence - Gregory Eccleston and others for Early Navigators of Bass Strait, 1770-1803. (Map)
• 2010: Award to Celebrate 175th Melbourne Anniversary - Bain Attwood for Possession: Batman's Treaty and the matter of history
• 2009: Judges' Special Prize for Excellence - Paul R Mullaly for Crime in the Port Phillip District 1835-51

Notes

1. The Victorian Community History Awards, by Carole Woods in Victorian Historical Journal, June 2013, Vol 84 No 1, p 159. Royal Historical Society of Victoria: Melbourne, 2013.
2. The Victorian Community History Awards, by Carole Woods in Victorian Historical Journal, June 2013, Vol 84 No 1, p 159. Royal Historical Society of Victoria: Melbourne, 2013.
3. The Victorian Community History Awards, by Carole Woods in Victorian Historical Journal, June 2013, Vol 84 No 1, p 159. Royal Historical Society of Victoria: Melbourne, 2013.
4. The Victorian Community History Awards, by Carole Woods in Victorian Historical Journal, June 2013, Vol 84 No 1, p 159. Royal Historical Society of Victoria: Melbourne, 2013.

References

• Victorian Community History Awards from 1998 Royal Historical Society of Victoria (Retrieved 21 January 2013)
• VCHA 2012 Awards Booklet Royal Historical Society of Victoria (Retrieved 21 January 2013)
• VCHA 2013 Awards Booklet Royal Historical Society of Victoria (Retrieved 11 Jul 2014)
• VCHA 2014 Awards Royal Historical Society of Victoria (Retrieved 30 Oct 2014)
• VCHA 2015 Awards Royal Historical Society of Victoria (Retrieved 23 Dec 2015)

See also

• List of Australian literary awards
• New South Wales Premier's History Awards
• Australian History Awards
• Northern Territory History Awards
• Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History