In Living Memory
13 September 2006
NEW SOUTH WALES
MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS
MINISTER ASSISTING THE PREMIER ON CITIZENSHIP
MILTON ORKOPOULOS
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MEDIA RELEASE
8 September 2006
MINISTER LAUNCHES EXHIBITION FIRST
New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Milton Orkopoulos launched "In Living Memory: Surviving photographs from the Records of the Aborigines Welfare Board, from 1919 to 1966" exhibition last night at the State Records Gallery in Sydney.
"The exhibition is the first time the photographs of the Board have been on public display in an exhibition setting," said Mr Orkopoulos.
"It shows images taken and collected by the Aborigines Welfare Board (formerly the Aborigines Protection Board) which implemented policies that governed the lives of Aboriginal people in NSW between 1883 and 1969," he said.
"The surviving records from the Boards included around 1,000 loosely stored black and white photographs of Aboriginal people taken between 1919 and 1966.
"The images include wedding photos, group photos taken on missions, photos of children from boys' and girls' homes and individual portraits.
"They can provide the missing piece of the puzzle that is the past for some members of the Aboriginal community and a link to a period whose policies had tremendous ramifications for people's lives.
"The exhibition process has involved the consent, advice and support of many strands of NSW's Aboriginal community and an opportunity for people to share their stories. It has been a very valuable process for the Aboriginal community.
"It also serves as a reminder for the wider community of the mistakes that were made, that should never be forgotten and never be repeated.
"The exhibition will also include contemporary photographs taken by photographer Mervyn Bishop during the community consultation process as well as photos contributed by communities across New South Wales.
"The exhibition also provides an opportunity for people to tell their story and contribute their own photographs - including an opportunity for people to have their photographs taken by Mervyn Bishop for the exhibition Visitors' Book, from 2-4pm, Saturday 9 September 2006.
"This exhibition is living history. We are using the process of remembering the past to record the present so that it can be remembered in the future," said Mr Orkopoulos.
"In Living Memory: Surviving Photographs from the Records of the NSW Aborigines Welfare Board, from 1919 to 1966" runs from 8 September 2006 to 30 June 2007 at the State Records Gallery, Sydney Records Centre, 2 Globe Street (Off George Street), The Rocks. Entry is free. Further details can be obtained from www.records.nsw.gov.au.
CONTACT: Melanie Stewart 0422 984 299
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