Work has begun on this important and timely archive project, which will capture the key events and influences on the genesis and development of the Victorian Outdoor Education and related residential camp and journey-based sector from the 1970s to date.
Why now?
With the passing of time, crucial information relating to the establishment of the Victorian outdoor education sector is inevitably damaged or lost forever.
For example, many valuable resources reside in personal collections. These materials and ephemera unfortunately may be degrading due to less-than-ideal storage conditions, or simply their age.
We also recognise that those people involved in the early days of the sector are getting older and it is important to record their stories for future generations.
Project aims
The aims of the project are to:
- Identify and prepare to digitise printed documents related to the genesis and evolution of Victoria’s Outdoor Sector. This includes newsletters, conference papers, magazines and so on.
- Identify and mark for future investigation the various associated organisations, businesses and individuals that contributed to, or influenced, the development of the sector. This includes corporate outdoor training, nature-based tourism, outdoor recreation clubs and associations, tertiary education institutions, residential camps, etc.
- Record a timeline of key events such as the Dept of Education recognition of camps, the introduction of VCE outdoor related subjects, the BMLC and STLC programs, the formation of the VOEA and the ORC (and ultimately OV), the impact on the sector of the 2009 bushfires and COVID 19 and the government’s Positive Start initiative.
- Record and collate oral histories from individuals involved in the genesis and evolution of the Victorian Outdoor Sector.
- Collect and securely archive materials/equipment from personal collections relating to the evolution of the Victorian Outdoor Sector.
It is planned to work with the State Library to establish an archive for the project materials.
Project Management
This is an Outdoors Victoria project supported by Sport and Recreation Victoria. Pete Griffiths will lead the project with assistance from Outdoors Victoria.
How can you get involved?
Your support is integral to this project’s success. There will be multiple opportunities to contribute throughout the project, commencing with this online survey.
This survey will:
1. Allow you to provide information on what printed documents you would be willing to contribute to a future digitisation program
2. Identify people who would be suitable interview subjects
3. Scope items in your personal collection, such as maps, guidebooks, equipment, etc, that you are willing to loan to a permanent collection.
We look forward to hearing from you and to gathering our collective histories, experiences and materials for posterity.
For more information on how to participate or to book a chat, please contact:
Andrew Knight, Outdoors Victoria ceo@outdoorsvictoria.org.au
