And in the beginning…
anufacturers created many wonderful devices for an
industry that would eventually move heaven and earth!
Some of these ended up in far away places such as Australia at
the WIN television studios in Wollongong.
Pioneers archive project
M
onsultation is taking place with kindred industries
entities to gauge their interest in being involved in a
project designed to identify and video the reminiscences of
industry pioneers. It is realised that there are several similar
individual projects already in existence and our aim is not to
duplicate these efforts but to collaborate with them and fill in
several gaps in the coverage. It is expected that the project
will need to be driven by members based near the main
centres of the industry and where the majority of the potential
interviewees are located.
This shot was sent in by recently retired WIN Corporation’s Network Engineering
Communications Manager, Davyd Dunstan.
It features a pair of RCA cameras which were originally installed at their
Wollongong studios.
AMMPT intends to present a plan and apply for federal
funding to reimburse suitably qualified members to shoot and
edit the material, which would then be available for both
National and State archives as well as those organisations
participating on our initiative. Any member interested in
becoming involved in the project with the object of forming a
local project team should contact either the regional or
national secretaries.
Potential Perth display
3
International connections
ne of the advantages of belonging to an organisation which
has overseas connections is the opportunity to visit these
venues when traveling on business or holidays. Not only does it
cement relations between the groups but it exposes members to new
ideas which they bring back for AMMPT. Members have found
that with prior introduction and presentation of our membership
cards, doors have been opened to which members of the public are
normally not admitted. We have found overseas staff and members
of these organisations enjoy meeting and talking to kindred souls,
especially those from “down under”.
he prospect of a permanent exhibition space for the
Western region branch is still a long way off. However
members in general and the National Committee in particular
were interested to learn of a local initiative being driven by
Ken McKay and new member Bret Treasure
(below).
Bret is the son of one of TVW7’s co-
founders, Brain Treasure.They are
attempting to interest the development
company Finbar, who purchased the
old ABC studios building, to
incorporate a media related cultural
centre facility in its redevelopment plans. AMMPT was
invited to participate in the proposal, if successful, would
permit us to set up a permanent display with part of our
national collection. It would also allow us to utilise the WA
museum and TVW7 donated showcases and display panels
we now have in storage.
O
Members George
and Jane Robinson
recently returned
from what is
becoming a regular
pilgrimage to the Old
Dart, visiting their
regular hosts
The
Projected Picture
Trust.
of
which they
are also members.
PPT Curator at Bletchley, Ken Draper (left) with donated 70mm Cinemaccanica.
They also visited the National Media Museum in Bradford and were
shown its hidden secrets and managed to get access to the inner
sanctum of the British Film Institute’s recently opened state-of-the-
art archival film vault which boasts some of the highest film
preservation standards in the world.
The BFI cares for
the world’s most
significant
collection of film
and television
titles in a facility
which cost twelve
million pounds,
boasts sub zero
storage
temperatures and
can hold up to
460,000 film cans.
George (centre) is overawed at the amount of film
L-R: Ken McKay, Daryl Binning and Richard Ashton inspect one of the old
radio studios left behind by the ABC when they shifted to new premises.
The national president has notified the organisers of the ABC
project indicating AMMPT’s support in principle for their
initiative and will await further developments.
Free annual subscriptions
he special concession of free membership for 2011
granted to members who did not have an incorporated
branch in their region will lapse at the end of this year. Full
subscription fees will now apply to all members although the
national committee will review the situation again in 2012.
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