About Oral History Western Australia
Our aims
Oral History Western Australia (OHWA) is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit body which offers a range of services to its members including events, training opportunities and equipment hire.
The organisation, a state member of Oral History Australia (OHA), aims to:
- promote the practice and methods of oral history
- educate in the use of oral history methods
- encourage discussions on all aspects of oral history
- foster the preservation of oral history records
Our history
Established on 9 March 1980, Western Australia was the third state branch to be formed under the Oral History Association of Australia (now Oral History Australia) – after South Australia and New South Wales. Yet it was a West Australian, the late Jean Teasdale, who played a key role in establishing the national body in 1978.
Governance
OHWA is governed by a management committee elected at the annual general meeting. The committee comprises office holders and ordinary committee members.
Committee
President: Kyra Edwards
Vice President: Tracy Willet
Secretary: Lynn O’Hara
Treasurer: Linda Wang
Committee members: Janet Baldwin (membership coordinator), Lynda Braddick, Susan Hall, Elaine Rabbitt (accreditation workshop coordinator),
Kyra Edwards
OHWA President
Kyra is president of Oral History Western Australia, treasurer of Oral History Australia and one of the indigenous representatives on the History Council of Western Australia.
She is currently employed as the local history officer for the City of Stirling based at the Mount Flora Museum in Perth, Western Australia and is completing a postgraduate certificate in museum studies.
In 2019 Kyra was awarded an international fellowship as part of the National Museum of Australia’s Encounters Fellowship Program.