The Museum of Australian Democracy acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

The museum respectfully acknowledges the role that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to play in shaping Australia’s democracy.

xClose
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • About
  • Blog
  • Prime Ministers
  • Websites
  • Venue hire
  • Visiting
  • What's On
  • Collection
  • Learning
  • Democracy
Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
  • Visiting
    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library
  • What’s On
    • Exhibitions
    • Events
  • Collection
    • The Building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Oral Histories
  • Learning
    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents
  • Democracy
    • Defining democracy
    • Australian democracy: an overview
    • The democratic audit of Australia
    • One thing I like about democracy
    • Links
    • Quotes
    • Notes
    • About
    • Blog
    • Prime Ministers
    • Websites
    • Venue hire
    From the blog

    Librarians and journalists

    4 minute read

    Wed 26 Sep 2012 by
    Dr Barry York
    • collection
    • events
    • oral history

    666 ABC Canberra Mornings presenter, Alex Sloan, and museum historian, Dr Barry York, are sharing stories from the museum’s oral history collection during September. The latest theme from the collection is ‘librarians and journalists’.

    Jessie Bennett

    Jessie Bennett came to Canberra in 1947 as a trainee librarian with what was then the Parliamentary and National Library. Attitudes toward women in those days had not yet changed among the older generation. 

    Jessie Bennett audio transcript (MS Word)

    Jessie Bennett was recorded for the Oral History Program by Jean Magdulski in 2002. The full interview is not currently available online but is available upon request at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Please contact the museum prior to your visit and quote the reference number OHI 36.

    Wallace Brown

    Veteran journalist, Wallace Brown, describes conditions in the Press Gallery in the 1960s… and how a leaking roof was dealt with. Is small really beautiful?  

    Wallace Brown audio transcript (MS Word)

    Wallace Brown was recorded for Old Parliament House’s Oral History Program by Tony Duffy in 2003. The full interview is not currently available online but is available upon request at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Please contact the museum prior to your visit and quote the reference number OHI 52.

    Glenda James

    Librarian Glenda James recalls the arrival of the first computer in the Provisional Parliamentary Library in the mid-1980s… and the unofficial hair-dressing salon in the printing room! 

    Glenda James audio transcript (MS Word)

    Glenda James was recorded for Old Parliament House’s Oral History Program by Barry York in 2007. The full interview is not currently available online but is available upon request at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Please contact the museum prior to your visit and quote the reference number OHI 131.

    Rob Chalmers

    Rob Chalmers, the Press Gallery’s longest serving journalist, explains why the Rose Garden annexe for parliamentarians was built in the 1980s and how Prime Minister Bob Hawke saved the day for the Press Gallery! 

    Rob Chalmers audio transcript (MS Word)

    Rob Chalmers was recorded for Old Parliament House’s Oral History Program by Tony Duffy in 2003. The full interview is not currently available online but is available upon request at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Please contact the museum prior to your visit and quote the reference number OHI 44.

    Immortality at 300

    Share your memories and experiences of Provisional Parliament House between 1927 and 1988 for your chance to become the 300th oral history recorded in the Museum of Australian Democracy collection.

    The winner will receive four audio copies of the 300th oral history interview and a historian guided museum tour. The museum’s oral history collection currently features interviews with librarians, journalists, tradespeople, gardeners, parliamentary staffers, prime ministers, waitresses, stenographers and telephonists who reflect on their memories of Provisional Parliament House.

    Terms and conditions apply and entries close 5pm, Friday 28 September 2012.

    Share your memories at abc.net.au/canberra.

    4 minute read

    Wed 26 Sep 2012 by
    Dr Barry York
    • collection
    • events
    • oral history
    Dr Barry York, Historian, Museum of Australian Democracy. Photographer: Stefan Postles

    Dr Barry York, Historian, Museum of Australian Democracy. Photographer: Stefan Postles

    Barry York was an historian at MoAD for ten years from 2006. His email is barryyork554@gmail.com To mark the 50th anniversary of the Waterdale Road marches, he has undertaken a self-funded oral history project, recording memories of some participants.

    Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

    18 King George Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600, Australia

    PO Box 3934
    Manuka ACT 2603

    9am to 5pm daily 
    Closed Christmas Day

    ABN: 30 620 774 963

    Telephone: 02 6270 8222

    Enquiries:
    info@moadoph.gov.au

    Please note: video surveillance is used 24 hours a day around and throughout the building and may be used for research purposes

    Visiting

    • Planning your visit
    • Families at MoAD
    • Access
    • Group bookings
    • Cafe
    • MoAD Shop
    • UNSW Canberra Howard Library

    What's On

    • Events
    • Exhibitions

    Collection

    • The building
    • Objects and rooms
    • Highlights
    • Oral histories

    Learning

    • Teachers
    • Students
    • Parents

    Democracy

    • Exploring democracy
    • Documenting a democracy
    • Australian democracy
    • Defining democracy

    About

    • Disability Action Inclusion Plan
    • Our prime minister patrons
    • OPH Board
    • Annual Reports
    • Budget
    • Corporate documents
    • Employment
    • Freedom of information
    • Public Interest Disclosure
    • Media
    • Newsletter
    • Support us
    • Partnerships
    • Democracy 2025
    • Donate to our collection
    • eCommerce terms and conditions
    • Online house rules

    Blog

    Prime Ministers

    Websites

    Further information

    View our recruitment opportunities.

    View our copyright policy.

    View our privacy statement.

    View our ticketing terms and conditions.

    Questions about the website:
    website@moadoph.gov.au

    The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet