On the 30th September 2011 the NSW Minister for Heritage and the Environment, The Hon. Robyn Parker MP addressed the Hunter Heritage Network Seminar at the University of Newcastle (Australia).
The Minister was welcomed by Deputy Vice Chancellor Kevin McConkey and Mr Greg Anderson, Manager University Libraries.
The Minister for Heritage Robyn Parker addressed the Network about her vision for heritage. In particular, Minister Parker is concerned about the current protections for Aboriginal heritage and has initiated the current review process in seeking to address this.
The Network welcomed the Minster’s commitment to improving heritage legislation and will be making a submission to the review of Aboriginal protections and the Environmental Planning and Assessment reforms.
The Minister was presented with a framed historic poster of the Duckenfield farms area, where she lives. The plan is part of the University’s Cultural Collections treasures and can be seen in high resolution here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/5907232177/
For more info: http://hunterheritagenetwork.org/
On the same day, Mr Alan Williams (AHMS) addressed the Hunter Heritage Network Seminar at the University of Newcastle (Australia), and spoke about his work on the archaeological dig at the former Palais Royale/now KFC site in Newcastle West (Australia).
For more information and copy of the final report on the Aboriginal heritage of the site: http://hunterlivinghistories.com/2011/05/20/aboriginal-archaeological-report-for-former-palais-site-released/