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Lighthouses
of Australia Inc |
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About Lighthouses of Australia Inc |
Lighthouses of Australia Inc is an organisation which was originally developed as the Lighthouses of Australia Project to promote and coordinate the presentation of Australian lighthouses on the internet. Originally conceived by Malcolm Macdonald, it has been extended to undertake the preservation, protection and promotion of lighthouse heritage within Australia, with the formation of Lighthouses of Australia Inc.
Lighthouses of Australia Inc was formed in 2002, and is a result of a merger between the Lighthouses of Australia Project and the Australian Lighthouse Association.
The
Australian Lighthouse Association (ALA) was founded in 1980 and
functioned as a lobby group, campaigning for the future of
lighthouses. New technology threatened the continued provision of
visual navaids, and the de-manning of the Australian lighthouses
appeared inevitable. The ALA mounted a vigorous campaign to
highlight the importance of the lights to fishermen and
recreational sailors, and draw attention to the dangers of neglect
and vandalism to these priceless heritage assets.
Lobbying by the ALA led to the establishment of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Committee that produced a report "Who will keep the Keepers", which recommended an orderly process for the removal of traditional keepers from our lights as they were automated, and measures to ensure that vulnerable locations be not left un-manned. Sadly, the ALA fought a losing battle to keep the keepers on the lights.
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Photograph: Deborah Taylor |
The Lighthouses of Australia Project (LoAP) was founded by Malcolm Macdonald in 1997, to represent and promote Australian lighthouses on the Internet and provide a central resource of Internet links to other Australian lighthouse websites. A monthly emailed bulletin was developed to advise supporters of new pages on the site, to acknowledge those who had contributed, and to keep enthusiasts informed of news and reports concerning historic Australian lighthouses.
In
early 2001, LoAP was established as an incorporated body to allow
other interested people to assist the Project in a formal way, and
was renamed Lighthouses of Australia Inc (LoA Inc).
The ALA recognised the vitality of the young organisation (LoA Inc), and it was decided to bring the two organisations together to effectively carry the baton.
In early 2002, the ALA disbanded and transferred to LoA Inc. The ALA logo motto was combined with the adoption of LoA Inc's masthead lighthouse to produce a dynamic new logo, and with the adoption of the ALA motto, "Preserve, Protect, Promote", it created a broader sense of direction for LoA Inc.
The merger gave LoA Inc, a largely Internet-based organisation, an opportunity to ground itself and accommodate many of the original ALA members who did not have Internet access, by agreeing to take over the ALA's hardcopy newsletter, Prism.
Prism
was redesigned by its new editor, Denise Shultz, and is published
bi-monthly in an informative and easy-to-read format.
Lighthouses of Australia Inc aims to create a higher profile for Australian lighthouses within Australia and overseas and thereby preserve, protect and promote their place within our history.
Functions of LoA Inc
1. To use the Internet to provide photographic essays detailing a brief technical description of each lighthouse, its history, issues, location and surrounding areas.
2. To create and distribute a free monthly email newsletter, the Bulletin, which is emailed to subscribers who have an interest in lighthouses and a wish to be informed. The Bulletin also includes news, documents, special events and conservation issues. The hard-copy newsletter, Prism, is mailed to all financial members.
3. To bring together all those who have an interest in Australian lighthouses, into one effective organisation.
The aim is to create a higher profile for Australian lighthouses within Australia and overseas.
| 1. | Collect and archive oral and written history about the maritime heritage of the lighthouses of Australia including information in a variety of forms such as photos, memorabilia, plans, family anecdotes, letters and keeper details. |
| 2. | Keep members and the general public informed about the maritime heritage of the lighthouses of Australia and aware of current developments and issues relating to the protection of that heritage. |
| 3. | Support local action groups that provide opportunities for involvement in the protection of lighthouses and their associated buildings. |
| 4. | Provide opportunities to bring together those who share a common interest in Australian lighthouses at a local, state and national level. |
Join LoA Inc
LoA Inc pro-actively works towards promoting Australian lighthouses via printed newsletters and the LoA Inc website, as well as corresponding with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, other government departments, ex-lightkeepers, caretakers and interested people.
If you love lighthouses, and wish to be involved with Australia’s main lighthouse interest group – join LoA Inc. Members receive a membership card and copies of the bi-monthly printed journal Prism. The monthly Bulletin is freely available to subscribers with Internet access.
The LoA Inc committee comprises thirteen positions held by people all across Australia. Regular meetings, including an AGM, are held throughout the year.
Committee members and ex-lighthouse personnel often meet socially with relatives and other friends, usually at a lighthouse.
Members of LoA Inc are welcome to assist in any way they can, to preserve, protect and promote lighthouses in their area. Join LoA Inc now by completing the application form.
Preserve, Protect, Promote
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