Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History

The Oral History Association of Australia (OHAA) has established an award to recognise members who have made an outstanding contribution to the cause of oral history in Australia over a considerable period of time. The Award is not restricted to members of the Oral History Association of Australia. The inaugural award was presented at the International Oral History Association

To commemorate her pioneering work in oral history, the award has been named the Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History.

The recipient shall be the nominee deemed by the National Committee of the OHAA to have, over a considerable period of time, made an outstanding contribution to oral history in Australia through one or more of the following:

• the raising of awareness of oral history within the profession
• the promotion of oral history within the history community
• the recording and documentation of oral history
• the preservation and archiving of oral history collections
• such other contribution to oral history as the OHAA considers worthy of recognition

Nominations must be received by 5 pm on Friday 12 July 2013 hazel_de_berg_call__nominationform_jan.2013.pdf (330.42 KB)

This is an opportunity to recognize Oral Historians who have given excellent and valuable service to the oral history movement   

2013 The Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History. 

The Award is open to everyone and is offered by the Oral History Association of Australia. It will be presented at the biennial Oral History Conference to be held in Adelaide 21-24 September 2013.   Closing date for nominations is 12 July 2013. 

As contributions may be made in a variety of ways, the award criteria provide for activities that further the practice and appreciation of oral history through the raising of awareness within the profession; the promotion of oral history within the history community; the recording and documentation of oral history; the preservation and archiving of oral history collections; and, to ensure that other significant efforts are not overlooked, such other contributions to oral history considered worthy of recognition.

The award was named in honour of Hazel de Berg in recognition of her pioneering work in oral history. From 1957, Hazel documented Australia's social history by recording poets, novelists, historians, painters, musicians and scientists - people who were contributing to the ongoing intellectual life of Australia. A significant number of her interviews are now held in the oral history collection of the National Library of Australia as the Hazel de Berg Oral History Collection, acollectionwhich comprises approximately 1300 hour-long taped interviews.

The De Berg family generously offered to provide the award and arranged for its design by the glass artist Brian Hirst. It is an attractive ellipsoid-shaped clear glass ornament into which aqua glass has been injected in the shape of a microphone with speech bubbles.

Anyone can make a nomination and there is no impediment to a person nominating themself. This national award presents the opportunity to give public recognition and encouragement not only to the recipient but to the important role of oral history.

Frank Heimans was awarded the Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History at the OHAA National Conference, Melbourne, 2011. 

For information about Frank Heimans' achievements and a full list of the award winners please go to: 

Hazel de Berg Award for Excellence in Oral History