Wednesday, 16 August 2023

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (19:19): (299) The matter I raise is for the Premier. The action I seek is that he ensures the government restores funding for local history, particularly the local history grants program and the Victorian community history awards. It was extremely disappointing to see the Andrews government’s decision to cut funding for local history groups and initiatives in their recent 2023–24 state budget without any consultation or explanation, putting at risk the vital and valuable work that local history groups do right across Victoria.

I seek this action on behalf of many groups and historians across my community who have contacted me to express their concern and their dismay about Premier Andrews and his Labor government’s harsh cuts. I value the work the Mount Evelyn History Group, Lilydale & District Historical Society, Yarra Valley Italian Cultural Group, Mooroolbark History Group and the Association of Eastern Historical Societies and the many clubs and groups under that umbrella. I share their disappointment about the funding being stripped from these important programs, including those that have been run through the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and Public Record Office Victoria since the late 1990s. Sadly, history does not appear to be a priority for the Andrews Labor government, and these cuts are a short-sighted decision. I pay tribute to the many volunteers involved in our local history groups who dedicate countless hours of work for the benefit of our local community and indeed the state, including Maria McCarthy, Luigi Fotia and Mary Tabacchiera at the Yarra Valley Italian Cultural Group, Paula Herlihy of Mount Evelyn History Group, Sue Thompson of Lilydale & District Historical Society, Marion Stott of the Mooroolbark History Group and all the amazing members involved with these volunteer groups.

These and the many community-based historical societies right across Victoria should be valued more, not less, because they provide a way for local people to come together, share stories, conduct research and document local historical issues and events, and of course most importantly they educate our young people. They go out to our schools and talk to our young people about history and the importance of that and how we can learn for the future, all for the greater benefit of our local community through the Lilydale district and Yarra Valley and of course right across the state of Victoria. Again, I ask the Premier to take action to restore the funding for local history.