http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/ The latest from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House blog en-au Symphony http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/south-hedland-celebrates/ Wed, 16 May 2012 14:53:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/south-hedland-celebrates/ Still in South Hedland and the joy we are experiencing from this community continued with two days spent at South Hedland Primary School. The kids amazed us with their confidence, abilities, happiness and spirit. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/stanley-bruce-bust/ Mon, 14 May 2012 10:29:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/stanley-bruce-bust/ ‘Shyness and reserve … obscures the warmth, sensitiveness, and acute perceptions’ of rulers, said sculptor Kathleen Scott. Her fine bust of Stanley Bruce makes the point. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/tea-sugar-and-glad-wrap/ Thu, 10 May 2012 10:04:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/tea-sugar-and-glad-wrap/ Here we are in Port Hedland, a town that would appear a stereotypical mining town full of high vis people in high vis cars, with high vis flags that always seem to be in reverse because the beeping never stops. A town where even the shopping trolley handles are stained the colour of iron ore. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/canberra-travel-posters/ Wed, 09 May 2012 09:22:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/canberra-travel-posters/ As Old Parliament House celebrates its 85th birthday museum curators have taken the opportunity to shine a spotlight on one of its collections, which features attractive images of the building. This collection of Canberra travel posters, generously donated by Canberra resident Peter Graves, presents the Provisional Parliament House (later Old Parliament House) as the central Canberra feature. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/from-the-oral-history-collection-fred-johnson/ Wed, 09 May 2012 09:09:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/from-the-oral-history-collection-fred-johnson/ In the mid-1920s, construction of the Provisional Parliament House meant that Canberra provided job opportunities for hundreds of workers and tradesmen from around the nation. Indeed, some say it was the largest construction site in Australia at that time. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/staff-gone-mad/ Tue, 08 May 2012 15:35:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/staff-gone-mad/ If you visited the museum in past couple of weeks you may have seen staff members crawling around on their hands and knees looking at the furniture. There is a perfectly good reason for this… our annual stocktake! http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/up-again-down-again/ Fri, 04 May 2012 09:22:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/up-again-down-again/ Up again, down again. This is how I can best describe an intense week of testing that challenged many of us both physically and emotionally. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/ethereal-eye-concert/ Tue, 01 May 2012 09:08:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/ethereal-eye-concert/ On 17 May the museum will host the Canberra International Music Festival’s concert Ethereal Eye. This year the concert will be staged in King’s Hall, with video imagery designed by Ian de Gruchy projected onto the ceiling. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/the-pilbara-comes-to-perth/ Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:53:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/the-pilbara-comes-to-perth/ It wasn’t your average venue for a fine art exhibition but remember this is Marnti warajanga which is not your average touring exhibition. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/students-discover-who-s-the-boss-in-australia-s-democracy/ Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:41:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/students-discover-who-s-the-boss-in-australia-s-democracy/ Our Schools Learning team has refreshed the popular Who’s the Boss learning program to include a new role-play in the historic Senate chamber. This will provide students with an opportunity to explore the unique, historic role of the Governor-General in Australia’s democracy. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/what-does-chocolate-have-to-do-with-democracy/ Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:22:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/what-does-chocolate-have-to-do-with-democracy/ Currently on display in the museum’s Living Democracy exhibition is this shop display cabinet associated with chocolate producers J S Fry & Sons and dating from c. 1910. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/mr-speaker/ Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:30:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/mr-speaker/ At the beginning of March a Queensland Times newspaper read “Slipper tally: 26 pollies ejected”, and a few days later a headline in the Age shouted “The revenge of Peter Slipper”. Similar headlines have been common in recent months as new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Peter Slipper, has removed a number of prominent Members from the House for poor conduct and language. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/the-newman-political-tradition/ Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:22:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/the-newman-political-tradition/ The recent election of Campbell Newman as Queensland Premier offers the museum a chance to remind visitors of his role as the next generation of a remarkable political family. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/free-coat-of-arms-school-holiday-program/ Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:07:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/free-coat-of-arms-school-holiday-program/ Come and join us at the museum to discover some fascinating facts about the Australian Coat of Arms, the Royal Coat of Arms and other coats of arms from around the world. Consider what symbols are important to you and create your own personal or family coat of arms. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/from-the-oral-history-collection-hon-michael-mackellar/ Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:05:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/from-the-oral-history-collection-hon-michael-mackellar/ The Hon. Michael MacKellar represented Warringah in the House of Representatives between 1969 and 1994 and held five ministerial posts between 1975 and 1982. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/marnti-warajanga-a-walk-together-new-learning-resource/ Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:54:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/marnti-warajanga-a-walk-together-new-learning-resource/ The Museum of Australian Democracy recently launched a new education resource to assist teachers and their students’ engagement with the Marnti warajanga — a walk together exhibition. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/shedding-a-little-light-on-things/ Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:07:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/shedding-a-little-light-on-things/ Last week we sent our puppet of Sir John Kerr, usually on display in the Prime Ministers of Australia exhibition, off to the National Museum of Australia for light fade testing. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/marnti-warajanga-pilbara-tour-to-hit-the-road-soon/ Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:11:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/marnti-warajanga-pilbara-tour-to-hit-the-road-soon/ Eight weeks, fifteen venues, six towns and 85 workshops. This is the large and exciting task for the Marnti warajanga Pilbara touring itinerary. http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/mystery-solved/ Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:10:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/mystery-solved/ Thanks to The Canberra Times and ABC 666 spreading the word, we have found out more about the Julia Gillard/Tony Abbott T-shirt! http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/moad-celebrates-women-s-achievements-in-women-s-history-month/ Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:16:00 +1000 http://moadoph.gov.au/blog/moad-celebrates-women-s-achievements-in-women-s-history-month/ March is Women’s History Month and the museum is celebrating women’s achievements in a number of ways.