Vale Pat Gallaher OAM

Patricia 'Pat' Gallaher OAM was one of the inaugural members of the ALIA Retirees Group, having devoted almost 30 years to delivering exceptional public library services in regional Western Australia, in Paraburdoo, Karratha and Geraldton as well as serving on the Library Board of Western Australia. 

Photo credit: State Library of Western Australia

Pat began her working life as a laboratory technician in Sheffield. She emigrated to Australia and worked at the Defence Standards Laboratories in Alexandria, Sydney.  Her first library job was at Mosman Public Library in Sydney. Moving a few years later to Western Australia, Pat Gallaher worked in public libraries in regional areas for almost 30 years. She held positions in Paraburdoo and Karratha, and then for 20 years as the regional librarian for the City of Geraldton (1981-2001). While at Geraldton Library Pat introduced many new services and developments, including a service to house-bound residents, the internet, and an automated library management system. Pat also oversaw extensions to the Library and established the local studies collection.

Recognizing a need to foster young writers, Pat initiated the Randolph Stow Young Writers Award in 1989 to encourage school students in the Geraldton region of Western Australia to write. Pat Gallaher served on many committees promoting regional arts, including the Geraldton Arts Council and as a board member of Country Arts WA. In 1987 Pat formed the Mid West regional chapter of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).

Pat Gallaher joined the Library Board of Western Australia in 2002 as the representative for the Western Australian Local Government Association and served a four year term to 2006. She was named as a Fellow of the Library Board in 2011, in recognition for her commitment to libraries and the arts in regional Western Australia. She was interviewed on 28 October 2013 as part of the Library Board of Western Australia 60th anniversary project.

Pat remained involved with the library profession in her retirement, helping to establish the Retirees section of the Australian Library and Information Association.  Following her retirement from the Geraldton Library, Pat was elected to the Geraldton City Council, serving on the municipal council from 2001-2003.

In 2003 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts and to the community, particularly as a regional librarian. In 2011 she was made a Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia.

Pat Gallaher died in Perth, Western Australia on 11 December 2014.

Source: Patricia Gallaher. (2015, February 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:45, March 23, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patricia_Gallaher&oldid=645590144

Vale Betty Cox (nee Malthus) 1925 - 2011

Betty Malthus was appointed Chief Librarian of  Blacktown Municipal Council in 1966 to plan and establish a public library in Blacktown. The library opened in April 1967 and was an immediate success with the population.  Prior to her appointment at Blacktown, Betty was Chief Librarian of Manly Municipal Library for the period 1961 to 1966.

While Betty was at Blacktown Library, she planned and managed the establishment of 4 branch libraries (Lalor Park - 1968, Mount Druitt - 1977, Riverstone – 1978, Quakers Hill – 1983). She was also instrumental in the planning and organisation of the move to a new building for Blacktown library, renamed the Max Webber Library in 1980. She also oversaw the expansion of Lalor Park branch from a children’s only to a full adult and children’s library.

During her stewardship of the library service, many innovative programmes and co-operative ventures were developed, resulting in the library being named “the best” library in Sydney by the Sydney Morning Herald in 1981.

Betty acknowledged that playing a role in the rapidly changing development in the Blacktown Council area was rewarding both professionally and personally. Her contribution to the development of the library service and Blacktown up till her retirement in 1990 was incalculable and should always be remembered.

Betty is survived by beloved husband Laurie Cox.

Vale Norman Horrocks

ALIA is saddened to inform members and the library community of the death of Norman Horrocks, professor emeritus, School of Information Management, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, who died peacefully during the night 14 October.

In 2006, Norman was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his lifetime devotion to library and information science and was the only person to have been elected to Honorary Membership in the three national library associations, Canadian, British, and American. Norman was very proud of his membership of four national library associations, those of Canada, UK, USA and Australia and his links with colleagues in those countries were highly valued. His loss will be felt by many in the countries where he made his home at various times and throughout the world.

Vale - Bob McKee CILIP CEO

Bob McKee PhD MCLIP FRSA

At the time of his death Bob McKee was Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). He was previously Chief Executive of The Library Association, one of CILIP’s predecessor bodies. Bob was a prominent member of the library and information community. Bob was attending the International Federation of Library Associations Congress in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was attending the meeting as a member of the Governing Board and Executive Committee of IFLA.

Vale ~ Suzanne Mourot

Miss Suzanne Mourot held the position of Mitchell Librarian at the State Library of NSW between 1973 and 1979. Last week she passed away at the age of 91.

Miss Mourot was born in New Caledonia. She joined the Public Library in 1944. Her considerable talents were quickly realised and she worked across the Library's collections, both published and unpublished. She was particularly interested in collection arrangement, and was instrumental in regularising the cataloguing and description of the pictures and manuscript collection during the late 1950s. Her roles included Manuscript Librarian, Dixson Librarian, with responsibility too, for the pictures collection.

At various times she also held the positions of Deputy Mitchell Librarian and Associate Mitchell Librarian, before being appointed Mitchell Librarian in 1973. She retired in 1979. Her corporate history, however, does little to capture the respect and high regard with which she was held, and the influence she had on this Library. Miss Mourot was widely admired for her authority and knowledge of the collections she administered, and she was keenly involved with their interpretation and promotion. She led the very successful Captain Cook Bicentennial Exhibition in 1970.

Vale - Alan Smith

Alan Smith, former Professor of Distance and e-Learning at the Central Queensland University, and acting university librarian from 2005 to 2006, died last week after a short illness.

Vale ~ Paul Reynolds

New Zealand internet commentator Paul Reynolds has died suddenly. He served on the New Zealand Government Digital Strategy Advisory Group, the Capability Panel for the Advanced Network (KAREN), the New Zealand Library and Information Advisory Commission, and the board of Auckland War Memorial Museum. Much more detail about his contribution to the library industry in New Zealand and Australia (via NSLA) is included in the notice on Hard News.

Paul was an avid blogger and shared his insights in presentations and articles. Paul's final presentation : Living and learning in the cloud is available on his blog.

Vale ~ Marlene Magee

Marlene Magee worked at Redland Libraries for almost 25 years in roles that enabled her to help people in the community, something she loved to do. She was the very hard working Outreach Services Librarian for the last 10 years and prior to that she was a wonderful and much loved Mobile Library Assistant.

Library staff and Marlene's many friends across council and in the library world will miss her sense of humour, tremendous energy and positive outlook as well as her courage and determination. Marlene was known as the "networker par excellence" and has friends everywhere through her great commitment to her job, her sporting activities and her other community involvement.

Vale ~ Kay Poustie OAM

Colleagues and friends are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kay Poustie OAM, ALIA Fellow, on 29 October 2009, after a brief illness.

Kay was a deeply respected and treasured colleague whose immense contribution and passion for public library services was recognised Australia wide, and in international circles. Kay will be sorely missed, but her legacy to the library profession and public library members will live on.

Kay contributed tirelessly to the library and information profession and to the promotion of ALIA throughout her 46 years of ALIA membership. Through her positions in the WA Branch, the Public Libraries section (WA Group) and on the ALIA Board of Education, Kay influenced the development of the library and information profession in Australia. She contributed to the quality of public libraries and was dedicated to the delivery of excellent service and to ensuring free access to information through the public library system. Kay worked unstintingly to raise the awareness of influential decision-makers about the importance of public libraries.

Kay was also committed to the importance of continuing professional development. She generously shared her broad experience with colleagues; her enthusiasm for ALIA and the professional comradeship it offers encouraged others to support and enjoy the Association. As part of that commitment, she was chair of the finance committee for the first ALIA Biennial Conference held in Perth in 1990, and then returned as program chair of the ALIA Biennial Conference when it was held again in Perth in 2006.

Kay's activities were not restricted to the field of librarianship. She was active in the wider community through Zonta International, an international service organisation for executives in business and the professions, and from 1989 to 1992 served on the Board of Meath Homes for the Aged in Western Australia.

Kay was awarded an ALIA fellowship in 1997. Her Fellowship citation provides more details of her contributions to ALIA and our profession.

In 2008, Kay was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the library and information services sector, to the community through the Zonta International movement, and to aged welfare.

ALIA mourns the passing of a very distinguished ALIA member.

Jan Richards
ALIA President

Vale ~ Olive Riley ... World's oldest blogger

Olive Riley - the "world's oldest blogger" passed away this week at the grand age of 108. Mrs Riley was born in 1899 in Broken Hill, Australia, when Queen Victoria was still on the throne, and survived two World Wars and the Great Depression.

Her blog is "The Life of Riley" at Olive left school in 1914 and was introduced to blogging at age 106.

For more information see this feature from the Google Blogger team.

Vale ~ John Merewether

John Merewether, one of the State Library of NSW volunteers, supporters and benefactors died late last week after being in ill health for some time.

John had a special affection for and devotion to the Library. He was very proud of his family heritage and relationships with David Scott Mitchell, who was his great-great uncle. In 2007, the centenary year of David Scott Mitchell's bequest, John gave a most generous benefaction to establish two annual fellowships, the David Scott Mitchell Fellowship and the Merewether Scholarship for the study of Australian and New South Wales history.

Vale ~ Harrison Bryan

ALIA is saddened to inform members and the library community of the death of Harrison Bryan AO MA Hon LLD FASSA FLAA, on 12 February 2008 at the age of 84.

A pillar of the Association, he served as a member of the General Council for a record 25 years including two as President in 1973 and 1974. His many other important contributions to the Association, also included a period as Editor of Australian Library Journal (1954—1957 and 1980-1981).

Harrison Bryan’s career in libraries began at the University of Queensland where he later held the position of University Librarian from 1950 to 1963. In that year he moved to the University of Sydney as University Librarian until 1980 when he became Director General of the National Library of Australia, a position he held until 1985. Throughout his career Harrison Bryan was always concerned with the development of library services in Australia.

In 1984, in recognition of his outstanding service to the library and information profession in Australia, the Association conferred on him the HCL Anderson award, the highest honour that can be bestowed on an Associate member. In the same year he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for public service, in particular in the area of librarianship.

The funeral will be in Melbourne.

Library commemorates life of Sir Edmund Hillary

Christchurch City Libraries has created an information page about Sir Edmund Hillary in response to the many enquiries they have received since his passing was announced.

Vale ~ Andrea Stretton

Andrea Stretton, arts journalist and devotee of (Australian) literature, has died at the age of 55. Andrea and her mother Dulcie were great supporters of children's literature and reading, and of the CBCA. Both are honoured, and missed.

Vale Harold Weir

"Harold Weir, Parliamentary Librarian from 1978 to 1982 and distinguished staff member prior to his appointment, passed away in late August. He made a very considerable contribution to the establishment of the library's research services, particularly the establishment of high-quality service and was instrumental in much of the early automation, including the implementation of word processing, connection to external databases and development of staff skills. His contribution lives on through the successful Bills digest service, the research service itself and the use of new information technologies."' inCite, November 2007, volume 28, issue 11, page 41

Vale ~ Barbara Abbott 1943-2007

"Barbara Abbott, a respected ALIA member for almost forty years, died tragically in a road accident in Tasmania in April. Barbara was a committed reference librarian who is remembered by colleagues as an approachable, friendly person who would always go out of her way to help others..." Incite, October 2007 Vol 28, Issue 10

Vale ~ Helen Hoffmann

Our colleague Helen Hoffmann passed away on 15 October. Helen was a terrific contributor to ALIA, particularly as ALIA representative on the Australian Committee on Cataloguing (ACOC) from 1981 to 2003. An ALIA silver pin recipient in 2004, Helen was active in the Victorian Group as well. She joined La Trobe University Library in 1969 and made a major contribution to collection growth and access. She was Chief Cataloguer at La Trobe from 1977 until she retired in 2003. Many ALIA members benefited from Helen's advice and thoughts. She contributed to her profession through many committees, conference papers, journal articles and reports. We will all miss her.

Vale Mary-Jane Gleeson

Mary-Jane Gleeson died on 17 August 2007.

Mary-Jane made a significant contribution to the State Library of NSW during her time there. In particular, Mary-Jane leaves a tremendous legacy to present and future Librarians through her work on the Pay Equity case conducted in the Industrial Relations Commission in 2001 and 2002, which, in turn, led to the new industrial award for Librarian-related classifications. There is little doubt that through her leadership, intellectual ability, commitment, strategic thinking and solid hard work, Mary-Jane was perhaps the single most important contributing factor to this achievement. Some of us also knew Mary-Jane on a more personal level - as a friend and colleague who had great warmth and humanity and who commanded enormous respect both personally and professionally. Those of us who knew her feel her loss deeply.

Vale - Joyce Fardell

Joyce Fardell, one of the "matriarchs" of school libraries in New South Wales, has died recently aged 84. As a long serving Head of Library Services for the (now) NSW Department of Education and Training, Joyce played a highly influential role in improving school library facilities and ensuring the teacher-librarians who staffed them were well-qualified to do so. A passion for children's literature remained with her throughout her life. A tribute to Joyce appears in the September 2007 issue of inCite, with additional information about the many facets of her career a letter to the editor in the October issue.