Support for Bushfire Victims

Our thoughts are with everyone who has lost so much in the current tragic fires.

If you are looking for information on what to do about saving or conserving records and archives please look at the great advice on the website of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials.

While many things may have been lost, some things can be saved.

General handling advice (from the AICCM):

• Minimise handling of damaged material - handling surfaces can drive soot and other particulates further into fabrics and other porous materials and make them impossible to remove.
• Avoid handling objects by damaged or weakened areas - e.g support ceramics from the base, rather than lifting by handles.
• Avoid placing pressure on blistered or lifting surfaces - e.g. on paintings and photographs.
• Place items in supportive boxes or plastic containers until you can obtain further advice.
• Keep dirty, wet or fire-damaged items separate from cleaner/drier items to prevent contamination.
• Place wet items in areas with good air circulation to aid drying and to help prevent mould growth.

You may also want to look at a great downloadable booklet called Bushfires... Protect Your Precious Possessions developed by the University of Melbourne with funding from Emergency Management Australia.

If you are from a historical society or a community museum or if you are responsible for a local collection of cultural material which has been damaged or destroyed by the fires please contact us at PROV. We would like to offer you some help and support. Contact 9348 5600 and ask for Margaret Sawyers or Lauren Bourke.

If you are from a local government authority and you have records which may have been damaged or destroyed please contact us on 9348 5600 and ask for Merrick Morris.

Fire-damaged track and bridge over the Loch river, Loch Valley timber tramway, after the 1926 fires

VPRS 12800/P7, C0204

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