The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) and University of Queensland (UQ)
conducted a workshop in Adelaide on 9/10 July 2016 for the Wikipedia Paralympic
history component of the History of the Paralympic Movement in Australia (HOPAU).
This weekend also coincided with the launch of Don Worley’s films by the APC
and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on Monday 11 July. On the
second day of the workshop, Adelaide Paralympians joined the group for lunch
and a panel discussion that further explored aspects of Paralympic history.
Goals
and strategies
· Increase
the number of editors involved in the Wikipedia dimension of the Paralympic History
Project by recruiting existing editors to the project, training new editors and
training existing, interested supporters as editors.
· Up
skill existing editors.
· Create
excitement around the project before the Rio Games
· Create
a connection between Don Worley’s footage and the Paralympic History Project
Key
strategies to achieve these goals:
· Conduct
a workshop in the months leading up to the Rio games
· Use
Adelaide as a venue, because no HOPAU workshops had been conducted there and
there is a strong disability sport following in Adelaide
· Promote
the workshop as widely as possible within potential target groups using social
media and networks of supporters.
· Show
how Don Worley’s films can be utilised to create more dynamic content for the
Paralympic History Project
· Find
the requirements for putting clips from the Don Worley films into Wikipedia
articles
· Past
Paralympian panel discussion
Venue
The
State Library of South Australia was very cooperative and negotiated a
discounted rate for the use of their Heztel Lecture Theatre. Essential venue
requirements were Wi-Fi access, wheelchair access, tables and chairs, catering
and projection facilities.
The
venue location was perfect, central for those staying at the group hotel and those
who lived locally, close to parking areas
Twelve
participants in total – with an additional 5 on the Sunday for lunch and a panel
discussion:
·
Elizabeth
Edmondson – 1964 and 1968 Paralympian. HOPAU member. (Perth based)
·
Lyn
Lillecrapp – 1976, 1988, 1992 Paralympian. HOPAU member. (Adelaide local)
·
Julie
Russell - 1980, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1998 Paralympian, HOPAU member, (Adelaide
local)
·
Greg
Blood – HOPAU member from Canberra and prominent Wikipedian, (Canberra based)
·
Ross
Mallett- prominent Wikipedian (flew from Melbourne to attend)
·
Murray
Phillips – UQ sports historian responsible for writing the History of the Paralympic
Movement in Australia, (Brisbane based)
·
Gary
Osmond – UQ Sports historian working on the History of the Parylmpic Games
Project, (Brisbane based)
·
Ciara
Mahady – UQ research assistant and event convenor, (Brisbane based)
·
Lauren
Robertson – Australian Paralympic Committee Public Relations Intern, (Sydney based)
·
Tony
Naar – Facilitator of the History of the Paralympic Movement in Australia
Project and Organiser of the Don Worley Film Exhibition, (Sydney based)
·
Patricia
Ollerenshaw – HOPAU member and APC Volunteer Historian, (Sydney based)
·
Don
Worley – Creator of historic Paralympic footage , (Adelaide local)
Sunday
only – Paralympians panel and lunch:
·
Libby
Kosmala
·
Stan
Kosmala
·
Sue
Twelftree
·
Troy
Andrews
·
Kevin
Munro
Issues
·
Advertising of
event could have been expanded to attract additional local disability sport
groups
·
There was a lack
of existing HOPAU editors in Adelaide to build the workshop around.
·
Attempts were
made to target new contributors to attend, but this remains an ongoing issue.
Outcomes
· Participants were
provided with an overview and update on the progress of the History Project:
the written book, the Ehistory and the Wikipedia articles.
· The contributions
of attendees to the development of Wikipedia articles were summarised and
documented.
· The contributions
of Wikipedia editors working at the University of Canberra and the University
of Queensland were summarized and documented. Plans for the development of
future Wikipedia articles from the Universities of Canberra and Queensland were
discussed.
· Existing HOPAU
members were up skilled and now have the confidence and capacity to upload
images and edit articles.
· The State Library
of Adelaide has been identified as an excellent venue for future events and a
relationship has been established with the venue manager.
· After a
considerable break since the previous workshop, the project has developed new
momentum through the workshop.
· A connection
between film and print information was highlighted
· Past Paralmpians
gained knowledge about the Project and were able to have input about the
direction
· Requirements for
putting clips from the Don Worley films into Wikipedia articles were identified
as follows:
o OGG standard
o Length of clips- limited by MB capacity, larger clips
to be uploaded through WMF
o Most films just 3-6 seconds of individuals – who will
be responsible for this?
o Films linked through articles – i.e. games articles
linked to YouTube channel
o Copyrights/ Music Copyrights
o Potential uses for the E-History
o The need for ongoing collection of additional videos
Recommendations
· UQ
and the APC to put together a program of workshops and other events for the
remainder of the project.
· Conduct
the next workshop in Perth in late 2016. Initiate preliminary work for the
preparation of the Perth Wikipedia workshop.
· Ensure
sufficient experienced editors attend each workshop to provide one-to-one time
with inexperienced editors so that each person can develop skills at their own
pace and focus on the specific areas of interest to them. This proved to be a
great advantage of this workshop compared to previous workshops, where the inexperienced
felt somewhat overwhelmed.
· Clearly
identify the specific history project needs which can be addressed by HOPAU
project participants and be ready to work with them to achieve those by
developing the requisite skills at workshops.
·
Provide
sufficient notice to maximise participation at workshops.
Appreciation
· Steve
Burrows, Administration and Venues Coordinator, State Library of Adelaide
· All
attendees for giving up their time to participate
· Libby
Kosmala, Stan Kosmala, Sue Twelftree, Troy Andrews, Kevin Munro, Lyn
Lillecrapp, Julie Russell, Elizabeth Edmondson for attending and sharing their
insights
Report prepared by Ciara Mahady.
Report prepared by Ciara Mahady.