GEM OF TIME RECIPIENT - DR RONDA JAMIESON 2010
Ronda is an acknowledged expert in the recording and preservation of Western Australia’s history as well as being a loved mentor and much admired leader. Knowledgeable and passionate about Western Australia’s history and heritage, Ronda has the unique ability to inspire the people around her to strive for and achieve excellence in their work.
In 1978 she joined the State Library and soon became renowned for her expertise as the State’s foremost oral historian and conducted hundreds of interviews for the Library. Ronda was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1991 which allowed her to travel overseas to investigate best practice in oral history. For her services to the profession, she was made a life member of the Oral History Association of Australia.
As Manager of the State Library’s Preservation Services Ronda introduced reforms and significant improvements to ensure that the State’s unique documentary history was superbly cared for and made available for research.
In 1998 Ronda was appointed Director of the J S Battye Library of West Australian History and worked tirelessly to extend and improve the library’s services and enlist broad public support in the task of collecting, preserving, promoting, and making its collections more accessible. She was adept in obtaining several large grants for the Battye Library and was the guiding force behind the successful bid for a $3 million Lotterywest grant sought in partnership with the Friends of Battye Library and other key Western Australian history organisations. The resultant Historical Records Rescue Consortium (HRRC) has been outstandingly successful in preserving our unique newspapers, photographs and film.
Despite her busy life at the Library, Ronda has found time to research and produce a number of important works on Western Australian history. While Director of the Battye Library she completed a PhD with her thesis on Country storekeeping. Since retiring from the library in 2005 she has researched and written the definitive biography of Sir Charles Court. In addition, Ronda is also deeply committed to volunteer work in the community.
The Friends of the Battye Library (Inc.) would like to add to Ronda’s many awards and achievements and show our appreciation of her commitment and generosity by listing her as a “Gem of Time”