Queensland’s memories will be kept alive through the latest scholarships awarded by the State Library of Queensland.
State Librarian and Chief Executive Officer Vicki McDonald said the major $25,000 John Oxley Library Fellowship had been awarded to Dr Zhila Gholami’s project Voices of Diversity: Collecting and preserving the refugee experience in Queensland.
Ms McDonald said the project would involve the collection of stories, photographs and oral histories from refugees who have recently settled in Queensland.
She said the research would document the journeys, contributions and cultural impact of refugees by collaborating with community organisations and support groups to gather diverse materials that explore the fabric of multicultural Queensland.
“Dr Gholami’s project will primarily focus on Kurdish (Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey), Iranian, and Afghan communities.”
Ms McDonald said the scholarship was awarded as part of the annual Queensland Memory Awards which recognised contributions to the documentation, preservation, and celebration of Queensland’s memory, past and present.
“The Queensland Memory Awards help bring history alive by shining a light on Queensland’s diverse, surprising and little-known histories.
“The 2025 fellows will create new knowledge on fascinating and important topics like the social and economic contribution of refugees and businesswomen to Queensland.”
She said the 11 Queensland Memory fellowships and awards supported researchers and creatives to interpret the significant collections of the John Oxley Library and State Library with $140,000 awarded across 9 fellowship categories.
The other 2025 Queensland Memory Award winners are:
- John Oxley Library Honorary Fellowship (12-month residency): Dr Indigo Willing for her
project Qld Skate of mind: subcultural game changers to Olympian ‘roll’ models’. - John Oxley Library Award: Marianne Taylor. Recognised for passionately researching and
sharing the hidden histories of houses, generously contributing to the Queensland heritage
community through free talks, social media and volunteer work. - John Oxley Library Community History Award ($5000 supported by the Queensland
Library Foundation): Cairns and District Chinese Association Heritage Team.
Recognised for their work with the Lit Sung Goong collection of religious artifacts. The items
will be accessible to the public in 2025 following the completion of a Chinese Cultural Centre
in Cairns, marking 23 years of dedicated conservation and cataloguing efforts led by
Heritage Coordinator Mary Low and volunteer conservator Jacky Tam. - Monica Clare Research Fellowship ($20,000 funded by the Siganto Foundation plus a
12-month residency): Nerelle Nicol for her project Lugger Bort an ambitious social
history research, dedicated to the working life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the
pearling, Bech-de-Mer and trochus industries in northern Queensland. - Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame Fellowship ($15,000 funded by the John
Allpass Charitable Foundation plus a 12-month residency): Dr Joanne Dolley for her
project Businesswomen of Queensland: the histories and successes of Queensland
businesswomen pre-1970. - Qld Heritage Register Fellowship ($20,000 supported by the Heritage
Branch, Department of Environment, Science and Innovation plus a 12-month
residency): Dr Kate Kirby for her project Patterns of Queensland’s sport and recreation
heritage: enhancing community access to sport history knowledge via the Queensland
Heritage Register. - Rainbow Research Fellowship ($20,000 supported by the Queensland Library
Foundation plus a 12-month residency): Dr Marion Stell and Professor Celmara Pocock
for their project Queering the lens: cross-dressing in family photograph albums. - Digital Collections Catalyst ($15,000 stipend plus a 12-month residency): Anna Rowe
for her project Wallflowers: reimagining historical interiors. - Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Fellowship ($20,000 supported by the Royal National
Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland plus a 12-month residency):
Bronwyn Bridgewater’s project will explore Historic Ekka – the relationship between country,
town and the travelling show community. - Letty Katts Fellowship ($5000 stipend supported through the Queensland Library
Foundation endowed fund established by the late Dr Stanton Mellick OAM ED and his
daughter, the late Professor Jill Mellick plus a six-month residency): Dr Carl Anacin for
Migration, musical practices and belonging among Filipino migrants in Queensland:
festivals, music industry participation and everyday lives.
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