Peter Forrest
Peter Forrest is a freelance historian, writer, broadcaster, and heritage consultant. He has lived in Darwin since 1977. He was involved with : the growth of the National Trust movement in the 1970's; the formation of the Australian Heritage Commission in 1975; and was one of the founders of the Australian National Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (Australia ICOMOS). He has served on the national executive of ICOMOS for 8 years, and was its national Vice-President for 2 years.
Peter's work focuses on the historic environment of northern and inland Australia. In addition, he has worked on projects in southern Australia, Christmas Island, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Clients include government departments and agencies, local and community government bodies, business and industry, voluntary conservation groups, and private individuals.
His work includes historical research, writing and broadcasting, site management studies, environmental impact assessments, and site presentation projects. He is regularly commissioned by the tourism industry to assist with site interpretation and promotion. He also delivers lectures and presentations for conference and community groups, and for schools.
He has a special interest in the history of the pastoral and mining industries, particularly their inter-action with Aboriginal people. He has recently completed several projects which relate to Aboriginal history and historic sites on Aboriginal land.
He has written six books, and has scripted and presented a number of television and documentary films. He presents two radio broadcasts each week on historical subjects, and he has produced and presented many special radio features. He writes the NT News history feature "The Way We Were", published each Tuesday.
Barbara James
Barbara James is an author, historian, journalist and research consultant who has lived in the Northern Territory since 1967 when she arrived for a two-week holiday. Barbara worked as a journalist between 1967 and 1981 and still writes on a freelance basis for various publications.She is the author of several published social history works including the award winning No Man's Land Women of the Northern Territory (Collins 1989). Recent published works include Occupation Citizen: The Story of Northern Territory Women and the Vote (1894-1896) (published 1995) and Fit For the Gentler Sex: A Social and site history of the settlement of Port Darwin and its Environs (with Helen Wilson, 1997).
As a past Commissioner with the Australian Heritage Commission and a member of the NT National Trust executive council, Barbara has been involved in researching and assessing the heritage value of sites and places over many years. In addition to her background in historical and heritage research, she has also had many years' experience as a research officer and adviser for former Northern Territory Senator Bob Collins. Barbara was on news duty at the ABC on the night of Cyclone Tracy during which her own home was destroyed. After the house blew down, she, and other members of her family, spent several hours sheltering outside behind a cyclone fence. Following the cyclone Barbara was involved with the Darwin Reconstruction Commission as a publicity officer and with several community groups concerned with the replanning of Darwin. Barbara was also involved in the early oral history program in the Northern Territory and continues to interview many longterm Territorians as part of her writing and research projects. She is currently working as a freelance consultant, writer and researcher and is also working on several publications, including an updated reprint of No Man's Land along with several smaller publications.