I've learned a lot today: I went to the NSW State Library. Firstly, the best source for Australian information is the Mitchell Library - which is absolutely massive and in fact still has a card catalogue people need to use! I also discussed copyright... they pointed me to http://www.pictureaustralia.org, which seems to be a collaboration of a few Australian government departments. Unsure about the copyright status of this work, however I think it's on their page. I got a card of one of the library's copyright experts, so I'll contact her on Monday and have a chat about things.

I also discovered that if we ever need any information about primary source material or information we need to verify we should talk to that state's State Archives. They keep all the information that government agencies need in boxes (apparently) and Australian citzens can request access to this information. These boxes often have photos... we could probably use these without much of a problem I think. There is also an organisation called APAIS and also an academic database called Sirus. Apparently any university student should have access to this: this database is good because it contains peer reviewed journal articles.

Another area of information resources would be the Australian National Museum in Sydney.

Anyway, hope this gives researchers some pointers. I now have some information on Cyclone Tracy which I'll be adding soon. - Ta bu shi da yu 08:27, 25 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Good work, all that actual leaving-the-house-and-going-to-the-library stuff is a real chore for most of us! T.P.K. 08:27, 26 Sep 2004 (UTC)

How's the Cyclone Tracy stuff coming along? Ambi 08:38, 26 Sep 2004 (UTC)

On the topic of images, the National Library has a [pictures catalogue] that could come in useful for many of the Australian based articles. The site mentions that for the (non-copyright) images to be displayed on a website, written permission from the library is required (those under copyright also require clearance from the copyright holder). I'm not based in Australia so is it possible for someone else here to contact the National Library on behalf of Wikipedia to enquire whether we might be able to avoid having to make a separate written request for each image?
So, a couple of questions then:

1. Is someone here allowed to speak to organisations like the NLA on behalf of Wikipedia?
2. Can they explain Wikipedia (although I'd like to think the NLA would know of it) and why images are needed and whether we can avoid the time and problems of separately applying for use of each image we'd like to use on the site.
3. Is this feasible or have I the wrong end of the stick when it comes to images?
   

Any thoughts? --Roisterer 03:22, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I notice the History of Australia refers to History of Australia before 1901 and History of Australia since 1901. Seems an arbitrary distinction, and in fact misses/overlaps the creation of Federation! What do people say about changing this somewhat? - Ta bu shi da yu 07:42, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I've always opposed this particular split. I'd like to see a breakdown along the lines of History of the United States, with articles covering between fifteen and forty years, depending on the events that occurred in that period. Ambi 08:33, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I always thought the split was due to the 32kb page size issues, but I'm not sure. One article would be good. Fleshing out the whole thing to have more content would be even better! 1901 is a sensible split if it must be a two way split, but the pre-federation history needs to slide in at the end of ..before 1901. -- Chuq 08:52, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

The page size issues are the reason for the article being split up, but there's no reason that we couldn't have a whole lot more pages, each covering a smaller timespan. History of Australia, which is fairly terrible at the moment, could then become a brief, general history, using Wikipedia:Summary style. Ambi 09:41, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

It was a lot more terrible before I and others rewrote it last year. The split at 1901 was done entirely because of the 32kb rule - it could obvious be split other ways as it grows. I agree there needs to be more on federation. Adam 03:38, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I saw this on peer review, and as we're Aussies I figure someone might want to comment. - Ta bu shi da yu 12:23, 30 Sep 2004 (UTC)

i want to donate to wikimedia, but cant use paypal, what is the best thing to do? have other aussies donated? how did you do it? is it possible to do a group donation to reduce curency conversion fees, or is that a little too dangerous? any thoughts? The bellman 05:30, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I personally wouldn't do a group donation, however you can donate via postal mail to Wikimedia's head office at the following address:

<old address removed>

If sending donations from outside the United States, please note again that an international money order or a check payable on a United States bank would be appreciated, to avoid collection costs. Sending a foreign check (or any other kind of draft drawn on a bank outside the United States) may involve processing fees in excess of $50. International postal money orders payable in the United States are available in post offices in many countries and will ensure your complete donation goes to Wikimedia. Please do not send currency through the mail.

(got that from the Fundraising page). - Ta bu shi da yu 05:34, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)

• I have only ever donated via PayPal. Why don't you want to use them? Political statement against their disreputable business practices? Their fees? Don't have a credit card? —Stormie 06:32, Oct 1, 2004 (UTC)
  • i would never trust myself with a credit card, so that makes paypal difficult, also form what i understand thier way of doing buisness is a bit shady, but i really havent bothered to look too deeply into those claims so i dont know. The bellman 07:45, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
• If only we had an Australian Wikimedia chapter, this stuff would be easier. Ambi 06:49, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
  • Amen sister The bellman 07:45, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
    • Well, shall we seriously look into setting one up, then? --Robert Merkel 08:28, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
      • I'd like to, but do we have anyone with the appropriate legal know-how? AFAIK, only the German one is up and running at this point. Ambi 08:30, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
        • Prehaps we should work on an Australian wiki-meetup first, eh :) T.P.K. 08:37, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
          • If it's in Melbourne on a weekend, several weeks in advance, I'll be there. (Well, if its in Hobart I would be too, of course, but realistically...) -- Chuq 11:08, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)
            • As i see it, we have 3 options, Sydney which melbounites would dislike; Melbourne which sydneyites; or canberra which is kinda in between. Yes I know there are lots of cities in this brown land, but seriously if this is the first get together those are the only real options. In a few years however it would be nice to have it in Perth, Brisbane, Hobart :P, or even the alice. Another thought is having state get togethers, and seeing who organises the best one, and having a national get together in whichever town organises the best state get together. The bellman 12:22, 1 Oct 2004 (UTC)