There were a few key people who were instrumental in making the leap of faith and moving from the security of print into the wild world of web publishing back in the mid-1990s. Tim Sherratt and Gavan McCarthy, both then at the Australian Science Archives Project (ASAP), were key instigators but it was also those that followed either as editors and data entry people, or database managers or web publishers that have enabled the Directory to live on. This list of important folk includes: Joanne Evans, Guillaume Mallet, Barbara Cytowicz, Jack Martin, Bruce Smith, Ailie Smith and Annette Alafaci.
However, a very special thanks goes to Rosanne Walker who spent six years as the person at the end of the email queries, adding new data and always being as helpful as she could be to everyone seeking guidance with regards to Australia's archival resources. Thanks also go to the Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre for continuing the support of the project from 1999 when ASAP ceased its operations.
A project such as this can never be produced in isolation. The development and direction owes much to the suggestions and assistance of a few. The content relies entirely upon the contributions of many.
The Directory Committee extends appreciation to all who have expressed confidence in the value of this project and have been involved in practical ways. We would like to specifically thank the following people and institutions:
Baiba Berzins; Rosemary Block; Vanessa Block (artwork); Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories; Jenny Edgecombe (WA); Janet Foster; Lee Gordon (ACT); Zoe Hunt (word processing); Nicole Le Maistre (QLD); John Love (SA); Sigrid McCausland; Lyn Milton; Ann Pederson; Ian Pearce (TAS); Michael Piggott (Managing Editor); Gary Presland (VIC); Margaret Reid (QLD); Records Archives and Information Management (RAIM); Anne-Marie Schwirtlich; Robert Sharman; Clive Smith; State Library of New South Wales; WESTPAC
Group Archives and Records; Stephen Yorke.
We have looked to the international scene for precedents in this area and selected two standards which best represented the directory which we were aiming to produce. In acknowledging these two directories, we again thank Janet Foster for providing us with the vision for what could be accomplished.