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Curator Martha Sear discusses objects in the National Historical Collection that once belonged to Sir George Reid, a key figure in Australia’s Federation-era political history. Reid’s story features in the Australian Journeys gallery.

Curators outline examples of material culture research in Australian museums through objects including a wall-hanging crafted in a refugee camp, a military jacket, a wool collection, mining models and Australian Inland Mission Frontier Fête material.

Four National Museum of Australia curators provide examples of material culture research into a boomerang, tools used by Hmong gardeners, a dress worn at the opening of Parliament House in 1927 and objects from the Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme.

Leading historians reflect on the ways in which collections can be used to interpret the past, and the issues and problems faced in doing so, in wrapping up the National Museum’s Collections 2008 symposium on material histories and objects as sources.

The great and controversial moments of 100 years of rugby league in Australia are discussed by sports historians Ian Heads, Sean Fagan and Geoff Armstrong and National Museum curator Guy Hansen.

The relative merits of rugby union and rugby league football are debated by ABC Canberra sports reporter Tim Gavel, Brumbies media manager Nick Smith, Canberra Raiders media manager Ben Pollock and National Museum curator Guy Hansen.

Explore the history of the Papunya painting movement and discover the current generation of Papunya artists at a forum held in conjunction with the National Museum’s Papunya Painting exhibition.

Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton recounts events since her daughter Azaria was taken from a tent in Australia’s Northern Territory in 1980. She speaks about the National Museum’s Chamberlain collection and the public’s fascination with the case.