(L-R) Dr Lisa Strelein, Grace Koch, AIATSIS Deputy Principal Michelle Patterson and AIATSTS Principal Russell Taylor
After nearly 40 years with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), ethnomusicologist and sound archivist of national and world renown, Grace Koch retired this month.
AIATSIS Principal, Russell Taylor said that as a respected colleague and a friend, Grace would be sorely missed by everyone at the Institute.
Grace Koch in the audio archives, 1980s
“Not long after arriving in Canberra from Boston, USA, Grace started working at AIATSIS as a Sound Archivist in 1975 where she collected, catalogued and documented audio recordings of Australian Aboriginal music, a position she held for an incredible 27 years,” Mr Taylor said.
“She is an accomplished scholar and while working in the archives Grace published the award winning book on Dyirbal songs from the Cape York, co-authored with the linguist RMW Dixon.
“She worked with many Aboriginal people and communities and is well respected for her work on land claims in the Northern Territory including the Kaytetye-Warlpiri-Warlmanpa Claim and Maclaren Creek Claim.
“In 2002, Grace began working in the Institute’s Native Title Research Unit as the Native Title Research and Access Officer, facilitating access to the AIATSIS collections to support traditional owners developing evidence to gain recognition of their native title rights and interests.
“She assisted traditional owners on a number of successful native title claims including the Davenport-Murchison and Neutral Junction (Crawford Ranges) claims in the Northern Territory.
“Somehow, Grace has also found the time to serve as Board Member at National Film and Sound Archive and volunteer at the State Library in Köln, Germany rescuing historic archival material from drowning.
“Grace is also an active member of the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives for which she received the Special Recognition for Outstanding Service to the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives and the Australasian Sound Recordings Association Annual Award both in 2008.
“I wish Grace all the best in her retirement and acknowledge her amazing contribution in the recording, preservation and transmission of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songs and stories not just for AIATSIS but for the communities across Australia.”
Earlier this year Grace was honoured for her work and contribution to AIATSIS with the 2014 Shirley Ann Williams award.
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