June Bullivant, founder and current Secretary/ Treasurer, Granville Historical Society

June Bullivant has been nominated for the 2012 Women of the West Award for her commitment to providing educational opportunities and preserving the history of Western Sydney.

The Granville Historical Society is a resource centre which collects the history of the Granville and Parramatta local areas; provides historical information and photographs for the use of the community, for use for educational and family history; offers educational presentations to organisations and schools; and provides photographic displays for use within the Parramatta Heritage Centre.

June Bullivant has played a lead role in the Society since 1988, when she and her husband Barry founded the organisation as part of a Bicentenary Committee project.

Over the years, June has served the Granville Historical Society in a number of roles, including as President three times. She currently serves as Secretary and Treasurer, and regularly writes grant proposals for upcoming projects.

June's role involves the preparation PowerPoint presentations to provide schools with interactive presentations that make the subject of local history more interesting. She is currently working on a virtual walk through Parramatta Park, which will be given to organisations and schools to share the local history of Granville and the Parramatta LGA.

June is also a delegate on the Parramatta City Council Heritage Advisory Committee, which works to protect Parramatta heritage sites – at present she is working to oppose the recent proposal to drill holes through the 1836 Lennox Bridge.

June was nominated for the 2012 Women of the West Award by Susan Evelyn Russell, a "workmate and friend" of 35 years who describes June as "a true woman of the west."

"[June] has lived and worked in Western Sydney all her adult life. She cares with a great enthusiastic devotion for our area and people."

The Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, Federal Member for Werriwa, wrote in support of the nomination, describing June as a woman of resourcefulness and enthusiasm: "This award is about the West and she has certainly precipitated enhanced regional pride and knowledge."

Arthur Naylor also highly recommended June, for her "initiative, honesty, and self motivation" as well as for her assistance in creating copies of historical texts for the use of people with visual impairments.

Photo: Sally Tsoutas

Contact: Danielle Roddick, Senior Media Officer