Guide to the Papers of Peter O'Halloran
MS 9515
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Peter O'Halloran
- Title
- Papers of Peter O'Halloran
- Date Range
- 1961-1995
- Collection Number
- MS 9515
- Extent
- 6.9 metres (46 boxes)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
The papers primarily relate to O'Halloran's involvement in the development and history of the Australian Mathematics Competition, Australian Mathematics Foundation, Australian International Centre for Mathematics Enrichment, Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee, International Mathematics Olympiad, Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians, Australian Mathematics Trust and associated activities.
The papers consist of a large number of meeting notes including agendas, reports, proposals, legal papers and financial papers. Correspondence includes emails and faxes from schools, universities, mathematicians and educators in Australia and overseas.
Conditions Governing Access
Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2061434).
Conditions Governing Use
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred Citation
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Peter O'Halloran, National Library of Australia, MS 9515, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.
Provenance
The collection was donated to the Library by Mrs Marjorie O'Halloran in 1995
Arrangement
O'Halloran's papers came in two instalments and the papers have been merged into 15 series. As the different organisations are closely interlinked the series content will sometimes overlap. Publications from the collection have been integrated into the Library's general collection.
The order of the files in most series has been imposed by Library staff. In some series the file titles are those supplied by O'Halloran, with additional information for clarification. The colour coded numerical file system in series 6 has been maintained.
Abbreviations
Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC)
Australian Mathematics Foundation (AMF)
Australian International Centre for Mathematics Enrichment (AICME)
Australian Mathematical Olympiad committee (AMOC)
International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)
Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT) and the operating company (AMTOS)
World Federation of National Mathematics Competition (WFNMC)
Australian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO)
Biographical Note
Peter O'Halloran was born in Sydney, on the 27 April 1931. He was educated at the University of Sydney where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Education (1952) and Master of Science in 1967.
O'Halloran was known for his enthusiastic involvement and entrepreneurship in promoting mathematics among school students in Australia and overseas and for actively raising the profile of mathematics. According to O'Halloran 'the highlights of my professional career include the early and continued success of the Australian Mathematics Competition, the Australian hosting of the 29th International Mathematical Olympiad, the development of the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions, the Asian Pacific Mathematics competition and the creation of the Australian Mathematics Trust. Probably my most difficult and at the same time the most exciting decision was for Australia to put a bid in to host the 1988 International Mathematics Olympiad'.
O'Halloran died at the age of 63 on the 25 September 1994 and was survived by his wife Marjorie, and four children.
Career details
1953-61 Mathematics teacher, NSW Department of Education
1961-64 Head of the Department of Mathematics, NSW Department of Education
1965-69 Head of Mathematics, Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay, ACT
1970-79 Senior lecturer in Mathematics, Canberra College of Advanced Education,
1979-94 Director, Australian Mathematics Competition, Canberra College of Advanced Education
Career/Professional activities
1976-77 Director, High School Mathematics Competition for the Burrough's Medal
1978- Founder and Executive Director, Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac awards
1978 Chairman, Advisory board for the Australian Mathematics Competition
1979 Executive director/deputy chairman, Australian Mathematics Olympiad Committee
1983 Founder, Mathematics Day, University of Canberra
1984 Foundation President, World Federation National Mathematics Competitions
1987 Chairman, Board of Directors, Australian Mathematics Foundation
1988 Chairman, Australian Pacific Olympiad
1988 Host of the 1988 International Mathematics Olympiad, Canberra
1989 Founder of the Asia Pacific Mathematics Olympiad
1992-94 Executive director of the Australian Mathematics Trust, University of Canberra
Awards and distinctions
1983 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
1991 Doctor of Science (honoris causa), Deakin University, Melbourne
1994 David Hilbert award
1994 World Cultural Councils 'Jose Vasconcelos' World Award for Education
Item Descriptions
Series 1. Personal documents, 1988-94
The personal documents include curricula vitae, references and a copy of a published interview with O'Halloran. The series also contains some 1,998 correspondence relating to O'Halloran's positions as Australian Mathematics Director and College Fellow at the Canberra College of Advanced Education. In addition there are letters about O'Halloran's Doctorate of Science award from Deakin University (1991), the University of Canberra award (1992), photographs of O'Halloran and a copy of his funeral service (1994).
Series 2. Australian Mathematics Competition, 1961-94
In 1978 O'Halloran, a lecturer at the Canberra College of Advance Education, established the Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac Awards. O'Halloran was the executive director for the organisation. The Westpac Banking Corporation is the major sponsor. Other sponsors include the University of Canberra and the Canberra Mathematical Association.
The aim of the Australian Mathematics competition is to encourage school students to strive for excellence in mathematics. It became the largest mathematics competition in the world.
The bulk of the papers include correspondence with schools, higher education, committee members and sponsors. There is also O'Halloran's historical account of the organisation and his notebooks. In addition there are reports, meeting notes, statistic tables, numerous mathematical competition problems, students reports, disk of the competition and loose papers.
Series 3. Australian Mathematics Foundation, 1987-94
In 1987 the Australian Mathematics Foundation was registered as a business under the name of the Australian International Centre for Mathematics Enrichment. In 1992 the Australian Mathematics Trust was established under the operating company of AMTOS and in 1994 the AICME was deregistered.
The main activity of the Australian Mathematics Foundation was organising the Australian Mathematics Competition for the Westpac awards. Since 1978 the Westpac Banking Corporation have been the sponsors behind the AMC. The AMF committee historically comprised staff of the University of Canberra but through its network of national and state directors, members of the problem committee and moderators, it drew on a wide national and international volunteer force.
Correspondence includes many letters between committee members and some letters relating to the conflict between O'Halloran and Peter Brown (treasurer, AMF). O'Halloran's brother Ted was an important sounding board about business and personal issues and there are many letters from Peter to Ted seeking advice and guidance. There are also letters from O'Halloran to Professor Bob Mitchell about the Brown conflict.
Loose papers, letters, budget issues, meeting notes about restructuring of the AMF, 1991-92 (File 28-31) - Box 8
Ted O'Halloran's letters to Peter O'Halloran and meeting notes and treasurer's reports, 1990 (File 37) - Box 9
Peter Brown's resignation report, O'Halloran's notes and viewpoints, financial papers, 1990-92 (File 40) - Box 10
Peter Brown's paper 'Search for Harmony', O'Halloran's letters to Bob Mitchell, publications and management policy, note about changes to the new AMF, 1991-92 (File 49-50) - Box 11
UNESCO letter to O'Halloran agreeing to financially support WFNMC, O'Halloran's notes to Don Aitkin about the Peter Brown conflict, papers about the AMT, 1992 (File 51-52) - Box 11
Legal papers about AMF dissolution, budget statistics, draft of the AMF financial rules, meeting notes, 1993 (File 59-60) - Box 12
Meeting notes, Peter Brown's treasurer reports, O'Halloran's reactions and comments about Peter Brown's letter, O'Halloran's letter to Bob Mitchell about conflict with Brown, 1992-93 (File 62-66) - Box 13
Series 4. Australian International Centre for Mathematics Enrichment, 1987-93
The AICME was the business name for the Australian Mathematics Foundation. The AICME was responsible for the organisation and administration of the various activities of the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee.
Ron Clark, an independent management advisor was asked to review the AICME and there are letters between O'Halloran and Clark. In addition there are many meeting notes and financial papers.
Series 5. Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee, 1977-94
The series includes correspondence with Professor Bernard Neumann, of the Australian National University. He was the key academic supporter in linking teachers and mathematicians. Other papers include meeting notes, sponsorship, financial and publicity papers. There are also two large folders relating to the history of the AMOC, 1979-78.
See also series 7 for records relating to the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians.
Australian Academy of Science and National committee for mathematics, meeting notes, 1980-81 (File 12) - Box 17
Correspondence about meetings, publicity notes, financial costs, 1992 (File 24-26) - Box 18
Meeting notes from Judith Downes about AMOC, financial papers, 1992
Series 6. International Mathematical Olympiad, 1982-95
In 1988 the 29th International Mathematical Olympiad was held in Canberra, Australia. Countries from all over the world took part in the event. A record number of 58 countries and 268 contestants participated in the 1988 IMO.
The bulk of the papers in this series relate to the organisation of the Canberra 1988 IMO series.
O'Halloran's numerical coloured file system and headings have been maintained.
Overseas congratulatory letters to the Australian Government and article by John Giles, 1988 (File 59) - Box 26
Dossier of newspaper cuttings (foreign languages) and mathematical questions (Italian) (File 60) - Box 26
Series 7. Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians, 1987-95
The Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians was organised by the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee. Because of the interlinking nature of the organisations there are some AMOC papers in this series.
In addition there is material relating to the Gauss series workshop, Melbourne 1993. The outcome of the workshop was a mathematics book.
The series includes O'Halloran's letters to BP, Fujitsu, and Western Mining Corporation concerning sponsorship proposals. There are many competition questions and discussion notes.
Mathematical problems and solutions for moderators, letters from various schools, 1990-91 (File 5) - Box 28
Background material for Problems committee meeting and guidelines for AMOC junior contest, 1990-91 (File 8) - Box 28
O'Halloran's presentation to the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AMMT), 1992 (File 9) - Box 28
Maths challenge statistical results, comments from schools, O'Halloran's notes about the 1994 Challenge, 1993 (File 12-14) - Box 29
Series 8. Australian Mathematics Trust (AMTOS), 1992-94
In order to provide an effective organisational structure for the AICME's diverse linked activities, in 1993 the Australian Mathematics Trust was formed as the umbrella organisation. AMTOS Pty Limited is the operating company of the Australian Mathematics Trust and O'Halloran was the executive director. In O'Halloran's words 'the goal of the trust is to motivate and enrich the learning of mathematics using the stimuli of challenges and competitions'.
The University of Canberra was the trustee to the AMT and a copy of the Trust deed can be found in file 15. The series includes O'Halloran's draft of the 5 year strategic plan, meeting and discussion notes, among committee members, Professor Don Aitkin, Professor Cheryl Praeger, Dr Peter Taylor, Peter Brown and O'Halloran. In addition there is a letter from Chris Heydes (Treasurer, Australian Academy of Science) about his views concerning the organisation problems of the AICME. There is a list of the March 1993 AMT board members in file 1.
Board of Trustees and Advisory committee meeting notes, 1992-94 (File 1-7) - Box 30, 31
Advisory committee meeting agenda and additional papers, 1993
Correspondence relating to new board members and early background notes on AMT, legal papers, and O'Halloran's notes, 1992 (File 9) - Box 31
O'Halloran's notes about Peter Browns financial statement and committee member's correspondence, copy of legal document relating to the formation of AMTOS, 1992 (File 10-12) - Box 31
Comments by Chris Heydes (Australian Academy of Science) about the organisational problems of the AICME, 1992 (File 13-14) - Box 32
Copy of the Trust deed, O'Halloran's letters to Professor Bob Mitchell, Chris Heyde's letter of support for AMT, 1992 (File 15) - Box 32
Diagram showing the proposed operations of the Trust, O'Halloran's letters relating to the appointment of new board members, 1992 (File 17) - Box 32
AMTOS Director's meeting and meeting report 1992, management advisory committee meeting notes, and AMTOS deed, 1993-94 (File 18-20) - Box 32
Five year strategic plan draft edited by O'Halloran and O'Halloran's notes, 1993 (File 21-32) - Box 32, 33
Financial report, March 1993, Trust meeting draft notes, April 1993 and statistics, 1992-93 (File 35-36) - Box 34
Draft of Trust meeting minutes, AMF rules and procedures, email to O'Halloran from Chris Heyde and Cheryl Praeger, 1993 (File 40) - Box 34
Ted O'Halloran's letter to Peter O'Halloran about the dissolution of AMF Pty Ltd, 1994 (File 41) - Box 34
Action plan notes, AMTOS financial statements and other financial papers, 1993 (File 42-43) - Box 35
AMOC financial statements, 1993 AMTOS 1994 budget assumptions, 1993
Meeting agendas, minutes, reports, O'Halloran's letters to committee members, 1993 (File 50-51) - Box 36
Correspondence about the organisation between board members, Don Aitkin, Professor Bob Mitchell, Ted O'Halloran, 1994 (File 52) - Box 36
Nadine Burch (Management lecturer, University of Technology, Sydney) letters about sponsorship and negotiations, 1994 (File 53) - Box 36
Loose papers, O'Halloran's letter to AMF mentioning his 'Jose Vasconcelos' award, emails about O'Halloran's illness, notes on structure of the Trust, Don Aitkin's letter to Andrei Storozhev's about employment, 1994 (File 55-58) - Box 36
Loose papers, O'Halloran's correspondence with Clarice McLean about the 2nd Congress of the WFNMC (1994), 1995-2000 AMT Budgets, notes on 5 year strategic plan, March, 1994 and other papers, 1994 (File 63-64) - Box 37
Series 9. Other activities and projects, 1990-94
The Australian Pacific Mathematics Olympiad (APMO) and the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions (WFNMC) are two of the eight 'other activities and projects' supported by the Australian Mathematics Foundation. In 1988 O'Halloran established the APMO, providing a regional Olympiad for countries in the Pacific Rim area.
In 1984 O'Halloran founded the WFNMC. The main activity of the WFNMC was the publication of an international journal entitled Mathematics competition, which was circulated to over 500 mathematicians in more than 80 countries. The journal served as a link for people trying to set up similar activities in other countries.
Series 10. Maths link Australia, 1992-94
In May 1993, Maths link Australia, a national computer-based tele-communication mathematics contest, was held at the University of Canberra. The technical director of Maths link, Brian Stone, computer advisor David Buckley, and O'Halloran were instrumental in creating a national schools mathematics competition via a computer link up.
This series consists of background organisation papers, correspondence with committee members and schools, computer system notes, technical plans, and general proposals about the 1994 Maths link Australia.
Background organisation papers, meeting notes, correspondence with committee members, schools, question papers, publicity papers, 1993 (File 1-3) - Box 40
Series 11. Mathematics and education, 1991-93
Series 12. The Educational Testing Centre, 1992-94
The educational testing centre was a research programme conducted by the University of Sydney.
Series 13. Overseas visits and talks, 1989-94
Professor O'Halloran has developed a large network of national and international colleagues. There are letters from O'Halloran and his overseas colleagues. O'Halloran gave talks at many overseas conferences in Bulgaria, Netherlands, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, America and many other countries.
This series comprises O'Halloran's presentation talks and there is also a summary and diary of his 1989 trip. The WFNMC papers relate to Series 9.