THE NEED TO IDENTIFY, COLLATE AND PRESERVE FOLKLORE
Because it is fundamental to many forms of human practice and expression, folklore provides an insight into the most powerful motivators of social groups. Its close relationship to sense of identity and belonging imparts shared meaning to the lives of individuals and projects an otherwise intangible sense of the uniqueness of the experiences, practices and expressions of the social groups to which individuals belong. [1]
The collection, preservation, study and uses of folklore has many benefits. These include:
- Cultural - giving us all a better sense of who we are and how we relate to each other. This is especially valuable in a multicultural society, where conflicts between groups are frequently based on folkloric notions and assumptions.
- Closely related to the above point is the role of folklore in establishing, expressing and reinforcing a sense of identity and of belonging. In the case of Australia it is the knowledge of those often-intangible elements of lore, legend and language that contributes our sense of 'Australian-ness', an intangible but definite facet of everyday life.
- Educational - Folklore can - and is - used in various ways in education. These include promoting a better understanding of ourselves and our relations with each other, especially those of 'other' cultural, ethnic or religious groups, the relationship between folklore and the past, family folklore, local lore and legend
- Artistic - Many folk traditions, while fading or perhaps obsolete, have an ongoing appeal in the modern era when groups of enthusiasts frequently revive them, creating often substantial organisations, networks and other means of practising or observing them, including folk festivals, folk clubs, etc.
- Related to many of the activities noted as 'artistic' is the more intangible satisfaction that many in the community drive from taking part in revival and associated activities. There is a manifest need for many individuals and groups to feel that they are maintaining, reviving or otherwise preserving expressions and practices that are felt to be 'old' and meaningful. While this is often scorned, especially by academics, as 'antiquarianism', 'romanticism', 'folklorism'' and 'fakelore', the long history of folk revivalism in the western world and the considerable number of people involved in it demonstrates a powerful, if often untutored, popular need to take part in activities labelled 'folk'. It is, in many ways, akin to the 'heritage' and family history movements and represents a popular need to possess and preserve aspects and elements of the real or imagined past. [2]
- Economic value. Some aspects of folklore, including customs, arts, crafts, costume etc. have a graphic visual appeal that projects the distinctiveness of local experience, in this case WA, and which have valuable potential for sensitive and appropriate commercial development.
- Because folklore often changes so rapidly, it is important to document it while the opportunity exists
 
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