Latest News

2008 W.K. HANCOCK PRIZE SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED:

The Australian Historical Association is pleased to announce the shortlist for the W.K. Hancock Prize. A total of 32 entries were received. The quality of the field led the judges to make a fairly long shortlist. Congratulations to the following authors (in alphabetical order), Tracey Banivanua-Mar, Katherine Ellinghaus, Melissa Harper, Robert Kenny, Barbara J. Keys, Michael A. McDonnell, and Peta Stephenson. The winner of the W.K. Hancock Prize, as well as the AHA's other prizes, the Allan Martin Award, the Serle Award, and the Kay Daniels Award will all be announced at the AHA conference dinner to be held at University House, University of Melbourne on Wednesday 9th July.
[Details]

2008 MAGAREY MEDAL FOR BIOGRAPHY WINNER ANNOUNCED:

The winner of the 2008 Magarey Medal for Biography was announced in an awards ceremony on the first day of the ASAL conference, 'Australian Literature in a Global World', at University of Wollongong, 29 June 2008. Out of a total of 18 eligible entries, three books were shortlisted for the biennial award. The shortlisted authors were Sylvia Martin, Darleen Bungey, and Helen Bethea Gardner. Sylvia Martin was awarded the medal for her work, Ida Leeson: A Life. Not a Blue-Stocking Lady (Allen & Unwin, 2006). Congratulations to Sylvia Martin, and the two shortlisted authors.
[Details]

2008 ERNEST SCOTT PRIZE SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED:

Three books have been shortlisted for the annual Ernest Scott Prize. The winner will be announced at the AHA conference dinner, Wed 9th July, University House, University of Melbourne. The shortlisted authors are (in alphabetical order), John Fitzgerald, Raelene Frances, and Ray Fargher. Congratulations to the shortlisted authors.
[Details]

AWARD FOR DR ANDREW BROWN-MAY

Congratulations to Dr Andy Brown-May for winning the 2007 Victorian & Community Local History Award for Best Collaborative/Community Work for the Encyclopedia of Melbourne. The Royal Historical Society of Victoria says of the Encylopedia, "This volume has become essential in everybody's book collection. Melbourne is fortunate in its historians; their contributions to this book make it a compelling guide to this city's living history and an affirmation of its civic ethos."

The awards are sponsored by the Victorian Government and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.

AHA EXECUTIVE OFFICER RESIGNATION:

After two years of interesting, challenging, and fulfilling work as AHA Executive Officer I have decided to move on to other projects, and hence to resign from the position. I would like to personally offer my thanks to the members of the AHA Executive Committee for their support and interest. It has been a pleasure working for them. I would also like to thank the many people I have come into contact with, for helping to make this a rewarding experience.

Due to the dramatic growth in AHA membership, the heightened profile of History Australia, and the increased role the AHA plays in distributing information throughout the history community, the role of the executive officer has changed and grown. The AHA is thus now looking for two enthusiastic and committed individuals with an interest in promoting the historical discipline in Australia; an Executive Officer (2 days per week) and an Information Officer (1 day per week).
[Details]

APRIL 2008 HISTORY AUSTRALIA - OUT NOW

The April 2008 issue of History Australia is now available online for all new and renewed members. Free access is now available to Susan Magary's article 'Dame Roma Mitchell's unmentionables: Sex, politics and religion', complete with a video clip link. Print copies of the April 2008 History Australia are due early-mid May.
[Monash ePress website]

HISTORY JOURNAL RANKINGS

At the end of 2007, the Australian Historical Association participated in a ranking exercise of historical journals, originally motivated by the now-superseded Research Quality Framework. We were one of several organizations involved in this task, including the Australian Academy for Social Sciences - the leading body in this project - the Australian Academy for the Humanities and the Association for Asian Studies. Attached is an explanatory statement on the exercise, with an invitation for comment, as well as the draft list created through this exercise, attached here with the permission of the Australian Academy for Social Sciences.
[History Journal Rankings]
[History Journal Rankings - List in Excel ]

LILITH JOURNAL CALL FOR PAPERS

The feminist history journal, Lilith, welcomes papers focussed on women, gender, sexuality and other related issues, as well as the theme, Her-story: Histories of Feminist Representation, in line with the 2007 symposium on the same subject.
[Lilith CFP]

EMERITUS PROFESSOR GREG DENING DIES

It is with deep sadness that the history community recently learned of the passing of Emeritus Professor Greg Dening on 13 March after suffering a severe stroke.

On announcing his passing to AHA members, AHA President Professor Desley Deacon stated that 'Greg will be very sorely missed as a truly inspiring teacher; an outstanding scholar whose seminal works have attracted the highest international reputation; and as a man of great integrity, warmth and generosity.'

Dening's funeral mass was held at Newman College chapel, Melbourne University on 19 March. A tribute by his friend Stan Katz of Princeton University is available on The Australian Higher Education Section website, with opportunities for members of the public to post their tributes as well.
[The Australian Higher Education Section obituary notice]

HISTORY COUNCIL OF NSW CALLS TRANSPARENCY IN HERITAGE

In response to the NSW Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor's February announcement that the NSW Heritage Office would be folded, the History Council of NSW has called for the public release of the Heritage Act Review. The Council is concerned about this government's plans for heritage in NSW and is urging historians to join its campaign to preserve the role of the history community in the state's heritage.
[Media Release]

WINNER ANNOUNCED: FRYER AWARD FOR 2008

The Fryer Library and the Faculty of Arts of The University of Queensland wish to announce that Dr Katherine Barnes from the University of New South Wales is the recipient of the Fryer Award for 2008. Dr Barnes will commence her project on "David Malouf: The Poet's Fiction" with the Fryer Library in the second semester of 2008. Fryer Library's collection of David Malouf's papers begins with the drafts of his first book of poetry "Bicycle and Other Poems" (1970) and includes the manuscripts of all his major novels. For more information on the Fryer Library award see: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/fryer

STUART MACINTYRE APPOINTED TO NEW ARC ADVISORY COUNCIL

Historian Stuart Macintyre was recently appointed to a new ARC Advisory Council comprised of six widely recognised researchers. The move follows controversy and loss of international credibility over the last few years.
[Full details]

WINNER ANNOUNCED: WILEY-BLACKWELL/AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION PRIZE 2007

The AHA is pleased to announced that the inaugural Wiley-Blackwell/Australian Historical Association Prize (2007) was awarded to Amanda Barry for her paper 'Think global, act local: Aboriginal education history and the British Empire'. The judges also commended Susan McClean, Karen Dowling, Meredith Lake, and Chris Soeterboek. Congratulations to all the entrants and to the winner, Amanda Barry. Please see the attached judges report for full details and citation.
[Full details]

WINNER ANNOUNCED: WAIKATO UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION PRIZE 2007

The University of Waikato Department of History has announced that the winner of its Australian History Prize (a one year AHA membership) for 2007 is Diana Makker. The award is for outstanding performance by a student enrolled in undergraduate or Honours history at the University of Waikato in 2007. Diana was recognised for an excellent paper submitted for the third year unit Imagining a Nation: Australia's Past 1788-2000, and for consistently achieving top marks across her other history units.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2008 - HONOURS:

Numerous historians were recently recognised with Australia Day 2008 Honours. Diane Langmore, General Editor of the Australian Dictionary of Biography and AHA member, was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia. Other historians recognised for their contribution to the knowledge and health of particular areas of historical interest include Ann Galbally, Robert John Gleeson, John James, and Suzanne Rutland. Numerous individuals were recognised for their contributions to the history of specific local communities.

Our congratulations and best wishes go out to Diane, and the many other Australians recognised for their services in the field of history.

For more information please see the citations below, or visit the Australian government Honours' website.
Citations
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/index.cfm

CISH 2010 CONGRESS UPDATE

Details regarding the CISH 2010 Congress panel convenors and presenters are close to being finalised. Members and those wishing to participate can keep up to date with developments by referring to the CISH website.
[website]
[CISH update]

DISCOUNT OFFER ON NEW BOOK BY RAELENE FRANCES

To mark the launch of Selling Sex: A hidden history of prostitution, the latest book by AHA member Rae Frances, UNSW Press are offering a 20% discount off the normal price. Please see the attached flyer.
[Special 20% discount offer ]

DEBATE OVER EUROPEAN UNION STATEMENT ON GENOCIDE RESEARCH - INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF HISTORICAL SCIENCES' MOTION

The General Assembly of ICHS met in Beijing on 17-18 September 2007 and voted a motion concerning recent legislation on historical research passed by the Council of European Union. The legislation was aimed at combating racism and xenophobia by criminalising the denial of genocide. The CISH motion articulates a concern that this legislation may endanger academic freedom. For more information see the following:
[Press release of the Council of the European Union (English)]
[CISH motion, 17 September 2007]

NSW PREMIER'S HISTORY AWARDS 2007 - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The winners of the 2007 NSW Premier's History Awards were announced 9 October 2007 at Government House, Sydney by the NSW Minister for the Arts, the Hon Frank Sartor. AHA member, Klaus Neumann, won the John & Patricia Ward History Prize ($15000). Our congratulations go to the winners of all 6 prizes, and to Tony Moore, winner of the NSW History Fellowship.
[Complete listing and judges' comments]
[website]

ERNEST SCOTT PRIZE 2007 - WINNER ANNOUNCED

Associate Professor Regina Ganter of the Centre for Public Culture and Ideas at Griffith University has been awarded this year's Ernest Scott Prize for her book Mixed Relations: Asian-Aboriginal Contact in North Australia. The winner was been announced by Professor Joy Damousi for the University of Melbourne at the AHA regional conference, Armidale, on 25th September. Congratulations to Regina on her award and to Helen Gardner and Melanie Nolan who were shortlisted:
[Full details]
[2008 call for nominations - due 31 January]

QUEENSLAND PREMIER'S LITERARY AWARD FOR NON-FICTION - WINNER ANNOUNCED

Tom Griffiths' book, Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctica (UNSW Press/Harvard University Press, 2007), has won the Queensland Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction ($15,000). The award was presented by the Premier of Queensland, Mr Peter Beattie, during the Brisbane Writers' Festival on Tuesday 11 September.

Tom Griffiths is Professor of History in the Research School of Social Sciences at the ANU.

Ken Inglis's book, Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Commission 1983 - 2006, was short-listed for the Queensland Premier's History Book Award.

NSW PREMIER'S HISTORY AWARDS 2007 - SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The shortlists for the 2007 NSW Premier's History Awards were announced Thursday 6 September by the NSW Minister for the Arts, the Hon Frank Sartor. AHA members whose recent works have been shortlisted include Beverley Kingston, Cassandra Pybus and Klaus Neumann. Our congratulations go to all those who have been shortlisted.
[Complete listing and judges' comments]

AUSTRALIAN HISTORY CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

As a direct result of the process initiated by the Prime Minister at the History Summit held last year - a process of consultation on a national history curriculum which the Australian Historical Association supported - the federal government has announced a four person working group to develop a curriculum in Australian History for years 9 and 10. The working group includes Geoffrey Blainey, Gerard Henderson, Nicholas Brown and AHA member Jennifer Lawless.

When commenting on the announcement, AHA President Desley Deacon remarked:

"I am personally very pleased to see the encouragement of history teaching in schools and look forward to seeing the group develop an exciting, inclusive curriculum that helps students see the pleasures and uses of history and where Australia fits into the larger world."

It is hoped that we end up with a curriculum which engages students, and which teaches them a critical awareness of different viewpoints and different interpretations of our national history

For more information on the committee members please see the media release.

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS:

Members of the history profession recently received awards in the 2007 Queen's Birthday Honours list. Recipients include former AHA President Jill Roe, Ann McGrath, and Iain McCalman. Jill received her Honour in part as a result of her efforts in support of the Australian Historical Association. Our congratulations and best wishes go out to Jill, Ann, and Iain.

For more information please see the citations below, or visit the Australian government Honours' website.
Citations
http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/index.cfm

NATIONAL FILM AND SOUND ARCHIVE:

As a representative of the AHA, Jill Julius Matthews, Professor of History at the ANU, joined with other key stakeholders to respond to Federal Budget proposals relating to the National Film and Sound Archive.
Archive Forum press release

POSTGRADUATE CURRICULUM SURVEY:

At the request of the Heads of History of Australasia to the AHA Executive, Carly Millar and Mark Peel have prepared the:
Australia Historical Association 2005-2006 History Curriculum Review: Honours and Postgraduate Coursework Programs.

VACANCIES:

AHA EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND INFORMATION OFFICER (2 ROLES):

The AHA is looking for two enthusiastic and committed individuals with an interest in promoting the historical discipline in Australia. We now seek to appoint an Executive Officer (2 days per week) and an Information Officer (1 day per week) on the resignation of Dr Jane Hunt.
[Details]