The interaction between religious and non-religious beliefs in Australian society is complicated. It is often obscured by a public debate which in recent times has been punctuated by simple slogans, such as "Australia is a Christian country" or "separation between church and state". Passion about these issues has periodically run high through Australia's post … [Read more...] about Captains of the Soul in Sceptical Times
War and Conflicts
“If… we are going to sin, we must sin quietly”
“If therefore, we are going to sin, we must sin quietly”. The British Attorney-General for Kenya, Eric Griffith-Jones wrote in June 1957 to the Governor of Kenya. In the letter the Attorney-General shared how the policy over the use of physical violence on imprisoned Kenyans was being altered so that the beatings would be 'legal'. ('Sins of colonialists lay concealed for … [Read more...] about “If… we are going to sin, we must sin quietly”
Archives are Important… Very Important
We all rely on archives. The moment that we first drew breath in this world is registered in an archive. Our education records, driving records, legal records, marriage and death are all recorded in an archive somewhere. We go about our lives assuming that vital information about our lives is automatically and adequately stored by our governments. We assume that important … [Read more...] about Archives are Important… Very Important
Review: Forgotten Rebels of Eureka
This book is bold. A bed-time story this ain’t. Its prose slaps you around the face to make sure you are paying attention. It is assertive and provocative. It sucks you into the time that was, on the Ballarat goldfields of the mid-nineteenth century. The history of Victoria’s gold rushes and the Eureka Stockade is one of Australia’s well-worn foundational stories. Each year … [Read more...] about Review: Forgotten Rebels of Eureka
New WWI Website from State Library NSW
The State Library of New South Wales holds the diaries and letters of over five hundred people who served in World War I. Today they launched a new section of their website to make these more accessible to the public and to seek more information about the diarists from family members. A few months ago I wrote some posts about this collection and added a page on this blog to … [Read more...] about New WWI Website from State Library NSW