In the upside-down world of the Covid-19 pandemic business have closed or are running with skeleton staff, queues of newly unemployed people have stretched around the block from Centrelink offices and people have stopped spending money. Well-functioning economies require a healthy population. The economy declines if a rampant disease is affecting society. In times like these … [Read more...] about Australian & NZ Publishers Release New Histories During Covid-19
New Zealand
Birthday of Literary Luminaries – Miles Franklin, Katherine Mansfield, Hannah Arendt,
Today, 14th October, marks the birth dates of three literary luminaries of the twentieth century - Miles Franklin, Katherine Mansfield and Hannah Arendt. These three women have made a big impact on western cultural life and thought and continue to do so. Miles Franklin's, novel, My Brilliant Career, has a secure place in Australia's literary canon. This is extraordinary for a … [Read more...] about Birthday of Literary Luminaries – Miles Franklin, Katherine Mansfield, Hannah Arendt,
Violence and the Intimate Frontier
In my continuing series of posts about the Australian Historical Association today I write up some notes I made at two plenary panels. These notes are not a comprehensive overview of the panels; rather they are a handful of the thoughts presented which particularly resonated with me. Conflict in history is the theme of the Australian Historical Association conference which … [Read more...] about Violence and the Intimate Frontier
Te Papa: the national museum of New Zealand
‘Overwhelming’, is the word that sums up my experience of New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa. It is all that it promises to be but I could not possibly comprehend everything that was exhibited in one visit. This museum reminded me that New Zealand is quite a different country to Australia both culturally and physically. The indigenous people make a significant … [Read more...] about Te Papa: the national museum of New Zealand
Public Education: It’s Not Just About Schools
When we talk about public education we immediately think of schools. Increasingly we are recognising that education is a life-long endeavour and with the explosion of the internet learning outside of the classroom and formal education systems is gaining increasing prominence. Last week at the Buildings, Books and Blackboards conference in Melbourne we were encouraged to … [Read more...] about Public Education: It’s Not Just About Schools
