eNewsletter

Newsletter 17 November 2020

Editor: Jessica Fairey

Members News

Meet our new Social Media Officer, Brenton Griffin

Brenton is a second-year PhD Candidate at Flinders University’s College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (History/International Affairs) in 2017, before finishing his Honours Thesis in 2018. Brenton’s thesis was focused on the Christian-infused activism of three twentieth-century Indigenous Activists: David Unaipon, William Cooper, and A.M. Fernando.

His interest in religious history has continued, with his PhD dissertation delving into the history, reception, and representation of Mormonism in Australian and New Zealand society, politics, and popular culture. This reflects his own upbringing as a Mormon in Adelaide and Sydney, and is planned to be completed in 2021. Brenton has a passion for local and regional history, particularly Australia’s relationship to the Pacific.

Webinar: Pre- and early-colonial South Australia's slavery connections'
In lieu of a 2020 Regional Lecture, the History Council of South Australia is hosting webinar on Saturday 21 November 2020, 2-3.30pm, titled 'Pre- and early-colonial South Australia's slavery connections'. Join panellists Cameron Coventry, Philip Jones and Beth Robertson who will discuss how some of South Australia's most venerated colonists inadvertently benefitted from and made use of compensation paid to slave owners. The panellists' focus will be on George Fife Angas (popularly known as South Australia's 'founding father') and pastoralist and politician Edward Stirling (himself born on a Jamaican slave plantation to a woman of colour). The session will be facilitated by Amanda Nettelbeck. Please register your attendance through this link.

Protect Our Heritage Alliance: Fees for no trees
(from the POHA Facebook page)

There is no doubt that the latest version of the Planning and Design Code contains a few tricky manoeuvres by the State Planning Commission. Much has been made of the transition into the Code of Contributory Items. They will be renamed Representative Buildings and their future protection from poorly regulated demolition is by no means assured.

However the latest revelation takes the cake. Developers will be able to bypass the requirement to include trees in their infill developments by an ‘offset’ scheme that allows them to pay a fee instead of planting a tree. By paying the paltry amount of $300 per block, developers can continue to create concrete jungles without any canopy cover. Not surprisingly, this 'offset' scheme is supported by the Housing Industry Association. Even if the tree requirements are followed they will only provide canopy cover for 2% of all building blocks. This is very disappointing for those who care about protecting South Australia's heritage, trees, and built environment.

Osmond Gilles Grave Restoration Ceremony: Burnside Historical Society’s success for History and Heritage
(Meredith Ide, Burnside Historical Society Past President and Member, HCSA General Committee Member)

Friday 6 November, about forty guests attended a ceremony in West Terrace Cemetery, adjacent to the restored grave of Osmond Gilles, Colonial Treasurer. Robert Pitt, Adelaide Cemeteries Authority CEO, introduced Honorable David Speirs, Minister for Environment and Water, who spoke about Osmond Gilles' contribution to the early colony. Judy Francis, the new President of the Pioneers Association of South Australia, talked about Gilles’ life, his attributes and generosity to South Australia – including donations to different denominations and even a loan to the Treasury to keep the colony afloat.

Meredith Ide from Burnside Historical Society explained the process to achieve the high quality, restored monument and plaque, detailing Gilles life. More information available here.

The subcommittee with Minister David Speirs. Left to right: Ross Both, Meredith Ide, Minister Speirs, Anne Both

Plaque at Osmond Gilles Grave Ceremony

HCSA Fellowship
Provides support for Australians who are undertaking writing or research in an area of South Australian History.
Further information here.

Darlington Project Sculptures
Two new statues have been erected near the approach to Flinders University as part of the Darlington Upgrade Project. The sculptures: purruna martinthi, which means “to cradle life”, and puru yuwanthi, which means “still standing”, depict important local indigenous stories.
Further information here.

News

Greek Museum of Adelaide Exhibition
The museum is organising it's two week exhibition of family heirlooms brought to Australia by Greek immigrants. During the exhibition, the museum will also be hosting evenings of Greek cinema and lectures. The exhibition will be held at Flambouro Hall, 18 Fulton St., North Glenelg, open between 9.30am and 5.00pm from 1 December to 2 January.
Flyer available here.

Barossa History Fair
The fair organisers have decided to proceed with planning for next year's fair. However, due to COVID the fair will be held only on the Sunday (May 2). Further information will be forthcoming. Follow the fair on Facebook to stay tuned in.

Free event: The Parklands Project
A one-day event featuring art installations, citizen science workshops, and nature and walks and talks. November 22, 12.00-4.00pm ACDT, Carriageway Park / Tuthangga. Further information and registration here.

Online Event: A Farewell to Arts? On the Morrison Government’s University Legislation
A free event discussing the Morrison Government's recently passed changes to higher education funding. November 19, 5-6.30pm. Further information and registration here.

Sands & McDougall building façade provisionally heritage listed
The façade and awning of the former Sands & McDougall building on King William street has been provisionally entered in the SA Heritage Register. During the three-month provisional entry, requests can be made to remove it in the public interest. Such a request has been made by the building's owner, but as of 15 October, six written submissions have been received in favour of confirming the listing.

If you would like to make a submission regarding the provisional entry of the frontage of the building, information on doing so can be found here. The closing date for submissions is 24 November 2020.

History of Australian Industrial Relations
An exhibition on the history of Australian industrial relations from the early colonial period to the present day. Presented by the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at Kerry Packer Civic Gallery until 11 December.
Further information here.

Preserving the Victor Harbor causeway
The heritage-listed Victor Harbor causeway is set to be demolished and replaced with a concrete and steel structure. This is despite the engineering firm which in 2019 recommended its replacement originally outlining in 2010 how it could be preserved. This has prompted a petition which has currently been signed by nearly 10,000 since its launch.
View the petition here.
Further information here.

Book releases

Vernacular Visions: A Folklife history of Australia: art, diversity, storytelling, by Noris Ioannou
Based on combined ethnology, material culture studies, folkloristics and art history research, Vernacular Visions explores the origins and character of Australia's vernacular creativity and its diverse cultural traditions.
Further information here.

Maralinga: The struggle for return of the lands, by Garry Hiskey
Tells the story of the fight to return the Maralinga lands to their original owners after the British Government conducted a series of atomic bomb tests there in the 1950s and 60s.
Further information here.

Around the country

Listening to the Past online workshop: Learn how to edit oral history and sound recordings
December 4, 2020. Presented by Dr. Sally Stephenson.
Further information and registration here.

The Bubble: Metaphors we Survive by
An online series about critically engaging with the metaphors we use and their implications. Held on Fridays, 12.30 to 2.00pm (AEST)
Further information here.

"Humanities And..."
Registrations are now open for the Australasian Consortium of Humanities Research Centres Annual Meeting. It is a three-day event, beginning with a public lecture on Wednesday 2 December 2020.
Further information here.

Opportunities

Laura Bassi Scholarship to provide editorial assistance to postgraduate and early-career researchers whose research focuses on neglected topics of study within their discipline.
Further information here.

Allan Martin Award to assist early-career historians in furthering their research in Australian history. Applications close 1 December 2020.
Further information here.

Expressions of Interest for New Editors for History Australia 2022-2024
The Australian Historical Association is seeking expressions of interest from candidates located in any Australian university or universities, and engaged in any variety of history. EOIs are due 4 December 2020.
Further information here.

Australian Society for the Study of Labour History. The Society is seeking papers for its seventeenth biennial conference, with the theme “Fighting For Life: Class, Community and Care in Labour History”. The conference is to be held 3-5 December 2021, in Bendigo, Victoria. Abstracts are due 15 February 2021.
Further information here.

Calls for papers

Studies in Oral History (formerly Oral History Australia Journal) 2020 issue: Oral History, Place and the Environment. Articles due 30 November 2020.
Further information here.

Writing Australian History on Screen. Abstracts Due 27 February 2021. Further information here.

Down Under Darwin: Australasian Perspectives on Darwin Studies. Abstracts due 1 December 2020.
Further information here.

Australian Association for Maritime History: The Great Circle.
Further information here.