Farewell. We’ve had to farewell Heather Dorries, Endeavour Research Fellow based in Australian Indigenous Studies. Heather had to return home to Canada because of a family commitment. While she was with us she was the ideal visiting fellow: interested in learning about us, the University of Melbourne, Australian society, Aboriginal Australia, as well as providing us with perspectives on Indigenous issues in Canada, and carrying out her own research.
Also Johanna Simmons who has been the backbone of the AIS program for the last three years has left us to take up a position in the Office of the Provost. We’ll miss her but it’s great to see her achievements recognised with a promotion. ( The photograph is of Johanna at the end of winter. She wasn't usually dressed like that.)
http://www.provost.unimelb.edu.au/
Greg Inglis. A big year for Inglis with the latest news suggesting that he is going to play for South Sydney. If that happens it will be a huge source of pride for grass roots Koories in NSW. I had one of those I was there moments when Inglis made his debut for the Melbourne Storm as slight teenager filling in for Billy Slater at fullback. His development as a footballer is self-evident but Inglis also showed a firmness of character in the way he addressed the Andrew Johns racial vilification incident. ‘Mediation’ should be well and truly consigned to the past.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/23/2935266.htm
Massacre Drawing. The latest edition of the national Library’s eNews reports on a rare drawing of a massacre carried out by settlers in QLD in the 19th century.
‘The drawing is of the massacre of a group of Aboriginal men, women and children by white squatters at One Tree Hill near the road from Moreton Bay to Darling Downs. The drawing depicts eleven squatters firing on a group of 25 Indigenous people, likely to be of the Barunggahm, Jarowair, Giabal and Keinjan language groups.’
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn4970952
Pecan Summer. Attended the premiere of Debra Cheetham’s Pecan Summer in Mooroopna. The production had many profound moments – my favourite was the last scene where people assemble in Federation Square to hear Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Apology to the Stolen Generations. Following the broadcast of Mr Rudd’s speech Ursula Yovich and Caitlin Munro, playing the separated mother and daughter, sing a duet (independently of each other) before leaving the stage without ever connecting.
Launch. Dr Peta Stephenson's Islam Dreaming: Indigenous Muslims in Australia was launched at the Post Colonial Institute. Lots of people in attendance and an upbeat mood to welcome a groundbreaking text.
http://www.unswpress.com.au/isbn/9781742232478.htm
