Kim Beazley Pays Tribute to John Curtin
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August 2001 INFORMATION UPDATE Kim Beazley pays tribute to John Curtin On Thursday 5 July the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (JCPML) commemorated the anniversary of our wartime prime minister’s death with its prestigious John Curtin Anniversary Lecture. The Federal Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Kim Beazley, gave this year’s lecture on the subject of “John Curtin’s Abiding Vision”. Calling John Curtin “Australia’s most Commonwealth Bank and changes to complex prime minister”, Mr Beazley income tax – two central planks of explored the ways in which his abiding Australia’s postwar development. Mr legacy remains relevant and important in Beazley praised the work of the JCPML the 21st century. He praised Curtin’s for undertaking such publications as ability to rise above his handicaps of Friendship is a Sheltering Tree by alcoholism and depression during a time Professor David Black to add to the of grave national danger as “a John Curtin scholarship and Hon. Kim Beazley, Federal Leader of the magnificent achievement.” memorabilia. Opposition “The essential point about Curtin is that Mr Beazley was introduced to a Live Webcast it was a vital thing for this nation that capacity audience of more than 220 someone as courageous and clear-sighted, people by JCPML Foundation Patron A live webcast of the lecture was produced however wounded by self-doubt, was and former prime minister, Hon. and hosted by the API Network for the available for leadership during the Gough Whitlam. Mr Whitlam paid JCPML through Australian Studies, the darkest hours of the Pacific War, that tribute to Mr Beazley and his father, Division of Humanities, in association with came so soon after he assumed the prime Kim Beazley Snr, who took over the the School of Media and Information and ministership in 1941,” said Mr Beazley. seat of Fremantle at Curtin’s death in the Centre for Educational Advancement. It 1945 and was a minister in Mr was accessible from both the API and He went on to outline Curtin’s strengths Whitlam’s Government. JCPML websites from 4pm that day. as a strategist and tactician and in developing Australia’s internationalism For those who missed out a transcript More than 200 users linked to the live and regional alignments which expanded of the lecture and video from the webcast with a maximum of 40 options for Australia. He spoke about proceedings can be viewed from the simultaneous viewers of the video stream the central part Curtin took in JCPML’s homepage during Mr Beazley’s talk. User feedback on establishing economic mechanisms such http://john.curtin.edu.au the quality and reliability of the system was as increasing the power of the under ‘what’s new’. very pleasing and most encouraging. What people are saying about Understanding Society through its Records “Congratulations on a clear and concise website, especially the selectively placed images and plain English definitions. I will certainly bookmark the site and use it as a reference to explain the underlying rationale for capturing and managing records and archives.” “An excellent initiative and an outstanding site. Congratulations to all at the JCPML for providing this facility and for further promulgating to the world at large the importance of recordkeeping.” “Very thought-provoking.” “Congratulations – your site is truly educational AND entertaining with wonderful use of interactivity.” The team involved in the successful launch of the JCPML’s newest website, from l to r: David Wylie, “What a fantastic resource.” Lesley Wallace and Sue Grey-Smith Anniversary of the Collaboration with Australian-US connection Australian Studies A special July edition of the Australian Journal of International Affairs (AJIA) Australian Studies was established at Curtin has been sponsored by the JCPML to mark the anniversary of the Australia- University in the mid 1970s but the area New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) Security Treaty. underwent a significant transformation last year with the appointment of a new executive The close association enjoyed by the Stott Despoja. US-Australian relations dean of humanities, Professor Tom Stannage, US and Australia is generally regarded cover a broad range of diplomatic, Western Australia’s foremost historian. Later as having been initiated by Prime economic, environmental, cultural and in the same year Richard Nile was appointed Minister John Curtin during the generational issues which have been as the first professor of Australian Studies and Second World War when he famously addressed by the authors. director of the area. Between them, Pro- declared that Australia was turning to fessors Stannage and Nile have developed America for help in the Pacific arena. Part One explores the views of three arguably the most important concentration of Australian politicians, two of whom Australian studies publications in partnership This special edition of AJIA is devoted played a major role in creating the with the University of Queensland Press and to articles on the relationship between alliance in the 1940s and 50s – John Fremantle Arts Centre Press. Australia and the US and is part of the Curtin and Percy Spender. Part Two strong interest the JCPML maintains offers an appraisal of ANZUS from The Institute of Australian Studies is now in promoting study into Australian- the North-East and South-East Asian home to several scholarly journals and book American relations. This relationship perspectives with Australia and Japan series as well as the portal for numerous other has been ongoing in one form or being described as the ‘two anchors’ scholarly publications across a wide range of another since 1942 when General of America’s security system in the disciplines. Australian studies also hosts the Douglas MacArthur was appointed western Pacific. The final part of the Australian Public Intellectual Network Supreme Allied Commander and journal explores several key issues in (www.api-network.com) a gateway to based his headquarters in Brisbane. what is now a complex and multi- Australian culture and educational resources. Peter Edwards, editor of the journal, faceted relationship, including trade has written an article which examines relations and the economic interaction As the JCPML is very active in producing the relationship these two strong between the US and its Pacific allies. good quality educational and scholarly leaders developed, on both a publications, collaboration with Australian professional and personal level. Overall, the cultural underpinnings of Studies in this area is in the best interests of the alliance remain strong, and all the both parties. As Professor Nile says, “In Other contributers to the journal contributors provide a perceptive and partnership with the JCPML, Australian include US Ambassador Edward useful synopsis of the US-Australian Studies is expanding its print based and Gnehm, former Prime Minister alliance and the challenges that it faces electronic presence as one of the premier Malcolm Fraser and Senator Natasha in the 21st century. intellectual centres in the country.” Digital News A new collaborative partnership between Lloyd Ross was the son of R S Ross, one the JCPML and the National Library of of Curtin’s friends from his early Socialist Australia (NLA) will make available days, and later became friendly with hundreds of documents from the Lloyd Curtin and a great supporter during his Ross collection to researchers through prime ministership. the internet. Ross’ biography of John Curtin com- Lloyd Ross is a well-known Curtin menced in the 1940s and much of his biographer and the papers include research includes correspondence from Above: Frank Kane digitizes material from the Lloyd Ross collection research material drawn together by that era with people close to Curtin, Below: One of the images from MS3939 Ross during the writing of his bio- including Curtin’s mentors Frank Anstey showing Curtin (standing in lower right) graphy, such as correspondence, diaries, and Tom Mann, his wife Elsie Curtin and addressing Parliament. messages, newspaper cuttings, photo- Ben Chifley. After his retirement Ross was (by permission NLA) graphs and early drafts of his book. able to return to his writing and research. Altogether 67 folders of material from Ross published his detailed and the MS 3939 series will be digitised. comprehensive biography on John Curtin This is a major undertaking by both in 1977 and it has been reprinted many institutions which will enable researchers times since then. This digital project will to electronically access material which allow researchers to access much of the was previously only available by visiting primary source documents that Ross the NLA in Canberra. consulted. http//john.curtin.edu.au Water Corporation New on the Sponsorship Web The JCPML has commenced digitisation of its video Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Water holdings which will be available through the Electronic Corporation, the JCPML will shortly be undertaking Research Archive (ERA). To check out a sample, visit another digital project, tentatively titled: War & Peace, “What’s New” from our home page and view a special Rationing & Rebuilding: Life in suburban West Australia edition of the video, “Paul Hasluck - War Historian”. in the 1940s. The Water Corporation is committed to The former politician and Governor-General is providing equality of service across the state and are pleased interviewed by his son Nicholas Hasluck in this JCPML that the web-based project will be available to both regional Education Program version, which features Paul Hasluck’s and metropolitan users. relationship with John Curtin and examines Curtin’s career in journalism and later in politics. Other videos The project will focus on the life of John Curtin and his may be found by searching ERA for “motion pictures”. home community of Cottesloe and will cover such aspects as housing, furniture and interior decoration, services, If you’ve ever wanted to visit the JCPML facilities but transport, recreation and entertainment, fashion and haven’t been able to because of distance or time cultural life of the period.