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RecorderOfficial organ of the Melbourne Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History Issue No 267—October 2010 IN THIS EDITION: • History Week 2010, p. 3 • Uni of Melbourne Archives – 50th BIRTHDAY, Peter Love, p. 1 • RHSV Events & Seminars, p. 3 • Cummins Memorial Dinner 2010, Peter Love, p. 2 • Vale Jim Kennan, Brian Smiddy, p. 4 • BIG RED QUIZ NIGHT 2010, p. 3 • No ces, p. 4 • Melbourne branch ASSLH contacts, p. 4
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE ARCHIVES – 50th BIRTHDAY
By Peter Love To the many members of the Melbourne Branch at University House on Friday 23 July the func on seemed like a family birthday party. The rela onship between the ASSLH and the UMA has been long, construc ve and harmonious.
The University of Melbourne Archives was established in July 1960 to collect University and Victorian business records for historical research. In the 1970s it added trade union, poli cal and social movement records as well as the personal papers of significant individuals. It quickly became one of the main repositories for labour history research, in tandem with the cognate collec ons at the Noel Butlin Archives Centre in the Australian have alerted staff to records that were lying neglected in Na onal University. In deciding to collect business and some back room or about to be orphaned as the parent labour records both ins tu ons supported the growing organisa on ceased to exist. The University has had the maturity of Australian historical scholarship, which good sense to include representa ves of suppor ng recognised that capital and labour were not en es unto communi es on its Board. Several members of the themselves but were leading players in the dynamics of a ASSLH have willingly served a term on the Board wider system of economic and social rela ons. At the represen ng labour donors and users. Branch Treasurer same me the Australian Society for the Study of Labour Phillip Deery is our current representa ve. It was History embraced a more expansive vision to explore gra fying to see so many of these dedicated folk at the labour and social history. The UMA and the ASSLH were family birthday party. on parallel paths to encourage a richer, more nuanced stream of historical wri ng. It is hard to think of a Maggie Shapley, the ANU Archivist, was another prac sing labour historian who has not, at some stage of significant member of the extended family at the their research, used the collec ons in the UMA. func on. Her presence was a reminder of the very collegial rela onship with the Butlin Archives. They have In the best tradi ons of the labour movement, there was been partners in a number of major projects, including mutuality in the rela onship. As a succession of labour the invaluable Australian Trade Union Archives database archivists, including Andrew Reeves, Jenny Lee, Sue and the current proposal to list 19th century Australian Fairbanks, Sarah Brown and others, collected and trade union records on the UNESCO Memory of the organised records, trade unions, poli cal par es and World register. social movement ac vists came to see the UMA as a secure, professionally managed repository for their Birthday par es beget speeches. On this occasion all material. An outstanding example of the la er is the were concise and to the point. We heard from the remarkable collec on of photographs that John Ellis has urbane Chair of the Board, the Ac ng Vice-Chancellor, donated and, as a volunteer, helped to catalogue. This Jock Murphy, Michael Piggo (ex-University Archivist) commitment to the Archives has extended to users who
Recorder No. 262 RECORDER Government was elected on April 2nd, 1982 and Jim was a member of that Government. He had a number of ministerial por olios including A orney-General, Planning, Major Projects, Transport and Arts.
When he re red from parliament in 1993, he subsequently returned to the prac ce of law as a Senior Counsel. He appeared in a number of high profile cases including that of Abdul Nacer Benbrika and Jack Thomas’s terrorism trials and more recently represen ng Chris ne Nixon at the Bush Fires Royal Commission.
J i m w a s m o s t and eminent poet Chris Wallace-Crabb who spoke with concerned about the characteris c generosity and wit. As they talked about need to protect civil the Archives’ impressive achievements over the years, liber es and he had we remembered the unassuming but invaluable work of great doubts about long-serving staff like Cecily Close and Mark Richmond many recent changes whose dedica on and deep knowledge of the collec ons to the law which made our visits both pleasant and produc ve. It would fri ered away some be impossible, however, to think of the UMA’s first 50 of these rights. He years without its late, legendary leader Frank Strahan was also concerned who was University Archivist from its founda on in 1960 as to what was to his re rement in1995. Frank’s passion for collec ng wrong with society; and preserving our heritage extended well beyond the he saw law as the University environs to business records as far afield as vehicle to make society fairer and to protect the needy. Broken Hill and beyond, and outside his Archivist du es to serve organisa ons such as the Na onal Trust. In With the passing of Jim we have lost another champion many ways, the UMA is a monument to Frank and his whose interests in life were more than just making colleagues. There were some at the birthday party who money. To his family we offer deepest condolences at his also recalled the danger to their research schedules of un mely passing. accep ng an invita on to join Frank for lunch! CUMMINS MEMORIAL DINNER 2010 Recorder congratulates the University of Melbourne For the Melbourne Community Founda on Archives on 50 years of conspicuous service to the By Peter Love scholarly community and offers Principal Archivist Helen McLaughlan and her colleagues our con nuing support. The annual John Cummins Memorial Dinner was held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse func on centre on Friday The late JIM KENNAN MP 27 August. It followed the usual format with guests milling about and catching up with comrades not seen 25 February 1946 – 4 August 2010 for a while, each course of the dinner interspersed with By Brian Smiddy speeches and musical interludes, and dancing at the end of formal proceedings. It was a li le more difficult to I first met Jim Kennan at the me of the elec on of the move about this year, with more than 700 a ending. Whitlam Labor Government in 1972. From then on, both as a full me official and an ac ve branch member in a In addi on to the driving set of songs from Mark newly established suburb, I found Jim was always Seymour and his band, there were two par cularly good prepared to offer advice on a range of subjects when speeches as highlights this year. Gabi Hollows, Founding requested to do so. As a trained lawyer he had a razor Director of the Fred Hollows Founda on addressed the sharp mind and his interests were many. theme of ‘Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win’. It was both an inspiring and illumina ng address on how her late At the monthly ALP branch mee ngs in the 1970’s and husband had both dared and struggled to bring sight to 80’s Jim regularly a ended such mee ngs and people whose miserable social condi ons had consigned encouraged rank and file members to con nue with their them to both poverty and darkness. Her account of the ac vi es, in order that one day we will elect a State Founda on’s con nuing work was both reassuring about Labor Government. The John Cain State Labor
2 Recorder No. 267 RECORDER the steely resolu on that s ll drives its work and inspiring as to what is s ll possible.
[] She went on to list the very impressive achievements of the college in winning support to improve its infrastructure and programs. At all stages of its remarkable revival, the building unions gave consistent support. For a link to the speech go to: h p:// www.cummo.com.au/ [] The Cummins memorial fund con nues its work in The Cummins Founda on and its annual fund-raising suppor ng the Aus n Hospital. Since its incep on the dinner is yet another example of the construc ve role Fund has donated $105,000, which the Hospital has that unions play in suppor ng their communi es, agreed to match from other bequests to ensure the par cularly when they are under a ack from hos le ongoing employment of a Brain Tumour Support Officer. governments and other powerful adversaries. The Fund’s other main ac vity is to support working class students and their schools. Scholarships of up to $1,000 BIG RED QUIZ NIGHT 2010 per student, capped at $5,000 per school are available. Saturday 23 October This work was the subject of the second speech. In an occasionally rousing address, the Principal of Northland The New Interna onal Bookshop is calling all news Secondary College, Raffaela Gala -Brown paid tribute to junkies, bibliophiles, trivia buffs – and run-of-the-mill the John Cummins Memorial Fund for its support of Le ie geniuses! The Big Red Quiz Night is just around the students at the College and gave examples of the real corner, and that means that another year has almost difference it had made to many young lives. Addressing passed us by. Have you been paying a en on? As always the same theme as Gabi Hollows, she reminded us of the there are huge prizes for the top three tables, a booby way the union movement had supported the College’s prize for the last table – and spot prizes, games and a dis nc ve role in enhancing opportuni es for young raffle throughout the event for individual glory and working class people. She recalled how unions had enrichment. There will even be an art auc on on the organised resistance to the Kenne government’s night: going under the hammer ‘Two Youths’ by Noel a empt to shut down the school in the early 1990s. Counihan (reserve $500) and an original pain ng by Lyn Hovey (reserve $250). Entry: $25/$15 concession. I have never forgo en that in one of our darkest 7:30pm, Federa on of Educa on Unions Building, 120 moments, when we had to go yet again before the Equal Clarendon St, South Melbourne. Drinks at bar prices. Opportunity Board in 1994, the CFMEU came to our Book a table of eight, a small group or as an individual. rescue, breaking into the college and providing us with Bookings/ more info: (ph) 9662 3744, (email) much needed publicity by offering to fix up the school. It [email protected] gave our community a morale boost when we most needed it and put us back in the forefront of the media. Like John Cummins, like the CFMEU, like unions generally are forced to do, we dared to struggle against the might HISTORY WEEK: 24 - 31 October 2010 of the Kenne government and in the end we won, reopening in March 1995. Since then the college has History week is on soon. To find out about the numerous gone from strength to strength. ac vi es organised go to the website: h p://www.historyweek.org.au/
3 Recorder No. 267 RECORDER RHSV Events & Seminars NOTICES All events listed below are held at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 239 A'Becke Street, Melbourne. Georgina Murray & David Peetz have released a new book: Women of the Coal Rushes, Tuesday 12 October 2010 which tells the story of the women of places Lecture including Biloel, Dysart and Moranbah. It’s Speaker: Annamaria Davine published by UNSW Press. Topic: Italians and Swiss-Italians on the Walhalla Goldfield Time: 5.15 pm tea/coffee - 5.45 pm Lecture Cost: RHSV Members Free, Non Members $5.50 Keith Jeffery’s new book MI6: The History of the Secret Intelligence Service Workshops and Seminars 1909-1949, is out now. Jeffrey, as with Wednesday 13 October 2010 Christopher Andrew and his official Workshop - Designing and maintaining a website history of the M15, The Defence of the Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm Realm: The Authorized History of MI5, Cost: Free had full access to the records of the Bookings essential Email: [email protected] or organisation. We look forward to the Phone: 9326 9288 publication of ASIO’s official history, commissioned last year to ANU’s Professor David Horner Wednesday 20 October 2010 for $1,757,981.00 (Source: http://greensmps.org.au/ Workshop - Podcasting content/question/cost-book-asios-history). Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm Cost: Free Melbourne Branch ASSLH Contacts Bookings essential Email: [email protected] or Phone: 9326 9288
Friday 29 October 2010 Workshop - Indexing for historical societies Time: 10 am - 3.00 pm Cost: $40.00 RHSV Members $45.00 non-members (BYO lunch) Bookings essential Email: [email protected] or Phone: 9326 9288
Saturday 6 November 2010 History Victoria Support Group Seminar Day Time: 10 am - 4.00 pm Topic:Toolbox topics for historical societies Cost: $15.00 (includes lunch) - paid on the day Bookings essential Email: [email protected] or Phone: 9326 9288
NOTICES Philip Mendes will be presenting a paper on ‘The Rise and Fall of the Melbourne Jewish Council to Combat Fascism and Anti-Semitism, 1942-1970’ to the Jewish Historical Melbourne Branch ASSLH Contacts Society meeting. Thursday 7 October. 8.00 pm Jewish Museum of Australia: 26 Alma Road, St Kilda. President Peter Love, 51 Blanche Street, St Kilda 3182. Tel: 9534 2445 This talk explores the history of the JCCFAS from 1942, Secretary explains why the Council rose to a position of influence in Brian Smiddy, 7 The Crest, Watsonia 3087. Tel: 9435 5145 the Melbourne Jewish Community, and equally how the Treasurer Council disintegrated in 1952-53. This fascinating history Phillip Deery, 85 Li le Page Street, Albert Park 3206. Tel: 9690 2184 of the Council is placed within the context of broader Website: h p://www.asslh.org.au/melbourne reflections on the dilemmas facing Jewish Left groups, historically and today. $8 Jewish Historical Society Recorder is published four mes a year. The opinions of the members; $10 non-members contributors are their own and not necessarily those of the Editor or Execu ve of the ASSLH, Melbourne Branch. Send all contribu ons and Enquiries to Liz James: [email protected] queries to the editor, Julie Kimber ([email protected])
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