Manning Clark wrote that people complimented him for, ‘giving Australia a soul’ as he famously immersed himself in the task of helping Australians discover who we are. While this was going on, a group of Wiradjuri historians were equally immersed in their task of telling us who we are. They were celebrating Wiradjuri excellence and sharing the ancient storytelling tradition that gives us our soul. Comparing parallel careers, I will consider why certain historians - and their stories - endure to make a significant impact on individual and group identities.
Lawrence Bamblett is a Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and an Adjunct Research Fellow at National Centre for Indigenous Studies (NCIS) at the ANU. He combines community development work with tertiary teaching and research. His work has a central focus on understanding the nature and impact of the way Aboriginal people have been and continue to be represented, and how they choose to represent themselves.
Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle Forrest at 5:30pm. Free to MCH members (for 2013 membership), $20 public admission/$10 concession bookings 6295 1808 or info [at] manningclark [dot] org [dot] au
Please note this event will be alcohol free.