2006 Media Releases
Monday 9 October, 2006
La Trobe authors win two
NSW Premier’s History Awards
La Trobe University academics have won two out of six NSW Premier’s History Awards announced last Friday by the Minister for the Arts, the Hon Bob Debus MP.
Dr Richard Broome took out the Australian History Prize for his book 'Aboriginal Victorians: a History since 1800', published by Allen & Unwin, and Dr Gwenda Tavan won the State Records - John and Patricia Ward History prize for her book, 'The Long, Slow Death of White Australia' (Scribe Publications).
The awards, each valued at $15,000, recognise and promote excellence in historical research, writing and presentation.
Dr Broome’s book was described as ‘the first extensive study of the Aboriginal people since white contact in the area which became the state of Victoria’. The judges said while avoiding ‘explicit involvement with the “History Wars” controversy (he) nevertheless deals forthrightly with the dreadful impact of disease, frontier violence and social dislocation, and the eventual location of Aboriginal people on small and diminishing reserves’.
They added that the book ‘covers the complexity and dilemmas of the search for land rights under both state and federal law. It will greatly add to our understanding of Aboriginal Victorians and their achievements, and the ongoing problems of choice facing Aboriginal people Australia-wide’.
Dr Tavan traces the history of the White Australia Policy from before its official embodiment in the Commonwealth Immigration Restriction Act 1901 to its official demise in 1973, and beyond, to its vestiges in the political rhetoric of contemporary groups such as One Nation.
The judges noted Dr Tavan was ‘equally critical of both sides of politics, cultural attitudes and exploitative representations in the media, and reveals the contributions of key players that previously have gone unrecognised’. They added the book was an ‘extremely valuable resource, providing significant insights into contemporary debates’.
For further information:
Contact: Dr Broome: Tel. 03 9479 2367; Dr Tavan: Tel. 03 9479 1287.
Full details about the awards and copies of the citations can be found on the Arts NSW website.