UoN Cultural Collections

James Wallis – Historical Account of New South Wales 1821 online

uoncc — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:18:41 +0000

James Wallis - An historical account of the colony of New South Wales (1821)

Day Shift – 17/11/2009 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist, Newcastle University

Newcastle University Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses a recent addition to the University’s Flickr site: Captain James Wallis’ (1785?-1858) An historical account of the colony of New South Wales and its dependent settlements : in illustration of twelve views / engraved by W. Preston from drawings taken on the spot by Captain Wallis. To which is subjoined An accurate map of Port Macquarie and the newly discovered River Hastings by J. Oxley. London : Printed for R. Ackermann by J. Moyes, 1821. The volume fetches upwards of $30,000 AUD and was photographed by Associate Professor Allan Chawner and prepared for the web by Gionni Di Gravio.

Broadcast Notes:

To access the original images click on the Flickr link here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622518218701/with/4036153878/

To access a text searchable pdf version of the whole work click here:
James Wallis – An historical account (1821) (51MB PDF Version)

Newcastle, Hunter's River, New South Wales

Plate No. V.

Is a View of Newcastle; a settlement beatifully situated on the south side of the entrance of Hunter’s River, which is sixty miles north of Sydney. From hence Sydney is supplied with coal, a good quanlity, a shaft having been lately sunk there; and also with lime, burnt from shells, and with timber of every description. About thirty miles from the sea, Hunter’s River is formed by the junction of three rivers of considerable magnitude. These take their rise from the range of mountains which extend all along the coast; the waters on the eastern side of the range running towards the sea, while those on the western side run into the interior, and are supposed to form a vast inland lake. The scenery on the banks of these rivers is very fine; some parts being low and thickly wooded, while other parts present to the view sloping banks, luxuriant herbage, and majestic trees, scattered in beautiful profusion, and assuming the appearance of a gentleman’s park in England. Black swans, pelicans, wild ducks, widgeons, and many other sorts of water fowl, are found in abundance; and the forests are thickly inhabited by kangaroos and emus; and the harbour swarms with fish. When this land is granted, it is likely to become one of the most fertile settlements in the Colony, as the soil is rich and free from floods, and the navigation good for sixty miles. The entrance to the harbour is difficult: Governor Macquarie has, however, commenced a work of magnitude, and is now occupied in erecting a pier, to extend from the main land to the island called Nobby’s, situated in the channel. This work, when completed, will, by confining the waters to one channel, deepen and perfectly secure the principal entrance. This settlement has hitherto been approprated to the reception of all those culprits who are convicted by the Courts or Magistrates of crimes committed in Sydney, or amy other part of the Colony. (pages 39-40)

Corrobboree or dance of the natives of New South Wales

Plate No. VI.

Is a View of a Corrobboree, or dance, of the natives of New South Wales. The representation of this extraordinary assemblage of savage festivity, as well as the scenery, is taken from nature. The preparation for their dance is striking and curious. They assemble in groups, and commence marking their arms, legs, and bodies, in various directions, with pipe-clay and a kind of red ochre; some of them displaying great taste at their toilet, as in the representation. Their musician, who is generally an elderly man, sings, a monotonous tune, in which they all join, skriking in regular time his shield with a club or waddy. Each dancer carries a green bough in his hand. The beauty of the scenery, the pleasing reflection of light from the fire round which they dance, the grotesque and singular appearance of the natives, and their wild notes of festivity, all form a strange and interesting contrast to any thing ever witnessed in civilised society. The women never dance; and where several tribes meet together, each tribe dances separately. All the principal figures in the foreground are from original portraits: the tall figure, laughing, on the left, is the chieftain or king of the Newcastle Tribe, called Buriejou, —a brave, expert fellow, who has lately presented Governor Macquarie with his eldest son, to be placed in the native institution, as a proof of his confidence in British humanity. (page 40)

Two Black Swans (on Reed's Mistake)

Plate No. VII.

Is a representation of two Black Swans. The View is on Reed’s Mistake, a small harbour about eighteen miles south of Newcastle. A bar across prevents vessels of any burden from entering this harbour. The scenery on this river, called by the natives Bunjarees Norah, is rich, luxuriant, and picturesque. Kangaroos are found here in abundance, as well as wild fowl: the natives are a very firnedly tribe, and excellent fishermen. (pp. 40-41)

Two Kangaroos about six miles from Newcastle

Plate No. VIII.

Is a representation of two kangaroos from nature. The scenery is six miles from Newcastle. A large lagoon, or lake, apears in the distance, which affords fish and roots for the subsistence of a very wild and savage tribe of natives. (p. 41)

View from Hunter's River

Plate No. IX.

Is a View from Hunter’s River. In the fore-ground is a group of natives; on the summit of the hill stand the Government stock-yards, and Christ Church; the first church and steeple ever erected in view of the Pacific Ocean. The situation is very commanding and from the sea is distinguishable at a considerable distance. (p. 41)

Vocation to the East

uoncc — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:44:24 +0000

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

Vocation to the East: The Asian Jesuit missionary enterprise at the beginning of the global age

Camilla Russell

Friday, 30 October
10am to 11am

Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common),
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

This paper is delivered with the support of the Lila Wallace – Reader’s Digest Endowment Fund and is based on research undertaken at Villa I Tatti, Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, as Hanna Kiel Fellow 2008/9.

In late-sixteenth-century Europe, Jesuit colleges and novitiates were awash with accounts from the missions in the ‘Indies’, igniting in young students and novices a desire to join the enterprise, especially in the East. This phenomenon of mass, collective vocations to the overseas missions is recorded in the remarkable letters of petition by aspiring missionaries addressed to the Superior General, now preserved at the Jesuit Archive in Rome.

In this paper, the petitions will be used to examine the process by which Asia was constructed and transmitted back to Europe as part of the Jesuit project of recruitment to, and promotion of, its overseas operations. With Jesuit accounts from the East representing one of the most important European sources of information about Asia in the early modern period, this paper offers a case study for assessing how the missionary enterprise informed European notions about Asia, particularly among those who imagined, rather than experienced, the East at the turn of the seventeenth century.

Camilla Russell is the author of Giulia Gonzaga and the Religious Controversies of Sixteenth-Century Italy (Brepols, 2006), as well as a number of articles on the religious and cultural history of early modern Italy.

Enquiries to: Michael Ondaatje (Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au)

Brian Tomson 1942 – 1986

uoncc — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:41:50 +0000

Brian Tomson

Day Shift – 20/10/2009 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist, Newcastle University Newcastle University

With the recent launch of the University’s ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition, documenting the lives of past and present GLBTIQ (i.e., gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and/or queer) staff and students Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses the life and times of one of the scholars featured in the exhibition, the late Brian Tomson, a remarkable medieval scholar and chess master.

Broadcast Notes:

Firstly I would like to sincerely thank Mr Bob Meadley of Narromine for generously allowing us to publish transcriptions of his letters from Brian Tomson and background documents relating to his final days. It is largely due to Bob that we know anything about Brian at all.

I first I heard of Brian Tomson dates back to my first days working at the University. I was one of Rare Book Librarian’s (then) young recruits for seeking out and locating items from the miles and miles of shelving in the Library and reassembling the private libraries of the University’s great scholars and identities.

After a while, I got to recognise Brian Tomson’s books as a standout, he had a exceptional eye for beautiful books, especially those relating to medieval science, magic and chess. His chess books formed the majority of the collection. He was also exceptional in that we knew precious little about him personally. I was told that he was the first person in Newcastle to die of Aids. There were no photographs, no extant staff file, or any other biographical information, in fact no archives had appeared to survive at all.

Then in 2001 I met Bob Meadley who wanted to visit Brian’s chess library. Bob also sent us a photograph that we used on the website. I recently contacted Bob during the preparations of the ‘You Are Here Now’ to share my distress at how little archival material (besides his personal library) we had on Brian Tomson. Bob kindly sent us transcriptions of various letters to and from Brian from his letterbooks, and copies of additional correspondence, newsclippings and obituaries. During the closing stages of his life Brian had been editing the codex which contained a Trinity College Cambridge manuscript MS 0.5.26 entitled the New Theorik of Planetis by Andalo di Negro. The author of Chaucer’s Universe, J.D. North, believes that Brian was the first to identify the author of this treatise. (North, 1988 p.134)

Barry Baker, along with John Ashton, were neighbours who looked after Brian in the closing stages of his life. Barry remembers going to the Royal Newcastle Hospital and seeing Brian, alone, in one of the rooms. There was no family or firends looking after him, so he did. The disease that Brian was dying from in the 1980s, HIV Aids, at the time was little understood and much feared. And yet they looked after his needs in hospital and looked after his affairs after he passed away on 20 June 1986.

______________________________________________________

Please download Bob Meadley’s account of his friendship with Brian Tomson through his letters and related documents:

The Brian Tomson Letters 1975 – 1986 by Bob Meadley (1.5MB)

Chess Title to W.E.A. Player

From WEA News, Vol 2 No.5 Sept. 1971

N.S.W. Country Chess Champion, Brian Tomson

The 1971 Country Chess Championship of N.S.W. has been won by a member of the Newcastle Chess Club (a W.E.A. club), Brian Tomson.

A former player for the club and previous winner of the NSW Country title, Ken Hill, shared second place. Hill left Newcastle to move to Wollongong recently.

Brian Tomson is a lecturer in English at the University of Newcastle. Before coming to Australia he had gained fourth place in the Irish National Title, played for Oxford University and represented Eireland in an international universities tournament played in Europe against top class competition including the crack Russian. He modestly stresses the fact that the Irish team finished in last place on this occasion.

The acquisition of a player of Tomson’s calibre should enable the W.E.A. club to overcome the loss of Hill and retain its high standing in NSW country chess.

Obituary for Brian Tomson From University News Volume 12, No.11, July 7-21 1986.

Obituary – Brian Tomson

From University News Volume 12, No.11, July 7-21 1986.

Brian Tomson of the English Department died in Royal Newcastle Hospital on June 20 after a long illness. He was 44. He left no relatives in Australia, but the large attendance at his funeral showed how widely he was valued.

After graduating MA in English and French at Trinity College, Dublin, Brian Tomson took up post-graduate research on Malory at Brasenose College, Oxford and gained his BPhil. He came to the University of Newcastle in March, 1968, as a lecturer in English and continued to work towards an Oxford DPhil in medieval literature.

In his earlier years in Newcastle, he was able to carry out all his teaching in the fields of Old and Middle English. As the heavy staff-losses of recent years reduced the Department’s range of courses, he turned his attention to the teaching of more recent literature. But, the older work remained his real love and students who shared that interest with him saw the best of his high abilities.

He was one of the finest chess players in the Hunter Region, playing with considerable success in the NSW and Australian championship tournaments. He did particularly well in 1984, the last year he was able to compete. He also acted as chess correspondent for the (then) Newcastle Morning Herald and was a regular contributor to chess journals.

Brian was a quiet but strong-minded man who warmed to a congenial conversation and had a shy but searching wit. His friendship was not lightly granted but his company will be greatly missed in the Department of English and beyond.

D.B.B. J.F.B.

Obituary for Brian Tomson by Ruik Bergmann 26 June 1986

Brian Tomson 1942-1986 by Bob Meadley Published in 'Chess in Australia' August 1986 p.217

Letter from Barry Baker to Bob Meadley 9 August 1986 (With Kind Permission of Barry Baker)

Chess Championships published in 'Chess in Australia' September/October 1986

You Are Here Now Exhibition Launched

uoncc — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:21:45 +0000

YOU ARE HERE NOW

This official launch of the University of Newcastle’s “YOU ARE HERE NOW” Exhibition, a celebration of GLBTIQ (i.e. gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and/or queer) staff and students, past and present at The University of Newcastle was held on the 10th October 2009.

The launch of the exhibition also includes a photography competition, plus a sparkling seminar. The launch of the exhibition is held in conjunction with the opening of the 2009 Rainbow Visions Festival (10-18 October).

The historical exhibition and display of the photographs from the photography competition will be on display in the Cultural Collections area of the Auchmuty Library from 10 October-10 November.

YOU ARE HERE NOW Flyer (Reverse)

CATALOGUE - Exhibition Catalogue: “YOU ARE HERE NOW” (112KB PDF)

RADIO - Gregg, Marguerite and Leni interviewed by Maynard on ABC1233 12/10/09 (2.1MB MP3)

PHOTOGRAPHS - Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622580665662/

SLIDESHOW - http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622580665662/show/

VIDEOS – See all 12 videos on the Facebook Group page located here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=88531042565

DIGITISED GUESTBOOK - YOU ARE HERE NOW GUESTBOOK [1.9MB PDF]

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Associate Professor Kevin Markwell who was Master of Ceremonies at the the Official Launch.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Mr Greg Anderson University Librarian who officially launched the Exhibition.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Belinda Munn, Manager of the Equity and Diversity Unit who spoke at the Launch.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Dr Marguerite Johnson and Gregg Heathcote who spoke at the Launch.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Rainbow Visions conveners Ivan Skaines and Jennifer Thurgate who spoke at the Official Launch.

he ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Brett Alexander and Toni Shuker who announced the winners of the Photographic Competition at the Official Launch.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Leni Johnson who spoke at the Seminar following the Official Launch.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia – We present Talia Barrett and Luke Griffiths who spoke at the Seminar following the Official Launch.

The ‘You Are Here Now’ Exhibition was launched on the 10 October 2009 at the University of Newcastle Australia. These are a selection of photographs taken at the launch by Danylo Motyka along with some outtakes shot after the exhibition was set up.

An Anthropology of ANZAC

uoncc — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:53:49 +0000

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

An Anthropology of ANZAC

Barry Morris

Friday, 25 September
10am to 11am
(with morning tea/coffee afterwards)

Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common)
Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

The general aim of this paper is to provide an anthropological understanding of ANZAC commemorations and its practices. ANZAC is the major commemorative of Australian nationalism. The narratives of ANZAC and the commemorative rituals are considered in this paper as a foundation myth of national origins. I will argue that the characterisations of ANZAC and of nationalism in terms of political alignments underestimates the power of myth and of nationalism.

Barry Morris has contributed years of research into indigenous issues and race relations in Australia. His approach has developed out of the insight that it is necessary to explore the cultural logic that has informed exclusionary practices in Australia rather than liberal approaches couched in more universal expressions of social or civil rights and, more recently, human rights. Dr Morris has contributed to an increased international and theoretical interest in localised as well as national expressions and practices of social exclusion and inclusion. He is currently an Academic Research Member of the Wollongong-Newcastle Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies (CAPSTRANS).

Staff, students and members of the public are welcome

Enquiries to: Michael Ondaatje – Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au

Witches, Wends and Werplons

uoncc — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:21:47 +0000

The Werplon by Rosaleen Norton

Day Shift – 22/09/2009 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Carol Duncan
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist, Newcastle University Newcastle University

Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses an interesting research enquiry into an artistic trance figure by the late notorious Australian artist Rosaleen Norton, and its interesting connections to the ancient mythology of the Wendic/Sorbian Community of the Hunter Region.

Broadcast Notes:

Back in 2001 I responded to an enquiry by a University scholar to see what I could find out about a werplon. What is a werplon you may ask? It is a monstrous creature from the trance imagination of Australian artist and famous ‘Witch of King’s Cross’ Rosaleen Norton. It appears in her controversial book entitled ‘The Art of Rosaleen Norton’ which first appeared in 1952. I have brought in the University’s copy which is the 1982 edition. Much of her trance art relate to mythological figures that are reasonably well known, such as Pan for instance. The Werplon, however proved more elusive.

On the evening of 22 September 2001 I went looking…

Email: 23/09/2001 12:01 AM

I went looking for Werplon tonight. Couldn’t find anything anywhere on it. Then the thought appeared to divide the word into ‘Wer’ and ‘Plon’, and I hit pay dirt.

Apparently a “Plon” is a very obscure Slavic demon of sorts, with the “wer” prefix denoting a male form of this being, much in the same vein as a were-wolf (or man-wolf). So our being is a wer-plon.

Here is the excerpt that comes from article by V.J. Mansikka entitled ‘Demons and Spirits (Slavonic)’ pp.622a – 630b in Volume 4 of James Hastings (Editor) Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1908 – 1926 (on p.628a):

“The Polish skrzatek is a winged creature which supplies corn, and, when flying about in the vicinity of homes, steals children. His Wendic counterpart is the plon, a dragon in the form of a fiery sphere; a common saying about a rich man is: ‘He has a plon‘. The plon may assume various shapes, and the proper place to confer with him is the cross-roads.”

Three days later I came across a number of other references on this goblin from Jan Machal’s Slavic Mythology in The Mythology of All Races (Edited by L. H. Gray) New York: Cooper Square, 1964 Vol 3 pp.244 – 246:

“Another designation of the family genius was Skritek (Hobgoblin) a term which was derived from the German Schrat or Schratt. This goblin who appeared in the shape of a small boy, usually lived behind the oven or in the stable, favouring the household and sharing the joys and sorrows of the family; and he liked to do some work in the house, such as weaving on the loom, sweeping the floor, or tending the flocks. In order to court his favour the household set aside a portion of their meals for his consumption, especially on Thursdays and at Christmas dinner, when three bits from every dish were assigned to him. If they failed to do this, he was angry and stormed about, worrying people, damaging the flocks, and doing all sorts of harm to the master of the house. His memory still lives in popular tradition, and he was represented by a wooden statue, with arms crossed on its breast and wearing a crown upon its head. The image stood, as a rule, on a chiffonier in a corner behind the table; and in any absence of the family the Skritek was placed on a chiffonier or on a table to guard the house. The Slovaks call this spirit Skrata or Skriatek and conceive him as a drenched chicken; while in Poland he is known as Skrzatek, Skrzat, or Skrzot, and is represented as a bird (again most frequently a drenched chicken) dragging its wings and tail behind it. He often transforms himself into a small bird emitting sparks from its body, and he may be bred from an egg of a peculiar shape carried for a certain length of time beneath one’s arm pit. He haunts the corn-loft and steals corn; in bad weather he also visits human dwellings; and those who give him shelter under their roofs will profit by his presence, for he brings the householder grain and will make them rich. The Slovenians in Styria likewise believe that the Skrat (Skratec) brings money and corn. He assumes different shapes, looking now like a young lad, and now like and old man or woman, or he can transform himself into a cat, dog, goose, etc.: but since he is covered in hair, he takes great pains to hide his body. He likes to dwell in mountains and dense forests, and does not allow people to shout there; by day he perches on a beech-tree and takes his rest in dark caves; at night he haunts villages and smithies, where he forges and hammers until the dawn. This goblin may be hired for one’s services or bred from an egg of a black hen; but to gain his assistance it is necessary to promise him one’s own self, as well as one’s wife and children, and such an agreement must be signed in one’s own blood. In return for all this the Skrat will bring whatsoever a may may wish, placing these things on the window-sill, although when he carries money, he comes in the shape of a fiery broom, flying down the chimney. Since millet gruel is his favourite dish, it must be placed on the window-sill whenever he brings anything.”

I was intrigued by the references to this being a Wendic mythological being. So, I did a search on the University’s Library Catalogue, Newcat, and what came up were all these books on the Wendic folk tales and history mostly written/co-authored by a local gentleman Hans Deiter von Senff. A local connection!

From these books I soon learned the first Sorb settlers were originally brought out to the Hunter Region as shepherds by the Australian Agricultural Company in 1826. (We hold some of the early papers of the AACo. in the Region, the majority are at the Noel Butlin Archives in Canberra).

The Wendic settlers to the Hunter Region mostly came from Saxony, along with their herds of Saxon Merinos to settle on the Company’s holdings in the Port Stephens – Stroud district. So I was completely delighted that I had found someone who could probably shed some further light on the Werplon.

So I rang Mr Senff on the 29 September 2001 and spoke to his daughter, who said he would really love to speak to me about Wendic folklore. We eventually spoke and after correcting me on the pronunciation of the word ‘Plon’ as sounding more like ‘Ploone’, he visited us on the following Monday. Here is my diary/email notes for the day:

2/10/2001 1:45 PM

Today I was visited by Mr Hans-Deiter Von Senff who kindly brought in a number of books for inclusion into the rare books section, as well as his personal copy of Wilibald von Schulenburg’s Wendisches Volkstum in Sage, Brauch und Sitte (Wendic Ethnicity in Legend, Tradition and Custom) . 3rd Edition [Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag Bautzen, 1993]. This book is a modern reprinting of a very rare work on the culture of the Wendic peoples, reproduced from the only surviving copy (1934) to have escaped the Nazi destruction.

He made a running translation for me as we sat here this morning. The section on the shape-shifting Plon is from pages 74 – 78 [Translation by H.D. von Senff]:

The Plon

The Plon has seven heads. When the dragon flies all shall say “Plon, Plon” and throw something at him. [ref. from the town of Schleife/Stepo]

When the dragon has money, he is much brighter. When he has grain he is blue. He eats thick porridge with syrup and sugar.
He normally sits on the rooves of houses and only picks food from the houses of those who have the dragon, the others he does not. [ref. Grob-Schulzendorf]

In order that the dragon brings money, the woman must give him a black pullet to eat. [ref. Heiligensee.]

The dragon flies at night down the chimney and brings riches. [ref: Pyritz]

The dragon flies [ref: Grunfier bei Fiehne]

They saw the dragon flying, he flew fiery red through the air. [ref: Landsberg a.d.W.]

The Plon as Suckling Pig
Shepherds watched a Plon, with the appearance of a suckling pig fall from the sky and land among the sheep. [ref: Burg bei Burghammer.]

The Pear Tree
A man once saw a light in a pear tree. The light then divided itself into 15 parts and danced amongst the branches of the tree. It fell to the ground where it became one again.

The Plon of Schleife
In the year 1817, in the evening around 11-12 midnight, the old Madra (which means blue) saw a Plon flying over the village of Schleife. The Plon was as big as a chook and the whole village was illuminated by the light. Someone shouted Plon! plon! and it then began to shrink and disappeared.

The Plon as a Tree Trunk
A man named Hanko, was on a journey from Halbendorf to Schleife. At midnight, when he was a thousand steps from the village he heard a noise like a rope hitting something, there was big light and then Hanko said: You condemned (or damned) dragon, what do I owe you? As soon as he said it, there was a glowing tree trunk across the road and he was so frightened that his hair rose like a mountain and it lifted the cap off his head. Then the glowing tree trunk lifted into the air and grew smaller and smaller and became like a little round ball and disappeared as a little dot in the air.

The Plon as Protector
In Grausten there was rich pub owner who had a Plon. In his garden there was boy who tended the cows. He wanted to pick some plums and so climbed the tree. Below him he saw a Plon, the appearance of a black lump. The Plon notified the publican and the boy had to run away.

The Hungry Plon
The Plon had given a farmer much money. The farmer now wished to get rid of the Plon. In order to do so, the farmer hung on a beam in his granary a stocking, with the bottom cut off. He told the Plon to fill the stocking or else the Plon would get nothing to eat. The Plon, unable to fill the stocking, starved. All the money in the farmer’s house that had been given to him by the Plon turned to horse dung, except the money which the farmer had lent to other people.

The Dragon
A maid amazed her dinner guests one night when she produced a meal of pears and dumplings very quickly. She had gone to the Plon and asked it to vomit out the meal.

A maid refused to eat what had been vomited out by the colourful calf. Upon two sticks the dragon sat near the chimney and shat upon the head of the maid. She was unable to remove the blue from her skin after the incident. The saying to this day is that if you look black and blue, you have been shat upon by a Plon.

The Evil Dragon
A reluctant maid had to feed a dragon, so she gave him hot food, because she was any that she had to feed the calf, that had to sit in a barrel, wide open and with beady eyes. The thick hot porridge went down the throat of the dragon, and it became very angry and told the owner what the maid had done. So, the woman had to cure the throat of the dragon with sweet milk.

——————————————————

After he provided his information, I filled him in on the background detail to the enquiry, and how we didn’t really know whether the “Werplon” was a figment of Rosaleen Norton’s artistic trance imagination or a ‘real’ mythical creature.

He told me that it was certainly a mythical being, but a very rare one. He told me that when I initially rang and mentioned the Plon, he thought “Oh my God”, because to be able to refer to such a creature means that you have obtained information from very scarce sources. It is not common knowledge.

Whether Rosaleen Norton was versed in such obscure mythology is difficult to know, as a practicing witch, we can probably be safe to assume that through her trance art she tapped into something akin to Jung’s collective subconscious, and out poured this creature.

Artists, as well as dreamers, do sometimes tap into archetypes that are not part of their personal experience, that come from strange places in the human mind. This is one of those strange places.

The translations above are probably the first time this material has ever been rendered into the English language. The text he was reading from was mostly in German, however the statements made by the witnesses was recorded in the original Sorbian language (along with German translation), which he was also able to read for me.

Such are the wonderful gifts of knowledge and expertise that are present in our Hunter Region. I wish to sincerely thank Mr Hans-Deiter Von Senff for his generosity and help in this research. It was a real privilege to learn, through this research, a little more about the interesting cultures that make up the Australian Nation. To hear such an ancient tongue, and to be able to listen to it rendered in English is something I am very honoured to experience. We certainly have to count our blessings for living in such a wonderful place.

Gionni Di Gravio
September 2009

Frontiers of colonial genocide?

uoncc — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:56:51 +0000

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

Frontiers of colonial genocide? The Northern Cape and Australian settler/hunter-gatherer frontiers compared

Nigel Penn

Friday, 11 September
10am to 11am
(with morning tea/coffee afterwards)
Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common), Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

This paper will compare the frontiers of colonial expansion, which advanced at the expense of hunter-gatherer societies, in the Cape and in Australia during the 18th and 19th centuries. These frontiers were marked by very high levels of violence and fought with an almost genocidal intention on the part of the frontier settlers. The paper will seek to explain the ferocity of the fighting and ask which conditions were similar, and which were different in the respective colonies. It will discuss the role of government policy on these frontiers and seek to explain why humanitarian initiatives, particularly during the periods when both countries were under British control, failed to halt the violence. Finally, the paper will ask why it was that the Aborigines survived in Australia whereas the Cape San (the/Xam) did not, and whether it is appropriate to use the concept of genocide in discussing these events.

Associate Professor Nigel Penn teaches South African History in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Cape Town. He is the author of numerous books, including Rogues, Rebels and Runaways: Eighteenth-Century Cape Characters (D. Philip, 1999); and The Forgotten Frontier: Colonists and Khoisan on the Cape’s Northern Frontier in the 18th Century (Ohio University Press, 2006). His current research on convict labour in the Cape Colony draws on connections with Australian history.

Staff, students and members of the public are welcome

Enquiries to: Michael Ondaatje (Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au

Conferring of Degrees 1953-2009 online

uoncc — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:46:01 +0000

Dr Janeen Webb (with parents) was awarded her PhD Degree at the University of Newcastle, Australia – 30 April 1983

Conferring of degrees and awards, 1953+

Archives Serial 126

All extant Conferring of Degrees and Awards booklets listing all graduates and awardees from the early days of University College (1951-1964) and the later autonomous University of Newcastle (1965-2009) have now been catalogued and digitised online.

Unless otherwise indicated, the degrees were awarded by the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. If anyone knows of the exisitence of the Conferring of Degrees for 1954, or have any booklets not listed on this page, please get in touch with us at archives@newcastle.edu.au

You can access the Conferring of Degrees page on the University Website here: http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/archives/archives/conferringofdegrees.html

You can search for digitised University of Newcastle Graduation photographs on our Cultural Collections Flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/

1953-1959

Conferring of degrees : Saturday 21st March [1953] at 10:30 a.m. in the Great Hall, University of Sydney / the New South Wales University of Technology
Conferring of degrees, 1955 : Thursday 24th March, 1955 at 11:30 a.m. / the Newcastle University College of the New South Wales University of Technology
Conferring of degrees, 1956 : Friday 23rd March 1956, at 11:30 a.m. / the Newcastle University College of the New South Wales University of Technology
Conferring of degrees : Friday 22nd March 1957, at 2:45 p.m. / the Newcastle University College of the New South Wales University of Technology
Conferring of degrees : Kensington, Saturday 13th April, 1957 at 10 a.m. / New South Wales University of Technology
Conferring of degrees : Friday 21st March 1958, at 2:30 p.m. / the New South Wales University of Technology, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Kensington, Saturday 19th April, 1958 at 10 a.m. / the New South Wales University of Technology
Conferring of degrees : Friday 20th March 1959, at 2:30 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Kensington, Saturday 18th April, 1959 at 10 a.m. / the University of New South Wales

1960-1969

Conferring of degrees : Friday 8th April 1960, at 2:15 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Architecture, Science and Technology : Kensington, Wednesday 4th May, 1960 at 2:30 p.m. / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Commerce and Engineering : Kensington, Wednesday 27th April, 1960 at 2:30 p.m. / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Friday 14th April 1961, at 2:15 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Commerce and Engineering : Kensington, Wednesday 19th April, 1961 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science, Architecture, and Science : Kensington, Wednesday 3rd May, 1961 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Friday 13th April 1962, at 2:15 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science and Science and Board of Vocational Studies : Kensington, Wednesday 2nd May, 1962 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Friday 5th April 1963, at 2:15 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Architecture, Arts and Commerce : Kensington, Wednesday 1st May, 1963 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Friday 20th March 1964, at 2:15 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, Newcastle University College
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Architecture and Commerce : Kensington, Wednesday 22nd April, 1964 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science and Arts : Kensington, Wednesday 15th April, 1964 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Friday 26th March 1965, at 2:15 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, the University of Newcastle
Conferring of degrees : Tuesday 5th April 1966, at 2:30 p.m. / the University of New South Wales, the University of Newcastle
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Arts, Economics & Commerce, Science : Wednesday 6th April 1966, at 2:30 p.m. / the University of Newcastle
Conferring of degrees : Faculty of Arts : Friday 17th March 1967, at 2:30 p.m.
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science, Architecture, Economics & Commerce, Engineering, Science : Thursday 16th March 1967, at 2:30 p.m.
Conferring of degrees : Faculty of Engineering (Schools of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) : Kensington, Tuesday 18th April, 1967
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science and Architecture and Board of Vocational Studies : Kensington, Wednesday 17th May, 1967 / the University of New South Wales
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science and Arts : Friday 15th March 1968
Conferring of degrees : Faculties of Applied Science, Architecture, Emgineering, Science : Friday 21st March 1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999

Conferring of awards : Faculty of Economics & Commerce, School of Administration and Technology : Friday 11th May 1990
Conferring of awards : Faculty of Education, School of Health : Saturday 12th May 1990
Conferring of awards : School of Education : Friday 18th May 1990
Conferring of awards : School of Visual and Performing Arts, Faculty of Engineering : Saturday 19th May 1990
Conferring of awards : Friday 3rd May 1991 …
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Friday 3rd May, 1991 at 10.00am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Engineering & Economics and Commerce (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Economics and Commerce (2.30pm ceremony)
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Arts and of Science & Mathematics : Saturday 4th May 1991
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Nursing, Health Sciences, Education, Social Science : Friday 10th May 1991
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Art Design Communication, Medicine, Architecture, Education, Music : Saturday 11th May 1991
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Education, Health Sciences, Music, Education : Friday 1st May 1992
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Engineering, Social Science, Medicine, Art Design and Communication : Saturday 2nd May 1992
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Economics & Commerce, Architecture, Science & Mathematics : Friday 8th May 1992
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Nursing and Arts : Saturday 9th May 1992
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Engineering, Science & Mathematics, Economics & Commerce : Friday 30th April 1993
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Nursing, Medicine & Health Sciences : Saturday 1st May 1993
Conferring of awards : Faculty of Education : Friday 7th May 1993
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Art Design and Communication, Architecture, Social Science, Arts, Music : Saturday 8th May 1993
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Economics & Commerce, Engineering, Music : Friday 29th April 1994
Conferring of awards : Faculties of Education, Architecture : Saturday 7th May 1994
Graduation and Alumni Dinner : Singapore, 1994
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Art amp; Design, Arts, Economics & Commerce, Education, Engineering, Medicine and Health Science, Nursing, Science & Mathematics : 11.30am Friday September 23, 1994
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Art & Design, Architecture, Nursing, Medicine & Health Sciences : Friday April 28, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Economics & Commerce : Saturday April 29, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Engineering & Music : 10.00 AM Friday May 5, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Science & Mathematics : 2.30 PM Friday May 5, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Education : 10.00 AM Saturday May 6, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Education : 2.30 PM Saturday May 6, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Arts and Social Science : 10.00 AM Friday May 12, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Arts and Social Science : 2.30 PM Friday May 12, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences : 10.00 AM Saturday May 13, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Arts & Social Science, Economics & Commerce, Education : 5.30 PM Friday June 30, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Arts & Social Science, Economics & Commerce, Education, Engineering, Medicine & Health Science, Nursing, Science & Mathematics : 6.00 PM Friday October 13, 1995
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Architecture, Art & Design, Music : 10.30 AM Thursday 18 April, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Arts & Social Science : 2.30 PM Thursday 18 April, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Arts & Social Science, Engineering : 6.00 PM Thursday 18 April, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Science & Mathematics : 10.30 AM Friday 26 April, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Economics & Commerce : 2.30 PM Friday 26 April, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Economics & Commerce, Medicine & Health Sciences : 6.00 PM Friday 26 April, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Education : 10.30 AM Thursday May 2, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Education and Nursing : 2.30 PM Thursday May 2, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Nursing : 6.00 PM Thursday May 2, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Art & Design, Arts & Social Science, Economics & Commerce, Education, Medicine & Health Sciences, Nursing, Science & Mathematics : 2.30 PM Friday May 24, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Art & Design, Arts & Social Science, Economics & Commerce, Education, Engineering, Medicine & Health Sciences, Nursing, Science & Mathematics : 2.30 PM Friday September 20, 1996
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Central Coast campus, 1 May, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Law, Economics & Commerce : 2.30 PM Friday May 2, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Economics & Commerce : 6.00 PM Friday May 2, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Arts and Social Science: 2.30 PM Thursday May 8, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Nursing: 6.00 PM Thursday May 8, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Education: 10.30 AM Friday May 9, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Education: 2.30 PM Friday May 9, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Science and Mathematics : 6.00 PM Friday May 9, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Engineering : 10.30 AM Friday May 16, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences : 2.30 PM Friday May 16, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Architecture, Art and Design, Arts and Social Science, Education, Music, Nursing, Science and Mathematics : 10.00 AM Friday September 26, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Economics and Commerce, Engineering & Medicine and Health Sciences : 3.00 PM FridaySeptember 26, 1997
[Ceremony for the conferring of awards] : Faculties of Engineering, Nursing, Architecture, Education, Art and Design, Arts and Social Science, Economics and Commerce & Medicine and Health Sciences : Hong Kong Ceremony, 1997
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Arts and Social Science & Science and Mathematics : 10.30 AM Friday May 1, 1998
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Thursday May 7, 1998
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Thursday 7th May, 1998 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Art and Design & Education (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Education & Economics and Commerce (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Economics and Commerce & Music (6.00pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Friday May 8, 1998
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Friday 8th May, 1998 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Law and Medicine & Health Science (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Nursing and Architecture (6.00pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Friday May 15 1998, 10.00 AM : [Central Coast ceremony]
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Faculties of Architecture, Arts and Social Science, Economics and Commerce, Engineering, Science and Mathematics, Medicine and Health Sciences & Nursing : Sunday 30 August 1998 : [Singapore ceremony]
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences : Tuesday September 1, 1998 : [Indonesian ceremony]
Ceremonies for the conferring of awards : Friday September 25, 1998
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Friday 25th September, 1998 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Engineering, Education, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences & Science and Mathematics(10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Art and Design, Architecture, Economics and Commerce, Music & Nursing (2.30pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the presentation of awards : Thursday April 15, 1999
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Thursday 15th May, 1999 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences & Music (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Law & Nursing (2.30pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the presentation of awards : Friday April 16, 1999, 2.00pm : [Central Coast ceremony]
Ceremony for the presentation of awards : Friday April 23, 1999
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Friday 23rd April, 1999 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00 pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Economics and Commerce (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Economics and Commerce & Education (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Education, Economics and Commerce & Engineering (6.00pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the presentation of awards : Friday April 30, 1999
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Friday 30th April, 1999 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00 pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science & Science and Mathematics (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Architecture, Building and Design, Science and Mathematics & Medicine and Health Sciences (6.00pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the presentation of awards : Friday 17 September, 1999
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Friday 17th September, 1999 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Medicine and Health Sciences, Education, Music & Nursing (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Architecture, Building and Design, Engineering, Science and Mathematics & Economics and Commerce (2.30pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the presentation of awards : Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Economics and Commerce, Education, Nursing & Architecture, Building and Design : Saturday October 2, 1999 : [Hong Kong ceremony]

2000-2009

Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Central Coast campus [Friday April 14, 2000]
Graduation ceremonies : Friday May 5, 2000 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Friday 5th May, 2000 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science & Science and Mathematics (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Music & Nursing (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday May 11, 2000 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Thursday 11th May, 2000 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Engineering & Law (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Education (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Education (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Friday May 12, 2000 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Friday 12th May, 2000 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Architecture, Building and Design & Economics and Commerce (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Economics and Commerce (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Friday October 6, 2000 : Callaghan Campus Booklet covers two ceremonies held Friday 6th October, 2000 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Architecture, Building and Design, Arts and Social Science, the Central Coast, Engineering, Law, Nursing & Science and Mathematics (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Economics and Commerce, Education, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Music (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday May 9, 2001 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Wednesday 9th May, 2001 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Economics and Commerce, Engineering & Music (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Economics and Commerce (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday May 10, 2001 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Thursday 10th May, 2001 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science & Science and Mathematics (10.30am & 2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Science and Mathematics & Architecture, Building and Design (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Friday May 11, 2001 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Friday 11th May, 2001 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education (10.30am & 2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Law & Nursing (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday 25 October, 2001 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Thursday 25th October, 2001 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Architecture, Building and Design, the Central Coast, Economics and Commerce, Engineering, Medicine and Health Sciences & Music (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Education, Law, Nursing, & Science and Mathematics (2.30pm ceremony)
Ceremony for the conferring of awards : Central Coast campuses [Wednesday 24th April, 2002]
Combined Graduation Ceremony of the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Community College and the Hunter Institute of Technology
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 1 May, 2002 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Wednesday 1st May, 2002 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Faculty of Education and Arts (4.00pm & 7.00pm ceremony) : Thursday 2 May, 2002 : Callaghan Campus
Graduates from the Graduation ceremonies : Faculty of Business and Law (10.30am & 2.30pm ceremonies) : Friday 3 May, 2002 : Callaghan Campus
Recognition of attainment ceremony : English Language and Foundation Studies, [Friday 3 May, 2002]
Graduation ceremonies : Faculty of Health (10.30am & 2.30pm ceremonies) : Saturday 4 May, 2002 : Callaghan Campus
Graduation ceremonies : Saturday 28 September, 2002 : Callaghan Campus
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Saturday 28th September, 2002 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Engineering and Built Environment & Health (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Education and Arts & Science and Information Technology (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Monday 14 April, 2003
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Monday 14th April, 2003 at 10.00am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts
Graduation ceremonies : Tuesday 15 April, 2003
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Tuesday 15th April, 2003 at 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Health
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 16 April, 2003
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Wednesday 16th April, 2003 at 10.00am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday 17 April, 2003
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Thursday 17th April, 2003 at 10.00am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Business and Law
Graduation ceremony and presentation of awards : Saturday 25 October 2003 : The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
Ceremony held Saturday 25th October 2003 at 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health, Science and Information Technology
Graduation ceremonies : Monday 19 April, 2004
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Monday 19th April, 2004 at 10.30am, 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts
Graduation ceremonies : Tuesday 20 April, 2004
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Tuesday 20th April, 2004 at 2.30pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Health
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 21 April, 2004
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Wednesday 21st April, 2004 at 10.30am and 2.30pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (10.30am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (2.30pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremony : Faculty of Business and Law : Thursday 22 April, 2004
Graduation ceremony : [Central Coast campuses], Friday 30 April 2004
Combined Graduation Ceremony of the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Community College and the Hunter Institute of Technology held at 3.00pm
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday 30 September, 2004
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Thursday 30th September, 2004 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Education and Arts & Science and Information Technology (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Engineering and Built Environment & Health (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremony and presentation of awards : Saturday 23 October 2004 : Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall (The Conference Hall)Ceremony held Saturday 23rd October 2004 at 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health & Science and Information Technology
Graduation ceremonies : Tuesday 19 April, 2005
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Tuesday 19th April, 2005 at 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Health
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 20 April, 2005
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Wednesday 20th April, 2005 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Engineering and Built Environment & Science and Information Technology (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremony : Faculty of Business and Law : 10.00 AM Thursday 21 April, 2005
Graduation ceremony : Thursday 29 September, 2005
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Thursday 29th September, 2005 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law & Engineering and Built Environment (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Health & Science and Information Technology (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies and presentation of awards : Saturday 15 October 2005 : Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall (The Conference Hall)
Booklet covers two ceremony held Saturday 15th October 2005 at 11.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts & Health (11.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Engineering and Built Environment & Science and Information Technology (2.00 pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremony : [Central Coast campuses], Friday 7 April 2006
Combined Graduation Ceremony of the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Community College and the Hunter Institute of Technology held at 10.30am
Graduation ceremonies : Friday 21 April, 2006
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Friday 21st April, 2006 at 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Health
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 26 April, 2006
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Wednesday 26th April, 2006 at 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law & Science and Information Technology (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 27 April, 2006
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Wednesday 27th April, 2006 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Business and Law (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (2.00pm ceremony)
Recognition of attainment ceremony : Thursday, 27 April 2006, English Language and Foundation Studies Centre
Ceremony held at 6.00pm, 27th April 2006 in the Great Hall
Graduates of Yapug, International Foundation Program, Newstep and Open Foundation
Recognition of attainment ceremony : Friday, 5 May 2006, English Language and Foundation Studies Centre
Ceremony held at 6.30pm, 5th May 2006
Graduates of Newstep and Open Foundation
Graduation ceremony and presentation of awards : Saturday 22 July 2006 : Grand Ballroom, The Grand Hyatt Hotel, Hong Kong
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health & Science and Information Technology
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday 5 October, 2006
Booklet covers three ceremonies held Thursday 5th October, 2006 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law & Science and Information Technology (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Health & Engineering and Built Environment (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies and presentation of awards : Saturday 11 November 2006 : Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall (The Conference Hall)
Booklet covers two ceremonies held Saturday 11th November 2006 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts & Health (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Engineering and Built Environment & Science and Information Technology (2.00pm ceremony)
Recognition of attainment : ceremony for Foundation Studies students, Friday 16 February, 2007, 7.00pm
Graduation ceremonies : Friday 16 February 2007, Ourimbah Campus
Combined Graduation Ceremonies of the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Community College and the Hunter Institute of Technology held at 9.30am, 2.00pm and 4.30pm
Graduation ceremonies : Thursday 12 April, 2007
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Thursday 12th April, 2007 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts
Graduation ceremonies : Friday 13 April, 2007
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Friday 13th April, 2007 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (10.00am and 6.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduation ceremonies : Tuesday 17 April, 2007
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Tuesday 17th April, 2007 at 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Health
Graduation ceremonies : Wednesday 18 April, 2007
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Wednesday 18th April, 2007 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Business and Law
Recognition of attainment ceremony : Wednesday, 18 April 2007, English Language and Foundation Studies Centre
Ceremony held at 6.00pm, 18th April 2007 in the Great Hall
Graduates of Yapug, International Foundation Program, Newstep and Open Foundation
Graduation ceremony and presentation of awards : Thursday 15 November 2007 : the Ballroom, Hotel InterContinental, Hong Kong
Ceremony held Thursday 15th November 2007 at 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Health & Science and Information Technology
Graduation ceremony and presentation of awards : Saturday 17 November 2007 : Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall
Graduation ceremony held Saturday 17th November 2007 at 5.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Information Technology & Health
Recognition of attainment : ceremony for Foundation Studies students, Friday 15 February, 2008
Ceremony held at 7.00pm, 15th February 2008
Graduates of Newstep and Open Foundation
Graduation 2008 : Central Coast, Friday 15 February
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies of the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Community College and the Hunter Institute of Technology held at 9.30am, 2.00pm and 4.30pm
Graduation 2008 : Newcastle, Monday 14 April
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Monday 1th April, 2008 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts
Graduation 2008 : Newcastle, Tuesday 15 April
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Tuesday 15th April, 2008 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (10.00am and 2.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation 2008 : Newcastle, Thursday 17 April
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Thursday 17th April, 2008 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Health
Graduation 2008 : Newcastle, Friday 18 April
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Friday 18th April, 2008 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Business and Law
Recognition of attainment : ceremony for Foundation Studies students, Friday 18 April, 2008
Ceremony held at 6.00pm, 18th April 2008
Graduates of Yapug, International Foundation, Newstep and Open Foundation
Graduation 2008 : Newcastle, Thursday 9 October
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Thursday 9th October, 2008 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Business and Law (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Health (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduation 2008 : Newcastle, Friday 10 October
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Friday 10th October, 2008 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Engineering and Built Environment & Science and Information Technology (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduation 2008 : Hong Kong, Friday 21 November 2008 : the Ballroom, Grand Hyatt Hotel
Ceremony held Friday 21st November 2008 at 11.00am
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health & Science and Information Technology
Graduation 2008 : Singapore, Sunday 23 November 2008 : Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall
Ceremony held Sunday 23rd November 2008 at 4.00pm
Graduates from the Faculties of Business and Law, Education and Arts, Engineering and Built Environment, Health & Science and Information Technology
Graduation 2009 : Central Coast, Friday 20 February
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies of the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Community College and the Hunter Institute of Technology held at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduation 2009 : Central Coast, Saturday 21 February
Graduation Ceremony held Saturday 21st February at 10.00am
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts (University of Newcastle)
Recognition of attainment : ceremony for Foundation Studies students, 2.00pm Saturday 21 February, 2009
Graduation 2009 : Newcastle, Wednesday 15 April
Booklet covers two graduation ceremonies held Wednesday 15th April, 2009 at 10.00am and 2.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Business and Law
Graduation 2009 : Newcastle, Thursday 16 April
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Thursday 16th April, 2009 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment (10.00am ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculties of Engineering and Built Environment & Science and Information Technology (2.00pm ceremony)
Graduates from the Faculty of Science and Information Technology (6.00pm ceremony)
Graduation 2009 : Newcastle, Friday 17 April
Booklet covers three graduation ceremonies held Friday 17th April, 2009 at 10.00am, 2.00pm and 6.00pm
Graduates from the Faculty of Education and Arts

Sesquicentenary of Local Government in Newcastle

uoncc — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:31:41 +0000

The former Newcastle Council Chambers (Barney-Snowball Collection)

Day Shift – 18/08/2009 – 02:10 PM
Presenter: Jenny Bates
Interviewee: Gionni Di Gravio, Archivist, Newcastle University

Newcastle University Archivist Gionni Di Gravio discusses the history of how local local government came to Newcastle in this sesquicentenary year.

Broadcast Notes:

How did local government come to Town?

How did local government in the form of the Newcastle City Council come to be? The Local Government Area, of which Newcastle city is its centre, has gone through a number of name changes over the years.

Since 1993 it has been known as The Newcastle City Council (1993+).

Former titles have included:

Newcastle District Council (1843-1858);
The Municipality of Newcastle (1859-1867);
The Borough of Newcastle (1867-1938);
The City of Greater Newcastle (1938-1949);
City of Newcastle (1949-1993).

The chief elected officer was once the Warden (1843-1858), then Mayor (1859-1947) and now The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Newcastle (1948+). The chief executive officer was the Town Clerk (1859-1993) and now is the General Manager (1993+).

Newcastle was founded in 1801, abandoned and re-established in 1804 as a penal settlement and the Nation’s first profitable source of coal and cedar for the emerging Colony. Prior to 1843 The Governor of New South Wales was in charge of all governmental responsibilities. In Newcastle, these orders were carried out by appointed military commanders.

When Newcastle ceased to be a penal settlement and the region became open to free settlers in the 1820s, it soon became apparent that the colonial government could not provide adequate local services, and therefore the opportunity emerged to establish municipal district councils (NSW Department of Education and Training, 2004).

The first local councils in New South Wales were incorporated under the provisions of the Imperial Act of 1842. From 1843 individual councils were established and administered by a government-appointed warden. (State Records Authority of New South Wales, 2008)

No. XVI. An Act to provide for the division of the Colony of New South Wales into Electoral Districts and for the Election of Members to serve in the Legislative Council. [23rd February, 1843.] [4 MB PDF Download]

Published in the NSW Government Gazette of 10 October 1843 was the Charter dated 27 September 1843 with a notification from the Governor of a Letters Patent incorporating the inhabitants of a number of districts including the Newcastle District Council to be administered by a Warden and six Councillors. The first Warden was Mr Alexander Walter Scott, and the Councillors were William Croasdill, George Brooks, William Brooks, Lancelot Edward Threlkeld, Simon Kemp and Henry Boyce.

Charter 27 September 1843 (District Councils)

The Newcastle District Council’s functions were to distribute the allocation of Government funds for the purposes of road repairs and bridges especially in Newcastle’s case, the Iron Bark Bridge (Goold, n.d, 5).

Ironbark Bridge 9 December 1897 (Barney-Snowball Collection)

Due to public disquiet as to the Sydney centric distribution of Government funds, The Municipalities Act of 1858 provided for a system of incorporation that could be granted to townships on the proviso that a petition of at least 50 signed householders was received. The Governor could then proclaim the municipality. (Larcombe, 1973, p.261)

Before we all get confused, (like I am) a ‘municipality’ is a legal instrument defined in 1858 to define an area of land for the purposes of local government no larger than 10 square miles and with a minimum population of 500. A ‘borough’ is the area containing inhabitants that is incorporated under that legal instrument. So a ‘borough’ was originally defined as a place with houses, a step up from a ‘town’, but not as big as a ‘city’.

On the 27 October 1858 the Municipalities Act was passed by the NSW Government. The first meeting of Newcastle’s inhabitants to discuss the provisions of the Act was held on the 8 November 1858. It was a success, with a petition being sent to the Governor of the intention of the district’s 2,400 inhabitants calling for the township to become a municipality. (Goold, n.d, 5)

Municipalities Act 1858 [3.9MB PDF file]. No. XIII An Act for establishing Municipal Institutions. [27th October, 1858]

The Proclamation by His Excellency Sir William Thomas Denison that created The Municipality of Newcastle was officially signed at Government House Sydney on the 7 June 1859, and published the following day in the NSW Government Gazette. (Goold, n.d, 7 and NSW Government Gazette, 1859, 1293-1294)

Download the Proclamation – Proclamation – 7 June 1859 [620KB PDF]

Each municipality was to be governed by an elected Council of 6-9 members. Newcastle was incorporated in 1859 and its first elected Mayor was Mr James Hannell. Three Wards were proclaimed; The City Ward to be governed by 9 councillors, The Macquarie Ward and the Honeysuckle Ward consisting of 5 councillors each. The Municipality of Newcastle existed under that title from 8 June 1859 – 22 Dec 1867.

The original meetings were held in the old courthouse building that originally occupied the site on the corner of Hunter and Bolton Streets, it was demolished to build the magnificent Newcastle Post Office.

From 1884 onwards the meetings were held in the Council Chambers in Watt Street (still existing and now occupied by the United Services Club).

As the population grew, residents from surrounding mining townships began petitioning for their own townships to be incorporated under the Municipalities Act of 1858. These included Wallsend (1874); Plattsburg (1876); Hamilton, Lambton, Wickham and Waratah (1871); Adamstown and Merewether (1885); Carrington (1887); New Lambton and Stockton (1889). (Windross & Ralston, 1897, p.35)

The Municipality of Newcastle became The Borough of Newcastle on the 23 December 1867 after The Municipalities Act of 1867.

Download the 1867 Municipalities Act here – 1867 Municipalities Act [22MB PDF]

The Act came into force in order to avoid legal difficulties that arose between the administration of urban and rural areas. Under the new Act rural and urban areas would be divided into municipal districts which could not be less than 500 people (rural units) and municipal boroughs with a population that could not be less than 1,000 (urban units). (Larcombe, 1976, p.150) The Municipalities Act of 1867 declared that the existing 35 municipalities, of which Newcastle was one, be legally constituted as boroughs. Each would be governed by elective councils of 6-12 aldermen, and if divided into wards were to have three representatives for each. (Larcombe, 1976, p.158)

Huntington in his ‘History of Newcastle and the Northern District’, (which was a history of Newcastle published as a serial in the Newcastle Herald from 1897-1898), said that the boundaries of Newcastle were proclaimed back on the 14 December 1858 under the Towns Police Act, and that the city boundaries proclaimed later on the 20 March 1885 were identical to them. Newcastle was proclaimed a city on the 20 March 1885 (or 22 March 1885 under the Crown Lands Act according to Maiden p.246), and proclaimed a borough on the 14 September 1886. The wards, which were called City, Honeysuckle and Belmore were proclaimed on the 14 September 1886. (Huntington, pp. 209-210)

The boundaries of the Newcastle City Council have been progressively expanding over time. The biggest expansion occurred in 1938 when the City absorbed eleven (11) surrounding suburban municipalities.

On the 1st April 1938 the City of Greater Newcastle came into being after the Greater Newcastle Act 1937.

Download the Greater Newcastle Act 1937 here – 1937 Greater Newcastle Act [5.5 MB PDF]

The idea for a greater Newcastle had originally been proposed in the 1890s and reached wider public discussion in February 1901 when the local State politician Arthur Griffith (1861-1946) suggested that if all the councils of Newcastle were to amalgamate a grant of 30,000 pounds (twice the municipal income of the time) would be provided to assist the process. The idea was furthered over the next thirty years by its champions John D. Fitzgerald (1862-1924), Robert G Kilgour (1867-1938) President of the Greater Newcastle League, William M. Shedden (1862-1933) and finally Eric J. Spooner (1891- 1952) who was instrumental in bringing it to fruition through the Greater Newcastle Act that became law on the 15th December 1937. (Docherty, 1983, pp143-153)

When did the ‘Mayor’ become a ‘Lord Mayor’?

According to Maiden, the title of Lord Mayor’ was only to be bestowed on Mayors of capital cities. (Local Government Department Report 1947-8). Due to the population growth of the Greater Newcastle area, its outstanding position as coal port and industrial powerhouse, and status as second oldest city the Newcastle City Council applied to have the title and in October 1947 His Majesty approved the application. The Letters Patent conferring the title of Lord Mayor was sent to Council in October 1948 and from then on the official title was ‘The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Newcastle’. (Maiden, pp.246-247)

On 1 April 1949 the official title became City of Newcastle. (S. Ryan, personal communication, April 4, 2008).

The Local Government Act 1993 superseded the 1919 Act and created formal distinctions between the elected Council and its administration replacing the title of Town Clerk with the General Manager.

The Newcastle City Council has two main divisions consisting firstly of the elected Council made up of the Lord Mayor and twelve (12) councillors, and secondly of the administration run by the General Manger. The administration (just before its 2009 restructure) consisted of six groups: Executive Management – Governance, Executive Management – Human Resources Management Unit, Corporate Services (CORPS), City Services (CITYS), Strategic Planning and Development (SPD) and Community Development (CD).

The broad policy directions of the public organisation stem from the elected councillors and Lord Mayor. They discuss and decide upon what services are to be provided by the Council. The General Manager is the person then instructed to put into action the outcomes of those decisions. The General Manager deals with the six divisions of the administration delegating the policy and planning decisions to the managers of the various groups.

Preceding agencies or municipal councils:

Adamstown Council – incorporated on 31 December 1885 and proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 8 January 1886.

Carrington Council – incorporated on the 28 March 1887 and proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 30 March 1887.

Hamilton Council – proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 11 December 1871.

Lambton Council – incorporated on 24 June 1871 and proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 26 June 1871.

Merewether Council – proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 20 August 1885.

New Lambton Council – proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 9 January 1889.

Plattsburg Council – proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 27 December 1876. The Municipality ceased to exist in 1915 when it was incorporated in the Municipality of Wallsend.

Stockton Council – proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 14 October 1889.

Wallsend Council - proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 27 February 1874. In 1915 the Municipality of Plattsburg was incorporated with the Municipality of Wallsend.

Waratah Council – proclaimed as a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 23 February 1871.

Wickham Council – proclaimed a Municipality in the NSW Government Gazette, 27 February 1871.

Record series created by this agency:

Minute books of councils and council committees at Newcastle 1859+, Wickham 1871+, Waratah 1871+, Lambton 1871+, Hamilton 1872+, Wallsend 1874+, Plattsburg 1877+, Merewether 1885+, Adamstown 1886+, Carrington 1887+, Stockton 1889+, and New Lambton 1935+
1859-1938

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor’s newspaper cuttings 1974-1984 : presented by the Council of the City of Newcastle to the Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor Alderman Joy Cummings, A.M. 1974-1984.

Lord Mayor’s newspaper cuttings: presented by the council to the Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor Alderman G.C. Anderson. 1973-1977

Report of the Town Clerk to the Finance Committee on the 30th July, 1963 / Town Clerk Newcastle City Council. 1963.

Conclusion

No full lenght substantial history exists for the city of Newcastle nor of its Council. Therefore this modest administrative history is a preliminary first step towards a more comprehensive history.

The challenges of undersanding the history of local government is coming to terms with the complex nature of the legislative framework and changes that have created local governance since 1843. To this end Larcombe’s work has been essential for providing the historical broad-brush background and context into which to weave the history of the Newcastle City Council.

The works consulted that have been helpful with regard to the local Council are those of Goold and Docherty. Unfortunately Goold confuses the terms ‘municipality’ and ‘borough’ throughout his brief pamphlet, and it is of necessity that one consult Larcombe’s work in order to understand the difficulties in terminology against the various Acts.

In order to improve this history our next step would be to consult all extant original minute books for Newcastle and its surrounding townships that were all municipalities prior to 1838 in far greater detail. The minute books dating from 1859 are held in the Newcastle Region Library and run to hundreds of volumes. These need to be scrutinised along with the relevant NSW State Government legislation and NSW Government Gazette. There is also certainly much information that has not been recorded, or whose documentary evidence has not survived and/or is still in private hands. It would therefore be opportune to interview as many people connected with the Newcastle Council who are still living that either served as Councillors or administrative staff. In addition it would be helpful to interview key figures in the wider community involved at some time with various environmental and community groups who are very informative concerning the history of the local Government over the years, and essential to use the local archival facilities in charge of the surviving records of the organisation.

Finally, it is important to understand how we have come to be governed in order to understand that it is an on going work in progress. It is important, that in this our sesquicentenary year, we ponder whether our present system is doing the job, or whether should we should rethink the way we are governed. Looking over the period from 1843 to the present, it is clear that this evolution has been haphazard and chaotic. It is little wonder why people have generally become disillusioned with politics and its ability to provide public services and leadership. What we do with the future is up to us now.

References:

Docherty, J.C. (1983). Newcastle: the making of an Australian City. Sydney: Hale & Iremonger.

Goold, W.J. (n.d.). The Borough of Newcastle Incorporated 1859. Newcastle: Newcastle & Hunter District Historical Society.

Larcombe, F.A. (1973). The Origin of Local Government in New South Wales 1831-58. A History of Local Government in New South Wales Volume 1. Sydney: Sydney University Press.

Larcombe, F.A. (1976). The Stabilization of Local Government in New South Wales 1858-1906. A History of Local Government in New South Wales Volume 2. Sydney: Sydney University Press.

Maiden, H.E. (1966). The History of Local Government in New South Wales. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.

NSW Department of Education and Training. (2004) History of the Local Government Act. Retrieved 12 April 2008 from the NSW Department of Education and Training NSW Constitution Website: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/nswconstitution/html/6th/bgr/invest2.html

New South Wales Government (1832 -1900). The New South Wales Government Gazette. Sydney : Government Printer.

New South Wales Government (1838). The acts and ordinances of the Governor and Council of New South Wales. Sydney : Printed by E. H. Statham.

State Records Authority of New South Wales. (2008) Archives in Brief 106 – Local government records. Retrieved September 12 April 2008 from the State Records Authority of New South Wales Website: http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/archives_in_brief_106_8069.asp

Windross, J., & Ralston, J.P. (1897). The Historical Records of Newcastle 1797-1897. Newcastle: Federal Printing and Bookbinding Works.

History, Terrorism and Australia

uoncc — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:38:11 +0000

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

HISTORY, TERRORISM AND AUSTRALIA

Associate Professor Wayne Reynolds

When: Friday, 14 August 10am to 11am (with morning tea/coffee afterwards)

Where: Cultural Collections Reading Room (near the Information Common), Level 2, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus

Cost: Free

Since the publication of the 9/11 Commission’s damning report into the failure of the intelligence community to stop the terrorist attack on the US there has been a major revival in Terrorism Studies. A key feature of this revival is a debate about the extent which the terrorist threat is both global and new. ‘History is no guide to the new terrorism’ argued Rohan Gunaratna, the author of Inside Al Qaeda. In the US there has been a reassessment of the contribution made by various agencies and academic disciplines to the study of terrorism and inevitably historians have joined the fray.

The close intelligence relationship with the US has ensured that Australia has readily embraced the global threat of terrorism but we still await a White Paper on Terrorism which takes into account an Australian study along the lines of the 9/11 Commission Report. The presentation on Friday is a report on the project Doomed to Repeat: Terrorism and the Lessons of History which took shape after the concern expressed in 2006 by the Centre for Homeland Security that there should be more interaction between historians and national security community as part of a trans-disciplinary study into the ‘new wave of terror’.

Wayne Reynolds
University of Newcastle

Wayne Reynolds was a part of that project and has written on the History of Australian National Security issues. He has provided written submissions to the 2009 Defence White Paper and has published on Australian regional policy and terrorism.

Staff, students and members of the public are welcome to this free seminar
Enquiries to: Michael Ondaatje (Michael.Ondaatje@newcastle.edu.au)

UoN Cultural Collections

James Wallis – Historical Account of New South Wales 1821 online

Vocation to the East

Vocation to the East: The Asian Jesuit missionary enterprise at the beginning of the global age

Camilla Russell

Brian Tomson 1942 – 1986

Chess Title to W.E.A. Player

From WEA News, Vol 2 No.5 Sept. 1971

Obituary – Brian Tomson

From University News Volume 12, No.11, July 7-21 1986.

You Are Here Now Exhibition Launched

An Anthropology of ANZAC

An Anthropology of ANZAC

Barry Morris

Witches, Wends and Werplons

Frontiers of colonial genocide?

School of Humanities and Social Science HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009

Frontiers of colonial genocide? The Northern Cape and Australian settler/hunter-gatherer frontiers compared

Nigel Penn

Conferring of Degrees 1953-2009 online

Conferring of degrees and awards, 1953+

Archives Serial 126

1953-1959

1960-1969

1970-1979

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-2009

Sesquicentenary of Local Government in Newcastle

History, Terrorism and Australia

HISTORY, TERRORISM AND AUSTRALIA

Associate Professor Wayne Reynolds

School of Humanities and Social Science
HISTORY SEMINAR SERIES – 2009