From http://sydney.edu.au/podcasts/index.shtml A Sydney Ideas Open/Sydney Humanities Salon Co presentation Dr Kirsten McKenzie and Dr Emma Christopher, Department of History, University of Sydney Many Sydneysiders think they know all about the history of their city, but few know that its convict past links it firmly to Africa, a continent many Australians know little about. Emma Christopher and Kirsten McKenzie uncover a forgotten history of abandoned plans and lost hopes, of political objections to sending convicts to Africa and the sufferings of those who were sent there. By revealing the convict connections to Freetown, Sierra Leone and Cape Town, South Africa, they show how very nearly the stories of Africa and Australia came to taking different turns. They are in conversation with Professor Iain McCalman, University of Sydney and Professor Deidre Coleman, University of Melbourne. September 9, 2010 (Running time 1 hour 21 min, 37.5Mb MP3)
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The Australian Dream Debate: Defining the Australian Dream
From http://sydney.edu.au/podcasts/index.shtml A Sydney Ideas Open presentation ‘The Australian Dream’ is widely accepted in the media, politics and society as a summary of Australian identity, values and aspirations, of what it means to be Australian. So we ask the question – what are the values, hopes, and dreams that inspire and motivate 21st century Australians? The panel of experts included: Dr Fiona Allon, Department of Gender and Cultural Studies, University of Sydney; Dean Economou, Technology Strategist, NICTA (National ICT Australia); Lawrence Gibbons, Group Publisher Alternative Media Group of Australia; Professor Alan Peters, Head of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney; and Lee Rhiannon, former Greens MP in the NSW Upper House and currently NSW Senator-elect. Moderated by Peter Carr, CEO Sydney Development Agency. November 30, 2010 (Running time 1 hour 52 min, 51.5Mb MP3)
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The Hothouse: Art and Politics at the Tin Sheds
The Tin Sheds were a hothouse of art, music, ideas and politics. They were one of the most radical and memorable ‘alternative art spaces’ in Australia during their heyday from the late 1960s to the end of the 1970s. A group of dilapidated corrugated iron sheds across a busy city road from the University of Sydney were a place where — for a time — it seemed anything was possible.
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/hindsight/the-hothouse/4162158
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Frank the Poet: A convict’s tour to hell - Hindsight - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
August 2012 marks the 151st anniversary of the death of Francis MacNamara, better known in convict Australia as Frank the Poet. According to one of Australia’s leading contemporary poets, Les Murray, MacNamara’s epic work A Convict’s Tour to Hell should be placed right at the beginning of English literature in Australia.
Frank’s attitude to the colonial authorities, embodied in this now famous poem, can also be gauged from the punishments he received. Lashed 590 times, he was sent to solitary confinement, to the treadmill, and worked on chain gangs. All through his incarceration, Frank continued to entertain his fellow convicts with his rebellious verse.
Now a new generation of musicians is producing fresh work inspired by Frank the Poet, whom they regard as giving Australia a tradition akin to the Mississippi blues.
Folklorist, and co-producer of this feature, Mark Gregory, has spent thirty years searching for this often elusive poet, accompanied by his sometimes doubting partner, film maker Maree Delofski.
Guests:
Les Murray, poetEmeritus Bob Reece, (http://www.murdoch.edu.au/News/Find-an-expert/History-and-Theology-experts/)
Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, Keith Cameron Chair of Australian History, School of History and Archives, University College, Dublin
Professor Bob Hodge, (http://www.uws.edu.au/ics/people/researchers/bob_hodge)
Further Information:
Frank the Poet (http://www.frankthepoet.com/)
music group Stobie Sounds’ website (http://www.stobiesounds.com/)http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/hindsight/frank-the-poet/4126734