Recently Penny Wong was asked, What's your vision of the best Australia can be, in the world? She replied: I have a view that foreign policy is obviously an expression of the assertion and prosecution and protection of one's national interests and values; it is also the expression of identity. Referencing Gough Whitlam she continued … Continue reading Unspoken Realities: A Comment on the Howard Era
Tag: history
Reflections on Borders: Empire, Cold War and Covid19
For a wide review of these themes lookout for my latest collection of short stories, Beyond Borders.For some, the notion of borders is that of a hard border, one clearly defined and assertively maintained. Certainly, in the Covid19 era borders reflect this standard, yet borders are by no means constant, or definite, whatever the political … Continue reading Reflections on Borders: Empire, Cold War and Covid19
#BookLaunch of ‘Seen & Unseen: a century of stories from #Asia & the #Pacific’
This is a Chitter Media Production, produced and edited by Adrian Metlenko, camera operators Adrian Metlenko and Evan Darnley-Pentes.
The author on “Seen and Unseen: a century of stories from #Asia and the #Pacific”
Common views of Asia and the Pacific, from the outside, often confer undue prominence to such things as typhoons, tsunami, earthquakes, malaria or even magic. While these can be confronting realities in the Asia-Pacific region beyond such differences even more remains unseen and misunderstood. Frequently unacknowledged are the influences Asian and Pacific cultures exert far beyond their borders. … Continue reading The author on “Seen and Unseen: a century of stories from #Asia and the #Pacific”
Unravelling the Mystery of Lake George: the vanishing lake
After a morning of working in the garden it’s a relief to be out of the wind. Right now it’s blowing at 50 km/h and gusting to 59km/h. These spring wind gusts stir up a lot of fallen flowers and pollens, so all the while I was working outside digging, sweeping and planting I had … Continue reading Unravelling the Mystery of Lake George: the vanishing lake
An analysis of the legality of Elgin’s removal of the #Parthenon Marbles
It's not often I have the privilege to read matters analysed from a legal perspective. Certainly, subjecting Elgin's appropriation of the Parthenon Marbles to detailed analysis is of a more than passing interest for me. So, it was with great pleasure that I read Theodore Theodorou's reassessment of Elgin's activities through the lens of a … Continue reading An analysis of the legality of Elgin’s removal of the #Parthenon Marbles
The #ParthenonMarblesAustralia Website is Now Live
Last night the new website of the International Organising Committee - Australia - For The Restitution Of The Parthenon Marbles, was launched at the Athenian Restaurant, Sydney. Designed by Dennis Tritaris from Orama Communications, I believe it represents a new standard in website design. Dennis has created a website that has the potential to … Continue reading The #ParthenonMarblesAustralia Website is Now Live
Digital archives transforming the study of history
Beginning the study of Modern History at the University of Sydney, years ago, I was abruptly made aware of the radical difference between what was then taught in NSW secondary schools as history, and the reality of contemporary historical scholarship. School history, in those days, was taught from the text book. Any sense of differences … Continue reading Digital archives transforming the study of history
Remnants of Sydney’s Once Great Tramway
State Records, NSW. Some Rights Reserved. A chance encounter Cycling along Johnston Creek Annandale yesterday, now a concrete encased storm water drain marking the border between Leichhardt and the City of Sydney, I noticed that the doors to the old tramway sheds lying between the creek and Maxwell St, Glebe, were open. While there's a … Continue reading Remnants of Sydney’s Once Great Tramway
#Swimming in Sewage: Australia’s Coastline, a few more comments
As an island continent, with a land mass of about 7,692,030 km² Australia has a vast coastline, off shore islands included it's about 59 736 kms Most Australians, some 85%, live within 50 kilometres of the coast. I grew up by the sea, about 3 minutes away. From an early age I was aware of … Continue reading #Swimming in Sewage: Australia’s Coastline, a few more comments
Russell Darnley Blog 