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Between the Past and the Future: The Australian Dictionary of Biography
13th November 2009

The National Centre of Biography is holding a symposium, 'Between the Past and the Future: The Australian Dictionary of Biography' on 1 December 2009 to celebrate the ADB's 50th birthday. Speakers include Ann Moyal (the ADB's first employee), Jim Davidson (biographer of the ADB's founder, Sir Keith Hancock), John Calvert (biographer of the ADB's first General Editor, Douglas Pike), Gerry Walsh (ADB's most prolific author) and ADB stalwarts Geoff Bolton, Chris Cunneen and John Poynter.

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Symposium on gender, politics and biography
21st October 2009

Join some of Australia's most eminent political commentators, activists and biographers to discuss gender in the political environment. Speakers include: Susan Ryan, Laurie Oakes, Jacqueline Kent, Marilyn Lake, Andrew Leigh, Marian Sawer, Sarah Maddison, Michael Richards and Joy McCann.

Venue: Old Parliament House, 9 November 2009, 10am-5pm
Cost: $35 (Includes buffet lunch supplied by Ginger Catering)
Inquiries: (02) 6125 2676 or...

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National Biography Award Lecture
21st October 2009

Raimond Gaita, Professor of Moral Philosophy at King's College, London, will discuss 'Truth' as Applied to Biography and Autobiography' at the National Biography Award Lecture to be held at the State Library of New South Wales on 2 November at 5.30 pm. Raimond will discuss the issues surrounding biographical story and truth, and explore the question of why this relationship constantly stimulates interest in biography and autobiography.

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Literary Prizes awarded to ADB authors
9th September 2009

Congratulations to the ADB's Editorial Board chair, Professor Tom Griffiths, and former chair, Professor Jill Roe, on winning prestigious literary awards.  Tom jointly won the Prime Minister's history prize for his book Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctic and the 2009 Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate for his article on the Victorian bushfires, 'We Have Still Not Lived Long Enough'...

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Unique Opportunity for Aspiring Biographers
8th September 2009

The National Centre of Biography is offering a three-year postdoctoral fellowship for a scholar who has recently completed a PhD in History or is about to submit their thesis. The successful applicant will not only pursue their own independent research project in life writing and biographical history but will also have the unique opportunity of spending half of their time with Australian Dictionary of Biography staff honing their research and editing skills.

Applications close 15 November...

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Speaks About the Importance of Biography
31st August 2009

At the launch of the first volume of Tom Keneally's history, Australians: Origins to Eureka, on 27 August 2009 at the National Library of Australia, Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd spoke eloquently on the important place of biography in telling our nation’s history.

Here is an excerpt…

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2009 Seymour Lecture in Biography
17th August 2009

Eminent historian, Dr David Day, will discuss 'Writing Political Lives' at the fifth annual Seymour Lecture in Biography at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, at 6pm on Wednesday, 9 September 2009. He will also give the lecture in Sydney at 6 pm on Friday, 11 September at the Tower Building, University of Technology, Ultimo, and in Melbourne at 6 pm on Thursday, 17 September at the State Library of Victoria.

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2009 Kibble Literary Award Announced
9th June 2009

Jacqueline Kent’s biography An Exacting Heart: The Story of Hephzibah Menuhin has won the 2009 Kibble Literary Award. One of Australia’s most prestigious literary awards for women writers, the $25,000 Kibble Award was established in 1994 by Nita May Dobbie in memory of her aunt, Nita Kibble, the first woman to be employed as a librarian at the State Library of New South Wales.

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The Art of Obituary Writing
22nd May 2009

Dr Nigel Starck will discuss 'The Art of Obituary Writing' with Canberra Times editor-at-large, Jack Waterford, on Tuesday 9 June, at Manning Clark House, Canberra, 5.30-8pm. Dr Starck is the author of Life After Death: The Art of the Obituary.

Cost $15 MCH members, $20 non-members. Booking should be made in advance at 02 6295 1808. 

further information

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Challenges in Writing Joan Montgomery's Biography
5th May 2009

On Friday 22 May, Kim Rubenstein will discuss her motivations for writing a biography of Joan Montgomery, the legendary principal of PLC Melbourne who was ousted in dramatic circumstances during the Presbyterian /Uniting Church split and asset carve-up in the 1980s.

venue: Theatrette, Old Canberra House, Australian National University, Canberra, 1-2.30 pm

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