History Council of South Australia (HCSA )
PO Box 6809 | Halifax Street | Adelaide 5000
E secretary@historycouncilsa.org.au | W www.historycouncilsa.org.au
ABN 80 979 742 192
MEDIA RELEASE EMBARGOED UNTIL 7pm 30 July 2015
History greats - History Council of South Australia 2015 Award winners 30 July 2015
History greats were recognised in a ceremony held at historic Government House tonight. Five South
Australian historians were honoured with History Council of SA Awards tonight (30 July). The Awards recognise and celebrate the range of activities of SA historians in research, writing, teaching, and raising community awareness of history and heritage. The Awards are supported by Wakefield Press.
His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AO presented the Awards in four categories to:
South Australian Life-long History Achievement Award – jointly awarded to Mr Tom Gara and Mr
Graham Jaunay
South Australian Historian of the Year - Mr Peter Donovan
South Australian Regional History Award - Mr John Mannion
Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year - Ms Carly Osborn
History Council President Dr Susan Marsden said, ‘For 40 years Tom Gara has been working in the important area of indigenous history. His work has provided a basis for development and provenance of indigenous history, and contributed to reconciliation. A major work on Aboriginal History in SA from 1836 to the 1980s is pending’.
Joint winner Graham Jaunay has a lifetime of involvement in history, specialising in genealogy and family history, the fastest growing area of community engagement in history. He has an international reputation and has lectured and conducted historic walks, and published extensively on how to undertake research.
He’s been a driving force in establishing SA’s family history centre and the Genealogical Society.
Dr Marsden said, ‘The Historian of the Year Award focuses on a major achievement within the past two years in presentation on historical topics, raising community awareness of history, and strengthening its profile. The 2015 Award was to Peter Donovan, who has been a leader in the history profession nationally, and has many publications and achievements to his credit, including over 50 books and many heritage studies. He’s recently published another highly rated specialist book, a history of Mercedes College, and was involved in the Gallipoli commemorations this year’.
The South Australian Regional History Award was made to John Mannion, a farmer with a strong sense of place and a passion for history. Since 1974 he’s been recording oral histories of his district of Pekina, as well as Andamooka and Peterborough, which are a valuable resource. He’s promoted awareness of the value of oral histories by conducting workshops, lecturing, and writing in the local press. The judges extol him as ‘the epitome of the local history activist who can keep the stories of a region alive and relevant today’.
Finally, for the award of Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year, Dr Marsden said that Carly
Osborn ‘has greatly assisted the new emphasis on history in the curriculum by harnessing technology and leading professional development of history teaching in schools. Hundreds of teachers have been inspired by her materials and methods’.
The History Council is a peak body providing a representative voice on historical issues and acting to celebrate history in South Australia. Membership is now open to organisations and individuals.
Further information: Dr Susan Marsden (President) 0400 5066 44 smarsden@bigpond.net.au
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