Hedley Beare Oration

     By
Professor Alan Reid
University of South Australia

Monday 7th November
6.45pm
Crowne Plaza Hotel
The inaugural Hedley Beare Oration will be delivered by Professor Alan Reid from the University of South Australia. Alan will base his Oration on issue of equity in education, a current theme being developed by the Australian College of Educators nationally.

The pursuit of equity in and through education is a proclaimed goal of the Australian government’s national education agenda for schooling. This lecture will critically analyse that agenda, assessing it against its equity aspirations. The lecture will conclude by proposing alternative approaches designed to achieve more equitable educational outcomes.

PROFESSOR Emeritus Hedley Beare was one of Australia’s leading educators. For over 55 years he shaped schools, systems of schools, national education policy and management, and the profession of teaching.

Hedley Beare began his career teaching English, Mathematics and Latin in South Australian schools for ten years from 1954. This was followed by a Regional Directorship, centred at Whyalla, and then in 1972, he was appointed Foundation Director of Education in the Northern Territory, Australia’s seventh public school system. In the Northern Territory, education was to become a separate system from its historic base in South Australia. Starting from scratch, Hedley integrated schooling to embrace the needs of indigenous and remote communities, developed a new curriculum, assessment procedures and personnel structures. Pioneering work with indigenous and with remote schooling, and with the early stages of what is now Charles Darwin University, followed.

But as always his influence extended beyond his educational activities. The community in Darwin applaud Hedley's organisational ability. When Cyclone Tracy struck, though his work in the Northern Territory was complete, he remained to coordinate the evacuation from Darwin, the largest civilian airlift to that time. He led the team that implemented the civilian evacuation of Darwin following the devastation of Cyclone Tracey, in Christmas 1974, moving 28 000 people in eight days.

Seats are limited and it is expected that this function will be sold out. Early booking of seats is encouraged.

The cost of the two course dinner at the Crowne Plaza Hotel is:
ACE Members               $25
Non ACE Members        $35