Oral History Interviews
Edited Interviews
Access to these oral history recordings, in the Conversations series, is through the Oral History Unit, National Library of Australia, Canberra
The Interviewer is Tony Ryan
BERKELEY, Mr George Fitzhardinge, AM
Queensland (1926 - 1995)
Recorded: February 1995
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
Former Director General of Education, (1984 - 1986); Long involvement in educational administration, research and statistics; Significant involvement in various reports on education in Queensland, including Radford, ROSBA and Vivienne; Views on SEMP and MACOS controversies; Fellow and medalist of The Australian College of Educators
BLACKBURN, Dr Jean
Victoria and South Australia (1919 - 2001)
Recorded: May 1994
Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes
Inaugural Chancellor of The University of Canberra (1991 - 1992); Chair, Victorian Board of Education (1991-1992); Deputy Chair, Australian Schools Commission (1972 - 1988); Key involvement in the two Karmel Reports, Disadvantaged Schools Programs, Education for Girls; Victorian Certificate of Education; Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board; Chair, Blackburn Committee (Victoria).
BREWER, Mrs Joan, AM, FACE
South Australia ( - )
Recorded: October 1996
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Adelaide-born Joan Holland was educated at Loreto College and completed her initial training at Adelaide Teachers College and The University of Adelaide. She then taught at Naracoorte High School, but later changed direction by becoming a librarian, firstly with the Barr Smith Library at The University of Adelaide, and later in London, only to return to Adelaide and to the new Wattle Park teachers College as Lecturer-Librarian. She became the Women’s Warden at Western Teachers College, but had to resign on her marriage! Later she returned as a Temporary Acting Assistant Lecturer, and after 14 years, and a change of government policy, she was promoted to Principal Lecturer. Joan Brewer’s major achievements have been in her work with teacher-librarians and for her involvement with the Libraries Board of South Australia. From 1986 to 1990, she was a member of the Federal Government’s National Women’s Advisory Council. At the time of this interview, she continued her strong involvement with Catholic Education in South Australia, including as chair of the Loreto School Council.
CANAVAN, Brother Kelvin
New South Wales ( - )
Recorded: September 1996
Duration: 51 minutes.
Brother Kelvin Canavan taught for many years in Marist Schools in NSW, beginning in Parramatta in 1960, and becoming principal of Eastwood School in 1967. He gained his BA from The University of Sydney, MSc from Cornell University and PhD in Education at The University of San Francisco in 1986. He became Director of Primary Schools in Sydney in 1975 and Executive Director in 1987. He has published extensively with more than 80 articles and papers to his credit. Much of his work has been in media and its effects on children. He is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and was awarded the Sir Harold Wyndham Medal in 1994 by the NSW Branch of the College.
COUCH, Dr Victor, AM, KSGG
New South Wales (1926 - 1996)
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 1 hour 54 minutes
Consultant to the Catholic Education Commission; Chair, Catholic College of Education Council Sydney; Committee Member, Australian Catholic University Planning Committee; Vice Principal, Sydney Teachers College (1969 - 1976); Lecturer STC (1961-1969); Lecturer Wagga Teachers College (1948 -1960); Fellow, Australian College of Educators.
DAVIS, Dr Betty, AM, FACE
South Australia ( - )
Recorded: September 1996
Duration: 52 minutes
Dr Betty Davis has had a long and distinguished career in early childhood education in South Australia. Following her early years as a teacher and then as a director in several Kindergartens in and around Adelaide, and a time in Perth, she was employed by the Kindergarten Union of SA, and then lectured in education at the Kindergarten Training College. From 1957, as Principal of the Kindergarten Teachers College, Betty Davis was actively involved in the establishment of the Kingston College of Advanced Education. In addition to holding an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia, Dr Betty Davis is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, and a Member of the Order of Australia.
DRUERY, Mr Alan Edgar
Queensland (1936 - )
Recorded: August 1999
Duration: 1 hour 9 minutes
Inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (from 1989); Has played a pivotal role in advocacy for Catholic Schools at both federal and state levels for some 25 years; Acting Principal, McAuley College of Higher Education (1990); Director Queensland Catholic Education Office (1973 - 1983); Executive Officer, Archdiocesan Education Council (1970 - 1973); Practising teacher in Queensland Education Department and then St Lawrence's College, South Brisbane (1956 - 1979).
FRICKER, Mr Lyall Peterie, AM, KSJ
South Australia (1923 - )
Recorded: November 1994
Duration: 3 hours 10 minutes
Director General of TAFE (SA) (1982-88); Chair Australian Conference of TAFE Directors (1986 - 87): Member, Overseas Qualifications Board; Chair (1990-92); Chair Australian College of Educators (1977 - 78); Regional Director, NSW Department of Eduction and Science (1966); RAAF (1942 - 1945): Fellow and medalist of The Australian College of Educators.
GLEESON, Most Rev James William, AO
South Australia (1920 - 2000)
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 55 minutes
Former Catholic Archbishop of Adelaide; Director of Catholic Education in Adelaide (1952 - 1958); Founding member, The Australian College of Educators.
GRANT, Dr John
Australian Capital Territory ( - )
Recorded: November 1999
Duration: 1 hour 8 minutes
A Director of Global Learning Services; Chairman of the ACT Accreditation and Registration Council; A Director of the University of Canberra Foundation; A Visiting Fellow at the UNESCO Centre, Australian National University. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Canberra (1993 - 1997); Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic Services) University of Canberra (1988 - 1992); First Assistant Secretary (Higher Education) Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training (1997 - 1998), following six years as an Assistant Commissioner in the Tertiary Education Commission. Previously Dr Grant worked in curriculum development in the school systems of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
HOGG, Dr Anna
New South Wales ( - )
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 46 minutes
Founding Member and Fellow, The Australian College of Educators; Teacher in NSW Schools; Lecturer, Sydney Teachers College; First woman Head of Department of Education at Sydney Teachers College; First woman awarded Imperial Relations Trust Scholarship; NSW Institute of Educational Research; Long involvement in Christian Education; Editor of Journal of Christian Education; Member of Postgraduate Committee in Medicine NSW.
HOWELL, Dr Maxwell Arthur, AM
Queensland (1926 - )
Recorded: February 1995
Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes
Fellow, The Australian College of Educators; Headmaster, Brisbane Grammar School (1965 - 1989); Member, Commonwealth Schools Commission (1985 - 1988); Member, Council of Griffith University (1976 - 1988); Member, Radford and ROSBA Committees (1970 - 1976); Member Board of Secondary School Studies (1973 - 1992).
HUGHES, Miss Dorothy
South Australia ( - )
Recorded: September 1996
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Born in Perth, from 1948 to 1970 Dorothy Hughes was General Secretary of the Kindergarten Union of South Australia, an organisation that owes much to the foresight and dynamism of the legendary Lillian de Lissa. The first Kindergarten in Adelaide was established in Franklin Street in 1906. During Miss Hughes’ time as General Secretary, great changes were taking place in the training of kindergarten teachers in South Australia, with the Adelaide Kindergarten Training College changing its name in 1967 to the Adelaide Kindergarten Teachers College (and in 1974, to the Kingston College of Advanced Education) . In this interview, Dorothy Hughes speaks of the return to Adelaide in 1955 of Lillian de Lissa for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Kindergarten Union of SA. The Dorothy Hughes Kindergarten in Salisbury North, established with Dorothy’s assistance in 1966, is named in her honour.
HUGHES, Prof Phillip, AO
Tasmania (1926 - )
Recorded: September 1994
Duration: 1 hour 4 minutes
Education Consultant, OECD (1993 - ); Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Tasmania (1991 - ); Director of Centre for Advanced Teaching Studies; Foundation Chair, ACT Schools Authority (1973 - 1977); Head, School of Education, Canberra CAE (1970-1980); Dep Gen Education Tas 1965 - 1969; Gold Medal For Educational Administration ACEA 1992; President of Australian College of Educators.
JONES, Dr Albert Walter, AO
South Australia (1912 - 2003)
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 1 hour 16 minutes
Director General of Education, SA (1970 - 1977); Deputy Director (1967 - 1970); Educational Administrator (1949 - 1977); Fullbright Scholar (1956 - 1957); Renowned for his expertise in education, curriculum, administration and his Freedom and Authority Memorandum; Fellow and medalist, The Australian College of Educators; Original Member of the Schools Commission; ANZAAS Medal 1979.
JORDAN, Dr Deidre F, AC, MBE
South Australia ( - )
Recorded: August 1996
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Chancellor Flinders University (1988 - ); Pro-Chancellor, Flinders University (1980 - 1988); Senior Lecturer, Adelaide University; Principal, St Aloysius College (1954 - 1968); Research into problems affecting Aboriginal Communities in Australia, Canada, Norway and Pakistan; Patron, Notre Dame Institute in Karachi; Fellow Australian College of Educators; Member of the Order of Sisters of Mercy.
KARMEL, Professor Peter, AC, CBE
Australian Capital Territory ( - )
Recorded: November 1999
Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
Member of Council, Australian National University (1992 -); Vice Chancellor, The Australian National University, Canberra (1982 - 1987); Chairman, Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission (1977 - 1982); Vice Chancellor, The Flinders University of South Australia (1966 - 1971); Chairman, Interim Committee for the Australian Schools Commission (1972 - 1973); Chairman, Committee of Enquiry into Education in South Australia (1969 - 1970); Principal Designate in charge of planning new campus at Bedford Park (subsequently the Flinders University of South Australia) (1961 - 1966); Visiting Professor of Economics, Queen's University Belfast (1957 - 1958); George Gollin Professor of Economics and Dean of the Faculty of Economics, University of Adelaide (1950 - 1962); Senior Lecturer in Economics, University of Melbourne (1948 - 1949); Lecturer in Economic History, University of Melbourne (1946); Research Officer, Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics, Canberra (1943 - 1945).
LAMB, Dr Peter Noel
New South Wales (1926 - )
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 1 hour 38 minutes
Director of Teacher Education, Mitchell College of Advanced Education; Senior Lecturer Macquarie University; Visiting Scholar University of Kent (1972 - 73); Lecturer, Sydney Teachers College (1963 - 1967); ABC Eduction Officer (Schools Broadcasts) (1956 - 1960); Headmaster, Kelso Demonstration School (1959 - 1960.
LAWTON, Mr Colin, OAM
South Australia (1925 - )
Recorded: January 1995
Duration: 1 hour 21 minutes
Staff member, Department of Adult Education, University of Adelaide (1957 - 1990); Secretary to Workers Educational Association (1949 - 1957); Assisted in establishing University of the Third Age; Involved in the establishment of Australian Association of Adult Education (now Adult Learning Australia); medalist of AAAE; Involvement in the foundation of 5UV, The University of Adelaide, in 1972.
McDONALD, Mr John, AM, FACE
South Australia ( - 1998)
Recorded: August 1996
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
John’s education began at St Joseph’s Kingswood and continued at Loxton Area School and Rostrevor College. At The University of Adelaide, he successfully completed his BSc, whilst taking a keen interest in University affairs, playing football and tennis. His first teaching appointment, in 1960, was to Norwood High School as a teacher of Mathematics. He was promoted to Senior Maths Master in 1964 and to consultant in Secondary Mathematics in 1968. In 1971, John moved into the SA Catholic Education System, as Coordinator of Secondary Education and in 1972 he became Director of Catholic Education, a position he held until his retirement in 1993. John contributed to education through his active participation on many significant education committees, both National and State, and for a two year period he was chancellor of the University of South Australia.
MITCHELL, Miss Bessie
New South Wales (1909 - )
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 58 minutes
Founding Head, Cheltenham High School (1958 - 1970); Founding Member of The Australian College of Educators in 1958; Established Modern Language Teachers Association; Involvement in Association of High School Principals; President; Secondary Teachers Association (1950 - 1956):, Deputy Head, Marrickville High (1954): Sydney High School (1955 - 1957); Influential in combining professional aspiration with trade union perspectives.
OATS, Dr William Nicolle, OBE
Tasmania (1912 - 1999)
Recorded: September 1994
Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes
Headmaster, The Friends School Hobart (1945 - 1973); Headmaster, Kings College Adelaide (1942-1943); Teacher, International School Geneva (1938 - 1940); Former President, Quaker Society in Australia; President, New Education Fellowship; President, Fellow and Founding Member, The Australian College of Educators.
PITMAN, Mr John BSc, BEd, MA, MRACI, FACE
Queensland ( - )
Recorded: August 1999
Duration: 1 hour 13 minutes
Director of the Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies; Member of the Reference Committee, The Review of Tertiary Entrance in Queensland 1990 (The Viviani Report) 1990; Chair of the Working Party, Tertiary Entrance in Queensland: A Review (The Pitman Report) July 1987;
RANDELL, Dr Shirley Kaye, AM
Victoria (1940 - )
Recorded: November 1995
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Fellow, Australian College of Educators; Director, Council of Adult Education, Victoria (1991- ); Dean of Academic Affairs, Ballarat University College (1990); Director of Professional Development Programs, Schools Commission (1981); Department of Education, Canberra (1982 - 1989); Papua New Guinea University and Teachers College (1966 - 1974).
ROGERS, Miss Ruth N, OAM
South Australia (1926 - )
Recorded: August 1996
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes
Fellow and College medalist, The Australian College of Educators; Assistant Director of Eduction (1976 - 1985); Assistant Superintendent of Primary Education (1970 - 1975); Adelaide Teachers College (1956 - 1970); lecturer in Early Childhood Education; Taught in Junior Primary Schools, Rose Park, Nairn; Long involvement with World Education Fellowship; Organised National Biennial Conference, Early Childhood Learning.
SQUIRE, Dr Robert A
Queensland (1915 - )
Recorded: February 1995
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Owner and Principal, Hubbards Specialist Independent School (1962 - 1995): Kelvin Grove Teachers College (1949 - 1961) as Lecturer in Charge of Science; RAAF for 5 years (1942 - 1945): Air Disaster Invesigator (1945 - 1946); Expert in teaching Science, Physics and Zoology; Member Australian College of Educators and Secretary to the Queensland Chapter (1969 - 1989); Life member, Queensland Science Teachers Association; President, Queensland Science Teachers Assocation (1965).
STEINLE, Mr John, AM, FACE
South Australia (1931 - )
Recorded: August 1996
Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes
John Steinle undertook his teacher training at Adelaide Teachers College, then taught in SA primary and secondary schools from 1951, becoming Inspector of Secondary Schools in 1966. In 1971, he worked in the Northern Territory as Director of Education, before returning to Adelaide as Deputy Director General of Education. He was Director General of Education from 1977 to 1988. John Steinle has chaired several major reviews of education, was a member of the Commonwealth Schools Commission, and of the Australian Education Council. He has led several delegations, for UNESCO and OECD. He has published widely in the area of educational administration, research and curriculum development.
THIELE, Mr Colin
South Australia (1920 - )
Recorded: February 1995
Duration: 1 hour 51 minutes
Internationally recognised and awarded author and educator; Director Wattle Park Teachers Centre (1974 - 1980): Director, Murray Park Teachers College (1973); Principal, Wattle Teachers College (1965 - 1972); Vice Principal, Wattle Park Teachers College (1964); Lecturer WPTC (1957 - 1962); Fulbright Scholar (1958); Teacher, Port Lincoln High School (1946 - 1955); RAAF (1941 - 1945); Author of many books, many of his children's books based on his experiences in Port Lincoln; Author of "Grains Of Mustard Seed", to mark the centenary of the SA Education Department (1875 - 1975).
WEEDEN, Mr William John, OBE
Australian Capital Territory ( - )
Recorded: December 1994
Duration: 45 minutes
Head of the Commonwealth Office of Education; Secretary to the Universities Commission, later Head of Commission; Secretary to the Murray Enquiry into Universities; Involvement in the Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme, the Colombo Plan, Innovation for Commonwealth to assist States with the funding of Universities; Involved with the establishment of the Australian College of Educators. Author of the Weeden Report, on the expansion of the educational TV service through the ABC in the early 1960s.
WINKLE, Mr Les OAM, BA, BEd, FACE
Queensland ( - )
Recorded: August 1999
Duration: 1 hour 9 minutes
Director (Secondary Education) Queensland (1979 - 1983); Member Review of School Based Assessment (ROSBA) (1978); Executive Officer, Board of Secondary School Studies (1972 - 1978); Inspector of Secondary Schools (1969 - 1971); Teacher, Deputy Principal, Principal (1949 - 1968); Studied for BA Degree through the Post War Reconstruction Scheme (1946 - 1948); Army Service (1942 - 1946); Teacher (1942); Kelvin Grove Teachers College (1940 - 1941).
Unedited Interviews
- Prof Don Aitken, Aust Capital Territory, recorded 1999
- Mr Douglas Anders, South Australia, recorded 1999
- Dr Thenie Baddams, South Australia, recorded 1999
- Prof Hedley Beare, Victoria, recorded 1995
- Mrs Allison Densley, Western Australia, recorded 2002
- Mr William Dickinson, Western Australia, recorded 2002
- Dr Barbara Falk, Victoria, recorded in October 2004
- Miss Dorothy Gum, South Australia, recorded 1996
- Ms Judith Hancock, Queensland, recorded 1999
- Mr Alan Dooley, South Australia. Recorded 2004
- Dr Adrienne Jericho, South Australia, recorded November 2004
- Dr Anthony McGuire, South Australia, recorded 2004
- Mr John Moody, Western Australia, recorded 2002
- Prof Charles Moorhouse, Victoria, recorded 1995
- Dr Walter Neal, Western Australia, recorded 2002
- Dr Harold Hubert Penny, South Australia, recorded 1996
- Prof Hugh Philp , New South Wales, recorded 1996
- Mr Robert Rasmussen, Queensland, recorded 1999
- Dr Lawrie Shears, Victoria, recorded October 2004
- Rev Thomas Timpson, Victoria, recorded 1995
- Mr Richard Warry, Queensland, recorded 1999