Historian appointed to PM’s prize panel

Nov 07, 2006

University of Wollongong Associate Professor of History and Politics Greg Melleuish has followed his participation in the National History Summit with appointment to the advisory committee for the Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History.

Professor Melleuish joins Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC, acclaimed military historian and author Dr Tom Frame and Jackie Huggins from the University of Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Straight island Studies Unit on the committee.

Department of Education, Science and Training Secretary Lisa Paul will chair the committee.

Prime Minister John Howard announced the history prize and the make-up of his advisory committee on 3 November.

“This $100,000 prize will be awarded annually in recognition of an outstanding piece of work that contributed significantly to our understanding of Australian history,” Mr Howard said. “The committee will provide me with a shortlist of potential winners from the nominations received. With such impressive combined expertise, I am confident that the committee’s views on nominated works will be invaluable.”

Professor Melleuish, who was invited to submit a paper about teaching history in schools to the National History Summit in August, said he was honoured to be included on the committee.

Nominations for the prize close on 17 November, and Professor Melleuish expects to spend much of the summer reviewing nominated works, which could include books, films, documentaries, CD-Roms and other multi-media entries.

“I really have no idea what will turn up, but it is going to be very interesting,” Professor Melleuish said. “And it is really pleasing to see this renewed interest in history (after the Summit). Hopefully this interest will help attract more students to take up history study.”

Dr Frame, who combines his work as a historian with the role of Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, also has a Wollongong connection, having grown up at West Wollongong.