News Archive

A flurry of historic books joined the festival of light to launch our Centenary.

The centrepiece, Jenny Gregory's history of UWA, Seek Wisdom , was introduced at the Alumni Weekend. It is available from the UWA Publishing website for $65, with the bonus of free postage.

Leading up to our big year, honorary research fellow Noelene Bloomfield launched her history of French-British rivalry in the southern oceans, Almost a French Australia , late last year.

Mrs Bloomfield lectured in French Studies for more than 30 years until 2002 and has always been fascinated by the possibility of the Great South Land being colonised by the French.

They certainly sent many expeditions to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but many of the men died without reporting their discoveries back home in France. The outbreak of the French Revolution towards the end of the 18 ^th century also meant that France did not develop colonies I the southern oceans for many decades - which left the way open for the British to claim Australia and New Zealand.

Almost a French Australia was launched by Tonya McCusker, wife of the Governor, Malcolm McCusker, and one of Mrs Bloomfield's star pupils.  It is published by Halstead Press and is in bookstores for $49.45.

The words were flowing from the Bloomfield home last year. Mrs Bloomfield's husband, Emeritus Professor John Bloomfield , has written the story of sport science at UWA, From Ugly Duckling to Soaring Swan.

Along with Seek Wisdom , it was launched at the Alumni Weekend. E/Professor Bloomfield took over the new Physical Education course in early 1968.  His book traces the development from this very unscientific course, to  arguably the best sport science  school in Australia. The 43-year journey was made against stiff early opposition from senior biological and medical science academics.

By 2011, the School of Sport Science Exercise and Health had more PhD and MSc candidates that any other in the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences and almost $10 million in research funding.

From Ugly Duckling to Soaring Swan is available from the School for $24.95.

Another UWA book with a sports flavour is Tony Barker's Keith Carmody: Keith Miller's Favourite Captain , a volume for cricket fans from the Lives in Cricket series.

Keith Carmody was the most successful junior batsman in 1930s Sydney. He broke into the first-class ranks just as war was breaking out. The RAAF pilot and POW never played for Australia but he was nominated by Keith Miller to captain his ‘dream team' of Australian, English, South African and West Indian Test players.

Carmody did captain a winning WA Sheffield Shield team and laid the foundations for WA's success with coaching programs for juniors.

Associate Professor Barker is a distinguished sports historian who does most of his work in the University Club café. His book is available for $15 from the Co-Operative Bookshop in the Guild Village.

Another book with strong UWA connections is Fire , a collection of stories, poems and visual images published by the fledgling Margaret River Press, run by Caroline Wood, who has recently left UWA after 24 years in the Centre for Water Research. Edited by UWA's Delys Bird, it presents a diverse range of responses to fire, including some from the victims of the late 2011 Margaret River fires, as well as local and national award-winning writers.

Fire was due to be launched at UWA by Winthrop Professor Carmen Lawrence on 5 March through the Institute of Advanced Studies, which is hosting an accompanying lecture by another contributor, playwright David Milroy.

It is available directly from Margaret River Press and independent bookshops for $28.

All the books are also available at the Co-Operative Bookshop in the Guild Village.