AHA Annual General Meeting – Minutes: 7 July 2005, 5.30 pm Central Lecture Block, University of New South Wales

Abstract

I am glad to report that the Australian Historical Association is in splendid health. Thanks to the work of our new Executive Officer, Dr Jane Hunt, and our Postgraduate Representative, Anna Doukakis, we have increased our membership by about 100 in the past year, so that we now have over 700 members, including a large number of postgraduate students. We have a newly-designed website, thanks to the efforts of our Honorary Secretary, Dr Janet Doust, and again to Jane Hunt (and our honorary member Shane Hunt, Jane’s very helpful husband) with facilities to join the association online. And we have a flourishing journal, History Australia, which is well and truly established as a major showcase for the best work in every aspect of historical studies in Australia. History Australia has, as you know, been the devoted work of its editor Marian Quartly, and it is with great regret that I announce that Marian will be retiring from the editorship in November 2008, so we will be advertising soon for expressions of interest in taking over the editorship in 2008, when the new editor will work in tandem with Marian until she bows out in November. On behalf of the AHA, I want to thank Marian from the bottom of my heart for the work that she has put into launching and establishing this beautiful journal that allows us to hear real voices and sounds and see as many illustrations as we want, as well as giving us the words on the page: a truly magnificent achievement. Thank you, Marian. I took over the presidency of the AHA on 4 July 2006, and a few days later the Minister for Education, Julie Bishop, announced a History Summit to discuss the teaching of Australian History in schools. This Summit, which was attended by AHA Executive Member, Jenny Gregory, and other members of the AHA, resulted in the formation of a Working Party led by John Hirst, AHA MATTERS