Australian Geographer Research Articles

The Elusive Endonym

The term ‘exonym’ was coined in 1957 by Marcel Aurousseau, an Australian geographer, to denote a place name used in a non-native language. ‘Endonym’ was later coined analogously as its counterpart, meaning the native name for a place. An example exonym would be the English word Germany, referring to the country whose inhabitants know it as its endonym Deutschland. These terms are useful to cartographers and also the United Nations, since it publishes documents in its six official languages, referring to places all over the world. The topic of endonyms and exonyms would seem to fall into the linguistics domain of onomastics and/or languages in contact, but it is difficult to find a linguistics textbook that mentions the concept. This paper will attempt to more fully explain the subject in the light of the facts of linguistics. It will correct common assumptions that stem from the distinction between proper and common nouns, from the international use of the Roman alphabet, from the dominance of the English language, and from ignorance of the well-established and well-understood processes of language evolution. It will conclude that exonyms are equivalent to loanword borrowings, and that there are no true endonyms.

Performing arts of embodied refusal amid anthropogenic climate change: the Salim Ali Biodiversity Park and Bird Sanctuary, Pune, India

Birds twitter, flap their wings or wade in the gurgling water of the Mula-Mutha river in a special place, named after Salim Ali, the world famous, award-winning ornithologist and ‘Birdman of India’ (1896–1987). Yet, bird habitat, migratory routes, species diversity and songs are affected by the slow violence of global warming and environmental pollution. Urban citizens or Punekars including artists, women, children and ornithologists refuse the brutality of this slow violence by enacting forms of activism that centre birdlife and affirm thriving more-than-human worlds. This co-authored piece focuses on the embodied performances of refusal at the Salim Ali Biodiversity Park and Bird Sanctuary, Pune, a rapidly growing city in the western state of Maharashtra, India. Activism takes the form of poetry, city walks, participatory mural art and other forms of resistance by the Save Salim Ali Sanctuary Action Group (SSASAG). Our co-authorship collective consists of an activist/ornithologist of the SSASAG, an internationally acclaimed mural artist, and an Australian geographer of Indian heritage who went on daily ‘nature walks’ while visiting family in Pune. We craft this piece as a continuation of our activist refusals of anthropogenic climate change and toxic environmental pollution, and to illuminate solidarity with the brilliance of human and more-than-human worlds in and beyond Pune.

The changing face of geography: a geographical journey through the Australian geographer, 1928–2018

ABSTRACT In this paper, we chart the changing character of Australian geographical research based on trends in publications in the Australian Geographer. Using data starting from the journal’s inception in 1928 until 2018, we document changes in geographical research reflecting broader trends in the evolution of the discipline. We argue that a long-term perspective, harnessing an empirical approach to data produced over a 90-year publication history, enables geographers to better understand the discipline. Accordingly, we track ‘who’ is doing geography and ‘where’ these studies take place. We also ask ‘how’ geography is being done vis-à-vis physical/human and combined studies. Our analysis of the publication history of the Australian Geographer over the last 90 years aims to provoke broader reflection on the progression of geographical research and the discipline’s identity.

Biopolitics in the Time of Coronavirus

The article focuses on emergence of panoply of genres of quarantine noticed by author Joshua Clover in a blog post and mentions notion of biopolitics mentioned by philosopher Michael Foucault Topics discussed include concept of biopolitics to address the coronavirus pandemic, issue for political decision-making to be addressed by the government and city disciplinarization with inhabitants during plague pandemic

Urban re-generations: afterword to special issue on the politics of urban greening in Australian cities

ABSTRACT ‘Urban re-generations' is written as an afterword to the special issue of Australian Geographer on ‘The Politics of Urban Greening in Australian Cities'. The collection prompts a deep questioning of reparative and regenerative work associated with greening, green spaces and green infrastructures. The climate-driven 2019-2020 bushfire crisis and COVID-19 have amplified the visibility of the more-than-human connectivity of our cities and the deep underlying structures of social and environmental inequity underpinning a variety of urban green spaces and agendas. Inspired by the articles in this special issue, the afterword explores how we might call back the grammars and practices of regeneration from their service to the neo-liberal, settler-colonial city and instead nurture reparative de-colonial practices that aid in the collaborative work of re-composing, becoming into better relation with, and working in modes of situated historical and cultural difference, with green and just cities.

4 Migration research and analysis: Growth, reach and recent contributions

4 Migration research and analysis: Growth, reach and recent contributions

Young people's rural multicultures: researching social relationships among youth in rural contexts

ABSTRACT This paper argues for the need to better understand intercultural relationships among rural youth. Altered relations of labour, finance and power have seen the growth of international migrant labour across rural spaces of the Global North from the Global South, notably nations of the Pacific, Asia and Africa (Argent, N. 2011. “What's New about Rural Governance? Australian Perspectives and Introduction to the Special Issue.” Australian Geographer 42 (2): 95–103). This paper focuses on Australia, where labour relations, humanitarian programs, visa categories and mobility desires have led to new rural futures (Hugo, G. 2014. “Immigrant Settlement in Regional Australia: Patterns and Processes.” In Rural Change in Australia: Population, Economy, Environment, edited by R. Dufty-Jones and J. Connell, 52–82. Farnham: Ashgate). Young people are at the forefront of these changes, with youth forging pathways and relationships for themselves and their families. However, within the burgeoning literature of rural intercultural relations we know little about young people’s social relationships within these transforming places. This paper outlines a framework to progress such an agenda and focuses on conditions, capacities and identity resources within rural trajectories. It argues that empirical scholarship on these intersecting concepts may generate insights into young people’s relationships within today’s transforming rural multicultures.

Going on a Field Trip: Critical Geographical Walking Tours and Tactical Media as Urban Praxis in Sydney, Australia

Going on a Field Trip: Critical Geographical Walking Tours and Tactical Media as Urban Praxis in Sydney, Australia

Local government perspectives on rural retirement migration and social sustainability

ABSTRACTWithin the policy and academic literature, the impact of rural retirement migration (RRM) on community sustainability has been questioned. This qualitative study investigated the perceived impact of retirement migration on rural social sustainability from a local government perspective. Focus groups were conducted with local government senior managers and community services staff (n = 39) across six rural local government areas in one Australian state. Data were analysed against the three components of rural social sustainability (equity, community and rurality) proposed by Jones and Tonts [1995. “Rural Restructuring and Social Sustainability: Some Reflections on the Western Australian Wheatbelt.” Australian Geographer 26: 133–140]. While RRM is perceived to benefit rural community capacity to facilitate or maintain equity, community and rurality, it also presents challenges for local government. Participants suggested that capacity to facilitate equity, community and rurality in contexts of RRM was impacted by uncertainty around future impacts of RRM on population ageing, increasing advocacy and expectations of older in-migrants, and the impact of RRM on rural heterogeneity. These issues required local governments to think critically about how to accommodate and manage the needs and expectations of older in-migrants, while mediating potential impacts associated with RRM.

Chapter 4 – Migration research and analysis: Growth, reach and recent contributions

Chapter 4 – Migration research and analysis: Growth, reach and recent contributions

Jazz Culture in the North: A Comparative Study of Regional Jazz Communities in Cairns and Mackay, North Queensland

Jazz Culture in the North: A Comparative Study of Regional Jazz Communities in Cairns and Mackay, North Queensland

List of referees for Australian Geographer, 2015–2016

List of referees for Australian Geographer, 2015–2016

Access, Place and Australian Live Music

The role of place in cultivating artistic practice, communities and audiences is well established and the economic, social and cultural benefits that flow from this are becoming better understood. By contrast, the factors impacting and influencing access to these places is poorly theorised. This paper identifies and examines these factors as they apply to live music in Australia, through a qualitative survey of live music patrons and venues. We compare the themes identified from our data with existing theories of access in the arts, with a particular focus on the ways in which place-based music scenes may encourage or exclude participation. We address the question of how access affects participation within these scenes, as well as how access might be improved.

List of referees for Australian Geographer, 2014–2015

List of referees for Australian Geographer, 2014–2015

In memoriam: Graeme John Hugo AO, FASSA, PhD (ANU) 1946-2015

On 20 January 2015 Graeme Hugo, University Professorial Fellow and Professor of Geography at the University of Adelaide, died shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Professor Hugo was in full stride when his life was prematurely terminated. He was a prodigious writer (over 500 peer reviewed publications), presenter at conferences and meetings (more than 1,000 presentations), and supervisor of postgraduate students (110 completed master’s and PhD supervisions, with 19 PhD students and 2 master’s students under supervision at the time of his death). In addition, his CV lists more than 120 reports for government agencies in Australia, international agencies, and overseas governments. 1 In July 2014 Graeme was presented with the Institute of Australian Geographers’ (IAG) Australia-International Medal “in recognition of his outstanding contribution, as an Australian geographer, to the advancement of geography world-wide”. Two years earlier he had been awarded the civil honour of Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his “distinguished service to population research, particularly the study of international migration, population geography and mobility, and through leadership roles with national and international organisations.” In 2009, in a survey of members of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), he was voted by his peers as the 34th ranked demographer of all time for the quality of his work.

On Oenological Authenticity: Making Wine Real and Making Real Wine

On Oenological Authenticity: Making Wine Real and Making Real Wine

Australian Geographer Referees 2014

Australian Geographer Referees 2014

Taste in the Anthropocene: The Emergence of “Thing-power” in Food Gardens

Taste in the Anthropocene: The Emergence of “Thing-power” in Food Gardens

Australian Geographer Referees 2009–13

Australian Geographer Referees 2009–13

Doing Safer Masculinities: Addressing at-Risk Gendered Behaviours on Mine Sites

Doing Safer Masculinities: Addressing at-Risk Gendered Behaviours on Mine Sites