History can cover a lot of subjects. Because we had a small turnout we looked at something different - the top 10 American firms since 2000 and the before and after of Gaza.

It is interesting to note that none of the top 10 American firms in 2000 are still in the top 10. Change is happening all the time and we would think that firms which dominated the business landscape in 2000 would still be in the top 10. Not so. Firms which dominate at the moment such as Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway may not be there in 10 years time. Change happens whether we want it or not.

We looked at a detailed video showing Gaza before and after. Before it was surprisingly ordinary looking. Unfortunately it looks different now.

We closed at 3PM. We hope we have a better turnout at our next meeting.

​Neville Gibb

In late September, in the absence of Brian and with our low numbers, we indulged ourselves by again taking an interest in recent Chinese History.

We touched on the following:-

• The Opium Wars
• Foreign Concessions in Shanghai.

• The Civil War
• The invasion of Japan
• The Long March
• The move of the Nationalist Government to Taiwan.
• The Great Leap Forward
• The Cultural Revolution
• Deng’s Reforms.

We will be returning to these subjects when time and circumstances permit.

Neville Gibb

We strayed a little from the agenda during our August sessions. In view of the recent publicity about Unions, we investigated the history of Unions in Australia. This is quite extensive and always raises the question - just how much power should the Union movement have on Political Parties? Both left and right side of Politics.

We investigated the history of Vincent Gair, a significant figure in Australian History and a long time Labor Premier of Qld. An extremely effective politician who overreached himself and was expelled by the Party, spending the rest of his life on the extreme edge of politics.

​Neville Gibb

At our last Armchair History session our discussions ranged over a number of subjects. 

​We reviewed several books that explain Aboriginal use of land. The fact that indigenous people made quite complicated use of the landscape is something that we are only now coming to realise.

From that we moved to wine making in our local area. For instance, the Tahbilk Winery has a long history of wine making and has experienced lots of problems with at times phylloxera almost closing down the winery.

From that we moved to the development of Railway Lines and we inspected the Octopus Plan. We discussed the Tatong Line. What was it used for? What did it carry?

​Neville Gibb

In history the tendency is to range from subject to subject. 

We began with Anzac Day - the landing at Anzac Cove. We discussed the fact that a large number of troops from many countries of the Empire, including African and Indian, plus French Troops were sent into action. We noted that in total approximately 60000 Australians landed and that there were over 10000 casualties. We also noted that there were misgivings about the enterprise from day one.

From that we moved to Settler History and the expeditions of Major Mitchell. Major Mitchell made three expeditions surveying the country south of Botany Bay including in our area.  Major Mitchell had both good and bad relationships with the native population, and a number of his employees were killed. We made note that out of the 400-odd, recorded massacres of native people in Australia, some were in our area.
​
Neville Gibb

July’s sessions included Melody’s focus on post Federation (1901) to World War One.  The political, social and economic conditions of the time were explored. Topics included the three political parties and their ideologies that formed the first parliament.  The white Australia policy, Aboriginal Protection Acts of the States, voting rights, working conditions, child labour laws, vagrancy laws and unemployment also featured.   The thinking and ideological perspectives of the time were also discussed in terms of their relevance today.   
Jane also contributed during July, providing two short presentations on Bruce Pascoe’s controversial book “Dark Emu: Black Seeds’ and Henry Reynolds’ seminal work “Truth Telling”.  Jane described finding both books, which view old information through a different lens, energising in this year of a Referendum related to Australian First Nations people and the Constitution. 

Melody Finnerty and Jane Rushworth

"Two authors - Pascoe and Reynolds - caught my attention in this year of a Referendum related to Australian First Nations and the constitution. You might find these two short presentations about each of the books interesting.

I had heard a lot about Bruce Pascoe's 2017 "Dark Emu: Black Seeds". But it took until the first session in U3A's  Armchair History and I have now listened to the book. I regret that I had not taken the opportunity earlier. The "controversy" around the author and his thesis distracts from Pascoe's offer to review aspects of our national history. I invite you to delve into Pascoes proposition and to consider the comments of Blainey and Mundine who describe why they find Pascoes work contentious.

Prolific author Henry Reynolds "Truth-Telling" is a seminal work that has shifted my understanding of Australia's colonisation era through to the present. I find viewing old information through a different lens energising. I hope you do too."

Jane Rushworth
U3A Armchair History
Friday 28 August, 2023

At our first session in June we continued our discussion of the status quo when the first fleet arrived, taking particular note of two facts relevant to our contemporary situation.  Firstly, the country was declared terra nullius despite it being obvious that it was inhabited by people. Secondly, Australia remains the only Commonwealth country that Britain did not conclude a treaty with the local inhabitants.

At our second session, Melody Finnerty gave a detailed assessment of our Constitution - how it came about and what its powers are. Australia is a Federation where power is shared between the Commonwealth and the States. In simple terms certain powers are reserved for the Commonwealth and all other powers reside with the States. The Federation was more than decade in the making and it is interesting to consider that New Zealand was in it right up to the last but decided its interests were to stay out. Queen Victoria signed the Act of Parliament that proclaimed Australia.

We then attempted to focus on the relations between the local people and the First Settlers, but tended to digress onto other, mostly contemporary, matters including ‘Shock Jock’s, the health of Newspapers, the modern phenomenon of influencers and the power of Facebook.  

Neville Gibb