ANZAC Fellowship awarded to University of Newcastle historian
University of Newcastle historian, Associate Professor Victoria Haskins, has been awarded the $20,000 NSW Centenary of Anzac Commemoration (2014 – 2018) History Fellowship to research how World War I impacted on NSW women.
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Education and Arts, Professor John Germov congratulated Associate Professor Haskins saying that the research project, ANZAC: Her Story, would offer insight into the journey of NSW women during the war.
“As the 100th anniversary of World War I approaches, there is a need for more published work about the experiences and personal stories of women during this time,” Professor Germov said.
“The University congratulates Associate Professor Haskins, one of Australia’s leading and most highly-experienced historians, on receiving the Arts NSW History Fellowship.
Associate Professor Haskins said, World War I affected the whole society, but most of the narratives do not show it from the women’s perspective.”
“There’s all sorts of fragmented and scattered stories out there that, pieced together, can form a basis of understanding of World War I that we haven’t had before,” Associate Professor Haskins said.
Nurses sent to Indian hospitals; women’s role in commemoration, pro- and anti-conscription movements; and the impact of the war and returned soldiers on family life are just some of the topics and subjects to be explored in the project.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to is researching Kurri Kurri woman Maud Butler who stowed away as a soldier and caused quite a sensation at the time,” Associate Professor Haskins said.
“There are also stories about a soldier’s mother who single-handedly brought in the six o’clock closing time for pubs, after increased concerns about the level of drinking among returned soldiers because everyone was shouting the soldiers rounds.”
The research project for ANZAC: Her Story will start later this year. Associate Professor Haskins will publish articles and conduct public presentations on the research, coinciding with the centenary anniversary of the Coo-ee March in 2015.
