Leading Indigenous historian awarded prestigious fellowship

Thursday, 18 September 2014

Australia's leading Indigenous historian, UON's Professor John Maynard, has been honoured by his peers with his election as a Fellow of the esteemed Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA).

John Maynard Smiling

The honour recognises his outstanding achievements promoting the advancement of the social sciences, through his work in Indigenous history.

The ASSA is one of the four learned academies in Australia and focuses on promoting excellence in research in the social sciences and increasing public awareness of the role and value of social sciences.

One of the world's most prolific and respected voices on Indigenous history, Professor Maynard is known for his work unearthing the links between early African-American and Aboriginal politics.

The Joint Director of the University's Aboriginal education centre, The Wollotuka Institute, said he was thrilled to have received such a prestigious honour.

"I'm truly honoured and humbled to have been elected to Fellowship in such highly esteemed company. It's wonderful to have such recognition of your life's work," he said.

Professor Maynard's research has concentrated on the intersections of Aboriginal political and social history and made significant contributions to the research fields of Aboriginal, race relations and sports history both nationally and internationally. His work examining the rise of organised Aboriginal political activism during the 1920s has been recognised as groundbreaking.

Director, The Wollotuka Institute, Leanne Holt, said her colleague, Professor Maynard's election to the Academy was testament to the significance of his work on both the national and global stage.

"Professor Maynard has made major contributions to Australian historiography we congratulate him on this prestigious and well-deserved honour bestowed by his peers," she said.

Professor Maynard will be officially presented with the Fellowship at the Academy's Annual Symposium and General Meeting, to be held in Canberra on 10-12 November 2014.

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