I could resist embedding Simpsons references in my recorded presentations, but if I did, I suspect I'd lose my PhD and status as a Millennial lecturer.

My students are sharing reading/artefact/doco recommendations after we've wrapped up class. Omg. Mind gifts! 🤓🤩

1. Women in the LMS, Pacific Islands, late 19- early 20C. 2. Archives and libraries 3. Zombies.

Fund the arts

I had the nicest realisation today. Twenty years ago I worked in a male-dominated industry, subject to "just a joke" acts, & searching for women who used their voices & expertise to make a difference. Now I'm surrounded by women & non-binary people who have amazing voices, strength & expertise. 🤩

Chef's determination to have me enjoy dishes that feature cauliflower is adorable and has no chance of succeeding. You can't undo 17 years of exposure to overcooked, 1980s, white people cooking with cauliflower.

'mentorship schemes are extremely valuable and one of the most important ways in which organisations and institutions can help ECRs'.

This is a great story, for the bird and tattoo. I've been thinking about getting a Currawong tattoo for awhile... www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Well, we all know that bronze monuments are sacred and shouldn't be removed www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

"Moral and Physical defence of records". I'll like this idea. So I need a sword, some snacks and Sir Didymus... #archives #research #GenAI

“Working For AI” contexts.org/blog/working...

Letters found on eBay cast light on UK families who benefited from slavery www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

I've spent the morning discussing the ethics and impact of GenAI on the Humanities. This is a very sweet, and much-needed, reset. If anything, GenAI is another opportunity to demonstrate why the Arts matter and why personal stories need to be preserved. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

Happy International Day of Sign Languages, celebrating the diverse cultures and linguistic identities of deaf people and sign language users across the world. Here, Andy shares some of his work at the archives in Auslan. He has the lights low to minimise reflections as he digitises a glass plate.

I learnt this morning that private funding for the Arts in Victoria (Aus) has decreased by half of the 2019 levels. With two days to go of the subscribe-a-thon now is the time to support great music, arts, communities and to disrupt the algorithms. #music #art #subscribe

I've actually been working on SLV stuff for a couple of weeks, so I'm well behind on my blogging. There's already some fun stuff to share...

Rachel Franks @cfwriter.bsky.social reviews ‘Outrageous Fortunes: The Adventures of Mary Fortune, Crime-Writer, and Her Criminal Son’ by Megan Brown and Lucy Sussex @lucysussex.bsky.social La Trobe University Press www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Today, I'm working with the UniMelb Archive, specifically the digitised records from their Strathfieldsaye Estate Diary (1872-1974). Beyond church events and locals coming for short stays, there is not a lot written in this station diary about entertainment...

Is that Tuesday AEST or Tuesday CT? How am I meant to cater for the Rapture without specifics? **stomps off in foodie**

Join us on Tuesday night at UTS to discuss: A New Australian Politics? George Megalogenis @frankbongiorno.bsky.social @lizhumphrys.bsky.social Emily Foley and I discuss how the last two elections have changed Australian politics and what it means for the future events.humanitix.com/a-new-austra...

Heading back to Melbourne for a couple of weeks of #glam hacking...

Does it ever get easier to stand up in front of your peers and say "Here's my cool thing (research output)"? Currently feeling more vulnerable than when I was engaged, no set wedding date, and in a room full of Aunties. #academia #presentation #research

Bleak times at Macquarie Uni, as management moves to implement large scale job cuts in arts and science (because who needs that expertise, right?). Amanda’s threat outlines the lies that underpin these changes. We need urgent governance reform now: but is the government listening?

It has been an immense week of celebration, reflection and commentary in Papua New Guinea as the 50th Anniversary of Independence was acknowledged. Please share this roundtable piece 'Celebrations and growing pains: 50 years of Papua New Guinean independence', by Henrietta McNeill & Theresa Meki

Journal of Pacific History Vol 60, Issue 3 is out now! Over the coming weeks we'll share direct links to the various reviews, forums, and articles in this issue. For those of you who can't wait to read the latest Pacific History research, head to www.tandfonline.com/journals/cjp...

Happy to learn this morning that I can bower-bird articles, docos, and think pieces while doom scrolling better than ChatGPT can with specific instructions. Anyway, this week was the 50th anniversary of PNG's Independence. Learning about & engaging with Australia-PNG history has changed

Anyone? #academia #research

Not me shouting joyously in my office because I finally remembered the name of that librarian, you know, the one from NSW, who hand-copied records & demonstrated a need for Australian-held archives. Bonwick. This job has me remember the weirdest stuff. Names and dates would be nice too.

We were very pleased to get the news today that the Australian National Dictionary Centre will be saved, thanks to an anonymous donation and the halt on involuntary redundancies under the Renew ANU plan. We thank everyone for their generous support through these difficult times.

"As a First-Generation student...I’ve remained defiantly stubborn in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles throughout my life, but I’ve had to accept the sobering reality that I am statistically likely to run out of road in academia sooner or later" 🫩

Rich with story, music and links to follow. A.great article from @australia.theguardian.com

I'm just a Melbournian on a lunch break asking for some warm sun time

ICYMI - Brad Underhill and Helen Gardner had a piece in @aunz.theconversation.com celebrating 50 years of PNG independence! "50 years without coups or dictators: how PNG built a durable democracy based on dignity and fairness". Republished on APH here: aph.org.au/2025/09/50-y... #PNG #independence

Pretty sure I just spent twice as much time explaining to a student why their paper failed compared to the time they spent creating the GenAI prompts and submitting it. #tutor #marking #Academia

Uproar is a damn fine film. Acting, sets, music, script all that, but I (and the fam) came away asking more and knowing more about Maori, African and Pasific Islander history. Damn fine film.

📚 To mark #PNG50, a landmark new book has arrived. Nearly 30 stories—authored by Papua New Guineans—spotlight teachers, academics, church leaders, and community figures who helped shape the nation since 1975. Read more here: shorturl.at/fzfGq @anubellschool.bsky.social @anu-asiapacific.bsky.social

"If the ANU is not committed to research that tells the Australian story then well may we ask, what is the point of a national university?" theconversation.com/the-anu-was-...

#PNG at 50! This symposium asks: what lessons from the past will shape the next 50 years? Hear from diplomats, leaders, and academics as they confront challenges and chart a path toward PNG’s centenary. #PNG50 #Pacific @anubellschool.bsky.social @anu-asiapacific.bsky.social

The Australian Academy of the Humanities is pleased to announce the outstanding researchers selected for the 2025 Publication Subsidy Scheme: bit.ly/4nn9p2C The grants will support the publication of new humanities research of national and international significance. @pctang.bsky.social

The ANU Governance Project Working Group invites the ANU community and stakeholders to offer feedback on the draft report over the next 48 hours (by midnight on Thursday, 11 September). anugovernance-davidpocock.nationbuilder.com/statement_re...

A plague on all the people who have given me the plague.

Now, if I had never heard the word Melanesia before going to church one random Sunday c1872, or not seen it printed, I suspect I too would have spelled it as "Milanesin": Source: University of Melbourne Archive. A station diary (how about that). #archive #research #nomenclature #academia

Wise words from Lise Jaillant's ed. collection, Archives, Access and Artificial Intelligence. I'm curious, how many other historians are working with machine learning, AI and LLMs or at least working with GLAMR to understand the impact on their research? #archives #history #academia #research

My workmates today are showing me who are the real Colourful Histories crew:

Happening on zoom today if anyone would like to come along!

**sigh** Can confirm, living with Mx17 and Ms19 who adore the 1980s. I hear far too much Talking Heads for my liking.

This is definitely worth a read 👇

If you see this, repost with a vampire that is not Dracula

We have a great #SundayShot this weekend. Marian Wilkinson has just written a devastating Quarterly Essay on Woodside and the petrostate of WA and is on the panel with activist and journo Jesse Noakes. Plus Dave reports from Camp Sovereignty in the aftermath of the Nazi Assault. Join us!