|
JSA 2010 seminar to be held on July 24
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
There will be some departures
from the usual format for the JSA’s 2010 seminar on Saturday, July
24 with a more varied and entertaining program.
In addition to three main
papers
by Prof Wallace Kirsop, Nick Hudson and Paul Tankard, Prof Kate Burridge
will present a “stub” paper – a short discussion of a subject
from her speciality, linguistics.
These will be followed by
readings
on various Johnsonian subjects by Barrie Sheppard, Bronwen Hickman and
John Byrne. The will also be music, with a brief commentary supplied
by Barbara Niven.
The seminar will be held at
the usual venue, the English Speaking Union at 146 West Toorak Road
South Yarra, starting at 11am, and finishing around 4.30 pm, with the
bar open until 6pm to allow for some convivial fraternization.
A light lunch will be served and morning and afternoon tea provided.
Full details of speakers and
subjects will becirculated to members before the seminar. |
|
|
Barrie Sheppard our new President
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Barrie Sheppard, the newly -elected President of the Johnson Society of Australia, has been one of our most active members since he joined the JSA in 1994. He has been a committee member since 1999, and Treasurer since 2005, a position he still retains in addition to the presidency.
Barrie, a former lecturer in English at Deakin University, previously had no special interest in Samuel Johnson, but a chance meeting with Bryan Reid, and his existing friendships with the late Rusi Khan and Clive and Meg Probyn, attracted him to the idea of joining the JSA.
He soon became a confirmed Johnsonian, and in 1996 gave his first seminar paper, a satirical treatment of Johnson’s view about the proper use of the cucumber, and several subsequent papers, the latest was on Johnson and the Problem of Evil.
Barrie’s Johnsonian interest extended overseas in 2007 when he attended the Pembroke College Conference on Johnson and the Theatre, and again this year, when he took part in the Tercentenary celebrations at both Pembroke and Lichfield.
Barrie’s expressed hopes as President are to continue the good work of previous presidents, to forge links with the Jane Austen and Shakespeare Societies , and to develop the Annual Seminar to include regular readings, short 'stub' papers, and a short lexicographical 'spotlight', as well as the usual solid academic fare.
Barrie is also half of the celebrated duo, with Bryan Reid, of “Baz and Bry” who by popular demand entertain the guests at the JSA Christmas party. |
|
|
We appoint our first Life Member
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Bryan Reid has
been appointed the first Honorary Life Member of the JSA. At the 2009 AGM,
newly-elected President Barrie Sheppard paid tribute to Bryan’s
continuing contribution to the JSA since he became the founding
secretary in 1993. He has since retired from the
position and been succeeded by Barbara Niven. Barrie presented Bryan with a commemorative
plaque which read: The Johnson Society of Australia Inc Hereby confers
Honorary Life Membership on Bryan Reid In grateful
appreciation of his unique role in the foundation and
development of the Society. Bryan’s
son Sam, daughter Deborah, and long-time friend and fellow-JSA member
Jan Lowe were present for the occasion. |
|
|
Geoff Brand to join JSA committee
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Geoff Brand, a zoologist turned
bookseller and literary connoisseur, has been co-opted to the committee
of the JSA.
Geoff, who holds a Doctorate
in Zoology, specializing in marine biology, had been a university
lecturer
and a Victorian State Government scientists before he took a quantum
leap to become a bookseller in Queenscliffe in 1990.
There, one of his customers,
Bryan Reid told him about the Johnson Society, and his interest was
reinforced by his friendship with our new president, Barrie Sheppard,
who has a holiday home in nearby Point Lonsdale.
Geoff joined the JSA in 1995
and the following year, delivered the first of his four papers to the
Annual Seminar. All but three of these have been inspired by his
interest
in 18th Century science.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Sadly, we record the death
of Anne Calvert, a long-time member of the JSA, who died in December
after a long illness.
Anne joined the JSA in 1995,
and made a huge contribution to the Society with her work in designing
and producing the earliest editions of The Papers from 1997, through
the desktop publishing classes she conducted at Holmesglen College of
TAFE, Melbourne.
Her efforts not only served
a useful educational purpose but also kept costs to a minimum and so
enabled the Papers to be published. Anne will be sadly missed by JSA
members. |
|
|
Reveiew: John Wiltshire's The Making of Dr Johnson
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
John Wiltshire. The Making
of Dr Johnson, Helm Information, Great Britain, 2009
2009, Johnson’s tercentenary
year, saw the publication of three biographies for the popular market.
And one scholarly work on the making of biographies – our own John
Wiltshire’s. The Making of Dr Johnson. John’s book
deals with the biographies, anecdotes, memoirs, pictures, and lampoons
that have created our conception of the Great Cham. It’s the ‘the
story of how Samuel Johnson was made into Dr Johnson’. The book is
also an implicit analysis of the craft of making biographies.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Special Art Gallery visit for JSA members
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
A visit to the National Gallery
of Victoria has been arranged for JSA members on Sunday May 30 at, 2:15
pm, when a senior Gallery guide will give a detailed account of
Reynold’s
portrait of Miss Susanna Gale, before the picture in the Eighteenth
Century Room
We will meet inside the Water
Wall on the St Kilda Road entrance. The tour is free, and members who
wish can gather for afternoon tea in one of the Gallery’s cafés. |
|
|
John Byrne lectures on Johnson and Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Samuel Johnson and the Wide
Brown Land was the Title of a lecture given by our Western Idler,
John Byrne, on March 17 to the institute of Advanced Studies at the
university of Western Australia.
In the lecture, John discussed
the faint but fascinating presence of Johnson and his circle in this
continent, from the earliest days of English exploration and settlement
on the east coast, through to the growth of Johnsonian scholarship to
the present day.
He gave a summary of the life
of Johnson, including his place in English literature, his impact on
Australian society today and the reasons why Johnson is considered such
a towering intellectual figure.
John illustrated his lecture
with a selection of material from his extensive library of Johnson’s
works and Johnsoniana.
The lecture was given as part
of the annual program of public events held by the Institute of Advances
Studies, which includes presentations by leading Australian literary
and intellectual figures.
|
|
|
|
|
|