Latest news with #FlindersUniversity
The Age
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Expert always drew the highest recognition
RICHARD PHILLIP PAYNE HAESE November 10, 1944-May 19, 2025 People of note have always recognised Dr Richard Haese's talents. The late art historian Professor Virginia Spate, of Sydney University, and the late historian Professor James A. Main, of Flinders University, examined his PhD thesis Cultural Radicals in Australian Society 1937-47. Both scholars made percipient observations. In the first paragraph of her examiner's report (August 16, 1979) Spate noted the extent to which 'this thesis fills an important gap in the history of Australian art 'politics', which has previously been seriously treated only by Bernard Smith in his Australian Painting 1788-1960 '. Main's report (June 13, 1979) offers a further observation: 'All in all, Haese has given us a deeper and more complex analysis of the major artistic innovations of the time than any other writer.' These two comments point to Haese's twin attributes: his ability to note the overlooked and his understanding of the actual practice of art. This combination of intellectual and practical knowledge runs like a continuous thread through his scholarly contributions and authoritative publications. Haese's artistic understanding was already noted during his art school education at the South Australian School of Art in 1966, where he was awarded the Harry P. Gill Memorial Medal. His research skills were honed by Professor Geoffrey Searle (From Deserts the Prophets Come), who acted as his PhD thesis supervisor at Monash University, which provided him with an acute feeling for Australian history and the place of cultural activities in the shaping of national identity. It is this that surfaces most prominently in his first major publication, the ground-breaking Rebels and Precursors: The Revolutionary Years of Australian Art, published in 1981. It is difficult to overestimate the impact and importance of this book and its subsequent three editions. It continues to be a major reference source, being cited in all post-1980s studies of Australian culture and is valued as establishing a new paradigm for the study of the visual arts in Australia. Haese's second major publication is Permanent Revolution: Mike Brown and the Australian Avant-Garde 1953-1997 of 2011. The 30 years between these two publications brackets a period of productive research that led to a further 18 scholarly publications, eight of which were commissioned by the Heide Museum of Modern Art, Tolarno Gallery, the Australian Dictionary of Biography, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria. All of this was achieved while fulfilling his full-time academic responsibilities as senior lecturer in the notable Department of Art History at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Haese's work has always drawn the highest recognition. The late Professor Bernard Smith, the doyen of Australian art history, wrote: 'Richard Haese's book Rebels and Precursors: The Revolutionary Years of Australian Art is a book that everyone seriously interested in Australian culture should read.' (Age Monthly Review, vol. 1, no. 6, October 1981). Writing in the national magazine The Bulletin (October 27, 1981), historian Geoffrey Dutton submitted that: ' Rebels and Precursors … is one of the most important books to have appeared about Australian art. Its repercussions extend beyond artists and works of art, most obviously to literature, but also to matters of politics, social history and the Australian character.' The cultural commentator Michael Keon agreed (Quadrant Monthly, May 1982): 'Richard Haese has, indeed, written not only art history, but history. Mainstream history, I believe. Haese has done something else that he may not have realised. He has made a break, that I think can only continue to widen, in that 'tyranny of distance' in which we have for so long not so much been immured as immured ourselves.' The book was universally lauded in many other reviews – and in 1982 it won the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction. Reviewing the book for The Age on October 10, 1981, Professor Patrick McCaughey (then director of the National Gallery of Victoria) observed: 'Although Australian consciousness changed decisively during that decade, the period remains oddly neglected in recent art writing and the walls of our public art galleries are largely mute about the striking impact of those years. Dr Richard Haese's important new book should change that state of affairs permanently. If this book fosters a new determination on the part of every major public gallery to represent properly the rebels and precursors of our present moment, it will have achieved even more than it has already.'
Sydney Morning Herald
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Expert always drew the highest recognition
RICHARD PHILLIP PAYNE HAESE November 10, 1944-May 19, 2025 People of note have always recognised Dr Richard Haese's talents. The late art historian Professor Virginia Spate, of Sydney University, and the late historian Professor James A. Main, of Flinders University, examined his PhD thesis Cultural Radicals in Australian Society 1937-47. Both scholars made percipient observations. In the first paragraph of her examiner's report (August 16, 1979) Spate noted the extent to which 'this thesis fills an important gap in the history of Australian art 'politics', which has previously been seriously treated only by Bernard Smith in his Australian Painting 1788-1960 '. Main's report (June 13, 1979) offers a further observation: 'All in all, Haese has given us a deeper and more complex analysis of the major artistic innovations of the time than any other writer.' These two comments point to Haese's twin attributes: his ability to note the overlooked and his understanding of the actual practice of art. This combination of intellectual and practical knowledge runs like a continuous thread through his scholarly contributions and authoritative publications. Haese's artistic understanding was already noted during his art school education at the South Australian School of Art in 1966, where he was awarded the Harry P. Gill Memorial Medal. His research skills were honed by Professor Geoffrey Searle (From Deserts the Prophets Come), who acted as his PhD thesis supervisor at Monash University, which provided him with an acute feeling for Australian history and the place of cultural activities in the shaping of national identity. It is this that surfaces most prominently in his first major publication, the ground-breaking Rebels and Precursors: The Revolutionary Years of Australian Art, published in 1981. It is difficult to overestimate the impact and importance of this book and its subsequent three editions. It continues to be a major reference source, being cited in all post-1980s studies of Australian culture and is valued as establishing a new paradigm for the study of the visual arts in Australia. Haese's second major publication is Permanent Revolution: Mike Brown and the Australian Avant-Garde 1953-1997 of 2011. The 30 years between these two publications brackets a period of productive research that led to a further 18 scholarly publications, eight of which were commissioned by the Heide Museum of Modern Art, Tolarno Gallery, the Australian Dictionary of Biography, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria. All of this was achieved while fulfilling his full-time academic responsibilities as senior lecturer in the notable Department of Art History at La Trobe University in Melbourne. Haese's work has always drawn the highest recognition. The late Professor Bernard Smith, the doyen of Australian art history, wrote: 'Richard Haese's book Rebels and Precursors: The Revolutionary Years of Australian Art is a book that everyone seriously interested in Australian culture should read.' (Age Monthly Review, vol. 1, no. 6, October 1981). Writing in the national magazine The Bulletin (October 27, 1981), historian Geoffrey Dutton submitted that: ' Rebels and Precursors … is one of the most important books to have appeared about Australian art. Its repercussions extend beyond artists and works of art, most obviously to literature, but also to matters of politics, social history and the Australian character.' The cultural commentator Michael Keon agreed (Quadrant Monthly, May 1982): 'Richard Haese has, indeed, written not only art history, but history. Mainstream history, I believe. Haese has done something else that he may not have realised. He has made a break, that I think can only continue to widen, in that 'tyranny of distance' in which we have for so long not so much been immured as immured ourselves.' The book was universally lauded in many other reviews – and in 1982 it won the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Non-Fiction. Reviewing the book for The Age on October 10, 1981, Professor Patrick McCaughey (then director of the National Gallery of Victoria) observed: 'Although Australian consciousness changed decisively during that decade, the period remains oddly neglected in recent art writing and the walls of our public art galleries are largely mute about the striking impact of those years. Dr Richard Haese's important new book should change that state of affairs permanently. If this book fosters a new determination on the part of every major public gallery to represent properly the rebels and precursors of our present moment, it will have achieved even more than it has already.'
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Hopes high after ocean temperatures off SA coast drop amid algal bloom outbreak
Ocean temperatures off South Australia's coast have dropped following storms this week, sparking hopes the toxic algal bloom will soon end. Offshore buoys looked after by Flinders University, which measure sea surface temperature, show it has dipped below 16 degrees Celsius at Robe for the first time in about two months. Ocean temperatures have also dropped near Adelaide and Victor Harbor. A buoy at West Beach recorded sea surface temperatures of 15.38C yesterday after reaching 16.56C on Sunday. A buoy at Victor Harbor saw a drop from 17.28C on Sunday to 16.56 yesterday. It follows a marine heatwave which saw ocean temperatures 2.5C warmer than usual, which led to an algal bloom outbreak spanning thousands of kilometres. Flinders University coastal studies professor Patrick Hesp said the drop was a glimmer of good news amid the bad weather which saw thousands without power, jetties damaged and coastal erosion. "We've seen quite significant erosion, but perhaps one of the positive effects is that there would be a significant amount of mixing because of those big waves," Professor Hesp said. In March, surfers reported sore eyes, coughing and blurry vision after visiting beaches west of Victor Harbor and since then marine life has been found dead along the eastern Yorke Peninsula, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) identified the cause of the irritation and deaths as Karenia mikimotoi, a toxic microalgal bloom. PIRSA said water testing results to check whether the bloom had dissipated would be available early next week. Marine biologist and UTS researcher Shauna Murray, who helped authorities identify the bloom in March, said storms could be a circuit breaker. "Normally with strong weather conditions you would expect to see dissipation and things are being pushed out," she said. However, she said it was difficult to predict what would happen with this bloom because of its size. "It's complicated because it's a large bloom over a very big area," she said. "It's hard to know to what extent it's now seeding itself and it's continuing to grow, and to what extent it's just being dispersed into certain areas." Faith Coleman, an ecologist who has been testing water samples, said the weather would have flushed out waters — but the extent was not yet clear. "It may have happened totally or it may have happened partially," she said. "If it's only happened partially we may end up with bloom occurring, if we have sunny days after this, in places that [it hadn't]." Wild weather was experienced throughout South Australia earlier in the week with waves up to 5.6 metres recorded by a buoy off Robe on Monday night, along with similar heights north of Kangaroo Island and slightly smaller swell offshore of Victor Harbor. The strongest wind gust was 126 kilometres per hour, recorded at Neptune Island. Roanna Horbelt, who runs Research and Discovery Coastal Tours, Kangaroo Island, took TAFE students out on the sea off Emu Bay on Wednesday. After previously reporting dead fish and stingrays in the area, Ms Horbelt said the group was "very pleasantly surprised". "There's still particles in the water for sure, but I mean hardly any foam at all and the amount of birdlife and other life that we're seeing around there are looking a lot happier." The group saw a large pod of dolphins, along with hundreds of birds and seals. Dolphins that had previously disappeared in cloudy water just 1.5 metres deep were now clearly visible. "Yesterday, they seemed to be very joyful and back to normal and followed our boat for almost 20 minutes just riding the bow along the coastline, so we had about 80 of them doing that, so that was pretty special," Ms Horbelt said. "Everything seemed almost back to normal, fingers-crossed." Citizen scientist and aquatic instructor Lochie Cameron is one of the organisers of a forum on the effects of the algal bloom that is being held in Marion Bay, on the Yorke Peninsula, on Sunday. He believed the algal bloom would have a long-lasting impact. "I feel a bit grim about it," he said. "I think we're looking at a couple of decades-long recovery for these areas. "A lot of the species that have been impacted are long-lived species that take quite a long time to mature, so, yeah, I do hold quite a large concern for our sea dragons and boarfish and other benthic species as well."
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Teacher from Malappuram to address World Archaeology Meet
R. Saravanan, history teacher at PSMO College, Tirurangadi, with specialisation in archaeology, will present a paper at the World Archaeological Congress being held in Australia next month. Mr. Saravanan will present his paper titled 'The maritime contacts of Pattanam: Locating the ancient remains in Kerala, India' at Flinders University, Darwin, where the world meet will be held from June 22 to 28. He had presented a paper on archaeology at Alcala University, Madrid, Spain, last year. With a diploma in archaeology from the Archaeological Survey of India, Mr. Saravanan is pursuing doctoral research under Manmathan M.R., head of the Department of History, Calicut University.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Reptile history rewritten with discovery of footprints 40 million years older
Image source: A groundbreaking fossil discovery in northern Victoria, Australia, is shaking up paleontology. Fossilized footprints from the Carboniferous Period, around 359 million years ago, suggest that reptiles may have roamed Earth much earlier than previously believed. This find significantly predates the oldest known reptile fossils, pushing the reptile evolutionary timeline back by millions of years. Professor John Long of Flinders University notes that these trace fossils challenge established theories about the origins of reptiles. The discovery not only provides new insights into reptile development but also prompts a major reevaluation of evolutionary history, particularly regarding early life forms. Some interesting facts about reptiles Footprints of reptile forebears Experts suggest that the tracks indicate these creatures may have emerged around 350 million years ago, pushing their existence back by 40 million years compared to earlier records. One set of partial prints displayed clear claw marks, suggesting these animals were true reptiles rather than amphibians. Another set featured a smaller front foot and a larger hind foot, a characteristic commonly seen in land-dwelling vertebrates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Excel in Finance Dynamics IIMK-AF Apply Now Undo Gondwana 's role in reptile evolution For years, scientists have examined the southern supercontinent Gondwana, where early four-limbed vertebrates left behind their remains and tracks. The recent find in Victoria supports the idea that key evolutionary milestones took place in these areas. At that time, Australia was a central part of this landmass, and its warmer climate may have contributed to the emergence of new adaptations in reptile ancestors. Rethinking the reptile evolution timeline Paleontologists study says that fossil footprints to gain insight into the movement of ancient animals, with features like clawed toes helping to distinguish whether a creature was a reptile or an amphibian. "This pushes back the origin of crown-group amniotes by at least 35-40 million years," said Professor John Long. The research emphasizes how crucial footprints are in reshaping our understanding of evolutionary timelines. Reptiles belong to the amniote group, which also includes birds and mammals. The claw marks found in these fossilized tracks point to a full transition from aquatic environments, a defining feature of reptiles. While many scientists once believed that amniotes originated in the Northern Hemisphere, these footprints challenge that idea and raise new questions about the spread of early reptiles across ancient landscapes. Transforming landscapes and the diversity of animals Researchers are planning to survey other regions of Victoria for additional trace fossils that could help fill in the gaps of this ancient record. They are hopeful that new discoveries will clarify how these early creatures adapted to life on land. The discovery of more trackways could offer new insights into how reptiles diverged from amphibians. Each new footprint holds the potential to reveal crucial details about posture, movement, and survival strategies. The Carboniferous Period, which lasted from around 359 to 299 million years ago, was a time of dense swamp forests, giant insects, and elevated oxygen levels in the atmosphere. At that time, the configuration of landmasses was different from today's. Some scientists believe that shifting coastlines may have created distinct ecological niches, driving the evolution of new adaptations in response to changing environments. Environments and habitats of reptile predecessors Some reptile ancestors likely ventured onto solid ground, while others remained in aquatic environments. With limited evidence of this transition, every fossil footprint holds significant value. Even one single impression can reveal how early amniotes balanced their bodies or positioned their tails. The size, depth, and spacing of the prints provide important clues about their speed and range of motion. A single fossil slab discovered in Victoria has reignited the debate over reptile origins. Researchers propose revisiting older formations to check if more reptile evidence has been overlooked in the past. Professor Long and his team highlight the need for additional fieldwork to confirm whether reptiles emerged simultaneously in multiple regions. They argue that this discovery shows how a single trackway can challenge and refine our understanding of early amniotes. Investigating further reptile trace fossils Future digs could uncover more footprints from the early phases of reptile evolution, shedding light on how quickly these creatures adapted to life on land. Advances in technology, like high-resolution scanning, allow for more precise analysis of the details in each print, helping paleontologists reconstruct entire ecosystems from a few fossilized traces. Laser scanning is commonly used in footprint analysis to capture 3D images, revealing intricate features such as fine ridges that suggest muscle strength or toe flexibility. Rare skin patterns found in the footprints can also provide insights into the texture of scales. Each layer of mud or sand offers valuable clues about the environmental conditions that existed at the time. Reptiles' first steps onto land Before the evolution of amniotes, vertebrates like fish and amphibians depended on water for reproduction. Over time, the development of eggs with protective membranes allowed animals like reptiles to move onto land. This transition laid the groundwork for the diversification of reptiles, birds, and mammals into numerous forms. These footprints represent an important link in that long evolutionary process. Researchers are comparing the new prints with known trackways from synapsids and early amphibians. Key differences include the curvature of the toes and the presence of claws. Synapsids, which eventually gave rise to mammals, left broader footprints with distinct digit spacing, while reptile-like tracks typically feature sharper claw impressions. Ancient Tracks of Reptile Ancestors These ancient footprints link today's wildlife to distant ancestors that once roamed muddy shores. Each mark sparks curiosity about how life first adapted to land. Studying these steps can also reveal key insights into the broader course of evolution. The early success of reptiles, after all, laid the groundwork for the eventual rise of dinosaurs and other land-dwelling creatures. Scientists stress that no single find tells the full story. Tracks, fossils, and environmental clues must all come together to create a clearer picture of the past. Though the record is still incomplete, new discoveries in unexpected places continue to fill in the gaps. Every fresh footprint offers a rare window into a time of rapid evolutionary transformation. Also read: Discover the world's smallest snake measuring only 10 centim ..
