About CALLS

The Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies (CALLS) was established in 1989 to promote the research and teaching of Australian Language and Literature, and to encourage Australian writing. In 1998, it was expanded to encompass all the disciplines that come under the heading of Australian Studies, and its name changed to CALLS: The Centre for Australian Studies, UNE. The Centre is located in the Faculty of Arts at the University of New England. The focus of the Centre's activities is regional, national and international. Two regional conferences and a symposium have been held so far - at Kendall High School (1989) to celebrate the work of Henry Kendall, and at Gulgong (1991) to concentrate attention on the writings of Louisa and Henry Lawson. Important publications have resulted from these two conferences. A symposium, The Heritage Maze, was held in 1999, and another is planned for later this year. These symposia reflect the expanded CALLS, and the range of disciplines involved in Australian Studies.

We have a close association with the national body for Australian Literature, the Association for the Study of Australian Literature (ASAL). Our executive has supplied office bearers for this organization on many occasions. Two of our former executive, Julian Croft and Ken Stewart, edited Notes and Furphies (The ASAL bulletin) for many years, and UNE hosted the ASAL Conference in 1997. From 1997-2000 former director Russell McDougall and present Director Felicity Plunkett again undertook the editing of Notes and Furphies, with the support of CALLS publishing committee.

We have close affiliations with organizations for Australian Studies in Europe, Asia and America. Our first Director, Shirley Walker, is on the board of the Centre for Australian Literature at Bologna, and has lectured on Australian Literature, under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs, in Italy and Hungary, in the U.S.A., and in China. Former Director of the Centre Julian Croft, has lectured in Austria and China, and Former Director, Michael Sharkey, has lectured in Germany, Ireland and China. Members of CALLS are well represented at overseas conferences on Australian Studies. Director Felicity Plunkett has recently visited the Australian Studies Centre at the University of Wales, on a visiting fellowship.

We have a close affiliation with Beijing Foreign Studies University and Luoyang University in China. We have supplied BFSU with a course in Australian Literature (1992) taught by Michael Sharkey, and in Australian History (1993) taught by Graham Wilson. We encourage scholars from Australia and overseas to visit the Centre. We hosted a visit from Professor Yu Zhiyuan, of Beijing Foreign Studies University, for six months from September 1993. This initiative was supported by the Australia China Council. We have worked with the A.C.C. in the past and will continue to do so. We hope that hospitality to visiting scholars will become a regular feature of our work.

The Centre has an energetic publishing programme. As well as the informative annual Yearbook, and occasional papers such as Peter Pierce's public lecture Absences, we publish regularly in our distinctive format, and intend to continue this policy. The catalogue of volumes now includes four major volumes and one occasional publication. The Centre's first publication Henry Kendall: The Muse of Australia was launched in 1992. The Campbell Howard Index of Australian Plays was launched in 1993. In 1994 the Australian Grazier's Guide was jointly published by the Centre and the Department of Animal Science at UNE. In 1995 Australian Women Short Story Writers: A Selective Bibliography compiled by Dr Ewa Gajer was launched. Most recently, Louisa Lawson: Collected Poems with Selected Critical Commentaries has been published and was launched by Marion Halligan at the Centre's annual dinner on April 18th, 1996. Please see Publications. Our most recent publication, Poems From a Wide Brown Land, edited by Alison Hoddinott and Maurice Saxby (1998) showcased the winners of the Dorothea Mackellar poetry prize for school students, from the early years of primary school to the work of students in the final years of school.

We are co-hosting, with the New England Regional Arts Museum, the 2001 series, Encounters with Australian Writers. In 2000 this series was foreshadowed by the visit of Wendy McCarthy. See Future Events for more details.