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The Petrov Affair (Old Parliament House) |
arcadiagt5 |
Posted on: February 21st, 2005, 2:02pm |
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I'm smiling. That alone should scare you.
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On until April this is a fascinating exhibit of the hi-jinks (well, low-jinks mostly) around the Petrov espionage affair in the 1950s.
Many of the exhibits are the pages from the original documents - typed or handwritten on fading paper - which was interesting. Unfortunately, they are also full pages without chairs handy...
Some of the A/V presentations are fairly good, especially the news reels.
In the "nothing new under the sun" department is the timing of Menzies announcement of the defection: In parliament on the eve of the last sitting day before an election & after Evatt had gone to Sydney...
On until April, worth checking out if you get to Canberra (or it tours).
In all honesty though I was more interested in the extra bits of OPH that are now open the public - recent openings include the Prime Minister's suite, the cabinet room, and the Speaker's chambers (including an accurate replica mace). I think some more of the Senate wing is open as well but I'm not sure. |
If you cannot see the causal relationship between "I have chocolate" and "Life is Good", you simply aren't trying hard enough. Pirates of the Burley Griffin |
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leece |
Posted on: February 21st, 2005, 2:06pm |
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arcadiagt5 |
Posted on: February 21st, 2005, 5:50pm |
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It was certainly a fascinating (if occasionally disturbing) period in Australian history.
The Royal Commission that came out of it was our very own little slice of McCarthyism.
I must admit that I'm looking forward to October/November to see what OPH comes up with for the 30th anniversary of the Dismissal. That should be good.  |
If you cannot see the causal relationship between "I have chocolate" and "Life is Good", you simply aren't trying hard enough. Pirates of the Burley Griffin |
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leece |
Posted on: February 21st, 2005, 5:57pm |
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And people call history boring... |
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arcadiagt5 |
Posted on: February 21st, 2005, 6:11pm |
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Its all in the presentation. Oh, and careful selection of subject matter.  |
If you cannot see the causal relationship between "I have chocolate" and "Life is Good", you simply aren't trying hard enough. Pirates of the Burley Griffin |
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leece |
Posted on: February 21st, 2005, 7:16pm |
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arcadiagt5 |
Posted on: February 22nd, 2005, 7:11am |
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Which reminds me actually of a rather good book "To Serve Them All My Days" by Delderfield (?) about a WWI vet who gets appointed as a History/English teacher in a rural boarding school as part of his recovery program.
The main character varies his presentation by the age of the students. Anything from gimmicky rhymes as aide memoires and all the juicy (ie bloodthirsty )bits for the youngest students to debates on controversial topics for the older ones.
Sounds like a good approach to me. |
If you cannot see the causal relationship between "I have chocolate" and "Life is Good", you simply aren't trying hard enough. Pirates of the Burley Griffin |
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leece |
Posted on: February 22nd, 2005, 7:55am |
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Absolutely. I wonder if the people who wrote the Horrible Histories were inspired by him? |
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arcadiagt5 |
Posted on: February 22nd, 2005, 9:06am |
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Possibly, the novel in question did get adapted into a BBC series I believe some years ago (haven't seen it but I have read the novel several times as it just "sings" to me for some reason which is rare for me & mainstream stuff). |
If you cannot see the causal relationship between "I have chocolate" and "Life is Good", you simply aren't trying hard enough. Pirates of the Burley Griffin |
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