Sydney Publishing

I have a confession to make – I am not a ‘sporty’ person. Given a choice between participating, being a spectator, watching sport on TV or reading a book (even if it is about sport), I would always go for the latter. During my school years, I ‘suffered’ through all the compulsory PE classes. Not surprisingly, sport usually remains on the periphery of my reality. But every now and then, it simply cannot be avoided.

In fact, a book on the history of sport at Sydney University was the first title I worked on when I joined Sydney University Press. (And it must have been the first book on sport that I have ever read!) A mighty volume, Sydney University Sport 1895–2007: more than a club by Geoff Sherington and Steve Georgakis is bursting with stories of the early days of clubs and games at the University.

A new book that goes behind the scenes to investigate the financial and political workings of the NSW club gaming industry will be launched today (14 October) by the Honourable Bob Carr, former Premier of NSW, just days before a draft report of Commonwealth Productivity Commission Inquiry into gambling is due out.

Casino Clubs NSW: Profits, tax, sport and politics, by Betty Con Walker and published by Sydney University Press, proposes a review of public policy towards clubs, of the way gaming revenues are taxed, and the accountability of the club industry.

Lots of people have a soft spot for CJ Dennis, and I'm one of them. I love to read the poems aloud, and try and mimic the early Australian idiom and accent. Or should I say Orstray-yan? I like seeing the words that are no longer in fashion - stoush, struth, even nipper (no one apart from the Surf Lifesavers calls kids nippers these days).

Anyway, next week as part of Australia's Silent Film Festival, the film made in 1920 will be shown in its gloriously restored form. Widely acclaimed as Australia's best silent film, this is an opportunity to see Sydney prior to 1920 up there on the big screen.

Paul Kelly's column in today's Australian newspaper describes Neville Meaney's new book as "taking a brick" to the idea that Australia and its fighting force was sacrificed by pro-British leaders in our involvement in World War I. Meaney's book does more than that, providing a in-depth look at politics and policy during the early 20th century in Australia.

Paul Kelly's column in The Australian
Australia and World Crisis 1914-1923

At the start of the First World War, Australia was a fledgling nation, still strongly tied to Britain and the Empire. But even in those early days, Australia’s leaders could see that we needed to be able to defend ourselves as well as support others in need. A ‘Pacific fleet’ to protect Australia, New Zealand and other British outposts in the region was of utmost importance to Australia, but less important to Britain facing a war in the Atlantic and at her doorstep.

An Unlikely Leader: the life and times of Captain John Hunter was launched last night at the Royal Australian Historical Society. The author, Robert Barnes, gave a short talk on "The difficulties of governing New South Wales". John Hunter captained the HMS Sirius in the First Fleet, and later returned to England. After Governor Phillip's departure, there was a period of over 2 1/2 years before Hunter arrived as the second Governor. This allowed the NSW Corps to establish themselves as the powerbrokers of the colony. Barnes' argument was that very few people could have made progress against such entrenchment, Hunter's own qualities notwithstanding.

Through the Clock's Workings is one of the most interesting projects we've been involved with since restarting SUP in 2004. An initiative supported by the Australia Council through the Story of the Future project and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, RemixMyLit commissioned 8 original short stories from Australian authors and encouraged other writers to "remix" their own versions.