Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy

The Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy was established in 2020 to recognise the efforts of a group or individual that has advocated for the value of history, the work of historians and/or the importance of an education in history.

The prize is named in honour of Ms Jane Hansen AO whose passion for history and its advocacy is widely acknowledged. Through the Hansen Little Foundation, which aims to create a legacy of significant and positive change that inspires and enables Australians, Ms Hansen has provided generous philanthropic support for history and historians in a number of organisations, including the History Council of Victoria.

An annual prize of $1000 is offered. Winners will also be recognised with a certificate, acknowledgement via the HCV’s publications and social media, and year-long membership to the HCV Friends. The winner is announced in conjunction with the HCV's Annual Lecture each year.

Nominations (by others, or by self) will require the submission of examples of the person's advocacy of history (e.g. through radio, tv, newspaper, social media, letter-writing etc.) plus the results and responses. The prize is administered by the Board of the HCV.

Jane Hansen Prize Winners 2024 

We are incredibly excited to announce the joint winners of the 2024 Jane Hansen Prize for History Advocacy!

The winners of our 2024 prize are:

Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN)

The Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) is an independent peak membership body established in 2000 to provide support, advocacy, research and empowerment for survivors of past abuse and neglect in child welfare systems in Australia and New Zealand. CLAN has shown leadership in advocating for a more authentic, layered and nuanced history and, in doing so, generated vitality to a previously neglected field of public history. In the aftermath of the Royal Commission, CLAN won a Commonwealth grant to purchase a property to serve as a permanent home for the Australian Orphanage Museum, now established in Ryrie Street, Geelong. The unique museum is a remarkable achievement among CLAN’s contributions to the way history is presented and received in the community.
Read more about CLAN: https://clan.org.au/

Dr David Waldron

Dr David Waldron, from Federation University Australia (Ballarat), has been a tireless advocate for public history for many years, with a commitment to making history accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. Over the past decade, he has led a dynamic range of projects, community collaborations, and public engagement initiatives in Ballarat and its region. These efforts underscore his leadership in bringing marginalized histories to contemporary audiences, including working with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and those in the LGBTIQA+ community. David has a remarkable ability to communicate to diverse audiences. He is an active history podcaster, and regular presenter about history at festivals and on community radio.
Read more about David: https://lnkd.in/g7WvJg4S

The prizes were accepted in-person at our HCV Annual Lecture on Thursday 14 November at the State Library of Victoria. Thank you to all who applied for the prize - please keen an eye out for next years round!

HCV Chair Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee with prize winner Dr Frank Golding (representing CLAN).



HCV Chair Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee with prize winner Dr David Waldron.


Past winners:

2023: Peter Symons, who made an extraordinary commitment to the access and preservation of history research, through his successful efforts to lobby for Trove funding for the National Library of Australia.

2022: Gideon Haigh, historical researcher and journalist, who led the successful campaign to secure additional funding for urgent preservation of film and audio material at the National Archives of Australia.

2021: Sue Thompson, local historian and President of the Lilydale and District Historical Society and of the Museum of Lilydale (now the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum). You can watch the announcement at the 2021 Annual Lecture here and read the press release here


The HCV welcomes enquiries from individuals and organisations that wish to sponsor awards and prizes in areas relating to history and the work of historians. 

The HCV also welcomes donations at any time. All contributions help to support our work towards achieving our cultural purposes. Donations over $2 are deductible for Australian tax-payers.

 

 

About

The History Council of Victoria Incorporated (HCV) is the peak body for history in the Australian state of Victoria. Its vision is to connect Victorians with history and to inspire engagement with the past, their identity and the world today. The HCV champions the work of historians and the value of history. It recognises that history can be written about any place, any person, any period. The HCV advocates why history matters.


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Events

Our calendar lists all upcoming public events arranged by the History Council of Victoria (HCV), plus events in Victoria, Australia, that are added by our Friends and Members.

If you are organising an event that relates to History, we encourage you to publicise it on our website.


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Advocacy

As the peak body for history in Victoria, the History Council makes submissions on current issues. In doing this, the HCV Board is guided by its Advocacy Policy and by the Value of History, a statement developed co-operatively by the HCV and the History Councils of New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.


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Prizes

Since 2015, the HCV has been pleased to sponsor the Years 9 and 10 category of the Historical Fiction Competition organised by the History Teachers' Association of Victoria.


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Support

Ways to support us:

Subscribe to our free newsletter: https://www.historycouncilvic.org.au/subscribe
Endorse the Value of History statement: https://www.historycouncilvic.org.au/endorse
Find us on socials: Twitter / Facebook / YouTube


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Summary

The HCV was formed as an advisory body in 2001 and incorporated in 2003. It comprises representatives from cultural and educational institutions and heritage bodies; history teachers and curriculum advisors; academic and professional historians; and local, Indigenous, community and specialist history organisations.

As the peak body for history, the HCV has both ‘outward-looking’ roles (including advocacy and representation to government and the wider community, consultation, community education, and networking with allied interest groups) and ‘inward-looking’ roles (including member support, information dissemination, and networking between members).

 
 

Credits

The History Council of Victoria acknowledges the State Library of Victoria and the Public Record Office Victoria for supply of the archival images that appear on this website.

We acknowledge the National Film and Sound Archive for the right to use of the video footage on the home page, titled "Melbourne: Life in Australia (1966)".

Image credits

  • Italian sailors on ship at Port Melbourne 1938, Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria
  • Chinese procession in Collins near Elizabeth Street 1901, Harvie & Sutcliffe, photographers, State Library of Victoria
  • People’s homes, Aboriginal station Coranderrk 1878, Fred Kruger Photographer, State Library of Victoria
  • Chinese nurses at Children’s Hospital under scholarship 1947, Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria
  • Ladies physical culture class VRI Melbourne c1931, Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 12903/P0001, 011/02
  • Melbourne Cup, Derby and Oaks Day, Flemington Racecourse 1936, Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 12903/P0001/4802, 372/30
  • Flinders Street viaduct at foot of Market Street with advertisement for McRobertson’s Chocolate on bridge, Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 12800/P0003, ADV 1342