February 3, 2025 Hunter Living Histories showcase. All are welcome!
We value your input in shaping these monthly sessions. What historical topics and cultural areas interest you the most? We’d love to hear your ideas!
This year, as we celebrate the University’s 60th anniversary, we’ll be sharing significant moments and cherished memories throughout the year.
WHERE: via (ZOOM link HERE) or in person Room L326, Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus, Newcastle. (Type Room no. into ONLINE MAP)
WHEN – Monday 3 February 2025 (1.00pm-2.30pm)
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- Acknowledgement of Countries (Gionni di Gravio OAM)
PRESENTATIONS
Guests include Andrew Mercado, who is literally the “ground zero” Australian TV researcher, interviewer, podcaster, historian and curator expert of the Number 96 Videos.
Also on the bill is the UON’s Dr Jeannine Baker to speak on her research into Pioneering Women in Media.
The group discussion will revolve around the digitisation and audio visual preservation activities in our GLAMx Laboratory with Historian & GLAMx Co-ordinator Dr Ann Hardy, UON Conservator Dr Amir Rezapourmoghadammiyandabi Conjoint Lecturer Affiliate Phillip Lloyd, Dr. Kathirine Sentas and the implications to national film and sound history. With regards to the Hunter Region dating back to the early 1900s.
- PRESENTATION 1 VIEW HERE “TV Classics with Andrew Mercado” – Andrew Mercado (Australian Television Historian)
- PRESENTATION 2 VIEW HERE Pioneering Women in Media – Dr Jeannine Baker (Feminist media historian) + Update on Hunter Stories Podcast (2025) – https://hunterstories.podbean.com/ (also produce a series of multimedia online articles about women in early Australian television in partnership with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia – winner of the 2022 Oral History Australia Media Award. In 2018-19 I was a British Academy Visiting Fellow at the University of Sussex, where I worked on the AHRC-funded ‘Connected Histories of the BBC‘ project and co-curated (with Kate Murphy) the ‘100 Voices That Made the BBC: Pioneering Women‘ website.)
UPDATES FROM THE REGIONS
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- Regional GLAM Institutions Updates
- Hunter Regional Committee Hunter National Trust Updates
NEWS & EVENTS
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- Emeritus Professor Lyndall Ryan AM, FAHA was posthumously recognised with an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). Further details HERE
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Film Screening – Stories of our Town film “Shipwrecked Newcastle” screening Saturday 1 Feb 2pm at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney, followed by a Q&A. Bookings Special Film Screening: Shipwrecked Newcastle Tickets, Sat 01/02/2025 at 2:00 pm | Eventbrite
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Presentation – “Zell Meehan v Newcastle City Council (1956) – Women’s right to work after marriage” At Newcastle Family History Society in Lambton on February 4, 7.30pm or by zoom. Further details contact Newcastle Family History Society Inc. Passionate About Genealogy
“Zell Meehan nee Burke (1918-1998) was ‘Newcastle through and through’. Born in Wallsend, she was educated at Plattsburg Public School and Newcastle Girls High. Zell received a scholarship to Sydney Teachers College but her family could not afford for her to accept it. Instead, she studied at Newcastle Business College and became a secretary at the Newcastle Electricity Supply Department in late 1936. Progressing up the ladder, Zell was appointed secretary to the Lord Mayor Harry Quinlan in 1950. In 1956, aged 37, Zell married and was expected to resign, as was the custom of the time. However Zell refused to do so, and the then Lord Mayor Doug McDougall supported her decision. The Town Clerk and Alderman Charlie Jones (ALP) amongst others, were adamantly against her staying.” Dr Jude Conway
- Hunter Stories Podcasts
HUNTER LIVING HISTORIES – Latest
UON60: Chasing Our Pioneering Tales – Founding Mothers & Fathers Speak!
UON60: The Prehistory of the University of Newcastle – Newcastle University College (1951-1964)
Preparedness Pays Off: The Getty’s Wildfire Response Lessons

