It was a great pleasure to attend the consultative forum ... - HTAV

history teachers’ association of victoria
HTAV Annual Conference
Bulletin 08
Issue 08
November 2008
01 Editorial
02 VCAA National Curriculum Forums
03 HTAV Member Profile
04 National History Challenge - Victorian winners
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It was a great pleasure to attend the
consultative forum hosted by the National
Curriculum Board in October shortly after the
release of the initial advice paper which had
been drafted by Professor Stuart MacIntyre.
The day was a most productive one
where groups were able to discuss
some of the initial elements of
the paper including: whether the
suggested framework for Years 7-12
was flexible, whether the suggestions
put forward for primary school
teachers were achievable and reflected
the kinds of teaching and learning
programs that they currently work
with and how the the concept of
Historical Thinking was conveyed and
presented in the document.
The enthusiasm in the room was
palpable and history educators from
around the country were keen to voice
their opinions. It was also refreshing to
see that there was a genuine interest to
ensure that messages were conveyed
to the Curriculum Board. Some key
issues and concerns that were raised
in the group of which I was a part
were: ensuring that there wasn’t
repetition of topics covered in Primary
and Secondary levels; that sufficient
support be offered to teachers for
the curriculum’s implementation;
and, interestingly, a significant cry for
specialist teachers of the discipline.
Other comments made were that
teachers like to have a variety of
topics from which to choose and
that teachers at Primary levels need
support and more explicit advice as to
what they should be aiming to achieve.
The next stage of development will
be the publication of a re-drafted
version of the initial advice which will
be placed up on the National Curriculum Board’s
website in November – all interested parties are
invited to respond. I encourage you to be part of
this process. You may respond as an individual or
as part of an institution. There is no doubt that
teachers’ voices are being heard in regards to
this issue: a testament to this was the resounding
reaction put forward in a plenary session
regarding the way the Primary History section
was presented. At a more local level, the VCAA is
holding a series of updates around the regions,
information for which can be found in this Bulletin.
This is no doubt the beginning of an exciting time
for History education in Australia: I think it is going
to give us great opportunities to collaborate on
exciting projects and engage in some fantastic
professional conversations and debates.
> National Curriculum Board website:
www.ncb.org.au
Annual Conference
The 2008 HTAV Annual Conference has been
and gone but the office is still buzzing with the
excitement that it created! The two days, held at
Hemisphere Conference Centre, were filled with
stimulating
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Bulletin 07
08
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presentations and workshops, great
discussions and some fantastic prizes
including an amazing $1500 Financial
Planning Package offered by Catholic
Super, who have been generous in their
support of HTAV (they will be a major
sponsor for 2009) and the famous HTAV
picnic hamper valued at over $350. Thank
you to all of you who attended and thank
you also for the lovely words of gratitude
that we have received since. We are glad
that you had such an enjoyable time, as
we did! In 2009, the HTAV will be hosting
the Annual HTAA conference in July …
stay tuned!
Annabel Astbury
Executive Director
UPCOMING PD ...
25 November: Mildura Connections
10 December: Teachers New to History
The 2009 HTAV PD calendar is enclosed
with this Bulletin. For updated information
about our events visit www.htav.asn.au
HTAV 2008 MEMBERS
Congratulations to the following
members for winning prizes at the
recent HTAV Annual Conference, 23 and
24 October:
• Julie Austin, Bialik College, $1500
financial planning session courtesy
of Catholic Super
• Elisa Altamore, Carey Baptist
Grammar School, HTAV picnic
hamper worth over $350
• Sean Callan, Lakes Entrance
Secondary College, ‘Quicken
Personal Plus 2008’ worth $200
• Elizabeth Audley, Marymede
Catholic College, complimentary
one-hour lunch cruise for
two people in 2009 along
the Docklands. The prize was
sponsored by Pleasure Boat
Cruises and is valued at $300
• Jesse Donnelly, Tallangatta
Secondary College, was the first
non-metropolitan member, and
Kieren Prowse, Thomas Carr
College, was the first metropolitan
member to register for the annual
conference. Both attended two
days for the price of one.
YOU CAN NOW RENEW YOUR
MEMBERSHIP FOR 2009!
See the 09 membership forms enclosed
with this Bulletin.
VCAA National Curriculum
Forums
VCAA, in partnership with the DEECD Regional Offices, is holding a series of regional
forums on the development of the national curriculum from 13 November – 8
December.
These forums will be held as follows:
Region Date Venue
Gippsland
Barwon South West
Hume
Western Metro
Southern Metro
Grampians
Northern Metro
Loddon Mallee
Eastern Metro
Thursday 13 November
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Monday 17 November
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Thursday 20 November
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Monday 24 November
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Monday 1 December
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Tuesday 2 December
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Wednesday 3 December
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Thursday 4 December
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Monday 8 December
4.00 pm to 6.30 pm
Latrobe Convention Centre
5601 Princes Highway, Traralgon
Geelong Conference Centre
Adams Court
Eastern Park, East Geelong
Benalla College
Dunlop Campus
Barkly Street, Benalla
Gardenhurst Receptions
82 Bulla Road, North Essendon
Jan Lake Centre
Genoa Street, Moorabbin
Doherty Ballarat Hotel
613 Main Road, Ballarat
Darebin Arts & Entertainment
Centre
Cnr Bell Street and St Georges
Road, Preston
DEECD Regional Office
Havelin Street East, Bendigo
Karralyka Centre
Mines Road, Ringwood East
Attendance at these forums is free, but registration is required. No confirmations will
be sent.
Light refreshments will be available.
To register for a particular forum, email morrison.jan.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
In the Subject line, please list your Region + ‘national curriculum forum’.
For further information on the national curriculum initiative, please see the National
Curriculum Board website: www.ncb.org.au.
What’s On
At the Immigration
Museum
Our Stories: Past, Present and Future
Come and see the results of an
outstanding collaboration between
year 9 students from Wodonga and the
Immigration Museum. This project is part
of the Hands on History program and the
student exhibition is on display until 23
November. If your school would like to
participate in this unique program please
contact the Immigration Museum before 1
December by phoning 03 9927 2754.
Sovereign Hill Museum
New Perspectives on Women on the
Goldfields: free public lecture
A discussion of the varied roles played by
women on the goldfields.
Clare Wright, If you knew Lola like they
knew Lola
Anne Beggs Sunter, Six women of the
Goldfields
Tim Sullivan, The importance of new
historical perspectives
Wednesday 26 November 2008, 6-7pm.
Gold Museum, Bradshaw St, Ballarat.
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL. Phone 5337 1188
or email education@sovereignhill.com.au

htav Member Profile
Name: Laura Brady
Current place of employment:
Ballarat and Clarendon College
Number of years teaching: Two.
How did you come to be a teacher?
After completing my Masters in History I was speaking to my mother about what I should
do next and she mentioned that she had always been surprised that I had not considered
teaching. After about 2 seconds I realised she was right. It proves mums always know best.
Are you involved in History outside of teaching? If so, how?
I have done research for sports clubs that I am involved in to help them document their
histories. Other than that I enjoy reading, documentaries and films that have an historical
angle.
Best teaching moment
Having a group of Year 10 boys ask to borrow my copy of Elie Wiesel’s Night so they could
learn more in their own time. It proved that they were actually engaged in what I was
teaching them and had a thirst to learn more, and developing that thirst is one of my main
aims.
What do you think is the best way to attract students to History?
To give students some say in the content covered so that we can teach them what they are
interested in. It is surprising what they come up with when you give them the opportunity.
We also need to make sure that our curriculum is not repetitive and that they are given the
opportunity to see the links between the past and today.
Do you agree with the concept of a national History curriculum?
Only if there is scope within the curriculum to differentiate for students of different
backgrounds, abilities and interests. Certainly not the model put forward during
the Howard Government of 70 key events. However, I would like to see History as a
compulsory subject up to Year 10.
Most valuable insight gained from a teacher when you were at school or
university
Not to hide the fact that you are human. In my case it has meant embracing the fact that
according to my students I am a History ‘nerd’. In my old History teacher’s case it was that
he could ask for two large beers in 15 different languages! (It’s funny what you remember
from school).
HTAV is proud to announce
a partnership with Catholic
Super
Catholic Super is one of Australia’s best
performing super funds. It was the bestperformed
super fund in 2007 and the
Rising Star Fund in 2008. Over the last
10 years, Catholic Super has maintained
a ‘Top-Ten’ rating for its investments; is
a Platinum Rated Fund and was a finalist
for the 2009 SuperRatings Fund of the
Year. Catholic Super is also a signatory
to the United Nations Principles of
Responsible Investment, a supporter
of the Carbon Disclosure Project and
a member of the Investor Group on
Climate Change. Catholic Super is an
industry fund that provides strong
returns, has low fees and does not pay
or receive commissions. Catholic Super
returns all profits to its members and
offers high-value insurance cover. It
also provides reliable, unbiased and
professional financial advice that is
not linked to any particular institution.
Catholic Super is available to anyone to
join (members do not have to be Catholic
or work for a Catholic institution.)
Joining Catholic Super and consolidating
super is easily done online at www.csf.
com.au. Catholic Super members can
also receive lower-cost loans and banking
services through ME Bank, discounted
private health insurance through
Medibank Private and a range of other
benefits and discounts.
HTAV Awards
Each year, the HTAV recognizes the contributions that
educators have made to the Association and to history
education. This year the HTAV Awards were presented during
a pleasant afternoon cocktail party at the end of the first day of
the Annual Conference. It was great to see so many members
attend this afternoon to support and celebrate the recipients
of these awards:
Outstanding Contribution to the HTAV and History
Education, the Association’s highest award. Recipient: Rodney
Knight, Caulfield Grammar School.
Excellent Contribution to the HTAV and to History
Education. Recipients: Jan Hayes, Sacre Coeur, and Michael
Spurr, Oxford University Press.
Outstanding Contribution to the HTAV and to History
Education by an Early Career Educator. Recipient: Lynda
Robertson, Irymple Secondary College.
We congratulate the recipients and thank them for the wonderful
contributions they have made to the profession.
Jan Hayes, Rodney Knight and Michael Spurr.

Bulletin 07 08
National History Challenge - Victorian winners
State Presentation Ceremony
Great news! At the State Presentation Ceremony, held on Friday 24 October in the presence of over 200 people, the member for Bentleigh, Mr Rob
Hudson MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transport and the Arts, read out a letter from the Premier assuring us of his continued support of
the Challenge and commenting on the commitment to scholarship and research of all the students who entered the National History Challenge.
We were delighted to welcome students, teachers and parents from Mildura, Kaniva and Seymour to the ceremony, and equally delighted that the
Certificates of Commendation and Excellence and the medals were shared between students from all educational sectors and geographical areas
of the state.
State Young Historian Avalon Tickle
with Mr Rob Hudson MP.
State Young Historian
Avalon Tickle, Irymple Secondary College
Avalon submitted a 3-dimensional
model – an examination of the letters,
correspondence and service record of
Captain William Thomas Yates in World
War One.
The Life and Times of John Curtin
Winner
Isabelle Urbano and Louise Howard,
Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Australian Prime Ministers Meet the
World
Winner
Ashley Griffiths, St Albans Secondary College
Using Archival Sources
Winner
Emily Mettrick, Camberwell Girls Grammar
School
In War and Peace
Winner
Chen Chen, Camberwell Girls Grammar
School
Highly Commended
Brady Hamilton, St Theresa’s Primary School;
Hilary Martindale, Melbourne Girls Grammar
School
Australia’s Heritage
Winner
Bill Nguyen, Khala Nguyen and Tony Nguyen,
St Monica’s Primary School
Highly Commended
Brendan Champness, Kaniva College
Women with a Mission: Australian
Women Contributing Overseas
Winner
Sally Yu, Amy Liu, Lynna Chen and Jane Mao,
Presbyterian Ladies’ College
Highly Commended
Dom Huntley, St Leonard’s College; Isabella
Rankin-Ward, Melbourne Girls Grammar
School; Quynh Vu and Van Hoang, St Monica’s
Primary School; Oliver Godino, Carrum
Primary School
Asia and Australia
Winner
Elisabeth Sandbach and Cassandra McEwen,
Camberwell Girls Grammar School
Highly Commended
Simon Lau, St Theresa’s Primary School;
Philippa Jones, Horsham College; Karli Baker,
Irymple Secondary College
Australia meets the World through a
Museum Display
Winner
Chris Nguyen, Jessica dos Santos and John
Nguyen, St Monica’s Primary School
Highly Commended
Madeleine Tickle and Karla Allen, Cardross
Primary School; Rebecca Martyn, Yarra Valley
Grammar School
Indigenous Australia
Winner
Eleanor Hanscombe, Camberwell Girls
Grammar School
Highly Commended
Will Rowbottom, Camperdown College;
Marjorie Tan-Gatue and Ailes Masonga, St
Monica’s Primary School
Immigrant Experiences
Winner
Jonathon Wenham, Brock Hermans and
Chloe Kelly, Irymple Secondary College
Highly Commended
Claire Wong, Loreto Mandeville Hall;
Emma Downey and Deanna Velakoulis,
Melbourne Girls Grammar School; Joannah
Boyce, Brunswick Secondary College; Anna
Gruen and Annabel Thomson, Melbourne
Girls Grammar School; Charles Vaughan,
Melbourne Grammar School
History of Sport
Winner
Dylan Kernaghan, Seymour Technical High
School
Highly Commended
Madeline Barker, Mildura South Primary
School
Yr 5/6
Winner
Therese Grimes and Liza Ziba, St Monica’s
Primary School
Highly Commended
Lachlan Morriss, Jeremy Taylor and Tyler
Lansdown, Carrum Primary School; Bill
Nguyen, Khala Nguyen and Tony Nguyen, St
Monica’s Primary School; Brady Hamilton, St
Theresa’s Primary School
Yr 7/8
Winner
Dane Sorensen, Nick Mills, Jack Harper and
Ben Mutsaers, Yarra Valley Grammar School
Highly Commended
Ellen Flach, Anna Johnston and Charlotte
Boon, Yarra Valley Grammar School; Elif
Sekercioglu, Melbourne Girls Grammar
School
Year 9/10
Winner
Christopher Natoli, Brunswick Secondary
College
Highly Commended
Grace Dobell, Brunswick Secondary College
Year 11/12
Winner
Brendan Champness, Kaniva College
Highly Commended
Claire Wong, Loreto Mandeville Hall
In the next Bulletin we hope to have news of
our national winners, who will be flying to
Canberra on 23 November for the national
presentation ceremony in the Mural Hall of
Parliament. Shortly we will have some news of
the Challenge for 2009.
Colin Pearce
and Joanna
Clyne
Victorian
Coordinators