This Saturday (September 21) would have been Don Dunstanâs 98th birthday. Troubled by the racial injustice he saw in his birthplace, Fiji, the lad born in the roaring â20s would become Australiaâs greatest social reformer.
It is remarkable how relevant his ideas remain. Pick almost any policy topic confounding modern leaders and youâll find wisdom in the Dunstan archives. Take housing, for example â one of the most urgent issues facing Australia. A search of the Dunstan papers available online at Flinders University will offer you his speech to the national housing convention of the Housing Industry Association in 1975.
The Australia of 1975 is a world away from the affordability crisis gripping the nation now, but Dunstanâs remarks as Premier both foresee the problems ahead and mark the issue as one for which political leaders should take primary responsibility. The âhousing buckâ, he said, stopped at his desk â which he believed was a good thing.
âWhat more fundamental need is there than housing? In fact, in our climate, there is no more fundamental need â food and clothing are simply equal.â
He walked the talk. His record as Premier included a strong focus on public housing and innovative social housing. You can read the whole speech here. In future newsletters, weâll be taking deeper looks at Donâs legacy on topics still relevant today.
Next week weâll be âRaising a Glassâ in honour of Don. If youâd like to join us for a birthday drink, there are still a few tickets remaining. Use the code DDFSUBSCRIBE for a discount. Buy tickets here.
Supporting Social Cohesion as the Climate Heats Up
While the fight continues to limit global warming, we know that disadvantaged communities are already being disproportionately affected.
The Don Dunstan Foundation is supporting an event to promote the challenging discussion around preparing our communities to be more resilient to the impact of climate change.
Join prominent Australian academic and scholar Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra, and 2024 Young South Australian of the Year Tiahni Adamson as they discuss Clive's latest book: Living Hot: Surviving and Thriving on a Heating Planet.
Living Hot argues that itâs time to get cracking on making Australia resilient to intensifying climate extremes. Clive believes that If we prepare well, we can give ourselves a fighting chance to preserve some of the best of what we have, build stronger and fairer communities, find a path through the escalating pressures of a warming world â and even find new ways to flourish.
The event will be held on Tuesday, 22 October, from 6-7.30pm at the University of Adelaideâs North Terrace campus.
Each year the Don Dunstan Foundation supports an award at the SALA festival for a work that explores social just themes.
This yearâs award went to Mia Fan for her beautiful painting of Dr Joanne Buckskin.
Mia uses traditional Chinese ink painting techniques and materials in her work, which explores themes such as migration, heritage, and identity.
SALA said that âthrough her delicate portrait of Dr Joanne Buckskin on rice paper scroll, Mia sought to celebrate Dr Buckskinâs educational spirit and rich cultural heritage, and ultimately embodied the values of the Don Dunstan Foundation.â
If you werenât able to attend the âWomen in the Houseâ panel promoted in our last newsletter, the University of Adelaide has made the video available online.
The event, part of the universityâs Make History Speaker Series, was a panel discussion involving four women from across the political spectrum: Labor Senator and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, former Liberal Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman, and former Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja.
The discussion, facilitated by Guardian journalist Tory Shepherd, included reflections on the participantsâ experience in politics, and those who came before.
Last year, Malcolm McMillan published The Insider as a two-part compendium, delving into the intricacies of Australian and Queensland political affairs from 1957 to 2020.
The book is a detailed and engaging exploration of 60 years of Australian and Queensland politics, written by someone who lived through many of these events.
Given the timeframe, there are many and significant references to Don Dunstan in the work.
Malcolm, who first met Don in December 1974, was chief of staff to four Queensland leaders of the opposition (1975-88), and was an active member of the Foundationâs Queensland chapter.
Both books are now available as the one ebook through Amazon for $9.95.
The Foundation has welcomed a new staff member, Nardy Zanos-Jardine.
Nardy, our Engagement and Events Coordinator, brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and event planning to the role. She has a proven track record of successfully organising and executing events that bring people together and drive positive change. With a passion for fostering strong community connections, Nardy has a commitment to creating inclusive and equitable spaces for all.
