This week, the History Council of NSW (HCNSW) hosted their annual history lecture and award night and several of our members were part of the celebrations!

Honouring this year’s History Week’s theme of “Water Stories”, Dr Margaret Cook was invited to give the HCNSW’s Annual History Lecture. Her lecture “Thinking through rivers: an historical perspective on attitudes toward water in Australia” explored how human attitudes to water have shaped our shared history with and along rivers. Keep an eye on the HCNSW’s History Talks podcast feed for Margaret’s lecture.

PhD candidate Ruby Ekkel received the Max Kelly Award for her essay “‘What comes of the kangaroos and the wallabies?’ A gendered history of native animals and the New South Wales Bands of Mercy movement, 1884-1923”. The judges commended Ruby on her “deeply original reading of the intersections between gender, religion, and environmental thought in colonial Australia”. Read the award citation here.

Emeritus Professor Heather Goodall was presented the 2025 Annual History Citation, which recognised Heather’s numerous contributions to history in Australia. The HCNSW honoured Heather’s deep knowledge, determination and dedication. The Citation echoed what many of us in the AANZEHN can attest to: that “Professor Goodall has left an indelible mark on the profession of history in our country”. Read the full citation here.

Congratulations all!