Page 2045 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 28 May 1991
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In my case I was taken by his selected documents of Australian history where he drew together, like others have tried to do since, some important documents that spoke about the history of our nation. Those documents taught me more about history than the books and documents that I had seen as a young student as opposed to a student at the ANU. In his later years Professor Clark became even more aware of the history of the Aboriginal people and spoke strongly in support of a recognition of their place in our society. I seem to recall an occasion during a TV interview where he expressed regret that he had not included more of their history in his own works about the history of Australia.
As one who was privileged on a number of occasions to listen to the many lectures he gave to students at the ANU, I can assure you that a lecture by Manning Clark on the program ensured that one had to arrive early to get a seat. The names that my colleague Dr Kinloch read out before were well known to us, either as lecturers, in the case of Don Baker and John Molony, who was my tutor, or as the authors of many of the books that we used in our discussions and tutorials.
Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sympathy to the relatives of Professor Clark in their grief during this time. I am sure that they can take much comfort from the respect which many members of our nation hold for this great scholar. His memory will live in his many published works and public statements. Manning Clark was a great Australian and a great citizen of Canberra. He will be remembered after many of us have passed on. In Canberra he will be remembered long after other controversial historians like Geoffrey Blainey, whose recent controversial comments about Canberra neglected the soul that we know Canberra to have. We all agree that Manning Clark was part of that soul. I am sure that the many books in which he wrote his lectures and speeches, which became a trademark of his presence around Canberra, will form a rich record for the next chapter of his life and history.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
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