Launch of Herb Feith biography
On 6 July, I’m launching Jemma Purdey’s biography of the late Herb Feith. Herb was an extraordinary man who founded the organisation now known as Australian Volunteers International. He also happened to be a family friend.
All welcome – details here and below.
The 2011 Herb Feith Memorial Lecture & Book Launch
Herb Feith came to Australia as a Jewish refugee from an Austria reeling from the shock of Kristallnacht and a sense of impending doom and went on to become a renowned and passionate scholar of Indonesia. He died tragically in Melbourne in 2001. An inspiring figure, Feith was a pioneer in relations between Australia and Indonesia; a volunteer and civil servant working alongside Indonesians; a leading scholar, analyst and teacher; and an activist fighting for a better outcome for the impoverished and oppressed in Indonesia and around the world. He pioneered the influential program now known as Australian Volunteers International.
The launch of Jemma Purdey’s book, “From Vienna to Yogyakarta: the Life of Herb Feith”, will be introduced by Andrew Leigh MP in Canberra on July 6, and will accompany the 2011 Herb Feith Memorial Lecture at Monash University on August 2 by HE. Kirsty Sword Gusmão.
Book launch by Andrew Leigh MP, Federal Member for Fraser and speech by Jemma Purdey, author of the Herb Feith biography (PDF brochure)
When: Wednesday, 6 July 2011, 6 pm – 7 pm
Where: Parliament House, Canberra
* Meet at Main Entrance at 5.45 pm sharp to sign in for a 6 pm start.RSVP: Wednesday 29 June, 2011
Nik Feith Tan, 02 6261 2081
nik.feith.tan@ gmail.com
* RSVP compulsory for visitor passes to Parliament House.
I work for Australian Volunteers International which is the successor of the the organisation founded by Herb Feith. I will be back in Canberra on 7 July so unfortunately will miss this launch.
My former neighbours, Vern and Estelle Bailey, were also original volunteers. I discovered this when I took an AVI assignment four years ago. They have moved to a retirement home in the last year – I think it may be Morling Lodge. If someone has the time to follow up maybe Vern and Estelle could be contacted and invited to the launch. And maybe someone has thought of them already.