Centre for Australian Language and Literature Studies (CALLS) Yearbook No. 4

Abstract

During 1992 the Centre has maintained its service to the University of New England, as well as extending its regional, national and international affiliations. It has also initiated a publishing programme which will become an annual feature of CALLS activities. ... By far the most important event of the year was the launch of the first in the CALLS series of scholarly publications in the field of Australian Literature: 'Henry Kendall: The Muse of Australia'. This was in many ways a co-operative effort by CALLS members. Thanks are due to Russell McDougall, who so ably and enthusiastically edited and collated the volume, no small task considering the number of people involved in the project. Michael Sharkey was in charge of the publishing process and designed the layout and cover; six of the twelve articles in the volume were contributed by CALLS members Robert Dingley, Carmel Gaffney, John Ryan and Ken Stewart; John Ryan was responsible for the inclusion of Kendall's writings on Grafton and the Clarence River; and Russell worked closely with Michael Ackland and Ken Stewart on Kendall's Melbourne journalism and the satirical poetry and prose from 'Humbug'. The volume was launched almost simultaneously at ASAL'92, at UNE Armidale and at the Clarence River Historical Society in Grafton. The launch in Armidale was a great success and, thanks to our publicity officer, Steve Hooper, brought valuable local publicity to CALLS, while the Grafton launch fulfilled one of the aims of CALLS, that of providing a regional focus for research in the field of Australian Literature. The reviews have been excellent and CALLS is already well on the way to recovering the costs of publication. Another successful launch sponsored by CALLS was that of 'Australian Folklore No.7', edited by John Ryan. We look forward to the two publications planned for 1993: John Ryan's edition of Rolf Boldrewood's 'Australian Grazier's Guide', to be published in association with the Department of Animal Science at UNE Armidale, and 'The Campbell Howard Annotated Index of Australian Plays 1920-1955', compiled and edited by Jack Bedson and Julian Croft. Our other major initiative for 1992 was the provision of a course of lectures in Australian Literature to the students of the Australian Studies Centres at Beijing Foreign Studies University in China.