Convict Lives: Young girls transported to Van Diemen's Land.Edited by Alison Alexander |
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Launched May 7, 2023 by Emeritus Professor Kate Warner, Faculty of Law, University of TasmaniaFemale Convicts Research Centre and Convict Women's Press are pleased to announce the latest publication in the Convict Lives series. This book tells the stories of 28 convict girls transported at a young age to Van Diemen’s Land. These vivid stories from Convict Women’s Press continue our series of books that bring convict women to life. Publisher: Convict Women's Press Inc. Available from selected bookshops or online at Convict Women's Press Inc. ISBN: 9-780648-401919 |
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This haunting, unforgettable drama by acclaimed playwright and social historian Cate Whittaker relives one of the few female rebellions in World History at the Parramatta Female Convict Factory Penitentiary in 1827 led by Irish Catholic women. Struggling to survive starvation after two women have died these courageous women go on strike, and then overpower their guards to take control of the Factory yard. When the military are called ,they are fired on at point blank range and rise phoenix-like to hurl back their stones and fill the yard to bursting such that the soldiers dare not enter. It is a pyrrhic victory for the new Matron arriving the next day has been told to get the ringleaders names and they are to be hanged at the gates. Facing final defeat they break down the gates and dodging bayonets make it to the town to tell the press of the Governor’s mismanagement and manslaughter. Governor Darling’s contract was not removed yet all records of the event were wiped from colonial records, til now. Now Forgotten gives these brave women, from whom one in seven Australian’s descend, their rightful and respected place in our History.
This production is under the gifted direction of NIDA MFA Madeleine Diggins leading a young cast for new Drama Graduates in a not-for-profit Actors Cooperative. It comes to Hobart, after its second sell-out audience success at the National Theatre of Parramatta and has been endorsed by the Irish Consul General to appear in the Dublin Festival as a fine example of Irish Australian Art.
Book at the Playhouse, Hobart: https://playhouse.org.au/shows/forgotten-the-female-convict-rebellion-14-16-july-2023/
The Marita Bardenhagen Memorial Award for Local History is a biennial prize acknowledging outstanding original research in the field of local history with significant Tasmanian content. Entries are to be in the form of a published work appearing in the three years preceding the year of the award. More information is available here...
Entries open on 14 June 2023 and close 30 September 2023.
How to apply: Application forms are available from Dr Dianne Snowden AM at
Books, Theses & Reports - Convict Lives: Young girls transported to Van Diemen's Land edited by Alison Alexander (4/05/2023)
Freedoms - The Path to Freedom. Page updated and edited by Helen Menard 1/05/2023, to include 'Freedom v emancipation'.
Featured in Publications - A list of VDL convict women featured in publications (compiled and updated by Ros Escott April 2023).
Pre-Transportation: The British Justice System in the 18th & 19th Centuries - A new page for the website, contributed by Helen Menard 18/03/2023.
Terms of Access - Additional Policy for accessing and using our website (6/02/2023)
Initiatives of the Female Convicts Research Centre Inc.
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