Explorations – No 52 Jun 2012

IVAN BARKO, Foreword

NICOLE STARBUCK, The Colonial Field – Science, Sydney and the Baudin Expedition (1802)

A scholarly examination of the scientific achievements of the Baudin expedition during its long stay in Port Jackson in 1802.

Keywords: scientific research, natural history specimens and observations, Port Jackson, François Péron, Nicholas Baudin, Leschenault, a colonial field

COLIN NETTELBECK, Twentieth Century French Literature in Australian Universities – Teaching and Research

An examination of the changes that have occurred in modern languages departments in universities and the resulting decline in the study of contemporary French literature.

Keywords: French Studies, twentieth century French literature, Australian Research Council, post-literary era, linguistic proficiency cf literary culture, academic journals, PhD research topics

RICHARD GUNTER, Studying French at the University of Melbourne (1945–1948)

Reminiscences of a former student of the French Department ta the University of Melbourne between 1945 and 1948.

Keywords: A.R. Chisholm, the French Club, Alliance Française, plays and play readings

EDWARD DUYKER, Une Tasmanie Française
The text of a talk on the French explorers in Tasmania and light-hearted speculation on what might have happened had the French settled in Tasmania.

Keywords: Marion Dufresne, Van Diemen’s Land, D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Dumont d’Urville, Nicholas Baudin, Governor King

BRIAN NELSON, The Australian Journal of French Studies: Looking Forward

A note about the agreement between The Australian Journal of French Studies and the University of Liverpool.

Keywords: The Australian Journal of French Studies, Monash University, University of Liverpool, internationalisation, technological progress

ELAINE LEWIS, The Valéry Collection for the State Library of Victoria

A note about the acquisition of a collection of books previously owned by the poet and thinker Paul Valéry and purchased by the Library from the estate of the late Judith Robinson-Valéry, the Australian widow of Valéry’s son Claude.

Keywords: State Library of Victoria, Paul Valéry, Judith Robinson-Valéry

Book Reviews and Note

Georges-Goulven Le Cam, L’Australie au-delà du rêve, reviewed by Stephen Alomes

Ian Coller, Arab France: Islam and the Making of Modern Europe, 1798–1831, reviewed by Stephen Alomes

Richard Travers, The Tennis Courts of Lyon: Les Jeux de Paume de Lyon, note by Elaine Lewis

ELAINE LEWIS, French-Australian Bibliographical Notes

Explorations No 4 – Mar 1987

WALLACE KIRSOP, Foreword

STAN SCOTT, The Incomparable “Kara” (1898-1968)

“Kara” was Nazar Karagheusian, a Paris-born French-speaking personality of Armenian background, who taught French at the University of Melbourne from 1923 to 1957. Although having no formal qualifications, “Kara” was a well-read scholar with an infectious enthusiasm for many aspects of French literature and culture, as well as a sense of fun. An outstanding if unorthodox teacher, he was A.R. Chisholm’s favourite colleague and his best friend. “Kara” retired shortly after Professor Chisholm.

Keywords: Nazar Karagheusian, Madame Marie Karagheusian, ‘Rue de la Paix’ boutique, Theophile Rouel, Melbourne University French Club, A.I.F. Marie Aghassian Scholarship Fund, A.R. Chisholm

IRENE CUNNINGHAM, Mademoiselle Soubeiran (b.France 1859 – d.Sydney 1933)

In this biographical profile of Augustine Soubeiran, the author relies heavily on Fifi Hawthorn’s 1972 book on Kambala Girls’ School. The article reflects the state of knowledge of Mademoiselle Soubeiran’s life at that stage. It discusses her background, her arrival in Sydney in the 1880s, her friendship with Louisa Gurney and her career as co-principal of Kambala. The second part of the article is devoted to Mademoiselle Soubeiran’s participation in the work of the French-Australian League of Help during the First World War.

Keywords: Augustine Soubeiran, Kambala Girls’ School, Louisa Gurney, The French-Australian League of Help, Franco-Prussian War, Légion d’honneur

JOHN McKENZIE, Associations with Neurophysiology and Neurophysiologists in France

The author provides an account of his professional and personal contacts with French colleagues from 1968 to the time of writing in 1985. He describes his collaboration with French specialists of psychophysiology and neurophysiology, especially Professor Denise Albe-Fessard of the Marey Institute in Paris, and her husband, Professor Alfred Fessard of the Collège de France.

Keywords: Professor Denise Albe-Fessard, Professor Alfred Fessard, Lord Adrian, brain research, Mai ’68, University of Melbourne

EDWARD DUYKER, Coutance and the Voyage of the Adèle

In 1803 French-born Mauritian navigator Louis Coutance travelled to Port Jackson on the Mauritius-built and registered Adèle. Coutance’s ship carried 4,000 gallons of Mauritian rum and 430 gallons of Cape wine, as well as some other products. Whilst Governor King allowed him to land his cargo, he indicated that no further trade in spirits or food products would be allowed. After 48 days Coutance, who was most impressed with Port Jackson, returned to Mauritius. He eventually resumed his rank as Lieutenant de vaisseau and served under Decaen, the French governor of Mauritius.

Keywords: Louis Coutance, Mauritius, rum trade, Governor King, Governor Bligh, Lord Hobart, Journal of the voyage of the Adèle, Mitchell Library

BOOK REVIEWS

Monique Dilan, Une île éclatée: analyse de l’émigration mauricienne, 1960-82, reviewed by Edward Duyker

Isabel Ollivier (transcription and translation), Extracts from Journals relating to the visit to New Zealand in May-July 1772 of the French ships “Mascarin” and “Marquis de Castries” under the command of MJ. Marion du Fresne, reviewed by Edward Duyker

ISFAR, Articles of Association