Open Category
Winner
Nathan Garvey, ‘“Folkalising” Convicts: a “Botany Bay” Ballad and its Cultural Contexts’, Journal of Australian Studies, Vol.38 No.1 (March) (2014): 32–51. This article examines the transnational history of the iconic Australian song ‘Botany Bay’, tracking its purported origins as a convict ballad and its evolution through British print culture to its contemporary Australian folk status. In bringing an impressive depth of original historical research to a topic widely misunderstood both within and outside the academy, Nathan Garvey makes a significant contribution to both the field of Australian Studies and the broader public sphere.
John Barrett Award: Highly Commended (Open Category) The judging panel identified one essay for High Commendation.
Mark McKenna, ‘Tokenism or belated recognition? Welcome to Country and the Emergence of Indigenous Protocol in Australia, 1991–2004’, Journal of Australian Studies, Vol.38 No.4 (December) (2014): 476–89, Mark McKenna’s article analyses the origins, historical development and historical significance of the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies. In canvassing a range of indigenous and non-indigenous commentaries McKenna addresses the debate over the role and efficacy of this protocol. In addressing a widely recognized topic but one that has received scant critical attention to date, this article furthers public awareness of a significant issue.