Makers Of Miracles

The Cast of the Federation Story

David Headon, John Williams
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Makers Of Miracles

Subjects

History

Published

13 February 1996

ISBN

9780522848588

Pages

284

Subjects

History

Imprint

Melbourne University Press

Makers Of Miracles

The Cast of the Federation Story

David Headon, John Williams
This book brings the creators of our Commonwealth to life as characters, as living people in the context of their time and place.
The road that led to the inauguration of the Australian nation in Centennial Park, Sydney, on 1 January 1901 was by no means smooth travelling. Alfred Deakin later noted that Federation 'must always appear to have been secured by a series of miracles'.
These 'miracles' needed committed Australians to make them happen. But many individuals who helped to write the Federation story have long been forgotten. Who were these movers and shakers? What were their hopes for the fledgling nation?
Our founders were an eclectic bunch of characters, with their own ambitions, dreams and foibles; from the substantial Reid who liked to offer his seat on the tram to not one but two ladies, to the cunning orator Parkes whom The Bulletin cheekily dubbed the 'great hi ham'.
Makers of Miracles allows us to see behind the public activities of these men and women and to understand their private thoughts…
The road that led to the inauguration of the Australian nation in Centennial Park, Sydney, on 1 January 1901 was by no means smooth travelling. Alfred Deakin later noted that Federation 'must always appear to have been secured by a series of miracles'.
These 'miracles' needed committed Australians to make them happen. But many individuals who helped to write the Federation story have long been forgotten. Who were these movers and shakers? What were their hopes for the fledgling nation?
Our founders were an eclectic bunch of characters, with their own ambitions, dreams and foibles; from the substantial Reid who liked to offer his seat on the tram to not one but two ladies, to the cunning orator Parkes whom The Bulletin cheekily dubbed the 'great hi ham'.
Makers of Miracles allows us to see behind the public activities of these men and women and to understand their private thoughts and aspirations. It is a book not so much of politics as of personalities, bringing the creators of our Commonwealth vividly to life.

David Headon

Dr David Headon is Director of the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies (Canberra) and teaches in the Department of English, University of New South Wales (ADFA). He was recently appointed a Special Adviser to the ACT Centenary of Federation Committee.

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John Williams

John Williams

Professor John Williams is the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research Operations at the University of Adelaide. His major areas of research are constitutional law, legal history and human rights. He is the founder and co-editor of the The New Federalist: The Journal of Australian Federation History.

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