Memoir in league of its ‘own’

FROM a childhood playing on Wendouree’s mullock heaps, to leading the University of Ballarat as pro vice-chancellor of academics, Dr Frank Hurley has plenty of stories to tell.

His memoir, Look Back on Languour: The memoir of a hurkle-durkle Australian male, will be launched next week by former Victorian premier Steve Bracks at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute.

Dr Hurley said his experiences, beliefs and values as an “everyman,” and the places of his life, are examined through his ‘own’ curious lens.

“The central theme is, how much to do you own your own life?” he said. “I’ve got four sections, and the name of each resonates with that word, ‘own.’

“I was brought up in a strongly Catholic family, so I’ve got the section, ‘god’s own.’ There’s ‘testoster-own,’ ‘bread al-own’ representing going to work to earn a living, and the last part, the ‘twilight z-own’.”

Dr Hurley lived on Howitt Street as a child, attended St Columba’s Parish School, and St Patrick’s College, before his family moved to Melbourne, and he became a high school teacher.

Returning to Ballarat with his own family in the 70s, he’s been back in his hometown for nearly 50 years where was a lecturer in politics and history, and a senior academic involved in the evolution of the University of Ballarat and the establishment of its city-based Arts Academy.

“In the Ballarat community, I’ve been a prominent participant in social, political, cultural and educational affairs as a media commentator, writer, speaker and member of a wide range of committees and organisations,” he said.

As stalwart advocate for the BMI for 30 years, as well as its past president and secretary, Dr Hurley played a key part in getting the historic Sturt Street building restored.

The memoir launch will be held on Friday, 14 April, 5pm to 6.30pm. Register via 5331 3042 and the book will be for sale with proceeds donated to the BMI.