Speaking of History

In this episode, we learn about the work of Victor Burgmann who as a fresh Engineering uni graduate was sent to London during the Blitz of WWII to research RADAR. We hear about his life during the war and the enduring legacy of his wartime research. Voicing of Victor Burgmann performed by Associate Professor Nick Eckstein from the University of Sydney.Interested to learn more?https

In this episode, we listen to Arts graduate Nancy Osborne, talk about what it was like to be an independent career woman in the twentieth century. We hear about her uni days, career in London during the 1930s and work as a WREN during World War II. Interested to learn more? More on Nancy’s career in the UK before WWII: SYDNEY GRADUATE. (1935, July 11). The Sydney Morning Herald (

Garfield Barwick is perhaps best known due to his work as the longest serving Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1964-1981. Yet we all start somewhere. In this episode we hear Barwick talk about his memories of being a law student at the University of Sydney in the 1920s, and his early days as a barrister in Sydney. Interested to learn more? https://www.hcourt.gov.au

In this episode, we listen to Dulcie Barr, one of only two women enrolled in the dentistry course in 1919. She talks about her time as a student and how she faced every challenge thrown at her with aplomb. Dulcir Barr is voiced by Dr Vanessa Witton.Interested to learn more? A history of dentistry in NSW: https://slhd.health.nsw.gov.au/sydney-dental/about/history Some more info abou

In this episode, we take a listen to marine zoologist Elizabeth Carrington Pope, who reflects on her time as a student at the University of Sydney in the 1930s, and on her mentor W. J. Dakin, professor of zoology. In a profession dominated by men, Pope was a successful female scientist who became the first university graduate to land a job at the Australian Museum. Want to know mor

In this episode, we listen to University of Sydney stalwart Hermann Black talk about his memories of censorship in Australian media during World War II, and how he ensured the public knew the truth. Interested to learn more? A brief history of Censorship in Australia during WWII: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/Media_owne

Professor Julia Horne introduces a new History of University Life podcast series, Speaking of History, presented by Dr Gabrielle Kemmis. The series draws on recently digitized cassette tapes of interviews conducted in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with former University of Sydney staff and students. Six people feature in this series: Elizabeth Pope, Sir Garfield Barwick, Dulcie Barr,