Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Award of ADB Medal to Bede Nairn for long and distinguished service (2002)

Citation

Bede Nairn’s association with the Australian Dictionary of Biography spans four decades.  He has written eighty articles:  the first was on Hannibal Macarthur in volume 2; the most recent is a fine account of the Rugby League footballer Clive Churchill, to be published in volume 17.  Between these two he has examined a wide range of Australia’s notable and representative figures; his entries range from heartfelt essays on his heroes--cricketers Archie Jackson and Victor Trumper and jockeys Jim and Darby Munro--to outstanding reassessments of New South Wales premiers Sir John Robertson and Bill Holman and Labor prime minister Chris Watson.

In 1962 Bede Nairn became chairman of the A.D.B.’s New South Wales working party at a difficult time, his involvement helping to diffuse tensions between other members.  He joined the editorial board and was section editor for volumes 3, 4 and 5.  In 1966 he and his family moved to Canberra, and he became a full-time staff-member on the A.D.B.  When Douglas Pike fell ill in 1973, Bede Nairn finished the work on volume 5 and became general editor for volume 6.  He and the late Geoffrey Serle were then joint general editors of the A.D.B., working harmoniously together as team leaders and producing the first four of the twentieth century volumes:  7, 8, 9, and 10.  With outstanding skills as administrator, editor and historian, Bede Nairn consolidated the Australian Dictionary of Biography’s achievements.  He retired in 1984, his work on the A.D.B. having augmented his wide impact on historical scholarship in Australia.