Australian Dictionary of Biography

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Award of ADB Medal to Patrick Buckridge for long and distinguished service (2023)

Citation

Patrick Buckridge’s long and distinguished service to the Australian Dictionary of Biography began in 1996 when he joined the Queensland Working Party. Most ADB working party members have been historians; Pat is conspicuous in being a literary scholar. He first worked in Renaissance literature, but turned to Australian literature, Queensland studies, studies in biography and, more recently, the history of reading. As a consequence, he kept abreast of the work of scholars in many subjects. He brought to the group not only immense learning in fields he made his own, of Australian literature, biography, and literary history, but also extensive knowledge of broader Australian history. At meetings of the Working Party, it was extraordinary how often he could quickly name the best people to approach as potential authors for new articles. 

Professor Buckridge was director of the Queensland Studies Centre at Griffith University, Editor of the Queensland Review, as well as chair of the ADB’s Queensland Working Party. When he retired from his long career at Griffith University in 2013, Kay Ferres convened a symposium to honour Patrick as an intellectually generous colleague, to recognise the quality of his scholarly work in literary studies, and to acknowledge his service in the university and in the wider community. We have been fortunate that Pat continued ‘in retirement’ to chair the Queensland Working Party for a further decade. 

Beginning with Brian Penton—on whose life he had written a multi-award-winning book— Pat has published model ADB entries on twelve individuals (and he has recently completed another). His articles are notable for their graceful and engaging prose, deep research, and wise and judicious evaluations of their subjects. In addition to a number of prominent figures, he has chosen to write perceptive articles on lesser-known, ordinary and deeply revealing biographical subjects.

In 2000 Pat succeeded Ross Johnston as Queensland Section Editor and Chair of the Queensland Working Party. For more than twenty-two years, he excelled in both roles. As Section Editor, he provided research editors with sound advice and guidance. As Working Party Chair, he displayed outstanding leadership. With unfailing courtesy, good humour, consideration for the views of others, encouragement of consensus, and—before the days of Zoom meetings—a bottle of wine, he fostered and maintained a culture of harmonious productivity, ensuring that the Working Party invariably met its commitments.

From 2000 to 2023 Pat was a valued member of the ADB’s Editorial Board, ever ready with well-considered counsel and always friendly and collegial. Pat was a Chief Investigator in the three Australian Research Council Linkage, Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities projects that enabled the ADB to be published online as a free-to-web scholarly resource. His high personal and academic standing at his university ensured that it provided significant financial support for the projects.

An exemplary voluntary worker for the ADB over many years, Pat Buckridge has made an exceptional contribution to this national, collaborative project and is a most worthy recipient of the ADB Medal.