Abstract

​

In this dissertation we will look at how Australian Great War poetry helped record the shaping of the Australian psyche by bringing Australians out of a feeling of being colonial convicts to free men of the broader British Empire. Of prime interest is how the many faces of Australian Great War poetry bring about a confirmation of Henry Lawson’s pre-war prediction that if Australia was ever to be considered a true nation among nations, then it was to do so in what he called “…the lurid clouds of war”. The poetic baptism of Australian identity would be witnessed by a large cross-section of Australian poets as well as foreign poets who saw the rapid ascension of the “Star of the South”. Australian servicemen, nurses, civilians and even children would give witness to Lawson’s prediction, and they would do this with all the human gamut of emotions.

​

In order to begin then, it is important to recognise several significant Australian historical landmarks, which are not such common knowledge, ready to hand for the reader, as well as features pertaining to the poetry of war. The purpose of the introduction is to set out these landmarks and features so that the dissertation may have a clear point of reference, which will aid in recognising the Australian national psyche development from its beginnings in 1788 to its participation in the Great War.

​

The methodology of which this thesis follows requires a developmental approach. That is to say, certain important historical and military factors pertaining to Australia must first be understood, along with a general and brief comparison between Australian and British poetry of the First World War. The general thesis direction is to demonstrate the formation of the National identity of Australia through the poetry of the Great War. The thesis seeks to show how Australians saw themselves and their international position.

​

The doctoral symposium was a great success for many reasons, as I am sure the organisers would agree. However, for the Australian Great War Poetry project, it was a tremendous opportunity to awaken the minds of academics from around the world to the real presence of Australian Great War Poetry and literature. I was the only one to speak about poetry in the symposium, but the important thing was that people within the academic world became aware that the AGWP project had a great deal of work and research done in a landscape where almost nothing exists except the primary source material itself.

 

The various speakers gave very interesting presentations of their research and dissertations, which help the AGWP project in many ways, and there was a great deal of useful and helpful discussion after each presentation. With regards to the Australian Great War Poetry presentation, it was primarily a presentation of the difficulties I have encountered during my research. The areas spoken about were, of course, thesis structure, methodology and style, along with a brief explanation of primary and secondary sources, however, the main trust of the presentation was focused on the difficulties of finding research material. The use of the various websites I have created, as well as the journal and newsletter, was received with great effect. Everyone at the symposium liked the method of using the internet as a method of generating discussion.

 

Over all, it was a great way to get academics to look at Australian literature in a new light, as well as getting them to see that there are new and innovative ways to do research, which means that we don’t always need to be in the physical location of our subject (although it does help). Furthermore, because of the contacts I made at this symposium, there is now a new avenue for research into a Turkish connection of poetry for Australia. More information about this great opportunity will hopefully be announced in the near future, as I now have contacts in Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey who are interested in poetry from the time. There are other important opportunities as well, and many good contacts were made, so the future is bright with prospects.