Thumbs Up, Craggy
David Keith Cragg, 16.09.1957 -17.03.2025
(2025) Show Me the Evidence
The Assassination of Neville Wran is Milton Cockburn’s indignant rebuttal of corruption allegations against former NSW Premier Neville Wran AC QC (1926-2014; NSW Labor Premier 1976-86).
(2025) How Far Can You Go? A Note on Curtin, Australian Labor, and Conscription in WW II
Many of us broadly familiar with John Curtin, admire his stance to defeat naysayers and introduce conscription for the defence of Australia during World War II.
(2025) Piling on the Criticism: A Comment on McMullin’s Review
Besides alluding to my typo, spelling “abrasives” instead of “abrasiveness” in quoting him, Ross McMullin in the December Recorder, offers a thought-provoking review of my In Search of Chris Watson.
(2024) Three Launches of the James Scullin Monograph
An address on 9 October 2024 at the Sydney Institute, Phillip Street, Sydney, on the launch of James Scullin, Australian Biographical Monographs # 24, Connor Court publishers, subsequently published in The Sydney Papers, 2024.
(2024) Secular & Catholic Social Democracy: The Race Mathews Biography
It is a spectacular irony that in the 21st century, so far, the Australian whom in sympathy most popularised Catholic social thought is a committed atheist and Fabian socialist who youthfully flirted with joining the Communist Party. This is only one of the fascinating features of the life of Race Mathews (1935- ), explored in a well-researched biography by his wife and noted author, Iola Mathews.
(2024): Launch of In Search of John Christian Watson
Photos taken from the launch The Prime Minister’s remarks: Launch of ‘In Search of John Christian Watson, Labor’s First Prime Minister’ by Michael Easson | Prime Minister of Australia (pm.gov.au) Video of the Launch: Postscript I intended to say the words below. But Albo was so comprehensive and good in what he said, as the…
(2024) The Cause of Crossing the Floor
WA Labor Senator Fatima Payman’s crossing the Senate floor to vote for a Greens’ motion on immediate recognition of the state of Palestine and against the Government is highly unusual in the ALP.
(2024) Unionist and Clever Boxer Fought Back When Stung. Stan Sharkey, 1933-2024.
Stan Sharkey (1933-2024), NSW and national leader of building workers, former amateur and professional boxer, jockey, apprentice bricklayer, then skilled tradesman, communist, deserves tribute for an interesting, vital, important life.
(2024): The Consequences of Losing in 1954
It is interesting to speculate about what might have been.