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Media Release

November 3 2009

80 Hawke Years - celebration for Bob Hawke’s milestone

On December 9 2009, one of Australia’s most popular Prime Ministers, Bob Hawke AC will celebrate his 80th birthday.

On November 5 2009, The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA is hosting an earlybird birthday at a special 80 Hawke Years celebration, honouring the man and his legacy. The celebration will include the announcement of the Hawke PhD scholarship, a new online database in the Hawke Library giving access to unique Hawke era archives, and the launch of a new book, The Hawke Legacy.

Director of UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Elizabeth Ho, says that in the 12 years since its foundation, the Hawke Centre had delivered much that the former Prime Minister could be proud of.

“UniSA opened the Centre on Mr Hawke’s actual birthday in December 1997 with a great deal of hope and promise, and strong support from Bob himself,” Ho said.

“And he has never waivered in dedicating his time to the Centre and his endorsement of our vision for engagement with everyday Australians on the big issues - all of which were considered vital in the Hawke era – sustainability, global justice, responsible economic development, peace and reconciliation, and inter-cultural understanding.”

Ho says the celebration is a thankyou for that support and a chance to honour the former Prime Minister in the State in which he was born.

“Mr Hawke was a remarkable Prime Minister and continues to be a remarkable Australian with a commitment to making a difference in the world.”

The celebration will be held at UniSA’s City West campus, at the Hawke Building (named in honour of Mr Hawke) on November 5.

Senator for South Australia and Minister for Climate Change and Water Penny Wong will represent the Federal Government and congratulatory messages will be delivered from Former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and current Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The event will be attended by a host of former Hawke Government Cabinet colleagues including Nick Bolkus, Barry Jones, Neal Blewett, Gordon Bilney, Brian Howe, John Dawkins, and Chris Hurford and former Senators Rosemary Crowley and Chris Schacht.

The event will also be attended by patrons and friends of the Hawke Centre including one of Australia’s most successful business women Imelda Roche, feature presenter at this year’s Annual Hawke Lecture, Ross Garnaut, and Chief Executive of WWF Australia, Greg Bourne.

As part of the proceedings, The Hawke Legacy, published by Wakefield Press and edited by UniSA academics Associate Professor Geraldine Bloustien, Professor Barbara Comber, and Emeritus Professor Alison Mackinnon will be launched by former SA Premier and former National President of the Australian Labor Party, John Bannon, AO.


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