“History is important because you cannot disentangle history from our everyday. A willingness to be unsettled by history teaches not only about past events, but how to ask searching questions about the present.” (Stephanie Holt)

A group of BSSC students joined others from five secondary colleges for the History Roadshow 2024 which was held at Bendigo Library today.

Students attended lectures and had the chance to speak with historians who are experts in their fields. The Roadshow also included the chance to meet staff from the State Library of Victoria and see a display of relevant documents.

This display included a letter written by Napolean Bonaparte. (Yes, really!) and another by King George III. There was a first edition of Marx’s Das Kapital and Mao Tse-tung’s Little Red Book, as well as photographs from the 1905 Russian-Japanese conflict.

“We also want students to remember the State Library of Victoria is full of fabulous resources, is there for all Victorians and free to join,” says Ellen.

Tim, also from the State Library, believes seeing genuine artefacts is a visceral experience that provides contextual detail to support the lectures.

From the University of Melbourne student heard from Emeritus Professor Peter McPhee AM, on the French Revolution, Dr Patrick McGrath, about the American Revolution, Oleg Beyda, the Hansen Lecturer in Russian History, presented on the Russian Revolution and Professor of Ancient History, Frederik J Vervaet, spoke on the fall of the Roman Republic.

Xiaoping Fang, Associate Professor of Chinese Studies at Monash University analysed Chinese revolutions.

Stephanie Holt, Executive Officer of the History Council of Victoria says the Roadshows began in the 1970s and were far simpler affairs operated out of the boots of cars of historians willing to share their expertise across the state.

Covid caused a major disruption and this event was the first face-to-face school Roadshow to be held for years.

So—what did BSSC students think of the Roadshow?

“We gained a wealth of knowledge from historians in all different fields that can be transferred to our studies and further life,” says Rohan.

“It was terrific to build on my general knowledge,” says Beau. “I learnt new material and revised my learning because of this event.”