BA Santamaria: Running the Show

At this free event, an eminent panel will examine the influence of B.A. Santamaria on Australia's political and social scene from the 1930s to the 1980s. Chaired by Ian Renard, Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, the panel will include Paul Duffy SJ, Sam Lipski AM, Emeritus Professor John Molony and Patrick Morgan.

Time: Tues 26 August, 6.30-8pm (refreshments from 6pm)
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette (Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Bookings: 03 8664 7016; bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Free

Bartholomew Augustine (Bob) Santamaria (1915-98), began his career as a commentator, controversialist and public intellectual in the passionate debates at Melbourne University over the Spanish Civil War. He was intimately connected with Catholic Action, which sought an alternative to secular and atheist ideologies in public life, and was the key figure in 'the Movement', a Catholic network which aimed to combat the influence of Communism within trade unions. When 'the Movement' was denounced by federal Labor Party leader Dr H.V. Evatt, the 'Split' saw the creation of the Democratic Labor Party. This contributed to the ALP remaining in opposition federally and in Victoria and Queensland for nearly three decades. Santamaria's influence continued through the agency of the National Civic Council, his published commentaries and the television program 'Point of View'. He remained a key figure in the political and social life of Australia until the 1980s.

This event marks the publication of B.A. Santamaria: Running the Show; Selected Documents 1939-1996, edited by Patrick Morgan, a companion volume to B.A. Santamaria: Your Most Obedient Servant; Selected Letters 1938-1996 (both published by the Miegunyah Press in association with the State Library of Victoria).

The archive of B.A. Santamaria was presented to the State Library of Victoria in 2006.

Related exhibition

An exhibition of selected items from the BA Santamaria Collection is on show in the Cowen Gallery until August 2008, during Library hours. The Collection was gifted to the State Library of Victoria by the Santamaria family and the BA Santamaria Foundation in April 2004. It holds working papers, correspondence, audio recordings, photographs, press cuttings and occasional publications, documenting the working life of political activist, social commentator and thinker Bob Santamaria (1915–98).