‘Twixt Heather & Wattle’

presented by Dr. Rosalie Triolo

‘Twixt Heather & Wattle’:Scottish and Australian Presences in Early C20th School Readings

In this richly-illustrated presentation, Dr. Rosalie Triolo showcases examples of Torrance’s and other Scottish and Australian writers’ and artists’ works circulating in Victorian and other schools at the time. It explains why the items were chosen and why the same then found their way into Victoria’s and the other States’ homes.

The poems in different editions of Joan Torrance’s 'Twixt Heather and Wattle were recommended by Victoria’s Education Department for use by teachers and pupils in local State schools while also finding their ways into other Victorian as well as Tasmanian and Western Australian schools and homes. Torrance’s title beautifully captures the dual patriotic biology of Australia in the early 20th century; what was still loved of an old home half a world away, and what was increasingly celebrated in a new home of often very different surrounds. In Torrance’s as well as other Scottish writings, Scotland’s plants, symbols and ways of life did not compete with Australia’s emerging ‘bush legend’ or other facets of Australian national identity; However, for a large percentage of the population, the two comfortably co-existed.

WHEN: SATURDAY 5TH JULY 2025 AT 2.00PM.

WHERE: LEVEL 1, THE ASSEMBLY HALL, (NEXT TO THE SCOTS’ CHURCH), 156 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE

BOOK TICKETS HERE