New Volume of Australian Dictionary of Biography

The first entry in the volume is George Henry Abdullah, an Aboriginal community leader.
The last is Sir Wallace Kyle, air chief marshal and governor.
Between them is a host of men and women from all walks of life, including prominent twentieth century Australians such as Sir Reginald Ansett, Sir Robert Askin, William Macmahon Ball, Sir Henry Bolte, Sir Macfarlane Burnet, Lady (Maie) Casey, Dame Elizabeth Couchman, Sir John Crawford, Sir Alexander Downer, Sir Warwick Fairfax, Dame Doris Fitton, Sir Keith Hancock, Dame Zara Holt, and Sir Leonard Huxley.
Sadder echoes of the twentieth century are the ADB's first AIDS death (Bobbie Goldsmith) and first Aboriginal death in custody (Lloyd Boney). As always there are surprises. Did you know that the person responsible for the stunning cinematography in the film classic The Third Man (Robert Krasker) grew up in Perth? Or that the composer of the 'Dr Who' theme tune (Ronald Grainer) was a Queenslander?

There are 659 entries covering people who died between 1981 to 1990 in the new edition of the ADB.

General Editor of the ADB, Dr Diane Langmore, said each entry provided a fascinating insight in to the life a significant Australian, ranging from household names like Sir Warwick Fairfax to quiet achievers such as Lance Hill of Hills Hoist fame.

"Not all entries are for people who mark a happy place in Australian history. For the first time, the ADB has recorded the life of someone who died of an AIDS related illness and an Aboriginal death in custody."

The new volume was produced in the Research School of Social Sciences at ANU and published by Melbourne University Press.The material from Volume 17 will be included in the ADB Online in 2008.

The photograph shows Kerry Regan (author), Edna Kauffman (former program administrator), Di Langmore (General Editor), Roger Kauffman, Jill Roe (former chair of the Editorial Board, Chris Cunneen (former Deputy General Editor).