Geoffrey Blainey - A Life Writ Large

Now in his late-eighties, and listed by the National Trust as a “Living Treasure”, Geoffrey Blainey has now published the first volume of his memoirs – Before I Forget. In it, he reflects on his humble beginnings as the son of a Methodist Minister and school teacher, one of five children, and a carefree childhood spent in rural Victoria, from Terang to Leongatha, Geelong to Ballarat. From a young age, these places ignited for Blainey a great affection for the Australian landscape, and a deep curiosity in Australia’s history. To give a taste of the life that brought him to writing, Geoffrey Blainey addressed The Sydney Institute on Wednesday 31 July 2019.