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Foundation to honour Herb Feith

A Monash University foundation in memory of Dr Herb Feith -- academic, teacher, scholar, activist and humanitarian -- was launched last month to honour Dr Feith's role in the development of Monash as a major centre for the study of Indonesia, and to continue the work to which he devoted his life.

Dr Herb Feith.

The launch coincided with the second Herb Feith Lecture, held on 28 June.

More than 120 people attended the lecture at the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Southbank Centre.

Professor Wang Gungwu, director of the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore, delivered the memorial lecture.

Professor Wang, who was a close friend and colleague of Dr Feith, is a specialist in Chinese history and nationalism, the Chinese overseas and migrations in the Asian region.

Addressing the topic 'Divisive modernity: thoughts on Southeast Asian history', Professor Wang spoke of how pressures to modernise -- felt across the Asian region in the second half of the 20th century -- gave rise to new tensions and divisions among Southeast Asians.

Speaking at the lecture, Arts dean Professor Homer Le Grand acknowledged the Herb Feith Foundation working group's guidance and counsel in the formation of an inclusive foundation committed to supporting a wide range of broadly educational activities. These include the establishment and support of the Herb Feith Chair for the study of Indonesia to carry on his academic work, and sponsoring other activities and programs that reflect Dr Feith's wide range of interests and concerns.

Professor Le Grand said $300,000 had already been donated towards the chair to be established in the Faculty of Arts and the Centre of Southeast Asian Studies. A further donation of $170,000 had been received for two postdoctoral fellowships.

From left: Monash Asia Institute director Professor Marika Vicziany, Professor Wang Gungwu, and Professor Margaret Kartomi from Monash's School of Music -- Conservatorium.

"This is a very good beginning, but only a beginning, and significant additional funds would need to be raised to fully realise the vision of the foundation," he said.

Dr Penny Graham, director of Monash's Centre of Southeast Asian Studies in the Monash Asia Institute, coordinated the event. She said Dr Feith's intellect, example and practical idealism had inspired Monash students of many nationalities.

"Teaching politics at Monash between 1962 and 1990, Herb led generations of students to share his passionate concern for Indonesia, international politics, democracy, human rights, peace studies and conflict resolution."

For more information on the Herb Feith Foundation, visit www.arts.monash.edu/news/staff/2004/herbfeithfoundation.html.

For audio files of the second Herb Feith lecture, visit the Radio Australia website at www.goasiapacific.com.