Historian honoured in Solomon Islands

To commemorate 40 years since the Solomon Islands gained independence from the United Kingdom, a University of Queensland historian will visit the country as a guest of the Australian High Commission.

Emeritus Professor Clive Moore from UQ School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry has been invited to give a series of historical presentations in Honiara and in Auki - the capital of Malaita Province.

Professor Moore, who received the Cross of Solomon Islands – the highest award ever given to an academic – for his historical work in Solomon Islands, said he was honoured to be part of the celebratory event.

“I am particularly pleased to be returning to Malaita, the subject of my 2017 book Making Mala,” he said.

“I first visited the country in 1976 while researching my doctoral thesis on Malaitan migration to Queensland during the Blackbirding era in the 19th century.

"I was adopted into two Malaitan families and I value this long connection."

One of Professor Moore’s major achievements was creating the largest digital encyclopaedia for any Pacific Islands nation.

“The Solomon Islands Historical Encyclopaedia includes 280,000 words, 700 entries and 1000 images,” he said.

Professor Moore’s visit from 19 to 23 March will include the launch of his most recent book Making Mala: Malaita in Solomon Islands 1870s-1930s by Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela at an Australia Alumni Gala Dinner.

The book will also be launched by the Premier Peter Ramohia in Auki.

“My next two books are on Tulagi - the capital between 1897 and 1942 until the settlement was destroyed in the Second World War - and Honiara - the capital since 1945 which was based on an American military base during the war years,” Professor Moore said.

His visit will also involve presenting at Malaita’s leading secondary school, giving a public lecture on Tulagi at the Solomon Islands National University in Honiara, and exploring the history of Honiara with Australian High Commission staff.

Media: Professor Clive Moore, c.moore@uq.edu.au, +677 7331667; Kristen Johnston (UQ HASS Communications), k.johnston@uq.edu.au, 3346 1633 or 0439 187 349.