Welcome to
Christian History Research
for Schools. This page has interactive applications and links to help you learn about Australia's great Christian history. New content will be added to this page regularly. So keep checking back.
David Hastie, May 2022
Also another assessment in Eternity News by David Hastie
The new 2022 Australian Curriculum Version 9.0 website, which houses the updated curriculum, has now gone live.
The new website is one of the few digitalised curriculums in the world and has a range of features to help teachers view, explore and plan.
The new website has been designed with teachers for teachers, and teachers from across Australia have been involved in user experience testing.
One deputy principal from Toowoomba, Qld told us:
“Well done on the new website. It presents really simply and is easy to navigate. The functionality in it is also great.
I’m loving having the Achievement Standard directly linked to content descriptions, related content linked, being able to have multiple Learning Areas visible and the filters available on them.”
Visit the new website including F-10 Curriculum overview | V9 Australian Curriculum and Senior Secondary Modern History
Beersheba Centenary Homepage http://beersheba100.com.au/
This document has topics with school curriculum references. Links are provided to take you straight to the related information on the website.
https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Search/?q=Christianity
Mary Reiby is referred to in the national curriculum. Her image is printed on the Australian $20 note. She started as a convict and became a hero.
Discover the diverse range of soldiers who contributed to the British First World War effort in Palestine
A Christian History of Australia with the Australian Curriculum Ver 8.2
$25, available from www.mikespencer.com.au
Year 9 - Depth Studies
Year 10 - Depth Studies
Unit 2 - Movements for Change in the 20th Century
Unit 3 - Modern Nations in the 20th Century
Unit 4 - The Modern World since 1945
Material from this book may also be used for Year 6 Humanities and Social Sciences - History and Civics and Citizenship
Through this interactive presentation you will be able to explore the lives of many people from Australia's history. You will also explore some of the key events that have shaped this nation.
Emerging from the many sections of this presentation is a picture of the very clear influence of God in the discovery and foundation of Australia.
The application features:
You can also download a powerpoint presentation of the same:
The application features:
This application will take about 20 minutes to complete.
Queen Elizabeth’s image on the $5 note as well as on our six coins representing our Australian Christian Constitutional Monarchy.
The Presentation of the Bible to Her Majesty the Queen at her Coronation June 1953 by the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
'The most valuable thing that this world affords.
Here is wisdom;
This is the royal law;
These are the oracles of God'.
including links to videos and the full text of the Coronation Service is found on the Christian Heritage Website:
Rt Rev’d Professor Stephen Pickard Ecumenical Service to mark the beginning on a new session of Parliament 2020, St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Canberra 4 February 2020
Read this article on John Flynn and the $20 dollar note.
William Arnott of Arnotts Biscuits
David Bassau who pioneered small businesses in poverty stricken countries
First Christmas in Australia
Royston Siddons, the founder of the Sidchrome brand in Australia.
Henry Holden and the founding of the Holden car making company. Henry Holden was a Christian who made a difference.
The head of the largest church in the world, Yonggi Cho, thanks a Melbourne church for sending missionaries to Korea.
Audio and video by Rodney Carr "Songs of Hope" radio program
Read this article on Gladys Staines and her missionary service to the Indian community.
The Life of William Bligh is a an amazing story of an accomplished man who played a part in the founding years of Australia. His journey led him to travel to remote places in the South Pacific Islands. If you have ever heard the story of "Mutiny on the Bounty" we remember a tough & hard man, but for his day he was very lenient. Many today don't realise the full story and his dependence on the sovereignty of God in his life, and that he was a man guided in his thoughts by the hand of God.
William Bligh was born in England on September 9th 1754. He is known for the Rum Rebellion and the Mutiny on the Bounty with Fletcher Christian.
Bligh remarks in his journal, which in this time hides nothing, reveals a man not so self-confident as we usually see. (15 mins. duration)
Click here for the following Explorers
Click here for the following Pioneers
Click here for the following Governors
Click here for the following Missionaries
Margaret Court is Australia's most successful and celebrated tennis player of all time. No player in tennis history has ever surpassed her incredible record of 62 grand slam titles, in both singles and doubles. Margaret became a Christian while she was still the world's best, and when she finally retired from the game in 1976, she settled down to a life as a wife and mother, but could not resist the call of God that was on her life.
Betty Cuthbert won four Olympic gold medals and remains the only athlete to have triumphed at the Games in the 100, 200 and 400 metres.
Across her career she set 16 world records in individual and relay events, having burst to prominence at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as a shy 18-year-old from the north-west Sydney suburb of Ermington.
The image of her running with her mouth gaped wide open became synonymous with her victories in the 100 and 200m, and 4x100m relay, which earned her the title of 'Golden Girl'.
Perhaps Cuthbert's greatest achievement on the track, however, came eight years later at the Tokyo Olympics when she won her fourth gold in what was the debut of the women's 400m.
An interview by Gary Bates called Still running for God is quoted here:
Australian’s coined the nickname ‘The Golden Girl’ for Betty Cuthbert after her three gold-medal performances in the 100, 200 and 4 x 100 metre sprints, at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Just 18 years old at the time, her enthusiastic personality, engaging smile and unique running style would ensure that she remained well known and loved by a ‘sports mad’ Australia for generations to come...
‘I was encouraged to go to a particular church where someone said, “they’ll heal you”. Well, I wasn’t healed but I met the Healer.’ At age 47, Betty was ‘born again’ by receiving Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. She says, ‘My life has never been the same since. My salvation was a free gift. I didn’t have to work for it and it’s better than any gold medal that I’ve ever won. Before then, I’m ashamed to say, I was frightened to tell people of my belief in God.’
by Graham McLennan*
Brian Booth represented Australia in two codes of sports, in 29 tests in cricket and at the 1956 Olympics in hockey. During his cricket career he captained the Australian Cricket team several times as well as being vice captain.
Read more about this amazing Australian sportsman.
by Graham McLennan
The earliest published photo of the Ashes urn, from the Illustrated London News, 1921.
Read this article about CT Studd, a famous Cricketer who served Christ.
(1 May 1789 – 15 May 1879)
George Fife Angas was an English businessman and banker who, from England, played a significant part in the formation and establishment of the Colony of South Australia.
He established the South Australian Company and was its founding chairman of the board of directors. In later life he migrated to the colony and served as a member of the first South Australian Legislative Council.
For further reading please see George Fife Angas Father and Founder of South Australia link and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fife_Angas
Australia's first church was built in 1793 and was used as a school. Download this article to learn more.
Australia's First Church Written in 2014 by Dr Graham McLennan
Download this article to learn more about the naming of the Southland of the Holy Spirit.
‘Banjo’ Paterson, one of Australia’s and the English-speaking world’s most famous poets is immortalised on our ‘new’ ten dollar note. His role with the Anzac battalions in the Middle East 100 years ago is one of the lesser known parts of his life. His horses became the real heroes of the famous Light Horse charge at Beersheba during the liberation of the Holy Land.
A series of articles showing an often unknown Christian connection to well known topics such as.
ANZAC Day and the Christian Connection
EDUCATION a TEACHER and the Christian Connection
FATHERS DAY and the Christian Connection
LABOUR DAY and the Christian Connection
MOTHERS DAY and the Christian Connection
NAIDOC and the Christian Connection
SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA and the Christian Connection
THE FIFTY DOLLAR NOTE and the Christian Connection
THE TWENTY DOLLAR NOTE and the Christian Connection
EXPLORER STURT and the Christian Connection
A series of short articles on various topics from Australia's Christian history.
A Praying Nation for Times
Advance Australia Fair
Anywhere, Anytime
Australia's first church service for times
Captain Charles Sturt
God loves communication
God of the Impossible
God on the Battlefield
God Will Provide Part 1
God Will Provide Part 2
Kavel for Times
Re-building pioneer style
Remembrance
Standing in the Face of Battle
The Father of Australia
The Granny Smith Apple Story
The Ridley Stripper Story
by Margot Ogilvie, 2008, ISBN 978-0-646-50231-1, paperback, 106pp, $20
You can be another great Australian Student Workbook by Margot Ogilvie, 2011, ISBN 978-0-646-55485-3, spiral, 90pp, $15
Orders:
Contact Margot Ogilvie on
anothergreataustralian@gmail.com or
PO Box 120, Victor Harbour SA 5211, Australia
Visit this website to learn more about Australia's National flag.
"Under this flag we have found unity in our diversity and respect in our differences. Together, we have built a modern nation on the idea that all of us can get ahead provided we are prepared to have a go".
The Evangelical Sisters of Mary have placed this Nativity scene titled "O Come let us Adore Him" in November in the foyer of the NSW Parliament each year since 2012.
Is Ned Kelly in Heaven?
The parallel stories of Ned Kelly and John Singleton. One a bushranger, the other a doctor evangelist. One a sinner, the other a saint. One possibly Australia’s most well known outlaw, the other, almost unknown. These are the true stories of two men and their meeting in Melbourne Gaol in the 1880’s. One man’s life was possibly changed for eternity.
Stories from the Coober Pedy opal fields and outback Australia. A preacher facing a shotgun, falling in a sheep-dip and helping troubled men find peace with God. Commended as Australian Christian Book of the Year. One man commented.. “It’s the funniest & challenging book I have read whilst sitting on the toilet in years ! I read it in one sitting !!!”
Order books at: http://www.kerrymedway.org/resourcesTHE AMAZING STORIES OF INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE PORTRAYED THROUGH STORY TELLING, ROLE PLAY AND STUDENT INTERACTION
HATS Productions is an educational enterprise teaching children about inspirational people who have made a positive contribution to history and whose attributes make them worthy role models for today’s students.
The presentations are suitable for middle primary to junior secondary students: they are a blend of storytelling, role play, and students acting the story as it is narrated. HATS Productions has been developed by John Arbuckle in Victoria who is a Secondary History and Religious Education teacher with 20 years' experience. The current presentation available is for John Flynn. It describes how and why Rev. John Flynn contributed so much to the development of outback Australia in relation to ministry, communication, transport, education as well as his most famous contribution to medical services through the Flying Doctor Service.
Stories being developed for:
| Mary MacKillop: | Australian educator and charity worker |
| Douglas Nicholls: | Australian Aboriginal sportsman, justice campaigner and church minister |
| Caroline Chisholm: | Humanitarian and welfare worker |
| Charles Sturt: | English explorer of the Interior of Australia |
Educational and Entertaining
Contact mailto:info@hatsproductions.com.au website http://www.hatsproductions.com.au/index.php
Mobile 0402 003 664
On the 25th August it will be 220 years since Australia's first church opened.
Reflecting on the Sydney Olympics in 2000 it is interesting to know the gold for the Gold Medals came from the Orange district especially Ophir named after the many Biblical references to fine gold.
Cadia mine near Orange has for many years mined over a billion dollars of gold annually and has sufficient gold deposits in the region to continue mining for several decades.
The first gold nugget found in 1851 was by a Christian family member William Tom and his brother James, two sons of Pastor Tom as well as their friend John Lister.
Pastor Tom preached from Pulpit Rock at Byng especially among the Wesleyan Cornish settlers. Please watch this three-minute video scrolling down to Australian National Days of Prayer which outlines a remarkable day of prayer and fasting in 1838 when the severe drought was broken but only within seven miles around where the Byng Cornish settlement prayed!
As the first payable gold found in Australia, Edward Hargraves received the reward though the Tom brothers first found the precious metal along with John Lister.
Earlier discoveries of gold had been made by Europeans such as the convicts building the road over the Blue Mountains in 1814. As the government didn't want this disclosed threats of punishment were made to them. Apparently, some were flogged to make an impression on the convicts to not spread the word!
