21st Fritz Duras Memorial Lecture
Dr. Fritz Duras has been justly called the father of Australian Physical Education. In 1936 whilst in England he was invited by Sir Raymond Priestly, then Vice Chancellor, to launch a Physical Education course in the University of Melbourne. From 1937 to 1939 he held a Carnegie lectureship in physical education and his impact was such that the University sought and obtained his services as permanent Director of Physical Education. This was the first such course to be introduced into an Australian university. From the outset he understood physical education to be a discipline that could give scope for full personal development in the best traditions of university education.
He excelled in any intellectual or physical pursuit to which he set his mind. He was an olympic class ski jumper. Above all, Fritz Duras was an extremely kind man, deeply interested in people and their problems, never too busy, or too tired to be at the disposal of those who sought his help.
The 27th ACHPER International Conference is proud to host this year’s Fritz Duras Memorial Lecture. The orator of the 2011 lecture is Professor Emeritus Alan Reid, click here for Alan Reid's biography. The lecture is included in conference registration.
Professor Emeritus Alan Reid's lecture presentation below:
HPE and capabilities: Towards an active national curriculum
Abstract: It now seems possible that in 2012, after several abortive attempts, Australian states and territories will begin to implement the first stage of the national curriculum. At the same time, work will continue on the next two stages, including (belatedly) health and physical education. This presents a rare opportunity to rethink the place of, and approach to, HPE in Australian schools. Traditionally such work begins with attempts to describe the content of a HPE-focused subject or course, followed by a lobbying process to ensure that HPE is given adequate time and resources in the curriculum. Drawing on some of the rich heritage of thinking inspired by Fritz Duras, this lecture will suggest that the capabilities described in the current version of the national curriculum present an additional point of entry for those committed to the importance of HPE. However if this opportunity is to be realised, there is need to conceptualise the place of capabilities in a 21st century curriculum. HPE is well positioned to take the lead in this development and so consolidate its presence in the official curriculum.
