Sign in

Vannessa Hearman

@vhearman.bsky.social
191 followers 71 following 79 posts

Associate Professor of History. Writes on Indonesia, East Timor, Cold War, decolonisation and related topics.

PostsRepliesMedia
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Pelargonium I think.
110
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Though I don't know if anyone sees my posts on this platform, here goes. Note the new venue for the Good Sea book talk this Friday. www.trybooking.com/events/landi...
trybooking.com
An Evening with Vannessa Hearman
Join us for an evening with author Vannessa Hearman to celebrate The Good Sea. Vannessa will be joined by special guest Jose da Costa ABOUT THE...
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
On Friday 21 August, I'll be speaking about my new book, The Good Sea, in Ballarat, Victoria, hosted by Collins Booksellers. Come and join us on what I'm sure will be a cosy chat in wintry Ballarat. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/events/landi....
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Recent review of The Good Sea. Read Duncan Graham's take in Inside #Indonesia www.insideindonesia.org/archive/arti...
insideindonesia.org
Review: From lucky country to fearful land
A quarterly magazine on the peoples of Indonesia - cultures, politics, economy and environment
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Coming up in Perth: 'Looking both ways: Art exchanges between Australia and Indonesia' at the John Curtin Gallery, Curtin University, Wed 22 July 2026. Half-day seminar prompted by the Pasar Malam/Night Market exhibition. Please come along. events.humanitix.com/looking-both...
events.humanitix.com
Looking both ways: Art exchanges between Australia and Indonesia
This half-day seminar explores the relationships between Australia and Indonesia around contemporary art.
010
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
If you're going to the ASAA conference @asiancurrents.bsky.social next week, come to the launch of my new book #TheGoodSea (MUP) on Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Australia's refugee policies by Prof Kate McGregor. Day 1 of the conference: Tue 30 June, 12.15 pm (lunchtime), Room D2.194.
011
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Latest review of my book, The Good Sea in Inside Indonesia. Join us at the Melbourne, Newcastle or Sydney book launches or at the launches at the Asian Studies Association of Australia or @austhistassoc.bsky.social conferences coming up. www.insideindonesia.org/archive/arti...
insideindonesia.org
Review: From lucky country to fearful land
A quarterly magazine on the peoples of Indonesia - cultures, politics, economy and environment
010
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Let's also not lose sight of the bit that says 'international relations' of Australia. Could grants be vetoed for holding a critical view of foreign governments? For example, a project on human rights cases in Indonesia, or on West Papua? We need to know more on the projects vetoed and why.
120
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
The book truly is out. It was heartwarming to get a copy accompanied by a lovely note from MUP, my publisher @mupublishing.bsky.social. Ask at your local bookstore if you'd like to get one. www.mup.com.au/books/the-go...
031
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
during Indonesian rule, their journey by sea to Australia, and their treatment by the Australian government as they sought to continue the struggle for independence in a new country. Published by MUP, it's available at bookshops and online retailers. www.mup.com.au/books/the-go...
mup.com.au
The Good Sea, Vannessa Hearman
First, I thought the boat was going to split in two and sink. Some of us could not swim. We were all going to die if the boat sank. But I thought, 'Oh well, we have made it this far; if we die, we will be considered heroes, there will be flowers in the sea.' In May 1995, after five days and six nights on the Timor Sea, eighteen East Timorese asylum seekers, including a six-month-old baby, sail...
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
My new book on East Timorese 'boat people' and the Australia-Indonesia relationship is published today. Titled 'The Good Sea: The Journey of the Tasi Diak and the Politics of Refugee Protection in Australia', it examines the biographies and lifeworlds of East Timorese clandestine activists...
mup.com.au
The Good Sea, Vannessa Hearman
First, I thought the boat was going to split in two and sink. Some of us could not swim. We were all going to die if the boat sank. But I thought, 'Oh well, we have made it this far; if we die, we will be considered heroes, there will be flowers in the sea.' In May 1995, after five days and six nights on the Timor Sea, eighteen East Timorese asylum seekers, including a six-month-old baby, sail...
121
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Sticking with Asian Cup final after seeing the high ON votes.
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
Hope it's more interesting than the ABC 24 coverage.
100
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Newish book chapter. Don't think I've shared this one here yet. How did a state sponsored photographic book depict East Timor in the 1990s? What of its Lusophone roots? How could images be read in diverse ways? Find the abstract in the link. link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
link.springer.com
Re-envisioning a Portuguese Colony: Indonesian Photographic Representations of East Timor
Images were crucial in the information politics surrounding East Timor during the Indonesian annexation of the former Portuguese territory from 1975 to 1999. By showing the physical and human developm...
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
I love the focus on oral history and its transformative capacity. Malang is a lovely town and the folks at the History Dept at Universitas Negeri Malang are doing really interesting stuff. Consider adding this one to your plans. Get in touch and send them your abstract. ichse.um.ac.id/3rd-ichse/
lnkd.in
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
010
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
The Call for Papers looks fantastic. 3rd International Conference on History, Social Sciences, and Education (ICHSE): “Oral History for Social Transformation: Inclusivity, Democracy, and Equality”, Department of History, Universitas Negeri Malang, August 5-6, 2026 ichse.um.ac.id/3rd-ichse/
ichse.um.ac.id
3rd ICHSE | ICHSE
101
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
In 'Looking both ways: The Timor Sea and Australia’s entanglements with Asia', I'll be speaking about place-based research practices in the writing of 'The Good Sea', my soon-to-be-published book. Join me at the John Curtin Gallery on Wednesday, 18 March 2026. events.humanitix.com/jcg-lunchtim...
events.humanitix.com
JCG Lunchtime Talk with Vannessa Hearman
Register on Humanitix - JCG Lunchtime Talk with Vannessa Hearman hosted by John Curtin Gallery. John Curtin Gallery, Curtin University, 200A, Kent St, Bentley WA 6102, Australia. Wednesday 18th March ...
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
The book I've written on the 1995 boat journey of a group of East Timorese refugees to Australia, 'The Good Sea', now has a cover and a presence on the Melbourne University Publishing website. Out 12 May 2026, coinciding with 31-year anniversary of boat's departure. www.mup.com.au/books/the-go...
080
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
David Webster @dwebster.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
NEW DOCUMENT RELEASE: The United Nations and the invasion of Timor-Leste timorarchive.ca/undocs Indonesian military forces invaded Timor-Leste on 7 Dec 2025. To mark the 50th anniversary, TiSA presents selected United Nations documents on Timor-Leste in the lead-up and aftermath to the invasion.
031
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
I co-edited this bumper edition of Inside Indonesia no. 162, 'Indonesia and Timor-Leste Living Together' as we mark the 50th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence in Timor-Leste and the Indonesian invasion. www.insideindonesia.org/indonesia-an...
120
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
On the 34th occasion of the Santa Cruz shootings of protesters in Dili, Timor-Leste, we remember their sacrifice. Re-sharing this volume of writings and artistic work remembering the massacre. tlstudies.org/conference-p...
tlstudies.org
Conference Proceedings
The Santa Cruz Massacre, 1991: Thirty Years On. Now available to order or download: Proceedings of the 2021 TLSA International Symposium – The Santa Cruz Massacre, 1991: Thirty Years On. Hard-copie…
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Thanks, Liz.
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Here we go... the waiting is over.
110
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
A new chapter I just published with Brill on how oral history and testimonies have been used in Timor-Leste's independence campaign and their status as a potential resource for future generations. But what are the ethical, material and structural constraints? brill.com/display/book...
brill.com
010
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Why does ABC News uses 'baku tembak' (crossfire) when the Balibo 5 journalists were murdered by Indonesian army operatives in October 1975? And the English version refers to 'murders'. Shame. #timorleste www.abc.net.au/indonesian/2...
abc.net.au
Keluarga Jurnalis Australia yang Terbunuh Saat Baku Tembak Militer Indonesia Masih Cari Keadilan
Tahun ini adalah 50 tahun peristiwa Balibo Five, saat lima jurnalis Australia tewas saat meliput masa pendudukan Indonesia di Timor Leste. Keluarga masih berduka atas kehilangan orang yang mereka cint...
020
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
I'll be speaking at this event: The 80th anniversary of World War II & the formation of the #UN United Nations. What have we learnt and what may the next 80 years hold? Join us at @curtinuniversity.bsky.social tomorrow evening, brought to you by the Faculty of Humanities and #GlobalFutures Curtin.
012
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Coming up in 2 days! Don't miss it.
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Dr Samson Lim (Monash U) is giving the next seminar of the Historians of Southeast Asia Network (HiSEAs) on the 'feral territories' of Eastern Bangkok, Thailand. Intrigued? Join us on Thu 11 September, 4.00 pm AEST on Zoom: anu.zoom.us/j/8293727404.... Meeting ID: 829 3727 4043/ Passcode:491526.
012
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Don't know about that. The Jirdarup Bushland shows the long-term impact of a warming climate and overall drying. Hard for some rain one year to take care of a longer-term problem. Trees are still dying from being heat-stressed and disease-stricken.
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Excited to be co-launching this book along with Dr Indah Utami from Universitas Negeri Malang - new and decolonial perspectives on Indonesian history. Join the Historians of SE Asia Network, 5.00 PM AEST Wed 27th, on Zoom. anu.zoom.us/j/8293727404... Meeting ID: 829 3727 4043/ Passcode:491526
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Ha, it would have been good if they did those 2 things way back in the 1970s: Not accept integrasi just like and not tell the East Timorese their country would be unviable. How many lives could've been saved?
100
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Link to this exciting new book: press.anu.edu.au/publications...
press.anu.edu.au
Rethinking Histories of Indonesia
<p><em>Rethinking Histories of Indonesia: Experiencing, Resisting and Renegotiating Coloniality</em> provides a critical evaluation of histories of Indonesia from the formal period of colonisation to ...
020
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
After a brief hiatus, the Historians of Southeast Asia network are back! Come join us for a book launch and discussion on Wed 27 August, 5.00 pm Melbourne time, on Zoom of @anupress.bsky.social new book (out Open Access on 21 Aug). #coloniality #decoloniality #sejarah
152
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
I have the Last Tour by Ann Curthoys!
110
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
Have the Zoom links been sent out for this? I don't seem to have received mine.
110
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
David Bridie @davidbridie.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Hamoris Lian Timor first show. Apollo Bay, Gadubanud
023
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
Independent Australia @independentaus.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Economic inequality in Australia is the worst it has been in 20 years — if the goal is to improve living standards, our leaders should be addressing it. ~ Carl Rhodes Australia’s real economic challenge isn’t welfare dependency — it’s inequality independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...
independentaustralia.net
Australia’s real economic challenge isn’t welfare dependency — it’s inequality
Economic inequality in Australia is the worst it has been in 20 years — if the goal is to improve living standards, our leaders should be addressing it.
34620
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
Andreas Harsono @andreasharsono.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Five of the six primate species found in the Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands have traditionally been hunted. With widespread deforestation and the erosion of traditional practices that governed hunting behavior, all of the islands’ primates are now endangered news.mongabay.com/2025/05/indi...
news.mongabay.com
Indigenous conservationists lead the fight to save Mentawai’s endangered primates
SOUTH SIBERUT, Indonesia — As night falls over the Siberut jungle, a fire crackles inside the Tateburuk clan’s wooden home, or uma. The walls are covered in traditional Mentawai carvings of forest cre...
032
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
Deborah Lee-Talbot @colourfulhistories.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
BOOK LAUNCH NEWS: You're invited to attend the launch of "Fathering: An Australian History"—details on the attached flyer. @phavictas.bsky.social
031
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
Australian Policy and History @auspolicyhistory.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
** NEW REVIEW ** On the website, Peter Hobbins reviews Raina MacIntyre's Vaccine Nation aph.org.au/2025/08/book... #auspol #COVID19 #Vaccines #healthhistory
034
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
David Bridie @davidbridie.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Release day. ffm.to/hamorisliant...
ffm.to
Various Artists - Hamoris Lian Timor
Choose your preferred music service
072
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
And with famine being increasingly human-induced, how does society deliver justice to famine victims? So many variables in a post-conflict, post-occupation country, such as East Timor. www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
tandfonline.com
Challenges in the pursuit of justice for East Timor’s Great Famine (1977–1979)
You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
In 1979 Australian newspapers published images of famine in East Timor. What impact did famine images have in that particular case? www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Australian News Photography and Contested Images of Famine in Indonesian-Occupied East Timor
The Indonesian invasion of East Timor in December 1975 and subsequent military operations to suppress the East Timorese resistance led to widespread displacement and famine in 1977–79. With Indones...
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Following!
010
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
While it's a gesture to be seen to reduce plastic, this move just disproportionately punishes the poor who buy items in small quantities.
010
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
How does one mount an exhibition on women's history that is new, fresh and exciting in the context of a government intent on radical forgetting? Read about what I think are the manifest tensions. www.insideindonesia.org/archive/arti...
insideindonesia.org
The absences that remain in a history of Indonesian women - Inside Indonesia: The peoples and cultures of Indonesia
A quarterly magazine on the peoples of Indonesia - cultures, politics, economy and environment
011
Reposted by Vannessa Hearman
Lynette Russell @lynetterussell.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
humanities.org.au/power-of-the...
humanities.org.au
Australia can't withstand further humanities cuts
The Australian Academy of Humanities views with great concern the impact on staff, students and the wider community of the ANU’s plan for the humanities and social sciences. Now is not the time to red...
042
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
What is it?
100
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 09/07/2025
Congratulations Brad! Can't wait to read it.
000
Vannessa Hearman @vhearman.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
Waiting for you to spearhead a campaign for jobs, services and education opportunities for Australians living in the country. 'Nicer area' indeed.
100