Ian Reece
PhD (Science) - 1970
Dr Ian Reece may have spent his working life as a science academic, but history has become his passion in retirement. The UOW graduate and former academic has published two historical books.
The first was a family history called Isaac's Journey, based on the ill-fated voyage of a sailing ship called the Juliana, which was shipwrecked at Cape Town on its way to the Colony of New South Wales in 1838. Among the passengers who eventually continued their journey on another vessel was Dr Reece's great-great-grandfather, Isaac Reece.
Dr Reece's latest book, Harold's Diary, is based around the World War I diary of his father, Harold Reece, who served with the Australian forces on the Western Front.
Harold Reece rarely spoke about his war-time experiences, and his son was unaware the diary existed until after his father's death in 1982. However, it wasn't until Dr Reece used a photocopy of the diary as a 'guide book' on a tour of the Western Front battlefields a few years ago that he considered turning it into a book.
'There was a lot of interest from the World War I museums I visited along the Somme. They collect that kind of material, and so does the Australian War Memorial (in Canberra),' Dr Reece said. 'Their interest inspired me to think about how I could use Dad's diary in a book.'
Dr Reece used his father's diary as the central section of the book, while adding family and social history from the period, much of it based on pre- and post-war newspaper clippings found in Harold Reece's scrapbook. Around 60 photographs provide excellent illustrations for the text.
'I wanted to provide a feeling for the attitudes that existed in Australian society at the start of the war, to show why young men enlisted in such large numbers,' Dr Reece said.
He also explores the impact of the war years on returned servicemen like his father, who devoted many years to the Returned Sailors and Solders Imperial League.
Talking of history, Dr Reece has a long history with the University of Wollongong. He lectured in Chemistry at the old Wollongong University College from 1961-1968, starting when it was still located in the Technical College (now TAFE) premises in Gladstone Avenue, Wollongong.
He was on the staff when the University College moved to UOW's current location, but was long gone when it finally gained independent status in 1975, having left in 1968 to become foundation Head of Chemistry at Toowoomba (now the University of Southern Queensland).
Harold's Diary is available for $35 (plus postage). Contact Dr Ian Reece on phone 07 3371 9935 or fax 07 3371 1910.
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