Microsoft Word - Article Doireann MacDermott


Coolabah, No.9, 2012, ISSN 1988-5946, Observatori: Centre d’Estudis Australians, 

Australian Studies Centre, Universitat de Barcelona 

 

 

23 

 

Bruce Bennett 

 

Doireann MacDermott 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Like wine, Australian Studies overseas can be said to have travelled well 

only if they are imbibed with pleasure by their hosts” So said Bruce when 

he and I travelled with a small group of European and Australian 

academics to Hungary in the spring of 1992. 

 

What better ambassador could Australia have than this quietly elegant, 

modest and courteous man who travelled so widely in the far corners of the 

world to extend Australian Studies? A great wanderer who was at the same 

time profoundly rooted in his own native Western Australia. 

 

A first meeting in Perth in 1980 and a last meeting in Barcelona in 2007. A 

wonderful day spent alone with him and Trish at their weekend hide-out in 

York, W.A. In between many others in different countries always imbibed 

with pleasure and admiration. 

 

His many friends in many places will never forget him. To have known 

him was a privilege. 

 

 
Trish and Bruce Bennet with Doireann MacDermott at York W.A. 1992 

Copyright ©  Doireann MacDermott 2012 This text may be 

archived and redistributed both in electronic form and in 

hard copy, provided that the author and journal are 

properly cited and no fee is charged 

 



Coolabah, No.9, 2012, ISSN 1988-5946, Observatori: Centre d’Estudis Australians, 

Australian Studies Centre, Universitat de Barcelona 

 

 

24 

 

 

 

 
Trish and Bruce Bennett with Richard Nile 

Barcelona 2007. Imbibing in the Barceloneta 

 

 
 

Bruce Bennett with Doireann MacDermott, Richard Nile and Peter Kuch 

Barcelona 2007