Melanie Oppenheimer
Melanie Nivison Oppenheimer (born 9 November 1957) is an Australian historian, who specialises in the history of volunteering.
Oppenheimer was born in Sydney, and studied a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New England. When UNE opened a drama department, she "fell in love with acting", and went on to enrol at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London before starting a career as an actress on Australian television. She played Sarah Carson, the daughter of lead character Jennifer Carson (played by Lorraine Bayly), on the television series Carson's Law from 1984 to 1986.[1]
Oppenheimer returned to UNE to complete a Master of Letters, and then a PhD at Macquarie University. She worked as a research assistant in the history department of the University of Sydney, then held associate professor positions at the University of Western Sydney and the University of New England.[2]
The Australian Red Cross commissioned Dr Oppenheimer to write an official history of the organisation in 2010, its centennial year. The book, The Power of Humanity: 100 Years of Australian Red Cross, was published by HarperCollins and launched by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Peter Cosgrove in August 2014.[3] She has written several biographical articles for the Australian Dictionary of Biography.[4]
On 1 July 2013, she took up a professorship as Chair of History at Flinders University in South Australia.[5]
References
- ↑ "Best Teacher: Melanie Oppenheimer". Empire Times. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ↑ "Margaret George Award 2006". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ↑ "Governor General launches Centenary book". Australian Red Cross. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
- ↑ Nolan, Melanie; Fernon, Christine (2013). The ADB's story. Canberra: ANU E Press. ISBN 1925021203.
- ↑ "Melanie Oppenheimer". A Land Fit for Heroes?. State Records NSW. Retrieved 23 May 2016.