ROBYN FLOYD
HISTORICAL RESEARCH ARTICLES
Rediscovering Josephine Fiddes and her forgotten Australian Novel
Women's History Network (UK) July 2025
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Unearthing single copies of books written by women that may be hidden in library repositories is an opportunity to analyse and examine historical contexts from different perspectives. Every rediscovery of an unknown or under-appreciated woman or their works or achievements fills gaps in our understanding of women’s contributions to history, culture and literature. In this instance, digitisation of the only copy of The Little Australian, Or The Fairy Queen, has shed a spotlight on theatre life in the 19th century, ill-treatment and hardship backstage.
Fairies in the Bush: The Emergence of a National Identity in Australian Fairy Tales
The outpouring of national sentiment as the colonies moved towards Federation heralded a quest for the ‘Australianising’ of children’s books: fairy tales were no exception. European fairy folk were placed in, or perhaps transported to, bush settings as authors re-imagined the ways in which the emigrant old-world creatures could claim a place in the Australian environment. This paper explores efforts of the early writers to locate an Australian fairyland in the ‘bush’ and contribute to the transmission of national identity.
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Image credit: MFLIBRA Antique Books
Writing Fairy Tales for Australia: Beatrice Wilcken (c. late 1830s/early 40s-1910)
Women's History Network, April 2015
AND why not fairies in Australia? Why should not our innumerable ferny glades, romantic valleys, mountainous passes, and lonesome glens, be peopled with fays and elves? Why should not Robin Goodfellow be found sitting jauntily astride the gorgeous waratah, or chasing the laughing jackass from its favourite bough? But all in good time.
Mermaids in Early Australian Children's
Literature
Australian Fairytale Society Ezine, Autumn 2019
Invariably beautiful. Described as mysterious and enchanting or denergous and seductive, he mermaid as half nubile young maiden and half fish. Rather thanking sweet sea creatures, mermaids bewitched sailors with their singing, enjoyed sinking ships and generally behaved monstrously toward mankind. Despite this, or because of this, the mermaid remains a poplar creature in fairytales and folk tales.
A relatable History: Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Education Act 1872 in Victoria
AGORA, History Teachers' Association of Victoria,
March 2023
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The year 2022 marked the 150th anniversary of the Education Act 1872, which continues to shape education in Victoria. The tenet of the Act was that education should be 'free,
compulsory and secular'.' It aimed to ensure that the parents of children of not less than six years, nor more than fifteen years, attended school for a period of sixty days in each half year.
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ARTICLES
The Power of Fairytales
Australian Literacy Educators' Association, 2024
Once upon a time…Long long ago…In a faraway land… There was once… As soon as we read those words, we know that we are about to be drawn into a tale of magic, enchantment, and fantasy. The reader can also assume that any challenges or problems faced by the central character will be resolved in a happily-ever-after ending which leads to the message or the moral of the story. G.K. Chesterton summed it up succinctly when he said, "Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." No matter how frightening the scenario we can be comforted knowing that the hero or heroine will triumph.
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Storytelling – More than just telling a story
Active Babies Smart Kids - GymbaROO, 2016.
Children love to listen to stories. Storytelling is embedded in the casual language of families, friends and workmates. Stories are told by parents and grandparents who want to pass on an event in family history or tell tales about their childhood, or by friends who pass on information, their experiences or simply entertain. Teachers appreciate the value of storytelling in building a bank of story plots, structures, settings and characters to be drawn on in children’s writing. Storytelling is part of life.
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Image credit: GymbaROO
The Educational Effect of a 150th School Anniversary
Victorian Primary School blog, November 2018
The rationale for the AusVELS History curriculum explains that history develops ‘student curiosity and imagination’ as well as awareness of self and others. When most people think of the teaching of history they think of students learning about famous individuals who were part of important events during significant time periods. Understanding of these individuals and their impact on events and social and political circumstances to shape societies is heralded as important in assisting students to appreciate change and continuities over time.
Interview with Dr Robyn Floyd
Australian Fairy Review, October 2015
It felt as if Olga Ernst chose me. I was completing an Australian children's literature subject and needed to complete an assignment on an early Australian children's author. Olga's daughter Helen taught Christian Religious Instruction at the school where I was teaching and joined in a staffroom conversation on early Australian writers. Imagine my delight when she told me that her mother was one of the authors on my list and in the following weeks discussed Olga's work with me.
