Bennett, Bruce, 1941-2003

Academic, writer and editor. Bruce Harry Bennett was born and received his early education in Perth, Western Australia. A Rhodes Scholar, he is a graduate of the Universities of Western Australia, Oxford and London. From 1968-1992 Bennett taught at the University of Western Australia, where he was Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Studies in Australian Literature and edited the literary journal Westerly. In 1993, he commenced a long association with the Australian Defence Force Academy campus of the University of New South Wales, and is currently emeritus professor in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Amongst other literature-related activities, Bennett has held visiting appointments at universities in Asia, Europe and North America, served on the Australian National Commission for UNESCO from 1985-1990 and has written and edited numerous books, articles and reports on Australian literature, culture and society. Bennett has received wide recognition for his service to Australian literature and university education, including being made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1993.