The Disconnect: 'Co-operatives' Theory and Practice

21st Oct 2011  12:30 pm -

In this seminar Gary will share recollections of researching and writing co-operative history, his motivations for doing so and reasons for desisting, to wit, a perception that a disconnect exists between the integrity of co-operative's theory and the capacity of contemporary practitioners to give it expression.

Gary is a leading authority on Australian co-operatives' history with more than 25 years of experience in researching, writing and speaking on co-operatives within Australia and abroad.

He is the author of several books on financial, producer and consumer co-operatives including; The Democracy Principle: Farmer Co-operatives in Twentieth Century Australia (2006), A Mutual Way: Fifty Years at Gateway Credit Union Ltd (2005),Laughing All the Way to the Credit Union (2001), People Before Profit: The Credit Union Movement in Australia (1996). An Illustrated History of the Riverina Rice Industry (1994), and A Middle Way: Rochdale Co-operatives in New South Wales, 1859-1986 (1993).

Dr Gary Lewis, BA (USyd), Litt. B, PhD (ANU)

12.30pm, Friday 21 October
Room 214/5 Economics and Business Building

A light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Anna White at anna.white@sydney.edu.au