Canberra Launch of 'Cold War Kid' by Dr Rowan Cahill
Professor Frank Bongiorno will launch and be in conversation with Dr Rowan Cahill on his book, 'Cold War Kid' at 3pm on Saturday, 11th July at Manning Clark House.
Dr Rowan Cahill was prominent in the anti-war, student, and New Left movements in Australia during the 1960s and early 1970s and has continued as an activist.
“Each one of us is a maker of history, either by what we do or do not.”
When he turned 20, his number was drawn in the ‘death lottery’ and he was drafted to fight in Vietnam.
What came next was a choice that would shape the rest of his life: participate in an unjust war or take a stand against conscription and risk being jailed. He became a conscientious objector and when officially registering as an objector he wrote “I am opposed to war. … I believe that the glorification of war, the worship of things military…is obscene.”
Cold War Kid is a story about the power of joining with others to rebel, keeping hope alive, and how a good book can change your life.
“This book contributes in an extraordinary way to our understanding of multiple key themes in Australian history.” Dr Hannah Forsyth in her Foreword.
Rowan Cahill is the author of 'Radical Sydney: Places, Portraits and Unruly Episodes and The Barber Who Read History'.
There will be a Q&A session following the presentation, then light refreshments.
Dr Rowan Cahill was prominent in the anti-war, student, and New Left movements in Australia during the 1960s and early 1970s and has continued as an activist.
“Each one of us is a maker of history, either by what we do or do not.”
When he turned 20, his number was drawn in the ‘death lottery’ and he was drafted to fight in Vietnam.
What came next was a choice that would shape the rest of his life: participate in an unjust war or take a stand against conscription and risk being jailed. He became a conscientious objector and when officially registering as an objector he wrote “I am opposed to war. … I believe that the glorification of war, the worship of things military…is obscene.”
Cold War Kid is a story about the power of joining with others to rebel, keeping hope alive, and how a good book can change your life.
“This book contributes in an extraordinary way to our understanding of multiple key themes in Australian history.” Dr Hannah Forsyth in her Foreword.
Rowan Cahill is the author of 'Radical Sydney: Places, Portraits and Unruly Episodes and The Barber Who Read History'.
There will be a Q&A session following the presentation, then light refreshments.
Saturday 11 July 2026 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (UTC+10)
Location
Manning Clark House
11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest ACT 2603
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Canberra Launch of 'Cold War Kid' by Dr Rowan Cahill
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