Australian Association for Maritime History: Vaughan Evans Memorial Lecture

The Vaughan Evans Memorial Lecture

This lecture is an annual series of lectures designed to commemorate the memory of Vaughan Evans and honour his outstanding commitment to the Australian Association for Maritime History (AAMH).

Vaughan Evans was born in England in 1924 and served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. After the war he worked for Lloyd's of London until 1955, when he migrated to Australia. He worked for the Prudential Assurance Company until his retirement in 1984.

Vaughan developed his interest in maritime history in England, where he founded the Thames Shiplovers' Society and was an active member of the Society for Nautical Research. In Australia, together with Frank Broeze and John Bach, Vaughan established the AAMH in 1978. He served as the first Secretary and edited the quarterly newsletter from its inception in January 1980 until shortly before his death on 17 November 1993. The Newsletter was designed to cater to everyone interested in maritime history, and included anecdotes, responses to questions, and short noted on various aspects of maritime history. Every issue was a gem overflowing with his knowledge and wit. Vaughan also co-edited, with John Bach, the AAMH's journal, The Great Circle, between 1983 and 1988.

Vaughan played a key role in the establishment of the Australian National Maritime Museum, in Sydney, which opened in 1991 and named its reference library after him in 1993. Meanwhile, in 1988, the Australian bicentennial year, Vaughan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to maritime history.

Extract of text by Dr. Malcolm Tull in Oooh, You New York Girls!: The Urban Pastorale in Ballads and Songs about Sailors Ashore in the Big City (1996)

Vaughan Evans Annual Lectures (1999-2000)

Vaughan Evans