APSIG newsletter no. 58: July 2005

Dragons, lion dancing and Waltzing Matilda

The Chinese Studies Association of Australia (CSAA) held its highly successful 9th Biennial Conference at the famous Golden Dragon Museum in the old gold-mining town of Bendigo, central Victoria from 30 June to 3 July. It was a joint conference with the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) and so not surprisingly there was a strong emphasis on the history of the Chinese in Australia and the Chinese diaspora in general, from South Africa to South America; from the Philippines to Tasmania. Some 130 papers were presented on a wide range of topics.

The East Asian Library Resources Group of Australia (EALRGA) library forum 'Electronic resources in Chinese studies' was chaired by Wan Wong of the national library and addressed by several scholars and librarians. It was well attended and well received.

Other sessions highlighted new and surprising information. Anna Hayes of the University of Southern Queensland analysed the cover up of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Henan Province by Chinese authorities, who in 1995 claimed there was no HIV/AIDS in Henan Province. However, by 2000 it became evident that around 500 000 to 700 000 people living in Henan Province had contracted HIV/AIDS. It is now estimated that around 2 million people have AIDS in Henan province alone. And Xinjiang province is not far behind as the province with the second highest number of HIV infected people.

Dean Chen of the School of Visual Arts, Edith Cowan University, Perth, presented a paper on 'A cultural analysis of computer games in China' centered on the current proliferation of massive multiplayer online computer games. Non-players in the audience were surprised by the fact that computer game companies sell virtual objects (such as digital swords) in the real world and make large profits on the business. Not to mention that theft of these same virtual objects could lead a person to murder another, which actually happened.

In spite of these alarming accounts, it was a lively and enjoyable conference. At the opening in the Golden Dragon Museum, there were speeches and lion dancing. During the conference dinner at the beautifully restored Bendigo Town Hall all tables were asked to provide entertainment. The librarians performed a spirited version of Waltzing Matilda with humorous new lines about the conference.

Andrew Gosling and Ching Sun