Writers at Deakin -'The Body and Mind in Crisis'

Authors

Major John Cantwell
Major General John Cantwell AO, DSC joined the Australian Army as a private in 1974. He served in the first Gulf War with the Coalition forces between 1990 and 1991, and in the second Gulf War in 2006. In 2010 he served a twelve-month tour as the commander of Australian forces in Afghanistan, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for leadership in action. Cantwell retired from the Army in 2012 after 38 years of service. His first book, Exit Wounds: One Australian's War on Terror is a deeply human account of Australia's wars over the last twenty years, the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, and a moving story of life on a modern battlefield.

Margaret Evison
Margaret Evison was born in Sydney, and had a childhood of travel with her family, living in the UK, Bombay and Australia. As an adult she settled in South London where she has enjoyed bringing up her two children. Her particular enthusiasms are gardening, art and literature, difficult travel, and life.

She is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, until recently leading a team supporting cancer patients in a large London Hospital Trust. She is a trustee of Dimbleby Cancer Care, and of the Mark Evison Foundation.

On 12 May 2009 Margaret's son Lieutenant Mark Evison of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, died of wounds sustained whilst leading a patrol in Helmand Province (Afghanistan). He wrote a powerful diary until two days before his death, which is included in the book. His soldiers showed a great deal of courage and love, bringing him back under fire: one received the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, a high-level military bravery award. His death was a controversial, as he lost consciousness waiting for a helicopter to bring him to hospital. The machines were turned off in the UK three days later.

'Death of a soldier, a mother's story' is Margaret's first book.

Professor Ann Mc Culloch (Chair)
Professor Ann McCulloch (PhD) is a Professor of Literary Studies in the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Her most recent books are (Ed) Food and Appetites: The Hunger Artist and the Arts (2013) and Dance of the Nomad: A Study of the Selected Notebooks of A. D. Hope (2010).

She is the director and writer of a documentary series on Hope and many articles on his life and work. Ann McCulloch's book on the works of Patrick White and Nietzsche heralded her original interest in tragedy and theory. She has written and produced twelve theatrical productions including three plays The Odyssey Enflamed, The Girl with Green Eyes, and Let Gypsies Lie.

Ann McCulloch is Executive Editor of the on-line journal Double Dialogues (see doubledialogues.com) and co-convener of associated international conferences. Her interest in 'The body and Mind in Crisis' has not only been represented in her articles on depression, tragic theory, War and Literature and Climate change but also represented in units devised for Deakin university students : 'Literature of Sadness: The Mind & Body in Crisis' and 'War, Trauma and Terror Narratives of Extremity'.