Vannessa Hearman
Tell us about yourself!
I am a historian. I research the 1965-66 mass violence in Indonesia and its legacies. I have also extended my research into Timor-Leste studies in the last few years. I am interested in researching the relationship between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, including Australia’s role in assisting to improve this bilateral relationship.
I have taught Indonesian language, history and politics; while I am a historian by training, I enjoy collaborating with colleagues in different fields such as anthropology, art history and cinema studies. Since 2021, I have held the role of Senior Lecturer in History at Curtin University in Perth.
Where does your interest in Indonesia stem from?
I was born in Indonesia but like many migrant children my age living in Australia, I struggled with my identity, slowly losing my Indonesian language in the process. I was not allowed to do Indonesian in high school as it was seen as too basic for me, so I was simply placed in Year 9 French! It wasn’t till Year 11 that I was allowed to study Indonesian. My teacher was (the late) Pak Simon Williams who many students would remember fondly and was well-known to the Indonesian community in Melbourne. The rise of a pro-democracy movement in the country in the late 1990s further cemented my interest in Indonesia. Then I had to reconnect consciously with the country of my birth and, in the process, deal with the history and memories of racism and trauma that my family experienced in Indonesia. These experiences made them feel disconnected from the country, which also affected me in our early years in Australia.
Have you ever been to an Indonesia Council Open Conference and if so, what is your fondest memory?
I have been to a few ICOC’s and contributed to a session on publishing for early career researchers a few years ago (I think it was the 2015 Deakin Geelong one). My fondest memory each time is how the conference has no registration fee for those wishing to attend and how great (and rare) that is.
How do you think organisations like Indonesia Council can improve Australia-Indonesia relations?
The Indonesia Council should be a fairly informal place that allows students and academics to mingle and exchange information. It would also be important for the IC to continue its relationship with the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) and promote ASAA to IC members and vice-versa.
What are some of the challenges and opportunities in the Indonesia-Australia relationship?
I think much ink has been spilt on this particular topic. Firstly, thinking along the lines of national boundaries can be restricting. As I have said in other forums before, we need to focus on what we have in common rather than what sets us apart. For academics, we have the task of framing the experiences of Indonesians as important in a global setting.
Tell us about your favourite Indonesian food experience.
I recall buying a bebek betutu at the Peliatan Market near Ubud in about 2001. A friend of my Mum’s took us into the alleyways of the market, and we reached a small hut. We went inside and a man stood overseeing many ducks being roasted in rice husks. It was smoky and sooty inside the hut. It was rather surreal. We bought one of the roast ducks and went to Ubud to eat it at another restaurant (this is what the ‘no consumption of outside food’ sign is aimed at!). The duck was delicious, redolent with spices and melting off the bone.
What’s your favourite Indonesian food and why?
Gado-gado Malang, pecel Malang. When I eat these dishes, I know I have returned to the loving embrace of my family and hometown.
What’s your favourite Indonesian music/song/writer?
My favourite Indonesian writer is Putu Oka Sukanta. Pak Putu’s writings are powerful while often whimsical and humorous at the same time. His masterpiece Merajut Harkat, now available in English, should be on the bookshelves of all those who are interested in the best of world literature. As a survivor of 10 years of political imprisonment, Pak Putu’s ability to berkarya kembali, to create again, is inspiring.
[Last month’s PAY IT FORWARD question]:
What’s one thing you’d say to persuade a 13-year-old Australian who is deciding between studying Indonesian and French to choose Indonesian?
I would tell them to choose what he/she/they are interested in doing and not just to follow their friends. I would encourage them to follow their curiosity, and they can always do French later if they still want to.
PAY IT FORWARD: Finally, it’s YOUR turn to ask a question… Please suggest a question we can ask our next member!
What would your advice be to young voters in exercising their democratic right in the 2024 elections?