scholarly journals Man Robbery—A Gender Signifier in Convict Australia 1827–1836

Societies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Carol Liston ◽  
Kathrine M. Reynolds

This paper investigates the use of the anomalous term ‘man robbery’ in historical records relating to convict women in New South Wales. We question its accuracy as a criminal offence and conclude that its use in the 1830s was an administrative code that summarized an assessment not only of the women’s criminality but also of their morality. Its use in the historical records has been accepted uncritically by modern historians. The anomaly was identified through a large-scale study of these records. Often used to trace the histories of individual women for genealogical research, recurring patterns in the records are more noticeable when considering the crimes of some 5000 women transported to New South Wales, especially when their court records held in Britain are compared with those held in Australia. Evidence has emerged that the criminality of the women has been reduced by this gendered criminal offence. Inconsistency in the application of the term ‘man robbery’ led us to question it accuracy. Violence and participation in gangs were airbrushed from the records by the use of a term that implied that the women’s crimes related to their sexuality rather than their skills as criminals.

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Underwood ◽  
M. G. Chapman

Data were collected in New South Wales from replicate sites on five wave-exposed shores separated by hundreds of kilometres at three-monthly intervals for four years, to examine large and small spatial and temporal patterns in low-shore algal assemblages. These data were used to test hypotheses from the models that algal assemblages show large-scale, predictable changes in structure or, alternatively, that variation from time to time is small-scale and differs from shore to shore or site to site on a shore. There was considerable variation at all scales examined — among replicate quadrats within sites, between sites on a shore and among shores. Similarly, assemblages differed from one sampling period to the next and changes in the assemblages over time periods of three months were as great as from year to year. These changes were interactive, with no two sites or shores showing similar temporal patterns. Thus, understanding diversity along a coast-line requires detailed understanding of local processes. Without adequate spatial and temporal replication in sampling designs and without explanatory models, the large and complex variability in intertidal assemblages at different scales cannot be documented and understood.


2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 255 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. Andrew ◽  
A. L. O'Neill

Aerial photography was used to estimate the representation of shallow subtidal habitats in New South Wales. Sixty sites, each between 4 and 5 hectares, were mapped with Geographical Information Systems software using ortho-rectified images digitized from 1:8000-scale photographs and ‘ground truthed’ in the field by divers. Barrens habitat covered an estimated 50% (s.e. = 3.9) of nearshore reefs between Port Stephens and Disaster Bay. Coverage of barrens habitat was greatest in Disaster Bay (68%, s.e. = 6.7) and least south of Disaster Bay (1%, s.e. = 0.3). There were clear differences among localities in the area of reef within the mapped sites; those at Cape Howe, Nadgee, and Turingal were significantly smaller in area than all others. There was no clear latitudinal trend in these differences but there was evidence of sand inundation at a site at Nadgee, where the reef was small. Differences in the densities and size-structure of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersiiat 27 of the mapped sites provide a basis for testing relationships between the demography of this species and the persistence of the barrens habitat. The extensive coverage of the barrens habitat in New South Wales is likely to limit the productivity of the abalone industry. The development of a sea urchin fishery may have large impacts on habitat representation on nearshore reefs.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Karystianis ◽  
Armita Adily ◽  
Peter Schofield ◽  
Lee Knight ◽  
Clara Galdon ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Vast numbers of domestic violence (DV) incidents are attended by the New South Wales Police Force each year in New South Wales and recorded as both structured quantitative data and unstructured free text in the WebCOPS (Web-based interface for the Computerised Operational Policing System) database regarding the details of the incident, the victim, and person of interest (POI). Although the structured data are used for reporting purposes, the free text remains untapped for DV reporting and surveillance purposes. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we explore whether text mining can automatically identify mental health disorders from this unstructured text. METHODS We used a training set of 200 DV recorded events to design a knowledge-driven approach based on lexical patterns in text suggesting mental health disorders for POIs and victims. RESULTS The precision returned from an evaluation set of 100 DV events was 97.5% and 87.1% for mental health disorders related to POIs and victims, respectively. After applying our approach to a large-scale corpus of almost a half million DV events, we identified 77,995 events (15.83%) that mentioned mental health disorders, with 76.96% (60,032/77,995) of those linked to POIs versus 16.47% (12,852/77,995) for the victims and 6.55% (5111/77,995) for both. Depression was the most common mental health disorder mentioned in both victims (22.30%, 3258) and POIs (18.73%, 8918), followed by alcohol abuse for POIs (12.24%, 5829) and various anxiety disorders (eg, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder) for victims (11.43%, 1671). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that text mining can automatically extract targeted information from police-recorded DV events to support further public health research into the nexus between mental health disorders and DV.


2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
NR Perkins

A large-scale outbreak of equine influenza (EI) virus in Australia in 2007 resulted in major disruption to horse activities and related industries across the nation and particularly in the two infected states (Queensland and New South Wales). In a major test of animal health response capacity, the outbreak was successfully contained and the EI virus eradicated as a result of a coordinated national response that relied heavily on the cooperation of government and industry stakeholders. Quarantine measures have been strengthened to minimise the risk of future incursions and ensure that Australia remains free of this important and highly contagious disease.


2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1512-1516 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rotherham ◽  
A. J. Underwood ◽  
M. G. Chapman ◽  
C. A. Gray

Abstract Rotherham, D., Underwood, A. J., Chapman, M. G., and Gray, C. A. 2007. A strategy for developing scientific sampling tools for fishery-independent surveys of estuarine fish in New South Wales, Australia. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 1512–1516. The limitations of using fishery-dependent data, i.e. from commercial and recreational fisheries to assess harvested stocks of fish and invertebrates, are well known. Increasingly, fishery-independent surveys are used to validate data from fishery-dependent sources and to provide indices of recruitment and broader ecological information about species not normally retained in fishing operations. Any large-scale, long-term, fishery-independent study must develop sampling gear and designs that are standardized, representative, optimal with respect to the quantity and structure of catch, and replicated over relevant spatial and temporal scales. We present a strategy for achieving appropriate sampling designs. This involves: (i) identifying suitable sampling gears for target species; (ii) testing different configurations of gear and sampling practices to ensure that samples are optimal, representative, and cost efficient; (iii) understanding scales of spatial and temporal variability; and (iv) cost–benefit analyses to optimize replication. Examples of this strategy are illustrated, with brief considerations of the values of pilot research in developing fishery-independent sampling.


1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Lim ◽  
J. R. Giles

Contrary to previous literature, P. xanthopus had not been recorded in western New South Wales before its existence was reported by Fox (1966). There is only one geographically isolated population of less than 250 animals in two separate colonies in the Gap and Coturaundee Ranges, where they are confined to two cliff systems and two outcrops. Their distribution is therefore more limited than first reported by Wilson et al. (1976). They were more widespread in the past, being found also in the Barrier and Bynguano Ranges. These conclusions have been reached from data collected from: (1) a large-scale low-level aerial survey and subsequent ground inspections to record this species' presence in specific locations in north-western New South Wales; (2) a systematic detailed survey of the Gap and Coturaundee Ranges to establish its pattern of habitat use from the accumulated density of faecal pellets; (3) low-level aerial surveys over these and other areas, by helicopter, to confirm the results of earlier surveys and check on reported sightings. The results of this study are being used for the management of this rare rock-wallaby in New South Wales. It is recommend that this species be re-established in the Bynguano Range.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reece D. Pedler ◽  
Rebecca S. West ◽  
John L. Read ◽  
Katherine E. Moseby ◽  
Michael Letnic ◽  
...  

Species reintroductions into predator-controlled areas are an increasingly used conservation tool. Typically, ecological outcomes of such projects (e.g. recruitment, predation) are the focus but seldom necessary legislative, policy, social and institutional processes required for establishing large projects. This particularly applies to protected areas, managed by governments for conservation. Reintroductions are recommended for a third of threatened Australian vertebrates, with the New South Wales Government boldly embarking on a 2013 initiative to return locally extinct mammals to three protected areas. We detail the legislative, policy, social and institutional processes required for one of these sites, Wild Deserts, in Sturt National Park. Seven locally extinct species, including the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville), golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus), greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor), crest-tailed mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda), western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) and burrowing bettong (Bettongia lesueur) will be reintroduced into two exclosures. The scale of the project required identification of an appropriate location, satisfaction of statutory requirements for major infrastructure in a national park, assessments of potential ecological costs and benefits, engagement of the national park agency and other stakeholders (Traditional Owners, other government agencies, neighbours), and staff training to meet government agency requirements. We outline the resourcing, costs and benefits of such a project on government-managed land along with lessons learnt for similar large-scale restoration and reintroduction projects. Future projects would benefit from understanding legislative and policy frameworks and the need for transparency, while maximising efficiencies.


2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. Kingsford ◽  
K. Brandis ◽  
R. F. Thomas ◽  
P. Crighton ◽  
E. Knowles ◽  
...  

Relatively few large-scale inventories of the world's wetlands exist because of the difficulties of spatial scale, associated cost and multiple objectives, often temporally confounded, that drive classification. The extent of wetlands across a large part of Australia (New South Wales, 80.6 million ha) was determined using satellite image analyses. These data allowed analyses of the distribution of wetlands, their conservation status and potential threats at different spatial scales; that is, State, coastal and inland, and catchment. Approximately 5.6% of New South Wales is wetland (4.5 million ha), mostly (96%) in inland river catchments. Broad classification allowed identification of the extent of wetland types: (i) floodplains (89%); (ii) freshwater lakes (6.6%); (iii) saline lakes (< 1%); (iv) estuarine wetlands (2.5%); and (v) coastal lagoons and lakes (1.5%). Conservation reserves protect only 3% of wetland area. The analyses identified the north-west as the key area for wetland conservation as most other catchments have lower wetland extent and more potential threatening processes. The first stage of a large-scale inventory is to determine the extent and location of wetlands, with immediate benefits for strategic conservation and management. Other objectives (e.g. classification, biotic composition, hydrology and threats) seldom have sufficient data available for large-scale inventories but can be completed later with resources.


1957 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
DJ Lee ◽  
AL Dyce ◽  
AK O'Gower

The possible vectors of myxomatosis amongst rabbits in a typical mountain environment in eastern New South Wales have been investigated. The disease was established in an isolated population of rabbits and the course of its fluctuations followed through a period of two and a half years, involving two large-scale reductions in rabbit density. Of over 60 species of blood-sucking flies encountered, 9 species of Culicidae, 2 of Simuliidae, 3 of Ceratopogonidae, and 1 of Tabanidae have been shown to feed on rabbits. Two recoveries of myxomatosis virus have been made from mixed collections of Aedes queenslandis and A. alboannulatus. The relative importance of the species known to attack rabbits is discussed in relation to the transmission and maintenance of the disease. Information on host preferences and the feeding, resting, and movement of adults is given. Possible factors influencing the autumn incidence of the disease on the eastern coast and tablelands area of New South Wales are discussed, and further means of exploiting myxomatosis towards the control of rabbits in specific environments are suggested.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document