QSA Talks: Okinawans Reaching Australia presented by John Lamb

John Lamb provides an overview of his book, Okinawans reaching Australia, which is the story of all known Okinawans to have reached Australia between 1900 and 1960. Using a range of archival material and different sources, John Lamb tells the story of how Okinawans contributed to Queensland industry and history. He also reveals his own research experiences, fateful connections and unexpected discoveries.
About John Lamb
John Lamb was born in Melbourne in 1949, and grew up in a family of five competitive boys. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Architecture, University of Melbourne (1973), Master of Engineering (Architectural Design) Waseda University (1976), and a Graduate Diploma of Education, Canberra University (1998).
He has worked in many areas of the Australian Public Service, been a teacher in both government and private schools and for many years ran a small business. He has also spent more than five years working in Japan, principally as a design manager and liaison officer in Ebara Corporation, Tokyo, but also as an architect, English teacher and translator.
It was only after purported retirement that he became seriously caught up in historical research. He has been the the recipient of a Northern Territory History Grant (2014), an Australia-Japan Foundation Grant (2016), and also a Commendation of the Ambassador of Japan for his distinguished contributions to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship. His book ‘Silent Pearls’ was short-listed for a Northern Territory History Award, and he has given many presentations and published a variety of articles relating to the history of Japanese in Australia.