Australian Studies across a broad spectrum; Visual Art including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art; Sociology; Sociolinguistics; Humour Studies; Australian literature including Aboriginal liteerature and Eco-crime literature; Australian politics.

Born in a small South Australian town, Curramulka, then moved to Mannum on the River Murray; at the age of 11 went to Sydney where I lived from late 1963-1982; went to SCEGGS Redlands Cremorne 1964-1969; then to university 1970-1974; worked at Balmain High School then Keira Boys' High School until I was appointed to Milperra College of Advanced Education at a time it was transtioning into UWS, and worked there from 1978-82; from early 1982 I worked first as a linguist then as Deputy Principal and then as Lajamanu Bilingual (Warlpiri/English) School Principal 1984-1991, when I worked in Darwin in 1991-1992 as Principal Education Officer in BIlingual Education,which included many visits to bilingual Aboriginal schools, and testifying to the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody investigation. Appointed to Flinders University (Australian Studies) 1993-2019, although I was away 2004-2005, working as Professor of Australian Studies in Japan at the University of Tokyo. Worked for 6 months in the MA in Art History at Adelaide University before returning to Flinders uni.

Regarding curating, I was co-curator of the Kathleen Petyarre solo exhibition and also the Dorothy Napangardi exhibitions at the MCA Sydney, along with many other group exhibitions, one of which has travelled to many parts of the world ("Yilpinji: Love, Magic and Ceremony").

Have published more than 20 books through commercial publishers, for both adults and children, and while at Flinders published numerous peer-reviewed articles (see ResearchGate Flinders) as well as visual art catalogues). Visual art reviewer for The Advertiser for many years in the 90s; and have written extensively for The Conversation.

I'm currently writing a series of articles about over-valued books, beginning with Bruce Chatwin's The Songlines, with more to follow.

In addition I'm writing a book on humour and rhetoric.