Education
Ward studied English at the University of Adelaide and taught at Geelong and Sydney Grammar Schools.
Ward studied English at the University of Adelaide and taught at Geelong and Sydney Grammar Schools.
He was at the University of New England as a lecturer (1957) and deputy chancellor for eight years. During World World War II he served in an army psychological unit Ward"s membership of the Communist Party of Australia (1941 to 1949) brought him to the attention of ASIO.
And, in 1984, he appeared before the Hope Royal Commission on Australia"s security and intelligence agencies stating that ASIO had harassed him for 40 years.
In his book, The Australian Legend (colloquially known as Legend), Ward argued that the Australian bush was egalitarian and that this influenced Australian culture. Ward"s book was both influential and controversial and is grouped among the classic historical references on Australia history.
In the 40 years since its first publication, there were three editions and it has been reprinted 15 times. While the images of the Australian character in Legend may not seem to reflect modern views, it is a book that "inform Australians about the forces that have shaped them", and it raises questions that continue to be debated.
His thesis in Legend was later challenged by Humphrey McQueen in 1970.
