 Never an ivory tower academic , Hirst held a number of influential appointments during the course of his career . He was a member of the Prime Minister 's Republic Advisory Committee , the chair of the Commonwealth Civics Education Group , a member of the Film Australia Board , a council member of the National Museum of Australia , and a member of the board of Old Parliament House in Canberra . He wrote the official history of Australia for new citizens and took a prominent part in the history summit convened by Prime Minister John Howard in 2006 . Hirst advised the Victorian Government on the school history curriculum and was history adviser to the National Curriculum Authority . He was elected to the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia in 1986 . A committed republican , Hirst was the Convenor of the Republican Movement in Victoria . 
