Coroanvirus in Ballarat: Hugh Mackay on loneliness, love, compassion
INTROSPECTION became an iso-trend in a fortuitous fashion for Hugh Mackay.
The leading Australian social psychologist's latest work has been focusing on helping people confront the question 'who am I, really' and what it means to be human.
Mackay's two latest books, one a novel and the other non-fiction, were completely clear before the coronavirus pandemic but lockdowns across the nation have taken understandings of his work to a deeper level.
"The pandemic reminds us we are all one and the same: coronavirus is invading humans, not just males or females or Americans or Swedes," Mackay said. "It's a good reminder of the fact our true nature, our deeper sense of self, is connected to humanity.
"There is the old perception that being individuals is how we are different on a number of levels to other species, but we are social species and we need family, work place colleagues and friendship circles."
Art Gallery of Balarat will present Mackay in conversation with Compassionate Ballarat's Lynne Reeder in a free online webinar on Monday evening.
The Canberra-based Mackay will speak about his non-fiction book The Inner Self, exploring the differences between our inner and social selves, his novel The Question of Lovewith themes on the complexities in love, and he will address his work on compassionate societies.
Hugh Mackay's new book covers.
Mackay said the pandemic had sparked a "loud and clear" message on a greater community need for compassion, particularly in highlighting huge gaps in social isolation exacerbated by restrictions.
Social isolation, he said, was not just a pandemic problem. This existed among all kinds of people from international students to single mums and the most fragile community members.
"The tragedy is this is a big problem in contemporary Australian society," Mackay said.
"People tend to have much more a sense of themselves than of community. Everyone's busy and has their own agenda but we've got to remember above all we're community members.
"People can make different choices. I think the pendulum is swinging back as people start to realise what matters."
The tragedy is this is a big problem in contemporary Australian society. People tend to have much more a sense of themselves than of community.
Hugh Mackay
This is a community issue identified by a Leadership Ballarat and Western Region project group, which is conducting a survey to better understand loneliness and isolation in Ballarat.
The project aims to complement work by groups such as Compassionate Ballarat to better engage and connect all people in the community.
The pandemic has also stripped bare what he calls "hiding places", the ways people avoid confronting their true self and compassionate nature. Mackay said this has forced a re-think for many on how we work, travel and materialism. He said this offered a chance to live life at a more sensible pace.
Mackay is a national ambassador on the Australian Compassionate Council.
Details: artgalleryofballarat.com.au/events.
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