Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2023 July 8

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July 8

Australian Federal roundsman

What is or was a Federal roundsman in Australia? Lloyd Dumas worked as one, according to our article about him. Thank you, DuncanHill (talk) 11:17, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Appears to be a type of political reporter [1] [2]. 2A00:23C7:A103:CF01:F40E:89FF:FD2F:57D (talk) 11:56, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

I've heard of the term "police roundsman" to describe a journalist who followed and reported on police activities and subsequent court cases. I would hazard a guess that a federal roundsman reported on activities in Australia's federal parliament, which was located in Melbourne at the time under discussion in the article, and where Dumas worked at that time. (Canberra was not built until later.) HiLo48 (talk) 11:59, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Although as my links show, you didn't have to be based in Melbourne to be a roundsman - A.B.C. was based in Sydney (and probably still is). 2A00:23C7:A103:CF01:F40E:89FF:FD2F:57D (talk) 12:18, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Of course, but to be a reporter on federal parliament, one would need be where federal parliament sat, especially back in 1915 when communications were much less effective than today. HiLo48 (talk) 23:44, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Yes. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (then a Commission) is based in Ultimo, Sydney. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:31, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Here's one for Hilo: Why are these people referred to as "Federal roundsmen", rather than Commonwealth roundsmen? 2A00:23C7:A103:CF01:F40E:89FF:FD2F:57D (talk) 12:58, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Federal and Commonwealth are used interchangeably here in references to the national parliament and government. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:37, 8 July 2023 (UTC)