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Tuesday Forums
Forums have a "current affairs" focus covering local events, politics, science, the environment and international events.
Sessions are held via Zoom commencing on Tuesdays at 12:30 pm and run from March to early June and from mid-July to November.
There are two registration options:
* Pre-register for all talks during the year and you will automatically be sent Zoom login details each week, i.e. there will not be any need to register on a weekly basis. (Note: Those who pre-registered in 2024 will automatically be transferred to the 2025 Forums.)
* Register on a weekly basis for the Forums which interest you. Registration will open in the week preceding the talk and the details are advertised with each Forum.
| Date | Forum details |
|---|---|
14 October | The Whitlam Dismissal Fifty Years Later - Unravelling a Secret HistoryProfessor Jenny Hocking AM FASSA Fifty years after the dismissal of the Whitlam government by the Governor-General Sir John Kerr, Emeritus Professor Jenny Hocking explores what really happened on 11 November 1975. Why did the Governor-General dismiss the Whitlam government and why were his letters to and from the Queen kept secret by the National Archives for so long? With the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the dismissal, Professor Hocking will talk to her legal battle for the release of the "Palace letters" between the Queen and Governor-General at the time of the dismissal, and the implications of their dramatic revelations for understanding the role of the Queen in the dismissal of the Whitlam government. In this special 50-year anniversary event Professor Jenny Hocking explores the hidden history of the dismissal, the deception, the intrigue, and the latest archival revelations - everything we were never meant to know. Professor Hocking is one of Australia leading political historian, biographer, and academic. She is Emeritus Professor at Monash University and the inaugural Distinguished Whitlam Fellow at the Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University Her major works include biographies of Lionel Murphy, Frank Hardy, and especially her two-volume biography of Gough Whitlam: "Gough Whitlam: A Moment in History" (2008) and "Gough Whitlam: His Time" (2012) and most recently the award-winning "The Palace Letters: The Queen, the governor -general, and the plot to dismiss Gough Whitlam". 👉Registrations open 7 October 9AM and close 13 October 5PM. To register email Include your U3A membership or affiliate number in the email. |
21 October | Threats to the Great Barrier ReefDr Paul Hardisty (former CEO Aust Institute of Marine Science) The Great Barrier Reef faces unprecedented challenges. Rising ocean temperatures, coral bleaching, pollution and coastal development all threaten its survival. In this talk, Dr Paul Hardisty will outline the science behind these pressures, the urgent steps needed to protect the reef, and what its future means for Australia and the planet. Dr Paul Hardisty is an environmental scientist, engineer and former CEO of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). With over 30 years' experience in sustainability, climate science, and marine conservation, he has worked internationally across government, research and industry. He is also an author and continues to advise on global environmental and climate challenges. 👉Registrations open 14 October 9AM and close 20 October 5PM. To register email Include your U3A membership or affiliate number in the email. |
28 October | Africa's great lakes; the silent war in the CongoJohn Angley Details to be provided closer to the date. 👉Registrations open 21 October 9AM and close 27 October 5PM. To register email Include your U3A membership or affiliate number in the email. |
4 November | The threats to Australia's natural environment from Invasive speciesDoug Laing Details to be provided closer to the date. 👉Registrations open 28 October 9AM and close 3 November 5PM. To register email Include your U3A membership or affiliate number in the email. |