Don Dwyer’s pick of what is on offer in Canberra this month is the National Film and Sound Archive’s film, “My Year with Helen“, which details Helen Clark’s gallant campaign for the position of UN Secretary-General. Part of the Canberra International Film Festival, which has a wide range of films to suit most tastes!

OCTOBER

Thursday 19 October: 5 p.m., Museum of Australian Democracy, Members’ Dining Room 2, Jon Stanhope and Cathy McGowan etc., “The Ideal Pollie“. Free; RSVP to UCIGPA@canberra.edu.au

Thursday 26 October: 8.15 p.m., National Film & Sound Archive; “My Year with Helen“. RSVP 6248-2000.

Friday 27 October: 6 p.m., Llewellyn Hall ANU, Kevin Rudd and Stan Grant discuss the first of Rudd’s 2-volume memoir, “Not for the Faint Hearted“. Free, RSVP to eventbrite.com.au

Sunday 29 October: 1 p.m., National Film & Sound Archive, “Rocking the Foundations“, Pat Fiske’s 1986 film on Jack Mundey’s Builders Labourers Federation.

Monday 30 October: 8.15 p.m., National Film & Sound Archive, “Chauka, Please tell us the time” — a film made on Manus Island.

NOVEMBER

Tuesday 7 November: Melbourne Cup

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 November: National Film & Sound Archive, Iranian Film Festival.

Wednesday 22 November: 7 p.m., National Film & Sound Archive, “For Love or Money: a history of women and work in Australia” (1983).

Monday 27 November: 6 p.m., National Library, former tennis star Jelena Dokic launches her book “Unbreakable“. $20, RSVP 6262-1111.

Thursday 30 November: 5.15 p.m., National Library, Prof. Lesley Johnson, “The Golden Years of the Humanities — Australia in the 1960s and 1970s“. Free, RSVP 6262-1111.

DECEMBER

Friday 1 December: 5.30 p.m., Roland Wilson building, ANU, Paul Pickering, “The Making of the English Working Class”.

Tuesday 5 December: 5.30 p.m., Academy of Science Shine Dome, Dr Carol Oliver, “Australia’s Role in Looking for Life on Mars“. Free, RSVP 6201-9462.