Author Archives: vintagereds

October 2018 Guest Speaker, Graham Farquhar

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We welcomed Dr Graham Farquhar, the ACT and Australian Senior Citizen of the Year. He spoke on the topic, “From Burnie and Ballet to the ANU”, covering early influences in his life.

Graham is a plant scientist, and works on the sustainable physiology of plants, “bioelectricity” in plants, and stomatal physiology. His work has led him to look at the impact of climate change and the capacity of plants to evolve and adapt. [Photo: ANU]

Graham was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science in 2015 and the Kyoto Prize for science in 2017. This Japanese prize is designed to honour those fields which are not covered by the Nobel committee’s prizes.

Graham has also studied classical ballet and was instrumental in establishing the Canberra Dance Theatre, a community-based organisation.

Graham gave a hugely entertaining talk, accepted his Vintage Red mug graciously, and joined us for lunch afterwards.

August 2018 Guest Speaker, Deborah Veness

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We were delighted to welcome Deborah to talk to the Vintage Reds on the topic of “Funding and Ethics: the Ramsay Foundation Case Study”.

Deborah is currently the manager of the ANU’s College of Arts and Social Sciences Student and Education Office. She is an NTEU member and is a former ANU Council member. She is also from Bob Katter’s electorate, from a family with generations of teachers, publicans and police officers.

Universities are either academic (such as the ANU) or vocational. The academic ones teach critical thinking, which is naturally not the same as course content. The term “customers” for tertiary students doesn’t really apply, as they are not there to buy a product or a service, but instead get the opportunity to learn in a scholarly environment. Continue reading →

Wage justice for cleaners: Change the Rules!

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It was cold and overcast in Canberra this morning when the Vintage Reds joined with United Voice and other unions to support the cleaners in Australian Government office buildings who are going to suffer a 20% cut in their wages (from $24.00 to $20 an hour). Many are likely to loose their jobs because of this change of contractors and work arrangements.  Just another example of why Australia needs to “Change the Rules” and rid us of our rancid conservative government!

 

Don’s Calendar of Events, August 2018

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22 August: Aborigines and the Media – Dr Elizabeth Burrows, National Library, 5:15pm RSVP 62621111

22 August: Japanese War Crimes – Prof. Robert Cribb, 5:30pm Manning House, 11 Tasmania Circuit, Forrest, www.trybooking.com/WYXH or RSVP 62959430

as a long term member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), Don recommends 3 new Aussie films – 

West of Sunshine (23/8)

The Merger (30/8)

The Flipside (30/8)

23 August: Palestine Fundraising Dinner with Olfat Mahmoud, 6:30pm Delhi 6 Restaurant, Childers St, Civic, http://www.afopa.com.au/afopa-events/2018/8/23/fundraising-dinner-canberra. Contact Kathryn Kelly 0417269984 or www.trybooking.com/394919

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July 2018 Guest Speaker, Roxley Foley

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The Vintage Reds welcomed our guest speaker, Roxley Foley.

Roxley is currently the Fire-Keeper at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Old Parliament House, Canberra. He is a young Gumbaynggirr man and activist from Adelaide.

[Photo: Wikimedia Commons]

Roxley presented a wide ranging analysis of actions and policies by government and business which are having an adverse impact on aboriginal groups, and which undermine the possibility of a treaty based on mutual respect and good will. Mining and the sale of land and assets are particularly problematic: Roxley mentioned fracking, the loss of food basins, and government manipulation of Land Councils.

Given that the prime minister had rejected the Uluru Statement of May 2017, the audience was interested to hear Roxley’s comments. He said that the convention’s process had been taken over and compromised by bureaucrats. He was critical of the large number of participants who were hand-picked and not elected delegates. Some aboriginal groups withdrew, unhappy about the final negotiations at Uluru. There were echoes of the now-defunct “Recognise” campaign which had a lot of corporate support but not so much at grassroots level. Roxley is opposed to any move which sees aboriginal people give up rights to sovereignty or the possibility of a treaty, only to be absorbed into a constitutional system. The Constitution is racist and gives no protection for aboriginal law and land. But he also rejects black nationalism or an island of black inside Australia. He wants a movement that brings everyone along with it. Continue reading →

Don’s Calendar of Events, July 2018

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14 to 30 July: various literary events – see litbits@canberratimes.com.au

19 July: Launch of “Captain Cook’s Apprentice” by Anthony Hill, Harry Hartog Bookshop, Westfield, Woden, 6pm RSVP 62325832

20 July: Songs of Joni Mitchell – Kate Miller, Heidke, etc. Phone 62752700 canberratheatrecentre.com.au

21 July: Women of Wonder Market, Tuggeranong Shopping Centre, 10am-2pm

21 July: Repower Queanbeyan Launch, hosted by Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Queanbeyan Library, 11am-12:30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/2113719325507650/

21 July: Refugee Rally, Five Years on Manus Island and Nauru, Refugee Action Committee, Canberra, Commonwealth Park (near north end of Commonwealth Bridge), 1pm

22 July: Arab Souq (Market) Festival, National Museum, 11am-3pm, Free entry http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/so-that-you-might-know-each-other/events

26 to 28 July: Dark Emu, Canberra Theatre Centre, Phone 62752700 canberratheatrecentre.com.au

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June 2018 Guest Speaker, Melanie Nolan

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Our speaker was Melanie Nolan, the general editor of the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB). Here is a short version of her talk, including her answers to questions from the floor. [Photo: ANU School of History]

Melanie began with an acknowledgement of country.

The ADB began in 1957, led by Keith Hancock, with the aim of establishing a federal dictionary project. Hancock had a history of involvement with the UK Dictionary of National Biography. The ADB’s first employee was Ann Moyal. Her work duties included driving round in her car, all over Australia organising working parties and drumming up support for the dictionary project. Douglas Pike was appointed as first editor, not Ann, in 1962. In 2006 the dictionary went online, free. It now gets 60 million hits a year. So far there are 13,000 articles. The ANU continues to be a strong supporter. Files not yet online are all available to be consulted at the ANU archives. The current crop of biographies includes people who died between 1991 and 2000; it will be a decade’s work. Once the articles go online, and then taking into account any feedback, they will be published in book form. Continue reading →

Don’s Calendar of Events, June 2018

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18 June: 7pm Not Very Quiet Journal presents From Wench We Came: Yass and Binalong poets Jane Baker, Victoria McGrath, Lizz Murphy and Robyn Sykes, Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Civic, $5 entry, no open mic.

19 June: 6pm Oppy: the Life of Sir Hubert Opperman by Danial Oakman launch, National Library of Australia bookshop, free – bookings www.nla.gov.au

20 June: 6am-10pm World Refugee Day Telethon featuring Gillian Triggs, Tamie Fraser and many more – phone 1300 692 772, www.asrc.org.au/telethon

20 June: 12:40pm Canberra Grammar Cello Choir Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Barton – www.wesleycanberra.org.au

20 June: 5:30pm Why the 1940s matter in transforming Australia, David Vines, National Library – RSVP 6262 1111

21 and 22 June: 9am Timor-Leste Update, Hedley Bull Centre, ANU, Liversidge Street & Garran Road, free – RSVP 6262 1111

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May 2018 Guest speaker, Richard Tanter

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Richard is an academic and a member of ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. His topic was “How do we get to abolition?“.

Richard opened his talk with an acknowledgement that we met on aboriginal land, and paid respects to Aboriginal custodians and elders past and present.

He acknowledged the work of Dr Sue Wareham and ICAN, which started ten years ago in Melbourne. Richard has been a member for 5 years and is currently a Board member. He was also the Director of the Nautilus Institute in Australia where he was involved in peace and security issues including work on abolishing nuclear weapons.

Richard outlined the history behind the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (which passed the UN vote on 7 July 2017) and lead to the ICAN Nobel Peace Prize. It was notably not signed by Australia and the USA among others. The world now has 15,000 nuclear weapons and these are being modernised at the moment at a cost of $1 trillion. Richard spoke about the outcome for the entire world if, for example, a local war between India and Pakistan resulted in a nuclear attack – apart for the “local” destruction, there would be decades of increased atmospheric carbon leading to widespread environmental destruction and famine. He argued that the idea of “deterrence” is dangerous as there is every likelihood of these weapons being used in some circumstances. There are now 9 countries with nuclear weapons.
 Continue reading →

Don’s Calendar of Events, May 2018

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21 to 27 May: Exercise Right Week, exerciseright.com.au.

23 May to 6 June: Palace cinema, German Film Festival

24 May: Paperchain Bookstore, Manuka, 6 pm, Ann McGrath from the ANU launches Alison Booth’s latest novel, A Perfect Marriage – a contemporary tale of friendships, the nature of memory, and middle-class domestic violence. Bookings here.

Sunday 27 May: 8 p.m., Archie Roach and the Tiddas

Monday 28 May: National Gallery, Reconciliation Day events.

Thursday 31 May: 6 pm. China in the World auditorium, Fellows Lane, ANU, a free “meet the author” event, with Jonathan Miler talking about his new book, Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines. Book on 6125-4144 or here.

Continue reading →