Past Events
Summary of The New Institute’s Activities
2004
“Ideas for Newcastle” Ross Whitelaw; John Roberts; Ross Kerridge;
The Forthcoming Election;- Margo Kingston, Journalist
“A place with breath, voice and presence: why regional identity matters.” Associate Professor Phillip O’Neill, Director of the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, University of Newcastle.
2005
‘Sex, Gender & Football’, A/Prof Cathy Lumby, Sydney University
‘What do we want a theatre for anyway?’ (Multiple speakers inc Daniel Ballantyne, Newcastle Civic Theatre)
‘Troy to Gallipolli and September the 11th’; Bernie Curran, Newcastle University
‘Remembering Polio – 50 years on’; Norrie Stevens, Polio Survivor; Prof Gordon Kerridge, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Craig Dalton, Public Health Physician
‘The role of Public Advocacy and the Cornelia Rau case’ Prof Ray Watterson, Newcastle University School of Legal Studies
‘The University of the Future’ – Prof Nick Saunders, Vice Chancellor, Newcastle University;
‘It’s time for League & Union to combine’ – Debate including Knights Chairman Michael Hill, and NSW Rugby Union Coach Brian O’Shea.
‘W(h)ither the Labor Party? Peter Botsman, Whitlam Institute;
2006
‘Disease-mongering – the new epidemic’;. Professors Joel Lexchin, (Toronto Canada), & Leonore Tiefer (New York), plus Roy Moynihan (Sydney).
‘Remembering when abortion was illegal’ Prof Alan Hewson, Gynaecologist.
‘Is Australia Outsourcing execution?’ – Pauline Wright & Michael Walton, NSW Council for Civil Liberties
‘The Theory and Practice of the Rule of Law in a Modern Democracy.’ Nicholas Cowdery QC, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions.
‘Why TV is good for kids’ – Prof Cathy Lumby, Sydney University, and Prof Graeme Vimpani, Paediatrician
‘A Miracle of History – The survival of Awabakal culture’ Shane Frost, Awabakal Descendant; & Bernie Curran, Newcastle University
‘The Ethical conflicts of a Property Developer’ – David Kennedy, Director, CVC Developments Ltd.
‘The ‘Shoot-Out’ Story’ – Kristi Street, Co-Founder of Newcastle’s innovative 24-hour filmmaking festival.
2007
Public Forum of major candidates for the State Seat of Newcastle, who will be questioned by a panel of media and community representatives. (Held on Newcastle City Hall, Feb 22nd )
‘Mapping the History of Newcastle on the Google Earth Canvas’ Gionni di Gravio, Newcastle University Library Archivist
Will the Institutional Churches survive the 21st century? Monsignor Allan Hart, Rev. Gary Dodds, Pastor Paul Scarfe
‘Alcohol and Inner-City violence’. Forum including Hoteliers association; Police, Hunter Health, & Newcastle Youth
‘Why are we depressed, and What can we do about it’ - Prof Trevor Waring, Chancellor Newcastle University; and Prof Vaughan Carr, Psychiatrist
The lost generation – the Fairbridge scheme” David Hill
Educational choices – Beyond Public vs. Private
The New Economics – Ross Gittins
Australia’s next Decade:- Hugh McKay.
Town Hall Forum – What do we want from the next Federal Government? – Panel of local commentators
‘The Future of the Mass Media in Regional Australia’. Jeff Eather, Media Consultant, and Mike McLusky, ABC
2008
Prostate Cancer Screening – ‘Is a little prick better than no prick at all?’ Dr Terry Doyle, Dr Paul Ainsworth, and the NSW Cancer Council
Safe cycling in Newcastle. On April 8th a panel including Garth Russel, (ABC); Olivia Gollan, (Amy Gillett Foundation) Ben Ewald (Newcastle Cycleways) and Kyle Loades (NRMA)
Looking forward to the US Elections Michael Ondaatje
“Thirty years as a Foreign Correspondent” ABC journalist Peter Cave
“Coping with Climate Change” – Prof. Gary Willgoose, Newcastle University, and Dr James McGregor, CSIRO Energy Centre
‘Ruddfest – An Imagineers view of the 2020 Summit’ A/Prof Alison Jones
Public ‘Town Hall Forum’ – Candidates for Newcastle’s Lord Mayor
The University and the Community of Newcastle – Past and Future Dr Bernie Curran, Newcastle University Foundation
2009
Analysing the Obama victory Michael Ondaatje.
The Family Court Justice Graham Mullane
The ‘Renew Newcastle’ project Marcus Westbury
The Economics of Water Management – Steven Lucas, of Newcastle Uni, and Kevin Young of Hunter Water,
‘Economics after the Global Financial Crisis’. Ross Gittins.
Transport in Newcastle – What are Tram-trains? Allan Squires, Tony Proust, Joan Dawson, Peter Shinnick.
A Vision for the Hunter:- Hunter Development Corporation
Shaping Our Image – Can you ‘Brand’ Newcastle?. Dee Madigan, Advertising Commentator, Mike Preston (Peach), Brian Daly (Enigma),
The Hunter Environment – Now for the good news. NPWS; and Hunter Wetland Centre
