Summary of The New Institute’s Activities
2004|2005|2006|2007|2008|2009|2010|2011|2012|2013|2014|2015|2016|2017|2018|
“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.
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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;
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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2010
March – Dr Michael Ondaatje – Obama’s first year: -A record we can believe in?
April – Howard Dick & Brett Derwin – A Strong and Effective Voice for the Hunter
May – Tony Ross, Louise Duff, David Eland, Gordon Patrick, June Cameron & Leone Woolnough – How can we better support our voluntary organisations?
June – Roger Pryor, Craig Wilson, Carol Duncan, Pip Cleaves & Gordon Whitehead – Twitter and Social Media – What’s it good for?
July – Professor John Warhurst – Whatever happened to the Australian Republic……and what happens now?
August – Peter Saul – Dying in the 21st Century
September –Stefano Manfredi – Food, Wine, and Australian Society
October – Ross Gittins – The Happy Economist
November – Dr Norman Abjorensen The State of Democracy in Australia
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2011
March – The Seat of Newcastle – NSW Election Candidates Forum
April – Changes in the Middle East
May – War in the 21st Century
June – Healthy Advertising
July – Brand Newcastle
August – Youth Homelessness
September – Lessons learnt (perhaps) from the Pasha Bulka storm
September (additional event) – The Divided Brain and the unmaking of our world.
October – Building an Ideas City
November – The Church and THAT problem
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2012
February – 1942: Singapore, Changi and the Burma Railway
March – Obama’s America: A Critique of the Critics
April – Moving past Gridlock – Transport Options for Newcastle
May – Developing the Hunter
June – Reinventing Newcastle’s Night Life
July – Introducing: The Newcastle Institute
August – Arrangement with the University of Newcastle – Cheryl Kernot: Newcastle University Society & Health Lecture 2012
September – Choosing Newcastle’s Lord Mayor
September – Newcastle on the Couch
October – The Future of the University – The Future of Newcastle
November – The Economics of Just about Everything
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2013
March – Opening of the Creating Spaces Conference
April – Champions for the Hunter
May – Religion in Political Life
June – The National Disability Insurance Scheme – How will it work?
July – Federal Candidates’ Forum
August – New Futures for Work in Newcastle
September- Martin Luther King Jr: The Man, the Dream, the Reality
October – The Art Gallery Fiasco:- What have we learnt?
November – Understanding Shari’ah Law – and its future in Australia
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2014
March –The obesity epidemic – Why is it happening and what can we do about it ?
April – Medicare Locals – and the Future of Healthcare
May – Redeveloping Newcastle:- Why? What? How?
June – Cycling – a transport solution for Newcastle
July – Latest thinking in sustainable technologies and coal alternatives
August – Williamtown Now and in the Future
October – Candidates’ Fora
November – Lord Mayoral Candidates’ Forum
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2015
March – First event for 2015 – NSW Election Forum
May – The Railway Stalemate – Is There Another Way?
June – Budgets, Bulldust and Bastardry
July – Smart Creative City
August – Newcastle: Can we have our Heritage cake and eat it too?
September – Newcastle’s New Entrepreneurs
October – New Newcastle
November – The NDIS and the Stockton Centre. What will happen to the severely disabled?
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2016
March – Fear is to terror as hope is to the lottery
April – April 13th: The US Presidential Election
May – May at the Newcastle Institute
June – Cyber Security and State Sponsored Cybercrime
June – Public Forum – Federal election: Hunter Senate candidates forum
July – Do we need to say No to America?
August – Drug Myths and Realities: Medical Marijuana, and Ice
September – Cancer Breakthrough? – A Doctor’s Extraordinary Journey
October – Ethics in the classroom – lessons from the first five years
November – The Politics of Indigenous Organisations
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2017
March – Understanding the Trump Phenomenon
April – Renew Newcastle:- Now and Then
May – What are the solutions to the electricity supply crisis?
June – Navigating the Truth in the Post-Truth Era
July – Conversation Number One – Nathan Rees
August – Mayoral Candidates’ Forum
September – Conversation Number Two – Conversations with Campbell Newman
October – Our democracy is broken:- Is there a better way?
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2018
March – Ross Gittins – Rent-seeking, the ‘game of mates’, and the stuff-ups of economic reform
April – Roy Green – Potential futures for the Port of Newcastle. You can also see further information following this presentation at this link
May – Women and Equality
June – Urban Planning in Newcastle and the Lower Hunter
July – Schools of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
August – Taking control of our energy future
September – September Event: Margaret Henry Memorial Lecture
October – Speaking for the Region
November – Last event for 2018 – Michael Ondaatje – Following the US situation
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