Many superlatives have been used to describe the broadcasting style of the ABC’s Christopher Lawrence—warm, witty and knowledgeable are three that come easily to mind. I’m therefore delighted to tell you that Christopher, now an author as well as a broadcaster, will be our guest of honour on Tuesday 14 May. He will start by talking about his book Swooning and the personal journey through music that inspired it, and then we will all adjourn to the Friends Lounge for drinks and canapés. These days Christopher presents only one musical program a week for the ABC but is becoming increasingly involved in opera and writers’ festivals and will spend most of this winter in Europe Come along and be entertained and enlightened by this very informal and charming speaker §§§ Barring last-minute cancellations, the excursion in the footsteps of Burke and Wills is now fully booked. On 14 June, 30 lucky Friends will set out for an outback adventure, with less luggage but a greater chance of survival than the two famous explorers who went before. Committee member, Warwick Bradney, earns full marks for his powers of organisation and persuasion as far as this event is concerned! §§§ A piece of early-bird news is that the Hon. Fred Chaney has agreed to deliver this year’s Kenneth Myer Lecture, on a topic of particular social significance to us all. Those who have followed Mr Chaney’s career since he left politics in 1993 will know that he was appointed Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal in 2000 and was made the co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia in 2001. He has long been a champion of social justice, particularly for Indigenous Australians. The lecture will not be held until 26 September, but in telling you about this early I hope I have given every member of the Friends who wishes to attend the opportunity to book ahead of the general public and invited guests. §§§ Finally, for Canberra Friends: Craig Cormick, Chair of the ACT Writers Centre and winner of the 1998 ACT Book of the Year, will be launching his latest work, Dig: The Forgotten History of Burke & Wills in the Friends Lounge on Thursday 9 May at 6 pm. The novella takes a satirical look at the expedition of 1860–61, delving a little into the minds and the motives of Burke & Wills. Craig says that all are welcome! Lee Kirwan |
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