Royal Geographical Society of Queensland

MONTHLY LECTURE 

RGSQ lectures are free and open to the public.

◊September

September Lecture on the Sunshine Coast

“Gympie Gold and Queensland”

by Bernard Fitzpatrick, the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland

Tue September 26, 7:15 pm – 9 pm

at the University of the Sunshine Coast

Venue: lecture Theatre 2 

Special RGSQ Lecture organised in association with the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Photo: Mary Street, Gympie 1879, courtesy of State Library of Queensland.

Within ten years of becoming an independent colony of the British Empire in 1859, the Colony of Queensland was in financial hardship. In January 1867, the Queensland Government responded by announcing a reward for the discovery of a new gold field.

In a gully to the east of the Mary River, James Nash discovered alluvial gold in September 1867. On registering the find in Maryborough in October 1867 a rush to the new gold field began. A settlement, later named Gympie, sprang up along the small watercourse.

The presentation follows the progress of the Mary River Valley region from its golden days in the mid to late 1800s.

Presenter

Bernard Fitzpatrick is a geographer with a strong interest in regional geography. He has a personal connection to Gympie through various branches of his family, which have had an association with Gympie since at least 1869. He is also the Executive Officer of the Royal Geogrpahical Society of Qld.

◊ October

GEOGRAPHY MATTERS: THE PAST PRESENT& FUTURE OF CENSUS DATA

 Tue October 3, 7:40 pm, “Gregory House”, 237 MIlton Rd, Milton

The lead-up to 2016 Australian Census was marked by significant controversy, with intense media scrutiny on cyber-security and individual privacy.  In the  immediate  aftermath, concerns were raised about data quality and the long-term sustainability of the Australian Census.

This talk will delve into the past controversy,  examine the present utility of Census data,  and speculate on the future of demographic data collection and what this means for geographers.

Bio: Dr Elin Charles-Edwards is a lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Queensland. Her research explores migration, mobility and the ways in which populations vary over space and time. She has published widely in academic journals and has undertaken work for the United Nations Population Division and the World Bank providing a global update of internal migration patterns and trends. She loves the Census. 

EVENTS

October 26:  Southern Moreton Bay Island trip 

To book: contact RGSQ at 07 3368 2066 or email at info@rgsq.org.au 

Somewhat less visited than the tourist oriented North and South Stradbroke Islands are the four ‘residential’ islands of southern Moreton Bay – Russell and Macleay, each with populations of around 2,500 and Lamb and Karragarra which each have less than 500 residents. The best known island is Russell probably as a result of the (in)famous land scam of the 1970s based partly on the rumour of a bridge from the mainland.

NOVEMBER 14: COAST TO COAST across ENGLAND

A presentation of Wainwright’s Classic 304 km walk across England

To book: contact RGSQ at 07 3368 2066 or email info@rgsq.org.au  

The walk was completed by six friends in 17 days averaging 18 km per day during a midyear drought when there were water restrictions in London. Navigation was based on having a detailed guidebook and quality Ordnance Survey topographic maps backed up with compass and hand-held GPS.

NOVEMBER 24: QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENT HOUSE HIGH TEA 

Time: 10.30am – 12.00 noon

Where: Strangers’ Dining Room, Queensland Parliament House

To book: contact RGSQ at 07 3368 2066 or email info@rgsq.org.au  

Parliament House, Brisbane, seen from the end of George Street, Brisbane. Image: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

December 5 : RGSQ Christmas Celebration

For catering purposes please contact the RGSQ Office on 07 3368 2066 or email info@rgsq.org.au.

* The Society's 2016/17 Annual Report may be downloaded HERE.