Much of RGSQ’s work promoting geography is achieved through the work of its committees. We are deeply appreciative of members’ willingness to volunteer their time and expertise on these committees. We encourage all members to consider contributing in this way – not necessarily as a committee member; you may prefer some specific task to help the work of a committee. As well as providing vital support to the work of the Society, it is also a chance to get to know other members better.
To find out more about a committee, click on the one that interests you in the list below, or just scroll down to browse.
Australian Geography Competition
Collections
Finance
Geography in Conversation
Honours
Map Group
Property
Publications
Scientific Studies
Treks and Activities
Young Geographers
Members: K Berg and J Davis (Co-chairs), S Albertson, T Bourke, R Honey, J Tasker
Geography's Big Week Out: K Berg (Chair), S Albertson, J Davis, S Hawkins, J Hearnden, J Tasker
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Packing Competition certificates |
Schools from all around Australia enter their Year 7 to 12 students – over 70,000 per year. Since 2022, the Competition has been delivered online. The questions, based on the content of Australian Curriculum: Geography, test student’s geographical understanding and skills. Sixteen high-performing Year 11 students are invited to take part in Geography’s Big Week Out – a fieldwork-based event that challenges and extends these bright young students. Australia’s teams to the International Geography Olympiads are selected from these students.
Society members provide valuable assistance with our large mail-outs to schools. If you are interested in helping, please let Rachel Honey know – AGCcoordinator@rgsq.org.au
For more information on the Competition, please see the website at www.geographycompetition.org.au
Members: R Cook (Chair), R Carlisle, L Darii, J Graham, K Raymond
Archives, Artefacts & Images: Awaiting new members following retirements
Library: J Graham, N McManimm
Maps: R Carlisle, P Nunan
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RGSQ Members at Carnarvon Gorge, Qld 1937 |
The Society has an extensive collection of records, maps, books, magazines and artefacts dating back to when the Society was formed in 1885. Resulting from a 2017 study of the collections and their significance, the Collections Committee was formed to better manage the collections and make them more accessible and relevant to the Society’s activities.
Working with the National Library of Australia and the State Library of Queensland, the Committee has attracted grants to conserve valuable collection items and create an online catalogue accessible to all members as well as researchers and other interested members of the geographic community. This work is ongoing.
More recently the Committee has initiated work aimed at digitising parts of the collection to make it more accessible and creating a digital collection of material relevant to the geographic work conducted by the Society
Members: A Lau (Chair), R Cook, L Darii, I Harding, C Spriggs, J Tasker
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The Finance Committee provides advice and assistance to the Society’s Treasurer in managing the Society’s financial position, including monitoring all bank account activities, assets, and investments as part of the overall management of liquidity and the balance sheet. This Committee meets 2 to 3 times a year and discusses financial matters via emails regularly. The Committee is also responsible for the preparation of the annual financial budget for approval by the Council each year.
Co-convenors: R Kernaghan, A Nguyen, G Rush, S Rush, S Schwer, P Tonkin, K Treschman
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On arrival attendees enjoy mingling over refreshments; wine, coffee, tea, finger food and a cheese platter. A small fee of $5.00 is charged to cover this. The speaker’s presentations usually make up 30-40 minutes, which leaves 50-60 minutes for discussion, overseen by a moderator. There is a further 30 minutes afterwards for further informal conversation. The events are held from 5:30-8:00 pm to facilitate attendance for office workers and those relying on public transport.
Members: D Wadley (Chair), K Berg, D Cook, J Holmes
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Emeritus Prof Peter J Rimmer receiving a |
The Honours Committee develops and presents recommendations to the Council for granting the Society’s special awards to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of geography in a variety of ways. Such individuals may be academic geographers or members of the Society who have made an outstanding contribution to the furtherance of the objectives of the Society. The Committee may recommend to Council the establishment of additional Award categories, or variation to the eligibility criteria.
The Committee makes recommendations to Council each year for the JP Thomson Medal. The terms of the award made under the auspices of the Ken Sutton Trust are currently under review. When finalised, recommendations for this award will also be made by the Honours Committee.
Co-convenors: L Lowry, N McManimm, K Rees
Monument for Surveyor Robert Dixons Base Line marker. |
The programme of events runs from February to December. We encourage anyone who has an interest in maps and mapping, whether historical or cutting-edge technology, to join the Map Group and share your mapping knowledge.
P Tonkin (Chair), D Stephens
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The Property Committee is also available to all members and visitors to discuss the Workplace Health and Safety standards prepared and accepted by the RGSQ.
Please address any comments to the Property Committee at info@rgsq.org.au
I Childs (Chair), J Corcoran, M Hardy, K Rees
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In 1985 the Society published A Dream in Trust, a centenary history of the Society from 1885-1985. The Publications Committee is currently engaged in updating the Society’s history for the period 1985 to the present. The Society’s monograph series has included the Society’s Scientific Study reports, lecture presentations by Thomson medallists and Queensland Geographical Perspectives to showcase the work of local geographers for the International Geographical Union 2006 regional conference in Brisbane. Electronic copies of the RGSQ Scientific Study published reports from 1992 to 2012 are publicly available via both the University of Queensland’s eSpace and the National Library of Australia’s Trove database.
Since 2020 the Publications Committee has organised an annual photographic competition and in 2021 published a calendar utilising the best submitted images.
For any inquiries please contact Iraphne Childs i.childs@uq.edu.auI Childs (Chair), A Lau, P Moss, G Pickering, T Sigler, S Turton
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Musselbrook Reserve Scientific Study |
Scientific study reports are available on the RGSQ website. The reports are also held in hard copy in the RGSQ library, at the State Library of Qld and electronic copies are publicly available via the University of Queensland’s eSpace and the National Library of Australia’s Trove database. There are a few spare hard copies and CDs of past scientific study reports available free of charge for members. If you are interested in any of these, or in the work of the Scientific Studies Committee, please contact Iraphne at i.childs@uq.edu.au
C Spriggs (Chair), R Carlisle, R Grimley, J Lamont, B Reid, J Wilkinson
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At Balancing Rock, Bicheno, Tasmania |
TAAC organises trips, treks and events every month except January. At times, extra events are scheduled, particularly if there is sufficient demand to repeat an event. Use of the waitlist is encouraged to judge this. Day trips are available to members and non-members, but longer treks are for members only.
All events are organised away from the RGSQ office and include local trips within Brisbane and South East Queensland to settlements, towns and/or places of geographical interest. While generally trips are organised for a full day, at least one trip in the year will involve longer tours in Queensland or interstate. TAAC will also assist RGSQ initiatives on coordinating overseas trips.
We also convene the annual Christmas Party in December and the Welcoming Night in February.
The TAAC manual has been recently updated and is available on the website. It covers detailed event organisation, with a particular emphasis on safety and welfare of participants.
We are always looking out for members to join our Committee and get involved with planning and organising our many and varied activities.
G Pickering (Chair), B Houseman, N Ramsey, I Sahama, J Tasker, A Zhang
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Yabba Creek, Queensland 2018 |