Step into the fast lane of career exploration with our latest installment of the Young Geographers presentation and networking series, Professionals Talk: Transport! Calling all students, early-career professionals and aspiring minds eager to dive into the dynamic world of transportation. Get ready for an evening packed with insights, anecdotes, and valuable networking opportunities.

Join us as we hear about the experiences of early and mid-career professionals working in and around transport in Brisbane. From urban planners shaping the cities of tomorrow to technical experts handling spatial representations of transport corridors, our speakers will share firsthand their expertise, challenges and advice for others interested in pursuing a career like theirs.

Each speaker will deliver a short presentation on their focus area, followed by an interactive Q&A session. Whether you're curious about emerging trends, career pathways, or industry innovations, this is your chance to gain invaluable insights and forge meaningful connections. We'll wind up the evening with casual networking over refreshments.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to accelerate your career and fulfill your curiousity about the transport industry. Mark your calendars, spread the word, and join us for an evening of inspiration, networking, and boundless opportunities. Let's navigate the future of transportation together!

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 J P Thomson Medal will be awarded to Emeritus Professor Iain Hay. The J P Thomson Medal is the most prestigious award given by The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. It was established in 1900 to honour Dr James Park Thomson, the Society’s founder. The award recognises Iain's high qualities of scholarship and his contribution to the discipline of geography.

Following the medal presentation, Iain will deliver the Thomson Oration on the topic - Vital Learned Societies. The significance of voluntary, community-based learned societies for Australian geography’s future.

Abstract: In an era characterised by environmental degradation, socio-spacial polarisation, and geopolitical turmoil, geography is of vast and heightened significance. And yet the scholarly discipline of geography in Australia confronts diminished public appreciation, elimination from university programs, falling school enrolments, and the challenges of out-of-field teaching. In the midst of this inconsistency are beacons of hope for the discipline in the form of voluntary, community-based learned societies such as RGSSA and RGSQ. These ‘people’s organisations’, driven by passion and fuelled by local knowledge, offer potent counterpoints to contemporary anxieties. This talk explores how voluntary, community-based learned societies signal hope for Australian geography. 

Bio: Iain Hay is Matthew Flinders Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Geography at Flinders University, inaugural Director of the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, and Chair of the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Geographical Sciences. He is former President of the Institute of Australian Geographers and (First) Vice President of the International Geographical Union. 

Navigating at both Poles, now and then....

Presented by Tim Medhurst OAM and Development and Infrastructure Senior Consultant with Binna Burra Lodge.  Tim would be familiar to most members in RGSQ as he has presented at RGSQ and up at the Binna Burra Teahouse on the rebuilding of Binna Burra Lodge.

As a surveyor and glaciologist, Tim led scientific expeditions for over 5000km in Antarctica in 1983-4.  More recently Tim skied to the north geographic pole (in 2010) and north magnetic pole (in 2019), both as fundraising expeditions.  Tim will explore the many geographical differences between the north and south poles as well as between expedition types and navigation techniques 40 years apart. 

Cost:-  $5:00 which includes a special morning tea.

Please note that with the lift undergoing replacement, access to RGSQ is via one flight of steps without a handrail.

Limit:-  40.  Register and pay via the website. 

Coordinator:-  Neville McManimm

More than ever before our global community is feeling and seeing the impacts of climate change. As natural disasters become more frequent and severe the pressure to quickly decarbonise and limit climate damaging emissions increases.  

Australia and Queensland have come late to the transition and the speed at which we need to phase out climate damaging fossil fuel energy and switch to renewables is real. Unfortunately, this comes in a setting of poor planning laws, failing environmental protection laws and inadequate community consultation. Across Queensland large scale development that has unacceptable impacts on nature and people have been approved time and time again under these failing laws. Large scale renewable energy is no exception to that rule. So the question is, how can we use the transition as an opportunity to reform these laws, and create an industry that actually increases biodiversity through the roll out.

Ms Lucy Graham is the Director of the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre and Board Member of the Queensland Conservation Council. Most recently, Lucy has facilitated strategic collaborations in Queensland, bringing together Energy Corporations and Conservation leaders in Queensland to understand how the industry and community can collaborate and lead the development of a biodiversity positive renewable energy industry. Additionally, she has been working with the government to progress planning that conserves biodiversity in the energy transition in QLD. Lucy is skilled in community engagement and understanding social licence in regional communities.

Lucy will further extend discussion of the topic with Mr Manoj Prajwal Bhattaram, a former researcher who studied the gene networks involved in ageing for his post grad. Later on he worked for CSIRO on crop plant genetics. Praj has worked at UQ for about a decade and a half now and has helped teach, manage, design and run undergraduate courses in ecology, molecular biology and entomology He is absolutely fascinated by systems biology and the ‘big picture’ of ecosystems and feedback loops when it comes to studying ecology and the environment. Praj is currently working on a Masters to be a secondary school science teacher. 

When: 14 May 2024

Time: 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM AEST

Location: Zoom Only

Please note: The ZOOM link for this event is included in the confirmation email which you will receive once you have registered. You will find it at the bottom of the notice Please keep this in a place where you can find it when needed. A reminder email will be sent with the link on the day of the event close to Close of Business hours.

This event may be recorded. If you have any questions, please email us at info@rgsq.org.au.

Join us on a Tour of the old inner dams of Brisbane – the city’s early water supplies before the Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams

Time and Place: Departs Enoggera bus station at 8.00 am. Please arrive by 7.45.  Please note that a later departure of 8.30 am was originally posted.

NOTE:  NOT Eagle Junction!!!

The bus station is located immediately adjacent to the Enoggera rail station (Ferny Grove line), and is connected to it by a pedestrian overbridge.  BCC buses service the bus station.

Off-street parking is available at the station (enter from Glenalva Terrace), while on-street parking is available in Glenalva Terrace and surrounds.

Gold Creek Reservoir water intake

The tour visits the following:

1.      Enoggera Dam
2.      Gold Creek Dam
3.      Lake Manchester
4.      Mt Crosby Weir and
5.      Mt Crosby Westbank Water Treatment Plant - SEQ water (1.30 pm)

BYO Morning tea – at Gold Creek Dam – bring your own.

BYO Lunch - Picnic lunch at Lake Manchester – bring your own.

Return to Enoggera Station about 3.30–4.00 pm.

Cost - Members $50 and non- members $60

28 registrants MAXIMUM.  Register and pay by Wednesday 8 May 2024

Participants please note - the outing involves about three hours of bus travel.

At each stop, there is the opportunity for walking short distances to various points of interest.  In particular, there will be the opportunity to walk to the top of Gold Creek Dam – a steep climb!

Toilets are available at each of the stops.

At the Water Treatment Plant (courtesy SEQwater):

Also, please, bring sun safe clothing, hat and sunscreen.  Also water and camera as well as picnic lunch and morning tea makings.

Ralph Carlisle (Event Coordinator)

Speakers, Ms Sue Sargent, K’gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Advisory Committee (KWHAC), Adjunct Assoc Professor Kim Walker, USC, K’gari Research and Learning Centre and Assoc Professor Fiona Foley, artist and author of Biting the Clouds: A Badtjala perspective on the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act.

“K’gari (Fraser Island) and the surrounding waters are the traditional land and sea country of the Butchulla People. … K’gari’s World Heritage listing and national park status make it a precious part of Australia’s natural and cultural heritage.”  Quote … Professor Paul Bertsch.,

Come along and take part in the discussion on the geography, ecology, fauna, flora, history, and tourism of K’gari and how the Butchulla Peoples are working to future proof it, care for it and build strong partnerships.

Each speaker will have 8 minutes to spotlight their work.

During the Q&A forum the audience will have up to 60 minutes to ask questions of the experts on their projects.

Light refreshments are served before you settle in for an informed conversation on a topic of interest to us all.

Please post your questions on notice to:

Email questionsonnotice@gmail.com

Date: Tuesday 28 May 2024

Time:  5:30 pm light refreshments – doors open @ 5:15pm 

             6:00 – 6:30 pm Presentations

             6:30 – 7:30 Q&A Forum

             7:30 – 8:00 Mingling 

Place: Gregory Place, Leve 1, 28Fortescue St. Spring Hill 

Cost: $5.00 for refreshments, included in registration. 

Cost: $5.00 Members 

$10.00 Non-Members 

$5.00 Students 

Photo: Ms Sue Sargent

HIDDEN VALE WILDLIFE RESEARCH STATION and U.Q. GATTON CAMPUS

Hidden Vale Wildlife Research Station, located in Grandchester, is a remarkable hub for scientific exploration and conservation which plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of Australian ecosystems and safeguarding native wildlife.

University of Queensland Gatton Campus  combines the rural traditions of its Queensland Agricultural College heritage with innovative research and teaching facilities in agriculture, animal science, veterinary science and the environment.

Dr Gurion Ang, Director of Engagement & Advancement, School of the Environment, U.Q. will join us on the visit. We are travelling by bus.

WHEN     Thursday  27^th June  2024

TIME and PLACE OF DEPARTURE: Please indicate when booking:

• A)     NORTH  SIDE. Arrive at 7.45 for 8.00 am departure from Bus Stop 27  at 15 Park Avenue, Clayfield (near Eagle Junction station). Car parking in streets.
• B)      SOUTH SIDE.  Arrive at 8.15 for 8.30am departure from Brittain Park, near 172 Troughton  Road, Coopers Plains. Car parking available.

VISITS

          Arrive 10.00 am at HIDDEN VALE for a facility tour and MORNING  TEA  (provided)

          11.30 Depart Research Station for U.Q. Gatton Campus.

          12.15 Lunch at UQ Gatton Campus Dining Hall for Buffet Lunch (provided)

          13.15 Guided Tour of the Campus. Meeting some academic staff and students and learn more about what they do at UQ Gatton.

          14.30 Mystery to solve  “Why are my lettuces  dying?”

          15.30 Depart  Gatton

           Arrive Coopers Plains approx. 17.00 and then Clayfield approx. 17.30

COST (including morning tea and buffet lunch): MEMBERS $80, NON-MEMBERS  $90

30  Registrants. Register and Pay by FRIDAY 31 MAY 2024 

Participants please note that the outing involves bus travel up to 1.8 hours in a section.  Please wear closed shoes, sun safe clothing, hat, sun screen. Bring water.

Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Foundation_Building_UQ_Gatton_Campus_from; Heritage branch staff, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

John  Wilkinson  (Event  Coordinator)

How the USA States Got Their Shapes

Presenter: Keith Treschman

Keith is a member of RGSQ. He has taught Science for over 40 years in Queensland secondary schools.  He holds a PhD in Astronomy, an area in which he is passionate. He has lectured on this topic onboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth.

He has visited the 7 continents and enjoys geographical places, for example, Hawaii, Great Rift Valley of Africa, Galápagos Islands, Jordan River and Antarctica.

His previous presentations to the Map Group were: Mapping the Night Sky, Areography (Geography of Mars), Life on Europa? An Application of Geography, Struve Geodetic Arc, Plate Tectonics and Seabed 2030.

On a map of the USA, one notices some straight horizontal and vertical lines, but then there are also angled lines, non-straight lines, lines with no apparently defined shape.  Keith will explain these features by reference to history and geography.

Cost:-  $5:00 which includes a special morning tea.

Limit:-  50.  Register and pay via the website. 

Coordinator:-  Kay Rees

NORFOLK ISLAND GEOTOUR

15 TO 20 AUGUST 2024

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Norfolk Island has a checkered history of human settlements and abandonments from Polynesians for a century or two up to the fifteenth century, British convicts from 1788 to 1814 and again from 1825 to 1855 and then Pitcairn Islanders, their descendants and other immigrants from 1856 to the present.

But there is so much more to Norfolk Island than its human history. We will be looking at history including a little WWII history but we plan to examine a wider range of issues that might include:

• Geology, landscapes and climate including Zealandia
• Flora and fauna
• Transport to and from the Island
• Government, administration, and services
• Whaling and fishing
• Past and present agriculture and horticulture
• Present economy and economic drivers
• The difficulties of living on a remote island in the Pacific.

There should be time for a short walk in the Island’s National Park for those inclined.

We will be assisted on the Norfolk Island by Dr Geoff Edwards, an island resident formerly of Brisbane. Geoff is an acquaintance of a couple of RGSQ members and has visited RGSQ headquarters.

Indicative up-front cost for the Trek should be between $2,500 and $3,000. This includes:

• Qantas flights to and from the Island
• Transport from and to the Airport
• Accommodation (twin share) at Castaway with continental breakfast
• Hire of a coach for the four full days we will spend on the Island
• An Island Fish Fry evening meal.

As well as meals, morning teas etc, there will be additional costs for some activities and venue entries, and there will be costs for some optional activities like a progressive dinner hosted by local people. Some additional costs may be payable prior to the trek and some will be payable on Norfolk Island.

We need to get a reasonable idea of numbers so that we would like your interest to be registered by Friday 1 March. We are seeking 20 participants and a wait list will apply for this trek.

Bob Reid, 0412 625 944

GRANITE BELT TREK
9 TO 13 SEPTEMBER 2024 

This will be a self-drive trek with car pooling for travel around the region. The plan is to stay at the Top of the Town Tourist Park which has a range of powered and unpowered van sites, cabins and motel style rooms.

The program is still being developed but current plans are to include:

• Visiting the Amiens Legacy Centre that showcases the history of the area, in particular the soldier settlement scheme
• Delving into the mining history of the area, perhaps including Liston in NSW
• Examining some of the geology of the region including a short walk along good tracks in Girraween National Park to showcase some of the granites of the area
• Visiting a commercial strawberry farm, a winery, and possibly an olive grove and or other horticultural farm to get background on the industries.
• Driving south to Wallangarra to see the railway history at the change of gauge to NSW and, pre Federation, the Customs history
• Seeing some of the wildflowers of the area if the season is appropriate.

Costs will be determined after a reconnaissance of the area.

Bob Reid, 0412 625 944