Earlier Talks
2020
Epidemics and Pandemics
Course organiser: Chris Botur
Presenter: Various
5 Mar: Prof. Geoff Rice, Emeritus Prof., UC on 'Ancient Plagues and Pandemics.'
Plague of Athens, Antonine Plague, Plague of Justinian, Smallpox in Japan, The Black Death, Great Plague of London.
12 Mar: Prof. Geoff Rice on 'Mastering Infection.'
Smallpox, Cholera, Influenza.
19 Mar: Prof. Geoff Rice on 'Antibiotics and Vaccines.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat. See Notices for Members for a transcription of the third slideshow written by Prof. Rice for this session.
26 Mar: Prof. Lance Jennings. Clinical Virologist (retired), CDHB and OU on 'Emerging Viral Diseases.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
2 Apr: Dr. Tony Walls, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Paediatrics, UO, Christchurch on 'The Global Health Impact of Vaccination.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
Connecting with Purposeful Ideas, Opinions and Experiences
Course organiser: Committee members
Presenter: Various
9 Apr: Lana Vinson on 'Lost in Translation.' Also, Barbara Blundell on 'Three Merry Widows Abroad.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
16 Apr: Alan Blackburn will speak on Desmond Tutu’s words 'Hope is Being able to See the Light Despite all the Darkness.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
23 Apr: Joy McClintock with Guide Dog Molly on 'The Blind and Low Vision Organisation and Guide Dog Training.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
30 Apr: Rachael McNutt from Air Rescue NZ Flying Doctor Services on 'The work of the Canterbury/West Coast Air Rescue Trust and the Air Rescue Service.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
7 May: Amanda Dodd from Cancer Society.
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
Keeping NZ Safe
Course organiser: Yvonne Evans and Pat Braithwaite
Presenter: Various
9 Apr: Stuart Wylie, Operational Support Coordinator - Cargo, MPI, on 'The Importance of Biosecurity to NZ and the Value of the Primary Industries.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
16 Apr: Karen Ford, Customs Officer on 'Customs.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
23 Apr: TBA, Maritime NZ on 'Keeping Our Coastlines, Seas, Rivers and Lakes Safe.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
30 Apr: Supt. Lane Todd, Metro Commander, Chch Police on 'Keeping the Community Safe.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
7 May: TBA, NZ Police on 'Keeping our Region Safe.'
Cancelled due to the covid-19 threat.
On Safari
Course organiser: Kathryn Ell
Presenter: Judith Coullie
Dr. Judith Coullie obtained her MA in English literature from Syracuse University (USA) and her PhD from the University of Natal. Before immigrating to New Zealand, she was Professor of English at the University Of KwaZulu-Natal. She is currently a learning advisor at the University of Canterbury.
In these five lectures, we trace the history of the safari movement from its origins in William Burchell’s recorded experiences of travel in southern Africa in the 1830’s through to some very recent (and some hair-raising!) accounts.
24 Sep: 'William Burchell: Discovering "unknown parts" of "Darkest Africa".'
1 Oct: 'Early safaris (mid-to-late 1800’s).'
8 Oct: 'Frederick Selous and Theodore Roosevelt.'
15 Oct: 'The glamour of safaris: Ernest Hemingway.'
22 Oct: 'Contemporary safaris: conservation and other challenges.'
November Series
Course organiser: Various
Presenter: Various
29 Oct: Prof. Lance Jennings. Clinical Virologist (retired), CDHB and OU on 'Emerging Viral Diseases.'
Emerging diseases present an ongoing threat. This talk will cover the emergence of viral diseases: covid-19, MERS, SARS, Ebola, Zika and novel influenza (bird flu) viruses, the natural ecology of these viruses and how they cross the species barrier into humans, the concept of "One Health" and the role of the WHO in coordinating their global control. Organiser: Chris Botur
5 Nov: Dr. Tony Walls, Assoc. Prof., Dept. of Paediatrics, UO, Christchurch on 'The Global Health Impact of Vaccination.'
Immunisation is a high-impact public health intervention that has changed the lives of billions of people around the world. This talk will focus on some remarkable success stories globally and the work that has gone into making it all happen. Examples will include attempts to eliminate polio and meningococcal disease across the ‘meningitis belt’ in Africa. There will also be examples of how the NZ immunisation programme has had a major impact in preventing life-threatening diseases in children here at home. Organiser: Chris Botur
12 Nov: Frieda Looser on 'Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and 'Black Lives Matter'.'
What is slavery, when did humans adopt this practice, and what are the global consequences in the 21st century? This lecture will explore the concept of slavery, with examples drawn from many times and places. However, particular focus will be on the forcible movement of some 12.5 million people from West Africa across the Atlantic Ocean to the plantations of the Caribbean and America between the 16th and 19th centuries. The beliefs and mindset that supported this practice will be unpacked, compared with discriminatory laws and behaviour of the post-slavery century, and contrasted with the line now drawn in the sand by young people around the globe who take to the streets and take a knee to affirm human solidarity and fraternity in the BLM movement. Organiser: Yvonne Evans
19 Nov: Peter Field on 'America - Where To From Here?'
Peter will discuss the ramifications of the result of the upcoming election in America on Nov 3rd between Trump and Biden. Organiser: Trevor Sennitt