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RGSQ Bulletin ISSN 1832-8830 Vol 45 No 2 March 2010

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RGSQ Bulletin ISSN 1832-8830 Vol 45 No 2 March 2010 RGSQ Bulletin ISSN 1832-8830 Vol 45 no 2 March 2010 Published by The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc, a nonprofit organisation established in 1885 that promotes the study of geography and encourages a greater understanding and enjoyment of the world around us. I’d like to see 100 million because The second seminar (styled a In this issue I believe we’ll have many things to Growth Summit) is a more lavish • Evening Meeting - Exploring the do here besides digging holes affair to be staged by the State Limits, H.E. Ms P Wensley and selling coal. I mean, our Government over two days, 30 and • Geography Comp Volunteers agriculture has to be huge, our 31 March. The panel of seven • Trekkers Reunion desalination will be fantastic, our identified appears to be more • Haddon Corner Trek rivers will flow the right way. I balanced, with speakers including • Turkey Travel and Tukka mean, it will all have to be Tim Flannery, Bernard Salt (well • Maroochy Botanic Gardens etc developed. known demographer), Heather • SE Qld Geography Trail Ridout (Australian Industry Group), At the other extreme were remarks Ian Lowe (Australian Conservation made by entrepreneur and nationalist Foundation), Brendan Gleeson From the President Dick Smith reported on the ABC (Urban Policy at Griffith University), It would seem that the population News on 25 January. He was architect Michael Rayner and Debra ‘elephant in the room’ that I referred reported as saying: Currie (Planning Institute of to in an earlier Bulletin is beginning to Australia). No venue has yet been draw a lot of attention to itself. The Our politicians are completely announced. debate about how large a population letting us down. Nine out of ten Australia should have, or can Aussies don’t want 40 million In addition to these seminars, the sustain, has certainly become people here, but there’s no Local Government Association of energised in recent months. discussion. There has to be. Queensland has announced that it Because what’s the use of will be running a public inquiry into It started with the release of Treasury bringing kids into the world, when population growth during the first half modelling that forecast a population even in a modern Western of 2010. The terms of reference have of 35 million by 2049. This modelling country they could starve to yet to be made public. was prepared as input to the death. And that’s what could Commonwealth Government’s 2010 happen. I would encourage members of the Intergenerational Report that was Society to take a keen interest in this released in February. This projection Fortunately it seems as though there topic and participate in this debate – was welcomed by political and will be an open public debate on the the outcome will have huge business leaders who are attracted population issue. I am already aware ramifications for all of us and for to the notion of a ‘Big Australia’. On of two public seminars that are the other side of the fence (or is it a scheduled for Brisbane in March that barrier?), the forecast was greeted will address this issue. The first is Patron: H.E. Ms P Wensley AO, with alarm and horror by many being staged by Conservation Governor of Queensland academics, environmentalists and Queensland and will be held at the President: Mr Ken Granger others who argue that such a number Queensland Museum Theatre (Grey would have a huge impact on our Street, South Brisbane) on 13 March. The Royal Geographical Society culture, society and sustainability. This half-day seminar will be of Queensland Inc addressed by a panel of four 237 Milton Road Perhaps the more extreme speakers – all of them, such as Milton Qld 4064 arguments of the ‘Big Australia’ Labor MP Kelvin Thomson and proponents were articulated by Harry demographer Mark O’Connor, are Tel: (07) 3368 2066 Triguboff, General Manager of the well known for arguing against a ‘Big Fax: (07) 3367 1011 Meriton Apartments group of Australia’. Email: [email protected] developers, on the ABC 7.30 Report Web: www.rgsq.org.au on Australia Day when he stated: generations into the future. This is Within the Department of Foreign not just about the economy, it is Affairs and Trade in Australia, Ms about the future of our society, our Wensley also held a range of senior cultural identity, our health and policy positions, notably as head of happiness and our environment. the East Asia Branch, as head of the International Organisations and A big thanks to the many Society Ken Granger Legal Division, as head of the North volunteers who helped send out the Asia Division and as head of the Competition information, and the PS. In the latest issue of People and Europe Division. follow-up letters, to schools: Place (vol 17 no 4, available in the RGSQ Library), there is an article by Ms Wensley has achieved Dal and Wendy Anderson, Joyce Kelvin Thomson, “Population Reform international recognition for her Barrett, Mary Comer, Paul Feeney, – Meeting the Challenges”. Kath B contribution to the United Nations. Maureen Franek, Audrey Johnston, She played a key role in the Maureen Meier, Peter Nunan, Anne negotiation of a number of major O’Connor, Graham Rees, Andrea international Treaties, including the Smith, Helen and Digby Warren. Evening Meeting – Address United Nations Framework by the Governor of Qld Convention on Climate Change and The Society is honoured that its the United Nations Convention to Patron, H.E. Ms Penelope Wensley combat Drought and Desertification. More Help Please AO, Governor of Queensland, has She also chaired or co-chaired a We need to call on our generous agreed to give the March address. number of major United Nations members for more help with the The title is: Exploring the Limits: conferences and processes, Competition – to mail out the Extreme Geography? including the First United Nations questions booklets. For those with Special Session on HIV/Aids; the experience, this is the mailout where Prior to her appointment in July 2008 United Nations Conference on the you use the counting scales to weigh as the 25th Governor of Queensland, Sustainable Development of Small questions and answers. Ms Penelope Wensley enjoyed a Island Developing States; the United distinguished career in diplomacy, Nations Budget and Finance We’ll be doing this from Tuesday 9 playing a significant role in the Committee and the International March to Thursday 11 March, with promotion of Australia's international Coral Reef Initiative. perhaps just a couple of people relations and the development of needed on Friday 12 March. Australian foreign policy across a Ms Wensley was appointed an diverse range of issues affecting Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) Please ring Kath in the office (3368 peace and security, economic and in 2001 for her distinguished service 2066) if you can help – or see her at social development, human rights to the development of Australia's the March meeting. and humanitarian concerns, the international relations. environment and sustainable development. Her life-time involvement with the promotion and protection of Trekkers Reunion Ms Wensley graduated from the Australia's interests internationally, When: 7.30 pm Wed 26 May University of Queensland with a and her long and active engagement Where: RGSQ Bachelor of Arts with First Class with the development of national and Honours. She joined the Australian international responses to various A big part of the life of our Society Foreign Service in 1968 and served global challenges, has created a over the past twenty five years has as an officer of the Department of deep commitment to the been the treks undertaken by our advancement of international members. As part of the events for Foreign Affairs and Trade until 2008, th representing Australia in a wide understanding and cooperation, the Society’s 125 anniversary year range of positions overseas, in through enhanced communication, there will be a Trekkers Reunion. Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas contact and exchanges between and the Pacific and at the United countries and cultures. Many lasting friendships have been Nations. Achieving the rank of Head made on Society treks, whether they of Mission in 1986, Ms Wensley were on board bus or in smaller served successively as groups. This reunion will not be Consul-General in Hong Kong, New Members restricted to current Society Ambassador for the Environment, W e have much pleasure in members, but to all present and past Ambassador and Permanent welcoming (and welcoming back) the members who participated in treks. Representative to the United Nations following new members: Dale, Jessie In fact, this reunion was suggested in Geneva, Ambassador and and Zoe Farnell; William Klein; Lex by a former member, Grant Epple. It Permanent Representative to the and Margaret Morley; Grace Warren; will be a night of reminiscing and United Nations in New York, High Michael Wilke. renewing friendships over photos Commissioner to India and and memorabilia. So, past trekkers: Ambassador to Bhutan, Ambassador We hope your association with your • put the above date in your diary to France, Algeria, Morocco, Monaco new Society is long and mutually • contact and tell former members and Mauritania. enjoyable. of the reunion RGSQ Bulletin Vol 45 no 2 March 2010 Page 2 Celebrating 125 Years Haddon Corner Trek Big plans are taking shape for this September What? As part of Royal Geographical Society of Qld 125th Birthday celebrations, and in co-operation with our South Australian sister society, a Trek with the theme “Exploring Cooper Country”, focussed on Cooper Creek and the Channel Country. Local experts and scientists will link up with us. Where? Meet RGSSA members in Windorah, visit Haddon Corner, Birdsville, Innamincka, Dig Tree & all points between.
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