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The Wheeler Centre

The Stella Prize in Conversation / Awards & prizes

Clare Wright and Alexis Wright

In this talk, we hear from freshly-announced 2018 Stella Prize winner Alexis Wright in conversation with past winners Emily Bitto and Clare Wright, and host Toni Jordan. They talk about the impact the award has had on their writing, their careers and Australian literary culture.

In recent months, the stories of women – and with them, impediments to women’s media participation – have taken a pointed and particular prominence in mainstream culture, underpinning sustained social and political movements. One of many takeaways from those movements has been a widespread emphasis on how women might experience, and process, the world we all share.

Toni Jordan and Emily Bitto

Now in its sixth year, the Stella Prize was founded to do just that – and to elevate the writing of Australian women with an annual, $50,000 literary prize. Spanning both fiction and non-fiction, the prize also runs year-round programmes encouraging recognition of Australian women’s writing. Its shortlist is a deserving fixture on any discerning reader’s calendar.

A Night with Geoffrey Robertson / Law, ethics & philosophy

With Geoffrey Robertson

He’s sparred with General Pinochet and Princess Diana. He’s stepped out with Nigella Lawson and, of course, Kathy Lette. He’s defended Salman Rushdie and worked alongside Amal Clooney. Geoffrey Robertson is a figure of uncommon energy, glamour and intellect.

Alongside his distinguished career as a human rights lawyer in London, Robertson has, for more than 30 years, enjoyed a parallel…

Fran Lebowitz / Humour

With Fran Lebowitz and Michael Williams

Fran Lebowitz doesn’t suffer fools, banalities or bad furniture.

For decades, the iconic New Yorker has turned her caustic pen (she doesn’t do smartphones or computers) to the subject of America’s cultural, social and political landscape. Through her columns, books and public-speaking appearances, Lebowitz has scrutinised such phenomena as smoking (hugely in favour), men’s shorts (resolutely opposed) and presidential buffoonery…

Promo image for Witnessing Climate Change

Witnessing Climate Change / Energy, environment & climate

With Andi Horvath, Tony Birch, Ursula Rakova and 2 others

Climate change is too often discussed in the abstract – in terms of graphs, statistics and future projections.

That's why at this event we heard moving words and performances from Marshall Islands spoken-word artist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner and activist Ursula Rakova from Papua New Guinea as well as New York Times science writer Jim Robbins and Melbourne-based author and environmentalist Tony…

Cory Doctorow / Science fiction

With Cory Doctorow and C.S. Pacat

At St Kilda Town Hall, Cory Doctorow joins author C.S. Pacat for an expansive conversation about the imperfect present and foreseeable future.

For Doctorow, the purpose of science fiction is not to predict the future – but to understand the present.

The latest book from the irrepressible Canadian activist, editor, journalist and novelist is set in an alarmingly plausible, post-scarcity…

Promo image for The Wheeler Centre Gala 2018: Words on Fire: Moira Finucane

The Wheeler Centre Gala 2018: Words on Fire: Moira Finucane / Words & language

With Moira Finucane

For the 2018 Wheeler Centre Gala Night of Storytelling, we invited our speakers to probe a blazing, hot topic: the power of the written word and the loaded tenets of speech.

When do words inspire and when do they incite? When is speech free, and when is it hateful? Fighting words, funny words, insulting words and incendiary words – for…

Anything and everything in History, politics & current affairs from across our archives.

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Christine Nixon on the Nature of Leadership / Government

25 Jul 2013

Note

Promo image for Australia's New Asylum Seeker 'Solution': What's In It For PNG?

Australia’s New Asylum Seeker ‘Solution’: What’s In It For PNG? / Migration

Guest post by Andrew Wilkins

19 Oct 2015

Past event

Is Proof Overrated? / Non-Fiction

With Sally Warhaft, Megan Munsie, Peter Doherty and 3 others

Whistleblowers / Free speech, human rights & social issues

With Anita Barraud , Suelette Dreyfus, Roderick St. George and 1 other

25 Feb 2011

The Talking Point: Egypt and Beyond (Video) / Government

By Jon Tjhia

(Click to watch video.)

The Wheeler Centre hosted its first Talking Point last night, and here’s the video for those who couldn’t attend. Chaired by Network Ten senior political correspondent Hamish McDonald, the panel featured Sally Totman, Fethi Mansouri and Larry Stillman.

Our next Talking Point, ‘The Rise, Fall and Rise of Australian Multiculturalism’, is on March 17. Here’s a preview.

24 Apr 2013

Note

Promo image for 'Knowledge Dispels Fear': On Aboriginal victimhood and empowerment

‘Knowledge Dispels Fear’: On Aboriginal victimhood and empowerment / Australian stories

By Jo Case

Bob Brown / Energy, environment & climate

In 1978 Bob was appointed director of the Tasmania Wilderness Society and led the campaign to prevent the construction of the Franklin Dam. He spent 19 days in prison and on the day of his release, in 1983, he became a member of Tasmania’s parliament.

Bob was elected to the Australian Senate in 1996. From 2002 to 2004, when minor parties held the balance of power in the Senate, Brown became a well-recognised politician. He was re-elected in both 2001 and in 2007. Bob Brown was also the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia, and the first openly gay leader of an Australian political party. Bob lives with his partner Peter in Tasmania and travels widely.

Bob has published a number of books including both photographic and poetry books. He has also won many awards, including from the United Nations.

15 Oct 2017

Past event

Promo image for Philosophical Fight Club

The Festival of Questions

Philosophical Fight Club / Ethics & morals

With Anna Krien, Julian Burnside, Quinn Eades and 5 others

11 Oct 2014

Past event

New News by the Centre for Advancing Journalism

Saturday Day Pass / Media

30 Jun 2011

What Future for Rural Australia? / Government

By Jon Tjhia

(Click to watch video.)

For many decades Australia was the country that rode on the sheep’s back. No more – now we are a country of mining and services. What will be the fate of rural and regional Australia in an era of economic rationalisation, water cutbacks, climate change, droughts and flooding rain? Does urban Australia care for or understand the country anymore?

In…

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