Upcoming Events
If you are unable to see the flyer below, please try clearing your browser's cache. Alternatively, you can download the PDF here
If you are unable to see the flyer below, please try clearing your browser's cache. Alternatively, you can download the PDF here
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On Saturday 13 September, members and friends gathered at Miegunyah House Museum to celebrate the winners of the ESU 2025 Secondary School Public Speaking Competition and enjoy the glorious spring weather. The engaging speakers were warmly received by an appreciative audience. Following the delicious high tea, we welcomed the opportunity to view the current exhibition curated by the Queensland Women’s Historical Association, which owns and operates Miegunyah, celebrating the people and achievements of the QWHA since its formation in 1950. 
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Annual Churchill Lecture
Island of Serendipity
Her Excellency’s depth of knowledge and charismatic engagement with her audience was captivating, and prompted thought-provoking conversations during the audience question time.
The evening seamlessly blended the ambience and culinary delights of the United Service Club with an outstanding Churchill Lecture.
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An Evening with Jane Austen |
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| The ESU staged a memorable evening for members and friends on Friday 16 May at 66 on Ernest in South Bank to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of English author Jane Austen. The evening was a perfect blend of delicious food, good company and specifically crafted performances highlighting key aspects of Jane’s life, as well as the enduring charm and wit of her stories. Congratulations to Pam Greatorix and her merry band of performers for a great night out.
Check out some of the live action on Instagram. |
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ESU Awards Ceremony
ESU members and friends were again honoured to be guests of Her Excellency the Governor,
the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM, and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, at
Government House for our prestigious awards ceremony on 1 April. The occasion honoured
the 2024 winners of the ESU Roly Sussex Short Story Competition and Secondary School
Public Speaking Competition.
ESU members and friends were again honoured to be guests of Her Excellency the Governor, the Honourable Dr Jeanette Young AC PSM, and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD, at Government House for our prestigious awards ceremony on 1 April. The occasion honoured the 2024 winners of the ESU Roly Sussex Short Story Competition and Secondary School Public Speaking Competition.
Roly Sussex Short Story Competition
Open Division
Roxeena Bidgood, Paulette Gittens, Equal First Prize
Daniel Fallon, Rachel Bowman, Highly Commended
Secondary School Division
Isaac Round, First Prize; Lori Adam, Second Prize
Jiayang Luo, Isabella van Heerden, Highly Commended
Secondary School Public Speaking Competition
Senior Division
Eli Gearing, First Prize; Lucas Lu, Second Prize
Intermediate Division
Sophie Blundell, First Prize; Ting Liu, Second Prize
Junior Division
Millicent Tilson, First Prize; Madison Newland, Second Prize
Congratulations, once again, to all.
As noted by one of our awardees:
“The kindness and inclusivity of all those involved– the Governor, Professor Nimmo,
Professor Sussex, Professor Hatcher, Despina Cook, Kerry Davies and Ray Heffernan – made
this a memorable and enjoyable evening. The ambience of the beautiful residence and
gardens, the Governor’s witty and engaging speech – all made the event the pleasure it was.
What is also most heartening to me as a writer is to see the breadth of engagement across age
groups in both short story writing and public speaking, and to see our multicultural Australia
in full view as the winners accepted their awards. The love of the written and spoken word
still flourishes in Australia, nurtured by awards like these.”
—Paulette Gittins
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Roly Sussex Short Story Competition Open Division
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Roly Sussex Short Story Competition Secondary School Division
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Secondary School Public Speaking Competition
Senior Division
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Intermediate Division
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Junior Division
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Annual Twilight Event
On Friday 21 February, members and friends gathered for our annual Twilight Event for 2025.
Guest speaker Catherine Smith shared the extraordinary life experiences and challenges faced by her Maltese grandparents, Paul and Pauline Zammit, as they made their home in northern Australia in the early-twentieth century. Catherine’s engaging style had the audience enthralled with their rags-to-riches story.
This delightful evening of storytelling opened with readings from the joint winning stories in the Open Division of the Roly Sussex Short Story Competition for 2024, introduced by Rolys coordinator Despina Cook. They were Music Played in a Cafe by Roxeena Bidgood, read by Kathleen Wilson, and Blue Is the Limit by Paulette Gittins, read by Jan Mackay. You can read the winning and highly commended entries for the Open and Secondary School divisions here.
