The English Speaking Union (QLD Branch)
The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational charity dedicated to promoting international understanding and human achievement through English. The ESU Queensland Branch is a non-for-profit organisation lead by a board, supported by members and volunteers and has an active program of events in support of its objectives. These include:
- Public Speaking Competitions – Juniors and Seniors in both South East and North Queensland;
- the annual Churchill lecture dinner and a series of cultural awareness conversations;
- the Roly Sussex Short Story Competition
- and more…
LATEST NEWSLETTER: October 2022
may we prESUme? #1 – October 2022
Introducing our new blog: a regular set of posts contributed by ESU QLD President, Roly Sussex. Find us on Facebook and provide your comments and reactions on our Facebook page.
THE FULL STOP MATTERS MORE THAN YOU REALISE ©Roland Sussex
Anyone who was seen text messages, especially from younger users, would have seen that standard punctuation is in retreat. With the exception of the exclamation mark. But that is another story.
What is more insidious is that one of our most reliable pieces of punctuation, the full stop, has changed its spots. It used to mark the end of a sentence, paragraph or a text. But in younger persons’ text messages it is now the default to leave it out. And if you do put it in, it has acquired a new and ominous overtone.
Let’s say you invite a friend to meet you for coffee. If they reply “Sure”, with no full stop, the message is understood to be warm and friendly. But if you write “Sure.”, with a full stop, it can sound passive-aggressive or peremptory. A bit like the content of some emojis.
But even then you could be wrong. A lot depends on the age of the writer, and the age of the person they think they are writing to.
AND THERE IS MORE …
To explore the metamorphosis of the full stop, try this yourdictionary.com link: “Why the period in your text makes your friends nervous”
We warmly encourage your comments and contributions: click HERE to engage in the conversation on Facebook.
COMING UP IN 2022
The English-Speaking Union (Queensland Branch) invites all members, their guests and friends to a number of events throughout the year in pursuit of our organisational objective to promote understanding and communication in and about the English language and culture especially in Australia through education, social events and scholarship.
See what’s on for the rest of the year via our Events page.
AGM AND CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sunday 20 November 2022 (5:15 PM – 7PM)
Let’s celebrate the festive season with drinks and delicious canapés on the veranda of the iconic Miegunyah House.
Miegunyah Historic Home, 34 Jordon Tce, Bowen Hills
Click HERE to register and purchase tickets via Eventbrite.
Secondary Schools Public Speaking Competition
Our 2022 Grand Final was an outstanding success, congratulations to our winners and finalists.
Roly Sussex Short Story Competition
Entries for the 2022 ESU Roly Sussex Short Story Competition are now CLOSED. The judging process will begin shortly, and entrants will be updated via email. Results will be announced via this website’s Short Story competition page.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 competition: you can review the winning entries here.
**ANNOUNCEMENT RE: WINNERS’ CEREMONY FOR THE 2021 COMPETITION**
A message from Government House (Queensland) confirms that it will not be possible to organise the winners’ ceremony from the 2021 competition before the end of the year. They propose a joint ceremony early in 2023 for the winners of the 2021 and 2022 competitions, probably late on a Wednesday afternoon, perhaps in March 2023. ESU (Q) will be in contact with the details as soon as they are confirmed. The winners will receive their prizes at once.
- Roly Sussex – President (ESU (Q))
Past Events Update
Friday 7 October 2022
“Does radio still provide a voice – The role of radio in society: past, present and future.”
