Presenter: Dr Jonathan Daly

Dr Jonathan Daly is a Conservation Biologist at Taronga Conservation Society Australia and a Senior Research Associate at the University of New South Wales. He has worked on cryopreservation in aquatic species for over 20 years and leads biorepository development for corals on the Great Barrier Reef as part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. His research is on the development, upscaling, and implementation of cryopreservation technologies for biobanking and the establishment of biorepository systems and processes in Australia and internationally.

Jonathan will be joined in conversation with Jane Adcroft

In her role as RRAP Communications and Engagement Lead and Science Communicator at the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program, Jane guides and facilitates communication activities for the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. She has over ten years’ experience within the broadcast and content creation industry, with a focus on factual and natural history production, both in Australia and internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology with Honours from the University of Western Australia, and a Masters in Science Communication from the University of Otago, New Zealand.

As reefs experience increasing loss of coral cover due to a variety of environmental events and stressors, genetic diversity in those affected populations continues to be lost. For coral species to be able to adapt to environmental stressors like climate change, genetic diversity is the key.

Strategic cryopreservation and biobanking of living coral cells to secure genetic diversity represent one approach that can mitigate some of the genetic loss that is occurring on the Great Barrier Reef. Cryopreservation can also facilitate the selective breeding of individuals of known genotypes and support scientific discovery in coral reproductive biology.

When: 12 August 2025

Time: 7:30 - 8:30 pm AEST

Location: Zoom Only

Please note: The ZOOM link for this event is included in the confirmation email which you will receive once you have registered. You will find it at the bottom of the notice. Please keep this in a place where you can find it when needed. A reminder email will be sent with the link on the day of the event close to Close of Business hours.

This event may be recorded. If you have any questions, please email us at info@rgsq.org.au.

"Ludwig Leichhardt - a gifted explorer and field scientist"

The mystery of Ludwig Leichhardt and his party's whereabouts has baffled people in Australia for 177 years. Clues to his actual route from Jimbour House on the Darling Downs to his planned destination at the Swan River Settlement in Western Australia are few and cannot be collaborated. A brass name plate bearing his name and the year 1848 was reported to have been found near Lake Gregory in north-eastern Western Australia. Even the actual location of this find has been disputed. This lecture will talk about the man Ludwig Leichhardt and the personalities in his party.

Our presenter:  Philip Castle is a retired print journalist who has three degrees; history and political science, journalism and research masters on PTSD and journalists. He has over 40 years in the media and most recently was a journalism lecturer at QUT. He regularly talks on a range of historical topics including many on Australia's military and historical events and their impact on our nation.

Costs: $5:00 Members   Non-members $10.00. Register and pay via the website.

Limit: 35.   Registration on the website required.

Coordinator: Len Lowry

Photographs and videos may be taken during RGSQ events for use in promotional materials including, but not limited to, the RGSQ website, social media channels, newsletters and other publications. By attending an RGSQ event, you consent to the use of your likeness for these purposes, unless you inform the event organizer or photographer otherwise.

It probably wasn’t planned that Ipswich, one of the earliest towns in Queensland that first emerged as a limestone mining settlement in 1827, and at one stage a candidate to be the state Capital, sit  within the same local government boundary as Springfield, the adjacent master-planned greenfield city development which has been emerging  since 2000. A group of RGSQ members visited Springfield in July 2024 and heard and saw something of how that is being achieved.

Thursday, 21^st August 2025 offers the opportunity for members to visit Ipswich to see, and hear about how that city has navigated the intervening near 200 years, and developed to the city it is today, while maintaining linkage to it’s fascinating past and heritage. 

The visit will commence (and end) at the Ipswich Rail Station.  There is a half-hourly train service to Ipswich (one end of the Caboolture line) and it is suggested that participants use the service that arrives at Ipswich at 9.56am. (It’s about a 60 minute journey from Central Station.)   The Journey Planner tab on the Translink website is useful in identifying travel options.

A coach will be used to convey the group to various locations including:

• -          the Ipswich Visitors Information Centre in Queens Park, for a short introductory talk and a Devonshire Morning Tea,
• -          a one and a half hour Heritage Tour, with accompanying commentary, visiting many of the significant historical and geographic points of interest in Ipswich and immediate surrounds.
• -          Lunch* at the historic Prince Alfred Hotel
• -          the Cooneana Heritage Centre (talk by a Centre volunteer and conducted walking tour).  Additionally, the Centre houses a museum of mining history, and exhibits covering the Ipswich district’s wartime history.
• -          return to the Ipswich Station around 3.15 pm.

The Event will conclude at 3.15 pm in time for the rail service from Ipswich towards Central Station at  3.37pm (and half hourly services thereafter.)

The Ipswich Station is located within the Ipswich CBD, and participants might wish to spend more time in the city precinct.

No difficult terrain will be encountered, and the Event is suitable for Members with reasonable fitness and mobility.

Cost:  (covers: coach hire;  morning tea; lunch*; Heritage Tours and entry fees);    $80 per head (Members)     Non-members $90 per head

•      *Lunch selections will be obtained from participants closer to the day.

Please register on-line (by 25^th July 2025).   Numbers are limited to 20.   A wait-list will operate.

RGSQ Traveller Coordinator: Roger Grimley

Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred was a long-lived Coral Sea event that had a major impact over southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales including widespread coastal erosion, damaging winds causing widespread power outages and some structural damage, and widespread heavy rainfall and associated flooding. More than 500 000 customers were without power over southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales with many remaining without power for multiple days. Power outages were generally attributed to the windy conditions, including trees or tree branches falling onto power lines. The slow passage of Alfred southwards parallel to the Queensland coast produced large easterly swell that impacted the coastline of southeast Queensland and northeastern New South Wales causing significant coastal erosion. It is estimated that millions of cubic metres of sand were scoured from beaches leaving escarpments up to 6 metres high in some dunes during the prolonged event. [BOM].

Speakers

Dr Michael Hewson, Rockhampton North Campus, CQ University

Dr Michael Hewson teaches environmental geography from the Rockhampton North campus of CQUniversity. Michael’s research spans the topics environmental policy, creative reflection, spatial analysis of the weather, and threatened species habitat health monitoring and mapping using satellite remote sensing. Michael' research projects involve applying GIS and satellite remote sensing to spatial analysis of Earth systems.

Dr Annie Lau, University of Queensland

Dr Annie Lau is a coastal geomorphologist specialising in analysing past occurrences of coastal hazards (e.g. storms and tsunamis) through sedimentary, geomorphological and historical records for assessing the future threat in coastal areas. She is particular interested in understanding the coastal impacts created by waves, and how long those imprints would preserve in the landscape. 

Mr Reece Pianta

Reece is an experienced public policy campaigner in government and non-government roles. His work at the Invasive Species Council has helped secure funding and build community support for Australia’s fire ant eradication program. He was also involved in the early formation of Yellow Crazy Ant eradication efforts in the Townsville area. Visits to infestation areas in Cairns and Townsville and living in the Brisbane fire ant biosecurity zone left a deep appreciation of the mounting impacts that little invaders have on every aspect of life.

Each speaker will have 8 minutes to spotlight their work. During the Q&A forum the audience will have up to 60 minutes to ask questions of the experts on their research.

Light refreshments are served on arrival. This is a chance to network with colleagues and friends interested in this topic.

Please post your questions on notice to: questionsonnotice@gmail.com

Date: Tuesday 26 August 2025

Time:  5:30 pm light refreshments – doors open @ 5:15 

             6:00 – 6:30 pm Presentations

             6:30 – 7:30 Q&A Forum

             7:30 – 8:00 Mingling 

Place: Gregory Place, Level 1, 28 Fortescue St. Spring Hill 

Cost: $5.00 for refreshments, included in registration. 

Cost: $5.00 Members 

          $10.00 Non-Members 

          Free Students