2025 PROGRAM

(Updated as information becomes available)

This year’s program highlights including lectures, luncheons, trips, and special events

SERIES 1 – 2025

Series 1: ITS ALL ABOUT HEALTH

February 20th  A.G.M. & Lecture #1
The Bare Bones of Ageing, Dr John Geddes

February 27th   Lecture #2
Movement is Medicine, Anthony Bush

March 6th  Lecture #3
Brain Fitness Matters at all Ages, Ina Meeten 

March 13th  Lecture #4
Its all in your Head, Jeremy Hornibrook

March 20th  Lecture #5
Healthy Hearing, Anna McMillan

March 27th - Rest Day

SERIES 2 – 2025

Series 2: EMERGENCY SERVICES

April 3rd  Lecture #1
Saving Lives on the Sea, Luke Gardiner

April 10th  Lecture #2
The Role of a Paramedic, Helen Bickers

April 17th  Lecture #3
Emergency Management & Personal Preparedness, Nathan Black

April 24th  Lecture #4
Amateur Radio Emergency Services, Steve Davis

May 1st  Lecture #5
Air Rescue, Rachael McNutt

May 8th - Rest Day

SERIES 3 – 2025

Series 3: SCOTLAND - the Picts to the Present - about 3,000 yrs, Frieda Looser

May 15th  Lecture #1     
Who were the Picts?

May 22rd  Lecture #2    
Medieval Kingdom of the Scots

May 29th  Lecture #3    
Rough Wooing to Act of Union

June 5th  Lecture #4    
British Empire & Bonnie Prince Charlie

June 12th  Lecture #5    
Highland Clearances to Scottish Parliament

June 21st - Rest Day

SERIES 4 – 2024

Series 4: DELIVERING JUSTICE

June 27th  Lecture #1    

Is Justice like Beauty - as seen in the Eye of the Beholder? Judge David Saunders

July 4th  Lecture #2    
The Brain Does Not Lie’ - an Overview of the University of Canterbury Forensic Brainwave Analysis Project, Professor Robin Palmer

July 11th  Lecture #3    

The Challenge of Making Progress in Justice in Politics, Hon Dr. Duncan Webb

July 18th  Lecture #4    

Restorative Justice: What gets Restored and Why does it Matter? Marsha Jordyn-Mullins

July 25th  Lecture #5    

Lawyers: Enemies of the People? Paul Bradford

August 1st - Rest Day

SERIES 5 – 2024

Series 5: MEDICINE MATTERS

August 8th  Lecture #1    
Canterbury Charity Hospital, Dr Philip Bagshaw 

August 15th  Lecture #2    
Forensic Pathology - An Introduction to Autopsy and Death Investigation, Dr Leslie Anderson

August 22nd  Lecture #3
Medicines sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders ‘Rihlati: My MSF journey as a humanitarian worker in Palestine.’, Siobhan Lockie

August 29st  Lecture #4    
Mercy Ships, Christine Lloyd

September 5th  Lecture #5    
The Science of Swallowing, Lucy Greig

September 12th - Rest Day / Strathlachlan Homestead & David Bell Daffodils Trip

SERIES 6 – 2024

Series 6: POT POURRI

September 19th  Lecture #1    
Potholes and Road Cones …  can’t anyone build and maintain a good road anymore?  Bevan Sandison

September 26th  Lecture #2    
Gallery Spaces: Otautahi Christchurch and Waitaha Canterbury, Dr Warren Feeney

October 3rd  Lecture #3    
Importance of Dairying to NZ's Future, Keith Woodford

October 10th  Lecture #4    
Publishing a Community Newspaper, Michael de Hamel

October 17th  Lecture #5    
Religious Influence in the USA, Peter Field

October 24th - Rest Day 

SERIES 7 – 2024

Series 7 POT POURRI

October 31st Lecture #1    
Fountain of Peace - Children's Foundation NZ 

November 7th Lecture #2
Canterbury Museum - Past, Present, & Future

November 14th - Rest Day 

December 12th
Christmas Function

Sample Topics

A sample of program topics covered in recent years includes:

  • An Interesting Variety of Writers and Books
  • Art
  • Birds and Bees and Biodiversity
  • Balance of Power
  • Books and Print
  • Books
  • Catching the Wave
  • Chocolate: Food of the Gods and Elixir of Empires
  • Christchurch - The Garden City?
  • Disabilities
  • Eco Architecture
  • Exploring the Cosmos
  • From Gold Card to the Grave
  • Getting Started in Canterbury
  • Happenings in Canterbury
  • Law and Disorder
  • London: From the Romans to The Fire
  • Matters of the Heart
  • Medical Research Foundation
  • Music
  • Music, Music, Music
  • People in Uniform
  • Pills, Patients & Problems
  • Pot Pourri
  • History Through the Lens of a Political Scientist
  • Travellers’ Tales
  • Water Hotspots
  • World Religions