Meetings
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday 1st July 2026 with guest speaker, Dr Judith Coullie, whose topic is Remebering Nelson Mandela.
Dr Judith Coullie's research interest is life writing in its various forms, including autobiography and biography, particularly in relation to South Africa. Her topic is Remembering Nelson Mandela.
Dr Rose Crossin is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago (Christchurch). She will be speaking on Understanding and Preventing Drug Harm.
Frieda Looser is a historian and educator specialising in European, global, and local Canterbury history. Her talk will highlight the recent Moriori renaissance and explore the history of the current diverse community living on Rēkohu Chatham Islands.
Kate Russell ONZM, FFIA has a thirty-year history in the NGO sector and has led several high profile NZ Charities, spending time on the Boards of several others. A career Community Development expert, Kate has spent time on several government advisory boards and as a business mentor through Business Mentors NZ. Recognised in the 2016 New Year’s Honours with an ONZM for services to governance and health, Kate is also a Fellow of the Fundraising Institute of Australasia.
Margaret will share two immigrant stories, reliving the experiences of Sarah Stokes, who arrived in 1850 on The Randolph, one of the first four ships, and Rosalia Gierszewski, a Vogel immigrant who arrived on the Friedeburg in 1872 and settled in Marshlands. Her stories focus on local women and local history which she endeavours to present as authentically as possible.
Richard is 'mostly retired' but remains an Adjunct Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering and in Psychology at the University of Canterbury.
Creative director and lead tour guide for Urban Arts Trust, 'Watch This Space'.
Dr Roger Buckton was an adjunct associate professor at the University of Canterbury and lectured in ethnomusicology, music education and musicianship. He continues to perform on the dudelsack alongside other instruments of early music.
President, Christchurch Riding for the Disabled
A Perspective on the Russo-Ukraine conflict.
Christchurch City Council - Waste Minimisation
Forensic Dentist - Identification of victims following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
History Department, Canterbury University- Patriotic Baking and Iconic Kiwi foods: A Tasty History
Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering, Canterbury University - Blood markers to diagnose heart attacks/design of an artificial heart
Chairperson Youth Hub Trust - The Youth Hub Christchurch
Canterbury Sport & Spinal Physiotherapy - Movement is Medicine
Writer, Historian, Storyteller – The History of Lyttelton Goal