The Don Dunstan Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the State Government of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and Flinders University

Past events

 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

2010

Biodiversity begins at home

On Wednesday 24 November, the Don Dunstan Foundation held the final in the series of Dunstan Environment Dialogues - Biodiversity begins at home, hosted by the Royal Institution of Australia in association with the Don Dunstan Foundation and the Environment Institute. 'Biodiversity' can be defined as the sum total of all living things on the planet, organised into species, communities and ecosystems.

Biodiversity provides us with food, materials and energy: we eat animals and plants; insects pollinate most of our crops; soil microbes assist plant growth; vegetation reduces flooding and cleanses drinking water; and so on. Yet much of the world's biodiversity is in peril, and species are becoming extinct or rare faster than at almost any time in the last several million years. If we do not halt the biodiversity crisis, humans will suffer deeply.
What can we do? This Dunstan Dialogue will focused on ways we can make a difference by protecting and restoring habitats, and reducing our ecological footprint.

Panel Members :
Mike Young, Executive Director, The Environment Institute, University of Adelaide.
Corey Bradshaw, Director of Ecological Modelling, Marine Biology Program, The University of Adelaide
Andrew Lowe, Director, ACEBB, The University of Adelaide
Craig Gillespie, Representative, Urban Forest Biodiversity Program
Matt Turner, Environmental Scientist, Wilderness Society of SA
Sarah Lance, Manager, Bushbids 

2009

On Wednesday 11 November, the 2^nd Dunstan Environment Dialogue, entitled "Power and the People", posed the question as to whether new nuclear or clean technologies should power our future.

In Australia and around the world, energy demands are on the rise. What must happen to energy generation in the face of issues such as climate change and limited fossil fuel reserves? Should power generation be localised or centralised? Researchers, governments and communities are struggling to agree upon the best method for future energy generation. It is an issue for everyone to consider and participate in.

Presentations

Held in Elder Hall on 7 October, Broadcaster Phillip Adams chaired the inaugural Dunstan Leadership Dialogue and was joined by panelists Annabel Crabb - political commentator with the Sydney Morning Herald,  Clare Martin - the CEO of ACOSS and former Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, and Dexter Dunphy - distinguished Professor from the University of Technology in Sydney whose area of interest is the management of organisational cultural change.

Leadership - in lousy times or not - is, as ever, an important consideration. While times of crisis can bring out the worst in people, there is also the reassuring folk saying 'cometh the hour, cometh the man'. Certainly this saying was much used to welcome Barack Obama to the US Presidency.

Populations seek leaders to provide for the well being of the followers through an efficient organisation of available resources to ensure security. Leaders gain their authority by providing or articulating the emotional beliefs of those led. A leader’s motive and methods need examination.

With the worst economic crisis in 70 years happening it certainly makes for 'interesting' if not lousy times. Julia Gillard noted at the end of last year as we were ‘primed’ into this crisis - 'these are dreadful days'. Global financial turmoil alone is bad enough but then we have  the worst drought and bushfires of modern times, global climate change and impending problems with water and food supply and forced migration of displaced populations.

30 September - Prof. John Quiggan Free Public Lecture

Title:  Beyond the Economic Crisis:  Alternatives to Market Liberalism
Venue:  Functions Rooms, Art Gallery of South Australia

View the powerpoint presentation of John Quiggan's Lecture

Don's Party - 10 years on...
....we honoured his memory, celebrated his achievements and looked to our future!

The Don Dunstan Foundation wishes to thank so many people who made Don's Party such an exciting and successful event - to the numerous volunteers who generously gave so much time and energy to help out on the night;  to those whose extraordinary generosity provided us with food and drinks, to our various entertainers (and those behind the scenes) who gave the night such sparkle; and to our guest speakers, committee members and most importantly, those of you in the public who remain committed to Don's core social values and to keeping the momentum and enthusiasm in bringing about social celebration and justice! 

We were delighted to be joined by so many of you (over 650) on February 6th and look forward to seeing you again at our next big event.  In the meantime, please find below some reflections from Don' s Party and copies of the Odes and speeches delivered on the evening....

Ode to Don – Bob Ellis/ Robyn Archer AO

2008

Tom Burns Memorial Lecture
Inaugural presentation by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd MP

David Korten Public Lecture
Dr David C Korten is the author of The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community.

2007

Professor Robert Reich, Former Secretary of Labor under US President Bill Clinton speaks on the essentials for a decent working society in the 21st century. 

Professor Brian Howe, Former Deputy Prime Minister in the Bob Hawke and Paul Keating administrations addresses the topic "Weighing Up Australian Values: Turning Risks Into Opportunities".