11 - 17 july 2018
◆ COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: Bill Wilson and Karenne Thistleton are among the Indigo Shire locals involved in arranging the annual Kerferd Oration. PHOTO: Coral Cooksley
By KYLIE WILSON
FROM the forums of ancient Rome, where the religious, political and philosophical issues of the day were often discussed and debated, to the rising popularity of TED talks on the internet, humanity’s thirst for public debate has remained high for centuries. One of the best known local forums for the highlighting and discussion of issues in our society is the annual Kerferd Oration, which occurs in Beechworth each July and is now in its 15th year. This year, the speaker will be Northern Territory senator Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa woman from the Gulf country in the Northern Territory and a Northern Territory Senator, and those on the organising committee said they are proud to be involved in the event. Committee chair Karenne Thistleton has been on the committee for three years, having joined upon moving to Beechworth almost four years ago. She said she first attended the Kerferd Oration in 2015, to hear Dr Simon Longstaff AO, who spoke about “visible” and “invisible” people in society. Continued page 3
Sparking discussions GARDEN HINTS
PET CARE
WINE TALK
TECH & SCIENCE
TV GUIDE
with HELEN
with AMBER
with ANITA
with CHRIS
REVIEW BATMAN