Ku-ring-gai (Chatswood)

Wednesday 5 March 2025
THE ARCHITECTURE OF INIGO JONES, JOHN WEBB AND WILLIAM SAMWELL
Presented by Christopher Garibaldi
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

These men were the most important and influential architects working in England in the mid-seventeenth century. We look at the relationship between the work of these three architects for their respective royal and aristocratic patrons. Whilst Inigo Jones became Surveyor of the Kings Works in 1611, John Webb, his pupil, assistant and natural successor, failed to secure the same role. Webb was nevertheless one of the most important and influential architects at the time in England, he designed part of Greenwich Palace for Charles II and alterations to the Queen’s House and Belvoir Castle. During the same period his work influenced that of the gentleman architect William Samwell who built the palace at Newmarket.

Christopher Garibaldi is an Independant Researcher. He was the Director of Palace House, Newmarket and Co-Director of Attingham Summer School for the Study of Historic Houses and Collections. Christopher was the Senior Curator & Assistant Keeper of Art at Norwich Castle Museum and the co-curator of Flower Power – The Meaning of Flowers in Art and Eat, Drink and Be Merry, the British at Table 1600 to 2000. And catalogued Silver in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

Wednesday 2 April 2025
JANE AUSTEN: HER LIFE AND WORKS 
Presented by Susannah Fullerton, OAM 
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

The six most polished, controlled and elegant social comedies to be found in English Literature were written by a woman whose personal life was unexciting and confined. Jane Austen’s cool judgment, ironic detachment and her genius gave her novels depth and charm and made them some of the most popular novels ever! This year marks the 250th anniversary of her birth. Illustrations bring the Regency world to life and readings will remind audiences just how funny Jane Austen can be.

Susannah Fullerton has been president of the Jane Austen Society of Australia for the past 18 years and has spoken about Jane Austen to many schools, community groups and adult classes. She is the author of several books: Jane Austen: Antipodean Views; Jane Austen and Crime; Brief Encounters: Literary Travellers in Australia; A Dance with Jane Austen; and Happily Ever After: Celebrating Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Susannah has a B.A. and M.Sc. (Arts) and leads literary tours to the UK, France and the USA.

Wednesday 7 May 2025
MISS SAIGON: THE MAKING OF A MUSICAL
Presented by Jamie Hayes
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

In this lecture, Jamie charts his own personal journey as Associate Director on the original production of Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway. He will share the process, from page to stage and beyond, illustrated with unique film clips of the original rehearsals and world premiere.

Jamie Hayes trained at RADA and graduated as a Stage Manager. He worked for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Bristol Old Vic and the BBC. He became an Assistant Director with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Kent Opera and English National Opera and soon began directing productions of his own in the UK and overseas. Jamie was Associate Director on the original production of the hit musical Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway.

Wednesday 4 June 2025
DOGS IN AUSTRALIAN ART
Presented by Steven Miller 
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

Australians love their dogs. With nearly 3.5 million dogs registered, we are said to have one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the world. Apart from writing the main text on the subject of Dogs in Australian Art, Steven Miller also maintains the popular Instagram account dogsinozart. This is a serious artistic subject which will be presented in an enjoyable and light-hearted way with local images featured, as many artists lived in the Ku-ring-gai area.

Stephen Miller was the former head of the National Art Archive at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. He has worked in commercial and public galleries and published widely on art. The book he co-authored on the first exhibition of modern European masters to visit Australia was awarded the NSW Premier’s History Award. He wrote the first history of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, published in 2021to celebrate its 150th anniversary. He has a Masters degree in theology, as well as qualifications in art history and archives. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW.

Wednesday 9 July 2025
THE RIJKSMUSEUM IN AMSTERDAM: REMBRANDT’S NIGHT WATCH AND MUCH, MUCH MORE
Presented by Dr Sophie Oosterwijk
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

This lecture looks at the collection in the Rijksmuseum, the building, its history and the recent 10-year renovation that brought back the splendour of architect Pierre Cuyper’s original neo-gothic decorations. Besides the art of Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh there is medieval art, jewellery, musical instruments, Asian art and even an FK23 Bantam plane from 1918. Expect a cornucopia of exciting content from this celebrated museum in the Netherlands.

Sophie Oosterwijk was born in Gouda and has an MA and PhD in English Literature (Leiden), an MA in Medieval Studies (York) and a PhD in Art History (Leicester). She has taught at the universities of St Andrews, Leicester and Manchester, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, National Trust, V&A, U3A, WEA, and organised many talks and tours. Sophie is also a regular lecturer for Cambridge University, travel companies and is Vice-President of the Church Monuments Society. Sophie has published three books and numerous articles. 

Wednesday 6 August 2025
A CARPET RIDE TO KHIVA: A PERSONAL STORY OF REVIVING ANCIENT SILK CARPET DESIGNS
Presented by Chris Aslan
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

Chris Aslan tells his own story of working with UNESCO to establish a silk carpet workshop in the desert oasis of Khiva, Uzbekistan – the most homogenous example of Islamic architecture in the world. His work took him to the bazaars of Afghanistan to purchase natural dyes, and to the great libraries and museums of Europe to track down 15th century manuscripts to revive carpet designs from their illuminations. He also saw the lives of women transformed and became the largest private employer in town

Chris Aslan was born in Turkey and after a colourful early life and a degree in media and journalism from Leicester University, he lived in several of the ’Stans’ – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan creating or reviving industries in each place resulting in valuable local employment opportunities. When not lecturing he writes and his latest book, recently published, is Unravelling the Silk Road. He also takes tours to Central Asia where he has left a large chunk of his heart.

Wednesday 10 September 2025
MASTER OF SUSPENSE: ALFRED HITCHCOCK
Presented by John Francis
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

After moving to Hollywood, Hitchcock created several masterpieces of cinema including Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960). Vertigo has recently been voted by critics as the best ever film overtaking Citizen Kane. Together we will explore Hitchcock’s dark film about sexual obsession. Taking a shower still fills many people with dread and foreboding thanks to the Hitchcock modern Horror classic of 1960. A full analysis of Hitchcock’s masterful technique and influences will be the central focus of this lecture. Alfred Hitchcock remains by far the most studied and revered film director of all time.

John Francis is an inspirational speaker who has delivered lectures and workshops in the US, Beijing, Malaysia and the UK. Initially trained as a painter, John was awarded the Max Beckmann Memorial Scholarship in painting in Brooklyn, New York and went on to be artist in residence for the state of Texas. Later in his career John produced and directed several short films and animations. He has taught film, art and pedagogy at the University of Exeter, Arts University Bournemouth, University Sains Malaysia, Southwestern College, California, Brunel University, London and Kingston University.

Wednesday 8 October 2025
THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Presented by Eileen Goulding 
Venue & Time: Zenith Theatre, 10.30 am or 6.00 pm start

Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire after 1,400 years of Christian rule and was eventually renamed Istanbul: find out why and how it happened.

Eileen Goulding has an MA from the Department of Archaeology at the University of London, is a published author and an authority on the ancient cultures of the world. She specialises in the History and Culture of the ancient worlds of the Mediterranean, South America and Australasia and spends her time doing further research and giving lectures to The Arts Society, on cruise ships and to various local organisations. Her first book “What Did the Poor Take with Them? “is an academic treatise on Ancient Egyptian funerary goods, while her second book “Understanding Ancient Egypt” is a more accessible introduction to the subject.