Green Wedge Public Lectures are free, engaging lectures open to everyone. On these Sundays, we don’t hold a church service but rather invite experts to help us grapple with important topics like environmental issues, mental health, and spirituality. They are held at the Senior’s Hall in Eltham (Library Place) on certain Sundays, from 10:30 – 11:30 am.

These public lectures are not church services, so you will not be asked to sing, pray or give. Rather you are warmly invited to listen to a speaker, ask questions if you wish, and take away something practical on an issue relevant to our world and our community.

VENUE: Eltham Senior’s Hall – Library Place Eltham (just back from Main Rd between the fire station and the Library)

COST: Free

TIME: 10:30am to 11:30am

For more information contact: [email protected] m: 0418-459-779

Up and Coming Green Wedge Public Lectures

Sunday, 16 August – Mental Health in the Mountains and Gardens

Join us for the Green Wedge Public Lecture on Mental Health in the Mountains & Gardens, featuring esteemed speakers Matt Glover and Kayte Kitchen. This enlightening event, proudly presented by Southern Cross Community Church and MGA Counselling, holds immense importance for individuals seeking to prioritize their mental well-being. Discover how the tranquil surroundings of mountains and gardens can profoundly impact our mental health and gain valuable insights into practical strategies for nurturing our mental well-being in these natural settings. Matt Glover and Kayte Kitchen, renowned experts in the field, will provide a unique perspective on the subject, offering invaluable guidance for improving mental health through nature. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and be inspired by their expertise, as it has the potential to positively transform the way we approach our mental well-being.

Past public lectures

2023 PUBLIC LECTURES

Unpacking the Statement from the Heart and the Voice

Rev Uncle Glenn Loughrey (Rev. Canon A/Prof Glenn Loughrey)

Glenn is a Wiradjuri man. Glenn is a leader at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University in Canberra and the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne’s Educator and Advocate for the Voice. 

Glenn is also the chairperson of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council, the vicar of St Oswald’s in Glen Iris, and an artist in residence at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Melbourne.

Sunday, 26 January 2023 – Rev. Tim Costello

“Online gambling and its impact on everyday Australians“

Sunday, 26 February at 10:30 am Southern Cross Community Church hosted Rev. Tim Costello. Tim addressed the issues surrounding the gambling industry in Australia – its power, effects, and what you can do to combat this destructive industry.

Learn more about Rev. Tim Costello.

Sunday, 4 June 2023 – Jonathan Cornford

Towards a Downshifting Economy: Towards a New Vision of the Australian Way of Life

Australians are amongst the wealthiest people on the planet, but very few people feel that way. Not only have high levels of consumption failed to translate into a sense of well-being, but we are also increasingly confronted with the fact that they cannot be sustained. This lecture will be an exercise in new political imagination, arguing that downshifting the Australian economy to a lower consumption, higher well-being model is not only desirable but also well within reach.

2022 PUBLIC LECTURES

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 1: Insects, biodiversity and what you can do in your own backyard, by Phil Batterham

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 1: Insects, biodiversity and what you can do in your own backyard, by Phil Batterham, Sunday, February 27 2022
Watch the Livestream
Download PowerPoint (24mb)
Our first-ever event was a talk presented on Sunday, February 27 by Professor Philip Batterham. Phil completed his PhD in genetics at Monash University, lectured at Melbourne University and is an expert in the field of insecticide resistance. 
Philip’s easy-to-understand style engaged us as he explains the complex world of insects, biodiversity and insecticides. The audience came away equipped with vital information on our environment, our control of insects, and some do’s and don’t’s around what to do in our own backyards.
The link above will take you to the recorded event, and you can also download Phil’s slides from the day.

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 2: Fast Fashion: Stories of hope from Bangkok, by Jodie MacCartney

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 2: Fast Fashion: Stories of hope from Bangkok, by Jodie MacCartney, Sunday, 27 March 2022
Jodie will be speaking to us out of 14 years experience living in an informal settlement in Bangkok. She has first-hand experience of the impact fast fashion has on the poorest in our global community. Jodie will share stories of hope from the social enterprise she cofounded, as well as giving us practical tips on how to combat fast fashion in Australia today.
Download the Presentation PowerPoint (21 mb) PDF (6mb)
https://youtu.be/NE8yoNGDgDg

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 3 – Not impossible! Creative responses to the tragedy of human trafficking by Michelle Kerr

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 3 – Not impossible! Creative responses to the tragedy of human trafficking by Michelle Kerr, Country Manager of Eden Australia. Sunday, 24 April 2022

Watch Promo Video

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 4 – Bear at the window! Simple tips for managing pre-pandemic stress!

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 4 – Bear at the window! Simple tips for managing pre-pandemic stress! Sunday, 22 May 2022
You’re invited to hear Zoe speak about the prolonged effects of pandemic stress and what you can do about it. There will be strategies taught on the day as well as links to other resources. The lecture is suitable for all ages.

Watch video

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 5 – Staying sane in a world gone mad. Tips from a Psychiatrist by Dr. AJ Singh

Green Wedge Public Lecture # 5 – Staying sane in a world gone mad. Tips from a Psychiatrist by Dr. AJ Singh. Sunday, July 24 at 10:30am
AJ will be speaking on the crucial topic of mental health. How privileged we are to hear this free public lecture from a practicing psychiatrist. His foci will be on sophisticated self-help, and navigating a saturated mental healthcare system. Please sign up for this important lecture, which includes a question time and morning tea after the session. 

Watch promo video

Watch Livestream

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 6 – How can we work toward right relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples?

Green Wedge Public Lecture # 6 – How can we work toward right relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples? by Naomi Wolfe and Andy Mitchell Sunday, August 28 at 10:30am

GREEN WEDGE PUBLIC LECTURE # 7 – Practical ways to help refugee and asylum seeker communities. By Rev Dr Sam Farbod, with special guest Apryl Huglin

Green Wedge Public Lecture # 7 – Practical ways to help refugee and asylum seeker communities. By Rev Dr Sam Farbod, with special guest Apryl Huglin Sunday, September 25 at 10:30am