Afternoon Light

May 28 2024 3

Afternoon Light Podcast artwork

Welcome to the Afternoon Light Podcast, a captivating journey into the heart of Australia’s political history and enduring values. Presented by the Robert Menzies Institute, a prime ministerial library and museum, this podcast illuminates the remarkable legacy of Sir Robert Menzies, Australia’s longest-serving prime minister. Dive into the rich tapestry of Menzies’s contemporary impact as we explore his profound contributions on the Afternoon Light Podcast. Join us as we delve into his unyielding commitment to equality, boundless opportunity, and unwavering entrepreneurial spirit. Our engaging discussions bring to life the relevance of Menzies’s values in today’s world, inspiring us to uphold his principles for a brighter future. Ready to embark on this enlightening journey? Experience the Afternoon Light Podcast now! Tune in to explore the past, engage with the present, and shape a better tomorrow by learning from the visionary leadership of Sir Robert Menzies. Stay connected by signing up on the Robert Menzies Institute website: https://www.robertmenziesinstitute.org.au/. Have an opinion? Email your comments to: [email protected].

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Tania Cammarano on Italian Food in Australia | "Cuisine absorbs foreign influence"

May 28 2024 48 mins

On Afternoon Light #148 Georgina Downer meets with Tania Cammarano, a food historian, author, and public speaker, to discuss the historical evolution and cultural significance of Italian food in Australia. Italian food plays an important role in our food culture, not just for its popularity and versatility. Together, Georgina and Tania explore the development of Italian food in Aus

Amanda Laugesen on the Australian Accent | "Language goes a long way to being part of our national identity"

May 21 2024 42 mins

On Afternoon Light #147 Georgina Downer meets with historian, lexicographer, and Director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre at ANU, Amanda Laugesen, to discuss on the evolution and cultural significance of the Australian accent. They explore changes to the accent over time, from its stigmatisation in the early 20th century to its eventual acceptance and celebration; diss

Senator James Paterson on National Unity & Sovereignty | "We nearly had a very serious domestic crisis"

May 14 2024 42 mins

In this episode of Afternoon Light, Georgina Downer sits down with Senator James Paterson, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, delving into crucial topics surrounding national security and defence. From the imperative of heightened investment and patriotism to the historical resonance and contemporary relevance of conscription in Australia, they explore the intricacies of maintaining

Paul Tilley on the History of Australian Tax Reform | "Broaden the base and lower the rates"

May 07 2024 45 mins

Georgina Downer and author and economist Paul Tilley discuss the history of tax reform in Australia to highlight its influence on present day policy decisions. Through comparative analysis of tax structures overseas, they also explore the benefits of a system of taxation characterised by three key markers of success — efficiency, equity, and simplicity. Paul Tilley is an author a

Brian O'Malley on James 'King O'Malley' Malley | Larrikin, Maverick, and "Accused Murderer"

Apr 30 2024 39 mins

This week on Afternoon Light, we cover the turbulent and theatrical story of 'How James Became King' as detailed by author and historian, Brian O'Malley.James 'King' O'Malley (of no relation to his biographer) is known to history as a larrikin and maverick politician, member of the first Australian Federal Parliament and Federal Minister, whose political career spanned two decades.

Thea Gardiner, ‘Her main duty in life was to give back’ The Mab Grimwade Story

Apr 23 2024 40 mins

Mab Grimwade was one of the most important philanthropists in Australian history, yet like many female figures, she seldom appears in the history books. That was until our guest, Thea Gardiner, authored a new biography which reveals the story of Mab and the fascinating world in which she lived. Learn how this amazing woman was able to work within the confines of gender roles to mak

Saul Eslake, ‘A distinctive part of life in Australia’ The Declining Dream of Homeownership

Apr 16 2024 50 mins

Arguably one of the most profound ways in which Sir Robert Menzies shaped modern Australian was by helping to lift homeownership rates from 53% to 71%. Defying a Labor Party that decried the creation of ‘little capitalists’ Menzies forged a property owning democracy where the middle class he championed grew so large that Labor had to reorientate itself to court its votes. But s

David W. Cameron, ‘We punched well above our weight’ Australians in the Battle of Kapyong, Korea

Apr 09 2024 39 mins

25 April is eternally associated with the Gallipoli landings, but there is another ferocious battle fought by Australian troops on that date which deserves to be better remembered. That battle is the Battle of Kapyong, waged in the so-called ‘forgotten war’, the Korean War. Between 23-25 April 1951, with exceptional valour, fewer than 1,200 Australian and Canadian infantrymen,

Peter Brune, ‘Totally Bipartisan’ How post-war immigration transformed Australia

Apr 02 2024 45 mins

When World War Two revealed that Australia needed to ‘populate or perish’, Menzies and the Labor Government were in lock step agreement about the need to broaden the sources of Australian immigration beyond the British Isles. But the political leadership faced a far harder task in bringing the nation, which had long been indoctrinated in the dogma of White Australia, along with

Stephen Dando-Collins, ‘He was Unrelenting’ The Astonishing Life of Sir Henry Parkes

Mar 26 2024 44 mins

Sir Henry Parkes has been dubbed the ‘Father of Federation’, but how much do you know about him? Fleeing poverty in England to seek opportunity in Australia, he found immense political success, that went hand in hand with repeated financial failure. The ‘Grand Old Man’ of New South Wales politics, he was tremendously charismatic and became notorious for marrying much younge