Jim shares some of Australia’s oddest and most amazing true stories and looks at some amazing ‘larger than life’ characters from our past.
* Suitable for Probus, Aust Seniors Groups, General

A village lad who ran away to sea and lived more adventures than we can dream of in his short life. Tales of war at sea, shipwrecks, intrigue – a love story for the ages!

A tale of intrigue, Papal decrees and international rivalry. Did the Portuguese chart the east coast of Australia from Cape York to Warrnambool in 1522? Was that map was on the Endeavour. Why the Dutch never claimed New Holland?

Australians have been told, and believe, a lot of nonsense about Ned Kelly (and many other things). Learn the brutal and bloody truth behind the romantic mythology.

Jim tells the story of the ANZAC Convoy and the Battle of Cocos Island and explains the reason for the Gallipoli Campaign, its geography and progress and Australia’s role in the campaign

28 Japanese submarines patrolled our east coast and sank over 50 ships. German U-Boat visited the Coorong, east of Adelaide, in 1944, and German raiders laid mines along our coast and sank HMAS Sydney? Find out what the wartime censors never told us in this frightening and enlightening presentation

The history of the magazine that developed and defined our Australian character and made us think of ourselves as ‘Australian’. The magazine that created our literary and comic artistic heritage

Nostalgic fun quiz about Aussie post-war culture.  TV, movies, music, food, innovations and inventions – world events that rocked our world. A quiz where everybody can score 40 out of 50. Remember, trivia means it’s not that important.

A memory test for those of us who grew up in the ’50s, ’60s, 70s and ’80s & went to the ‘pitchers’. The great movies, the actors, the real names, cowboys, romance, horror etc – plus the history of Australian moviemaking.

Jim uses examples to show how different song forms are put together and how such a powerful art form has such simple rules and structures.

The migrant Jewish boy who grew up in poverty – and gave us ‘April in Paris’, ‘Brother, Can You Spare a Dime’, ‘Lydia the Tattooed Lady’ ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ALL the songs in the Wizard of OZ  and Finian’s Rainbow

Medieval curses to Shakespeare, Coleridge, Kipling and modern lyrical works, Jim performs and explains how poetry has been used over the ages

The fascinating and entertaining history of our rhymed verse heritage.Bulletin Magazine’s place in our history and the tradition of verse as entertainment and an expression of patriotism.

The story of Henry Lawson’s tragic life shows us why he is regarded as the most AUSTRALIAN of all verse writers, using Henry’s own verse to showcase his humour, observations of life and love of Australia.

He had a crippled right arm, rode winners at Rosehill, was involved a scandalous romance that ended his 6-year engagement, enlisted in WW 1 at the age of 52 and became a major. Jim performs a selection of verse.

Jim recites the works of this wonderful poet who wrote over 2000 poems as well as the biggest selling book in Australian history – and talks about his life and times.

The artistic depiction of ‘the finest harbour in the world’ from 1788 to the present is an enlightening journey through the history of art genres, the harbour itself, the city of Sydney and the artists who were drawn to it: convicts, naval men, soldiers, surveyors, scientists and artists both famous and forgotten. Over 200 images help show you why the harbour has fascinated artists from convict amateurs to Conrad Martens, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Roland Wakelin, Brett Whitely, Ken Done and many more.

Fascinating stories of the many wonderful women, some famous and some forgotten, who have painted Sydney Harbour – from 1870 to the present day. With 175 images showing their work in various artistic styles.

Five of the ten Lindsay children became renowned artists. Jim discusses the life and art of an amazing Australian ‘workaholic’ who gave Australia a sense of aesthetic and ‘culture’. Lindsay was a major influence on artists and writers and shocked the wowsers and narrow minded. His artistic output makes you tired, just to contemplate!

Jim shares some gems from his collection of stories, jokes, anecdotes and verse about the champions, characters and history of horseracing, a sport that captures the true Aussie spirit and reflects our national identity. The rorts and ring-ins, humour and romance of the racetrack.

The history of the Melbourne Cup our truly national day of celebration, Australia’s greatest race, and our obsession with horse racing and gambling. It is a story of bitter interstate rivalry, inspirational events and champions, tragedies and amazing scams and cons that helped shape our unique national character and culture. Anzac Day & ‘The Cup’ are our truly Australian national celebrations.