Gary Presland is a highly experienced public speaker and lecturer of more than 35 years’ standing, and a regular participant in community/Council-based workshops and forums. He is available to speak on a range of subjects, including Victorian Aboriginal history, natural history in the Melbourne area,  and the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.

Gary’s recent/forthcoming public engagements include:

1 February 2020: Royal Historical Society of Vic/Genealogical Society of Vic. Seminar: ‘The development of Melbourne’s early suburbs’

6 May 2020: Doncaster/Templestowe Historical Society. Talk:  ‘TBA.’  7:30 p.m., Schramm’s Cottage, Victoria Road, Doncaster. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

12 May 2020: Hawthorn Rotary. Talk: ‘How nature has shaped the city of Melbourne’ 1.00 p.m., 489 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong. 

12 May 2020: Monash University Seminar. Panel discussion. 6:00 p.m., Old Treasury Building, Spring Street, Melbourne. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

17 May 2020: Bayside Readers & Writers Festival. Panel discussion: ‘Writing history’. 2:15 p.m., Highett Community Centre, 2 Livingston St, Highett. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

26 May 2020: FNCV Day Group. Talk: ‘FGA Barnard, historian and naturalist’. 10.30  for a 11.00 a.m.  start. FNCV Hall, 1 Gardenia Street, Blackburn. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

26 May 2020: Essendon Historical Society. Talk: ‘Pre-European Indigenous history of the Essendon district’. 7.00 p.m., Moonee Ponds Courthouse, 768 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

1 June 2020: Banyule U3A. Talk: ‘TBA’ 2.00 p.m.,  U3A Hall, Rear 14 Ivanhoe Parade Ivanhoe. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

17 June 2020: East Melbourne Historical Society. Talk: ‘Pre-European Indigenous history of the East Melbourne district’. 8.00 p.m., East Melbourne Library, 122 George Street, E. Melb.

3 October 2020: Whitehorse Historical Society. Talk:  ‘History of Coranderrk Aboriginal staion.’  2:00 p.m., Schwerkolt’s Cottage, Deep Creek, Mitcham. Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

5 October 2020: Banyule U3A. Talk: ‘The place for a village’ 2.00 p.m.,  U3A Hall, Rear 14 Ivanhoe Parade Ivanhoe. [Re-scheduled, with hope, from 1 June]

10 October 2020: Cranbourne Friends RBGV. Talk: ‘Where have the wetlands gone? ‘ 2.00 p.m.,  Cranbourne Botanic Gardens.