Rod Quantock

Putting a smile on climate

Rod Quantock and Patrick Cook are on Radio National's Science Show, talking about climate change.

Science Show 20 August 2011 including a transcript.

Symbols of Australia public forum with Rod Quantock

Hear Rod Quantock, historians and other writers for an entertaining, provocative and controversial look at Australia’s best-loved symbols – from the quirky to the official, and those with the power to make a nation.

The entire presentation at the National Museum of Canberra is now available as a free download from the museum web site

http://www.nma.gov.au/audio/detail/symbols-of-australia-public-forum-with-rod-quantock

Rod at the National Museum of Australia

The National Museum of Australia has plenty of interesting snippets from our past and not all of it is serious. For example in March 2009 there was an amazingly well preserved FJ Holden.

Near the ‘FJ’ is a stand with small speakers and a set of buttons so you can hear examples of Australian language – past and present. Santo Cilauro is one of the speakers, another is Rod Quantock.

If you visit the museum, make sure you hear Rod Quantock’s plea for the return of a word from his childhood.

Near the audio presentations are other language exhibits, explaining Aussie phrases past and present.

In the store there are nifty cartoons explaining some Aussie terms like Bludger, Bung, Dag, Pom, Snag and, surprisingly, Economic rationalism!

National Museum of Australia in Canberra. Entry to the main exhibits is free and parking is free too. Great views over Lake Burley-Griffin and useful place to start a lakeside walk.