Afternoon Light
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].
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 44 minutes
- Episodes
- 228
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Selwyn Cornish: ‘A Living Organism’ The History of the Reserve Bank of Australia
In this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer speaks to the Reserve Bank’s Official Historian, Selwyn Cornish, about the history of central banki…
Martyn Lyons: ‘They Certainly Felt Empowered’ Writing Letters to Menzies
In this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light Podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to Emeritus Professor Martyn Lyons about letters written to Robert Menzies.
During his time a…
Jane Connors, ‘Because She Was Here’ The 1954 Royal Tour
In this first episode of the second season of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to Dr Jane Connors about the 1954 Royal Tour.
In 1954 Queen Elizabeth II …
Scott Prasser ‘The Learning Leader’ and Nick Cater ‘Forgotten People to Quiet Australians’
In this sixth and final episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you will hear from Scott Prasser on ‘The Learning Leader’ and Nick Cater on ‘Forgotten People to Quiet Australians’.
Dr Scott Pras…
Anne Henderson: ‘Preparation for War, the Trade Union Movement and Appeasement’ and Frank Bongiorno: ‘Curtin and Menzies’
In this fifth episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you will hear from Anne Henderson on ‘Preparation for War, the Trade Union Movement and Appeasement’ and Frank Bongiorno on ‘Curtin and Menz…
David Furse-Roberts ‘A Simple Presbyterian in Politics: Robert Menzies, Liberalism and Anti-Sectarianism’
In this fourth episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you will hear from Dr David Furse-Roberts on ‘A Simple Presbyterian in Politics: Robert Menzies, Liberalism and Anti-Sectarianism’.
Dr Davi…
Gregory Melleuish: ‘The Idea of Education According to the Young Menzies, 1916-1945’ and Judith Brett: ‘Menzies’s Debt to Deakinite Liberalism’
In this third episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you can hear Professor Gregory Melleuish on ‘The Idea of Education According to the Young Menzies, 1916-1945’ followed by Emeritus Professor…
Justice James Edelman: ‘Menzies and the Law’
In this second episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you can hear The Hon Justice James Edelman’s presentation on ‘Menzies and the Law’.
Justice James Edelman examines Menzies’s brilliant lega…
David Kemp ‘Menzies: Time for a Reappraisal?’ and Troy Bramston ‘Young Robert’
In this first episode of the Afternoon Light Summer Series you can hear The Hon Dr David Kemp’s presentation on ‘Menzies: Time for a Reappraisal?’, followed by Troy Bramston’s presentation on ‘Young …
Gideon Haigh: ‘The Brilliant Boy’ Remembering the Achievements of Dr H.V. Evatt
In this week’s episode of the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to author and journalist Gideon Haigh about Doc Evatt and Robert Menzies.
Herbert Vere Evatt…
Barry Jones: ‘A Strong Acquaintance’ Personal Reflections on Menzies and the Menzies Era
In this week’s episode of Afternoon Light, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer talks to former Hawke Government Minister The Hon Barry Jones AC about his friend, Robert Gordon Menzies. Barry…
James Waghorne: ‘A Light on the Hill & A Place of Truth’ Menzies’s University Days
This week on the Afternoon Light podcast Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer is joined by Dr James Waghorne to discuss the intricacies and eccentricities of the University of Melbourne at th…
Anne Henderson: ‘Given the Opportunity, She Took It’, The Remarkable Career of Margaret Guilfoyle
This week on the Afternoon Light podcast, Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer speaks to Anne Henderson about Liberal trailblazer, Dame Margaret Guilfoyle.
Anne is Deputy Director of the Sydn…
Ben Wilkie: ‘A Scottish Chauvinist’ The Scots Influence on Robert Menzies’s Worldview
This week on Afternoon Light Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer is joined by Dr Ben Wilkie to discuss Sir Robert Menzies’s Scottish influences.
While Menzies is often derided for being ‘Br…
Warren Mundine: ‘An Enormous Foundation for Things to Happen’ Indigenous Policy under the Menzies Government
This week on Afternoon Light Robert Menzies Institute CEO Georgina Downer is joined by Nyunggai Warren Mundine AO to discuss Indigenous policy under the Menzies Government. From the forming of the Au…
Scott Prasser: ‘The Institution of Last Resort’ Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries Under Menzies
In this week’s episode of Afternoon Light, academic and government adviser Dr Scott Prasser joins us to discuss his book ‘Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia’. Scott elaborates on som…
Bob Bowker: ‘The Decline of an Empire to which Australians Largely Wished Still to Belong’ Menzies and the Suez Crisis
29 October marks the 65th anniversary of the start of the Suez Conflict, during which Israeli, French and British troops attacked Egypt in an attempt to regain control of the Suez Canal which had bee…
Tim Costello: ‘You are Blessed to be a Blessing’ Menzies’s Sense of Duty to Australia’s Neighbours
During the Menzies era Australian foreign aid spending achieved its highest ever average as a percentage of our GDP, while in 1959 Prime Minister Robert Menzies was able to boast that Australia had t…
Stephen Chavura: ‘Britishness Meant… a Love of Liberty Tempered by an Emphasis on Duty’, Examining Menzies’s Political Beliefs in Context
Joining us this week on Afternoon Light to discuss Menzies’s political beliefs is Dr Stephen Chavura, lecturer in history at Campion College. Steve has written a new book, with Professor Greg Melleui…
David Furse-Roberts: ‘Divine Order in a Distracted Human World’, The Religious Underpinnings of Menzies’s Politics
Joining us this week on Afternoon Light to discuss his new book God and Menzies: The Faith that Shaped a Prime Minister and His Nation is Dr David-Furse Roberts. David is a Research Fellow at the Men…