The talk scripts held in this collection were created and broadcast by twelve 'special speakers' employed by the ABC. The speakers whose broadcasts are held within this collection are:

Eric Ashby - Professor of Botany at the University of Sydney

Neville Cardus - writer and critic, regular music and cricket commentator for the ABC

Noel Coward - composer and musician

Dame Mary Gilmore - author and poet

Sir Keith Hancock - Australian historian

Sir John Medley - Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne

Water Murdoch - essayist, university professor and Chancellor of the University of Western Australia

Dr Stuart Wortley Pennycuick - lecturer in Physical Chemistry at the University of Adelaide

Albert Bathurst Piddington - Supreme Court judge and social reformer

Professor Garnet Vere Portus - historian and educator and member of the ABC's National Talks Committee

Professor Julius Stone - Professor of Law at the University of Sydney

Sir Hubert Wilkins - war correspondent, photographer, polar explorer and aviator 

The subjects of the talk scripts in this series come largely from the expertise and the interests of the talk presenters. Many of the scripts are of a scientific nature, while many also relate to the impact of war on Australia and discuss plans for the post war future. The bulk of the scripts do date from the World War II period, but those that were broadcast in the post war period go on to discuss other contemporary issues such as immigration, the Australian education system, the death of King George VI and Indian independence. 

All items from this series have been listed on the Archives' item level database.

Administrative information
 
Archives file number:     RWS50/4/13