Get Inspired
Inspiring and educational, Gecko Talks are environmentally themed public talks presented by leading experts and leaders in their fields. Guaranteed to inspire and offered free of charge on the fourth Wednesday of the month, February through to November at Currumbin RSL.
Join us at 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start or come earlier and socialise with others for dinner at the RSL beside the picturesque Currumbin Creek. Located at 165 Duringan Street, Currumbin and for directions see the map below.
Upcoming and past Talks.
Gecko Talks-Help the Powerful Owl-26 August in Currumbin RSL
Helping Powerful Owls Through Citizen Science Gecko Talks – Wednesday, August 26 at Currumbin RSL Australia’s largest owl, the threatened Powerful Owl, should be living throughout the Gold Coast. With much of its habitat…
The Science of Antarctica-Gecko Talks–February 26 at Currumbin RSL
One summer in Antarctica turned Gold Coast scientist, Richard Skinner, into a passionate believer in the scientific importance of the frozen continent. Now he’ll share what captivated him there, both scientifically and personally, and how…
Gecko Talks – A journey Beyond the Stingless Bees-23 October
At Gecko Talks 23rd October in Currumbin RSL the talk will be about Australia's bees. "While the charismatic, highly eusocial stingless bees have become the rock stars of the bee world, and a handful of…
Gecko Talks – Seedling or Weedling?
Gecko Talks – Seedling or Weedling? Expand the Bush by Knowing the Difference Gecko Talks – September 25th at Currumbin RSL Many Gold Coasters volunteer their time conducting bush regeneration and removing environmental weeds to…
Gecko Talks-The Secret Lives of Microbats Revealed-28th August
We all know the diseases mosquitos can spread. But few of us know much about the tiny insectivores working tirelessly on our behalf to control those mozzies. That’s where Professor Maria Nicolae comes in, championing…
Gecko Talks-The Spit Master Plan-24 July 2019
GeckoTalks-24 July in Currumbin RSL - Following 18 months of consultation with the community and key stakeholders, The Spit master plan was released by the Queensland Government on 25 May 2018. The Spit master plan…
Gecko Talks – A Magical Look at Our Reefs-26th June
Few people know the outstanding marine world of the Gold Coast’s near-reefs as well as acclaimed underwater photographer, Ian Banks. Now you can see some of his stunning photos—and learn more about our fascinating marine…
Gecko Talks 22nd May – How Climate Change will affect Living in the Gold Coast and Beyond
The debate on climate change is rightly focused on the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases. But whatever our success or failure in mitigating emissions, we must now also ask how the harmful impacts of…
Gecko Talks-27th March-Migratory Birds and Curlew Island
Migratory shorebirds perform mind-blowing journeys and are among the most amazing and elusive creatures on earth. While they visit the Gold Coast annually, most of us don’t recognise them.
Gecko Talks-Recognising Bush Food & Uncovering Living Stories
Australian bush food is all around us. The problem for many of us is understanding what we’re looking at. If you are keen to know more about bush food—and a special local bush food garden—don’t…
Gecko Talks-28 November-How can you ‘See’ Biodiversity?
With more than 30 years of local research and experience in our botanical landscape, David is our November guest speaker. Come along and be inspired. Wednesday 28th Currumbin RSL.
Gecko Talks-How to Make Koalas, Native Birds & Your Pets Thrive
Gecko Talks – 26 September – How You Can Help Koalas, Native Birds—and Your Pets—Thrive If you’re interested in making life better for your pet—and keen to learn more on how you can help vulnerable…
Gecko Talks-22 August 2018-The Opera of Existence
“Earthman” John Palmer OAM, is an experienced environmental educator with four decades of experience and knowledge of Australian natural environment, local bushtucker, nature tours and Indigenous Australia. He is, and has always been, truly one…
Gecko Talks-Glimpses of Africa-25 July
When a leading local environmentalist says her trip to Africa was probably one of her best holidays ever, you can bet she’ll have a rich story to tell of the trip. Lois Levy, founding president…
Gecko Talks-The Cane Toad Challenge-27 June
The Cane Toad Challenge is based on a clever new way to turn the creatures' own toxins against them. It is a way all of us can help eradicate this fast-breeding pest. Professor rob Capon…
Gecko Talks – Social Media and How People Value Nature – 23 May
Professor Catherine Pickering and team at Griffith University School of Environment and Science have used social media data from Flickr photo sharing website to start to assess how people value and use a natural site.…
Gecko Talks-How E-Waste is Empowering Lives-28th March 2018
If you want to be inspired, or reduce your carbon footprint, or hear how a community is growing innovative entrepreneurs while doing good, don’t miss this talk. Electronic waste—the fastest-growing scourge to our soil and…
Gecko Talks-Living on the Edge- February 2018-
Cyclone Debbie damaged fauna and flora, Gecko, Gecko Talks, Guest Speaker
Gecko Talks – 22nd November – GC2018: How can I help carry on the legacy?
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) has delivered a lot of ‘firsts’ for the Gold Coast. Now the real challenge is how we, as a community, adopt its legacy in areas such as environmental…
Gecko Talks Wednesday 25th October – Leading Environmental Doco Maker Talks
Internationally-known film maker Lin Sutherland will be sharing her story with us and a sneak preview of her next series Endangered (Channel 9) at Gecko Talks at Currumbin RSL later this month.
Gecko Talks 27th September – Bee Keeping is All the Buzz
When Kevin Tracy talks about bees, it’s not just about how to produce raw unprocessed honey. He believes they also have much to teach us as humans—and can aid our psychological and physical health. ‘Bees…
Gecko Talks-Conservation Challenges Facing the Galapagos in a Changing World
Paul Revie is a zoologist and ecologist currently working with Seaworld’s penguins while undertaking a number of research projects in southeast Queensland. Gecko’s online magazine Hills to Headlands, is also lucky to have Paul as…
Gecko Talks 26th July-Fungi, The Superheroes of Our Future
Dr Tuszynska will talk about fungi’s vital impact on the environment, and humans, covering areas from transforming pollutants such as pesticides and petrochemicals, to fungi creating soils and nourishing all life forms by munching on…
Gecko Talks 28th June – Adventures of a Snake Wrangler
Come along to Gecko Environment Council’s Guest Speaker Night this month to hear experienced environmental scientist Sam Howard from Wild Encounters talk to you about his close encounters with both furry and scaly wildlife who…
24 May-Jan’s ambition is to be a full time volunteer Tree Hugger
Trees bring different reactions from delight in their beauty to exasperation in their habit of shedding leaves on the driveway. However trees are essential to life on earth and they need our protection and preservation,…
Gecko Talks: Re-greening our Gardens with Native Plants and the GroNATIVE App
Professor Pickering is active in developing technology to promote biodiversity conservation, and will be introducing us to the new GroNATIVE App. It showcases 400 local native plants with images and information about each species and…
22nd March – Ethical Investing: Your Money as a Force for Good
Gecko Talks March speaker is Adrian Nathaniel, a licensed financial advisor who champions the conscious creation of wealth in this world through values-based, ethical and responsible investment.
22nd February 2017 – How to train your raptor
Australia is home to 24 species of raptor, from the small sparrowhawk to the impressive wedge-tailed eagle. Few people get close enough to appreciate the vast wingspans and powerful talons and beaks of these avian…
26th October 2016 – Who doesn’t love dolphins?
Coastal dolphins are keystone indicators of marine environmental health and are highly vulnerable to threats and environmental changes. Despite their charismatic nature, we know relatively little about the dolphins that live along our coastlines. Since…
28th September 2016 – Just a Walk in the Park
Just a Walk in the Park can be an Adventure Speaker: Peter Ogilvie We all get enjoyment from our national parks and recognise the importance of them to our recreational, spiritual, educational and scientific needs.…
24th August 2016 – Island at the end of the world
Join us on a sublime photographic journey to the subantarctic Falkland Islands. Cat Davidson, our Guest Speaker for August, spent two years living and working as a tour guide and photographer in this remote archipelago…
27th July 2016 – Sea Shepherd: How to be an environmental activist
He believes in the importance of awareness and direct action, and is here tonight to further educate the community about the international operations of Sea Shepherd
22nd June 2016 – Guardians of the rescues
Reports of stranded whales capture our attention as we wait anxiously for news and hope for success. Why do strandings take place and how do rescuers go about saving these animals? The Marine Mammal Medic…
25th May 2016 – Artificial Tree Hollows for Wildlife
Gecko is proud to introduce Steve Collum and Ash Sandercombe from Habi-Tec as speakers for the May Guest Speaker Night. Gecko extends an invitation to the community to come and learn about how to create…
27th April 2016 – Sustainable Event Management
Events are a fun and effective way of sharing ideas, spreading messages and bringing communities and industries together. Nevertheless they can leave a significant environmental footprint – energy and water consumption, generating waste and polluting…
24th February 2016 – Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast
Speaker: Rowley Goonan Organisation: Wild Bird Rescues Gold Coast The abundant waterways and the popularity of fishing on the Gold Coast mean that entanglements of birds is a common occurrence, and therefore, a huge problem. Wild Bird Rescues…
28th October 2015 – Australia – Love Your Birds
Australia boasts some of the most beautiful and peculiar birds on earth. Despite this, our rates of participation in bird related pastimes lags far behind the United Kingdom and United States. BirdLife Southern Queensland aims…
23rd september 2015 – Sea World Research and Rescue Foundation
Sea World's pioneering work in marine animal rescues has resulted in outstanding success in saving many sick, injured and stranded animals in the wild. Every time Sea World is involved in a rescue, an enormous…
26th August 2015 – Intrepid Landcare – Juliet Saltmarsh
Juliet is a young change-maker who has been a keen volunteer in the Landcare movement for several years. In 2015, she expanded her call to duty and co-founded Gold Coast Intrepid Landcare to inspire and…
22nd July 2015 – Humpbacks and Highrises
Humpbacks and Highrises Humpbacks & Highrises established in 2011 is the only independent research organisation on the Gold Coast investigating marine mammals in south-east Queensland Who: Dr MeyneckeWhen: 22nd June, 6.30pm for networking meet and…
24th June 2015 – Let’s Talk Food
In 2009, the Food Connect Foundation was launched to increase the scope of the fair food movement internationally and across Australia. Who: Robert Pekin When: 24th June, 6.30pm for networking meet and greet. Presentation begins…
27th May 2015 – Fight for the Reef
The Reef is under threat from a range factors, from pollution, crown of thorns starfish and overfishing, to bigger issues such as climate change. Who: Gemma Plesman When: 27th May, 6.30pm for networking meet and…
22nd April – Shark Culling in Queensland is there A Better Way?
Do you think shark nets work? What about drum lines? Should we even be scared of sharks? Is there a better method of deterrence? Join Nicole McLachlan a Sea Shepherd Queensland shark campaigner as she…
25th March 2015 – Koalas in Chaos
Dr. Douglas Kerlin, Chief Ecologist at the AKF, will discuss the AKF’s work, including the Koala Habitat Atlas project, and current studies on the value of the Koala to tourism and the evidence of historic…
25th February 2015 – Climate Reality Gold Coast
If current trends continue, Australians will start to pay the price of global warming in the things we value most, such as health, food security, lifestyle and biodiversity. Who: Facilitator: Samantha Morris, Blank Gold Coast…
22nd October, 2014 – The Beauty of Bats – Dr Ali Sammel
Scientist, educator, and flying fox carer, Dr Ali Sammel, will dispel the myths surrounding these amazingly beautiful and complex creatures. She will discuss why flying foxes are vitally important to our ecosystem and represent the…
24th September, 2014 – Protecting Living Dinosaurs – Maggie Muurmans
Award winning conservation biologist Maggie Muurmans explains how these remarkable creatures evolved and tells the secrets of their behaviour, life cycles and migration patterns. She then describes the importance of sea turtles to the health…
27th August, 2014 – the Kombumerri Saltwater People – Clinton Brewer
Traditional owner Clinton Brewer traces the paths of his ancestors, to explain their relationship with the land, including cultural practices, important celebrations, spiritual beliefs and codes of conduct. He believes that knowledge of the…
23rd July 2014 – Happiness of Beaches – Naomi Edwards
Naomi Edwards explains the ecological and social importance of keeping our dunes and beaches healthy. She describes how she collaborates with others to restore and maintain our precious coastline; and shows how we can all…
25th June, 2014 – The Survival of the Earth Depends on Frogs – Jean-Marc Hero
Professor Hero is a vertebrate ecologist with research expertise in conservation biology of amphibians, biodiversity assessment and monitoring, and conservation physiology. He is Deputy Director of Griffith University’s Environmental Futures Research Institute and leads a…
28th May, 2014 – What are you wearing? – Edda Hamar
What are you wearing? If you don’t know where it was made, what it’s made from or where it will end up, take it off! Following on from the successful Undress Runways sustainable fashion event…
How We Keep Queensland Beautiful
Originally established 43 years ago in Brisbane as the Queensland branch of ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’, ‘Keep Queensland Beautiful’ is now a fully matured, dynamic and independent entity in its own right, and what an evolution…
The Real Paradise – Gold Coast Native Wildlife
Delightful pictures of our local wildlife are always a winner and this month’s Guest Speaker is no exception at Gecko- Gold Coast and Hinterland’s (Gecko) next Guest Speaker Night at 6.30pm on Wednesday 27th November.…
All about Bats – Speaker Night – Wednesday 25th September
This Wednesday night Gold Coasters will have the opportunity to hear all about bats – flying foxes and microbats- and how they benefit humankind and the environment. Trish Wimberley- winner of the Gold Coast Citizen…
Raw and Wellness – High Nutrition for Real People
The FREE presentation is at Gecko House, 139 Duringan St, Currumbin at 6.3pm, Wednesday 28th August. As a Raw Foods Chef, Natural Nutritionist and a Wellness Coach, Rah has a double major of Sports Science…
The Greening of New York City – Speaker Night on Wednesday 24 July, 2013
Speaker Night on Wednesday 24 July, 2013 The Greening of New York City New York City might not yet be the big green apple but there are many signs of green shoots! Farmers markets, community…
Guest Speaker – Buy a farm together with other people and produce your own food
Food security, i.e. ensuring that the population has access to sufficient, good quality food is a current topic of interest to many and very relevant as climate change challenges our agricultural industries. Gecko - Gold…
Animal Rescuer that Saved Dolphins in Japan to speak at Gecko
Animal rescuer Brett Bradley Gecko’s guest speaker 27 March Animal rescuer Brett Bradley is coming down from Brisbane to Currumbin to be Gecko’s guest speaker on Wednesday 27 March. Brett recently travelled to Japan to…
February Speaker – Gina Ygoa – Plight of the Polar Bears
This month’s guest speaker at Gecko House is Gina Ygoa, an experienced environmental educator at Jacob’s Well Environmental Education Centre. Gina will speak on Wednesday, 27th February, starting at 7pm, doors open at 6.30pm. In…
Ian Black – Geology Rocks at Gecko
Gecko’s is excited to announce the next guest speaker night on Wednesday the 24th of October at 6:30pm from keen nature lover and Gold Coast geology enthusiast, Ian Black. Owner and founder of Geo Nature…
Mara Bun, CEO Green Cross Australia
On Wednesday 27th June we welcomed Mara Bun, CEO of Green Cross Australia as guest speaker. We enjoyed an interesting evening, Mara discussed the Green Cross Australia organisation & its role in helping people adapt…
George Lewis, Lifelong Birdwatcher
George Lewis, Lifelong Birdwatcher and Production Editor for the Annual Gold Coast Birdwatchers' Magazine George showed us fantastic pictures of the birds of Currumbin Estuary, and told us where to spot them.
