Julian Mather spoke to us from Brisbane in a sophisticated set up where we could both see his slides and watch him present! ( Lil asked how he managed this and Julian explained he uses software called ecamlive and 2 phones to achieve this - more details available from him)
His topic was “The Second Best Job In the World”, which is the title of a book he wrote ten years ago, and then showed us a marvellous video from the canyon where Wollemi Pines were discovered but has been kept secret. To keep it secret, everyone (except the pilot, choppered in to film the scene) wore blindfolds! Julian was there in his role as an ABC cameraman. The scene was exquisite, and he said the silence amazing (once the helicopter had left), as the dense carpet of pods from the pines absorbed all sound.
Julian quickly filled us in that he felt the Best Job in the world belongs to Sir David Attenborough, and the adventures he experiences.
He then spoke about being “Trapped by Assumptions” ( upper case intentionally, as it was a whole topic) and told the story of Harry Houdini, the master escapologist, being stuck in a cage and then finding he could free himself after all as his captors had omitted to lock the door he needed to pass through, and how this applied to another journey he had. … Julian was at a school in Britain where a PC Wallington was doing wonderful work with recalcitrant schoolchildren and the concept of extraordinary change can come about from ordinary people doing extra to achieve change for the better. Julian then learned that one is only ever “8 inches from the best decision of your life” ( another great story about Jimmy the Fuse) and went on a philanthropic goal having learned change is from decisions not process. For his Footpath University podcasts, see https://julian-mather.mykajabi.com/
Julian finished his time with us doing magic tricks, another skill he has learned to break the ice on many occasions. You really missed out if you didn’t hear his talk.
Thank you Julian for taking us with you on a few of your amazing journeys and inspiring us to pop the bubble of assumption.