The 2025 Australian Chesterton Conference was held at Campion College on 1st November.
Its theme, “The Everlasting Chesterton”, marked the centenary of publication of a Chesterton classic, The Everlasting Man (1925). An audience of more than 60 people heard from various speakers on the contribution of Chesterton and other writers to enacting “The Everlasting Chesterton in Time,” and always finding, in T.S. Eliot’s description of a journalist’s vocation, the topical excuse for writing about the permanent.
Presentations
The Chesterton Inspiration in Education
Emily de Rotstein, Executive Director of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton in America, who has played a key part in developing the Chesterton Schools Network, spoke on “The Christian Inspiration in Education.”
International Everlasting Man
Emily’s husband, Nes Rotstein, who serves the Society in America by developing the Chesterton Schools Network globally, reported on the international expansion of these schools offering a Catholic classical education.
Christianity Across the Centuries
Greg Sheridan discussed his recently published book, How Christians Can Succeed Today, which explores how 21st century Christians can reclaim the inspirational grace and genius of 1st century Christians.
Mercator : online journal
Michael Cook reflected on his long-time editing of the Australian online cultural and religious journal, Mercator.
The Everlasting Chesterton in Time
Gary Furnell recalled a French forerunner of Chesterton, the 19th century Catholic writer, Ernest Hello
The Everlasting Chesterton in Time
Karl Schmude spoke on another Chesterton forerunner, the 19th century English journalist, William Cobbett, who foreshadowed some of Chesterton’s social and economic ideas.
Panel Discussion
Conversion
A sad omission from the Conference was David Daintree, who was prevented by injury from travelling to Sydney from his Tasmanian home, and was unable to present his reflections on the Christopher Dawson Centre, of which he was the Inaugural Director.