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On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people. 

What’s up, Pufferfish?! David Owen’s talk to the RST in March 2025

6 March 2025
News

Summary

Tasmania Reads is a week-long celebration of reading and storytelling of all kinds. In March 2025 the RST hosted a popular and much-enjoyed talk by Tasmanian crime fiction writer David Owen. Many attendees knew David from his time as Official Secretary to three Tasmanian Governors at Government House.

In 2021 he co-authored with Prof Kate Warner AC, former Governor of Tasmania, the two-volume Government House Tasmania: A Remarkable Story. David is the author of 19 books of fiction and nonfiction, including updated new editions in the Allen & Unwin natural history series – Tasmanian Tiger: The tragic story of the thylacine, and Tasmanian Devil: A deadly tale of survival, both co-authored with David Pemberton.

David’s talk featured three forthcoming novels in the popular Fullers Publishing ‘Pufferfish’ detective series, and was followed by a lively question time. Our warmest thanks go to David for his much-enjoyed talk, and to Madeleine Delany from Fullers Bookshop for bringing along books for sale.

See below a full transcipt of David’s talk. Click here to download a PDF version to read offline.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Royal Society of Tasmania acknowledges, with deep respect, the traditional owners of this land, and the ongoing custodianship of the Aboriginal people of Tasmania. The Society pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that Tasmanian Aboriginal Peoples have survived severe and unjust impacts resulting from invasion and dispossession of their Country. As an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, the Royal Society of Tasmania recognises Aboriginal cultural knowledge and practices and seeks to respect and honour these traditions and the deep understanding they represent.

aboriginalflag

On 15 February 2021, the Royal Society of Tasmania offered a formal Apology to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people.