The most recent Milking Stool event, inspired by last year's summer fires, was held in April and played host to Australian actor Yael Stone, from 'Orange Is the New Black'; indigenous elder, conservationist, educator and sustainability advocate, Noel Butler; and John Lloyd, a senior agribusiness figure and recent CEO of Horticulture Innovation Australia, discussing topics of earth, land and country.

The voice and insights provided by each of the speakers were diverse, with creator and interviewer Dr Mary Moran having curated guests with the intention of exploring different topics, usually non-political, in a non-combative forum.

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Dr Mary Moran was an Emergency Medicine doctor in Australia, a diplomat in London, a campaigner with Médecins Sans Frontières in the Netherlands, France and the UK, and founder of a global health think-tank at the London School of Economics. In this increasingly polarised world, and with a lifetime of advocacy, opinions and encounters under her belt, she's eager to explore with you the challenges and pleasures of difference.

And the next event, which will be held in Kangaroo Valley on July 3 will be no different.

Titled "PR, Propaganda and Persuasion" it will look at the worlds of advertising-marketing, political speechwriting-spin doctoring, and advocacy.

And it asks: Are these three so different? Is using words to influence others always suspect? At the heart of it, does successful persuasion show a deep understanding of human nature, a willingness to seduce, or both? And how do they do it?"

The speakers are Ben Welsh, head creative at DDB (Australia), one of the world's leading advertising agencies; Darryl O'Donnell, CEO of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations; and Walkley award-winning journalist Martin McKenzie-Murray, previously The Saturday Paper's chief correspondent, a political speech writer for the Kevin Rudd government, and author of the just-released blackly comic novel, "The Speechwriter".

Dr Moran picked Kangaroo Valley as the event's location because it had the perfect vibe for this style of discussion.

"It's like happy valley," she said.

She said the one-lane bridge to the north was symbolic of the town.

"When you get to the bridge either you have to stop and say to someone else please you go, or the other way around.

"So it's always this moment of generosity or gratitude before you get in there."

PR, Propaganda, Persuasion

Saturday July 3rd 5:30pm Kangaroo Valley Hall

Tickets and more information available from www.milkingstool.org