My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant. 

My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'  I'll miss her always. 

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Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969. 

My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at&nbsp;<a href="https://news.speakola.com/p/have-a-great-trip-a-eulogy-for-my">Speakola newsletter</a> and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant.&nbsp;
My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'&nbsp; I'll miss her always.&nbsp;
<a href="https://news.speakola.com/">Support Speakola by going paid</a>
Make a <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">donation</a>
<a href="https://goodonewilson.substack.com/p/world-of-sport-on-both-sides-of-my">Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969.</a>&nbsp;

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. 

Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous – think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known. 

In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.

Tony will also play a ‘speech of the week’ to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.

Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. 
Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous &ndash; think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.&nbsp;
In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.
Tony will also play a &lsquo;speech of the week&rsquo; to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.
<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a>, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola

<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a> is the home for great speeches on the web. 
Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous &ndash; think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.&nbsp;
In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.
Tony will also play a &lsquo;speech of the week&rsquo; to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.
<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a>, for all speeches great and small.

A eulogy for Margaret Wilson by son Tony Wilson at Leonda Hawthorn on 8th May 2025. 

'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025

On 26th April 2014, Megan Washington delivered a TEDx Talk that immediately trended on Twitter, and has gone on to be viewed nearly three million times. It's a beautiful public declaration about her stutter, and has so many interesting and funny moments about what a stutter is, and how it affects the life of a public performer. In her own words, Meg ends her TED Talk with a TED Sing, and it's absolutely spellbinding, a live performance of her song '‘To Or Not Let Go’. 

In recent times, Meg has been the voice of Calypso on Bluey, and also the writer of the acclaimed Australian movie, 'How to Make Gravy', adapting the Paul Kelly song of the same name. Her song, 'Fine', won a AACTA Award last year for Best Original Song. 

Megan's most recent album is GEM. She has gigs coming up in Feb-April 2026 in Tugun, Brunswick Heads, Cleveland, St Kilda and Main Ridge. 

You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation. 

Tony has written stories about taking his son Jack to music gigs on Good one, Wilson (3500 subscribers) 

Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. 

On 26th April 2014, Megan Washington delivered a TEDx Talk that immediately trended on Twitter, and has gone on to be viewed nearly three million times. It's a beautiful public declaration about her stutter, and has so many interesting and funny moments about what a stutter is, and how it affects the life of a public performer. In her own words, Meg ends her TED Talk with a TED Sing, and it's absolutely spellbinding, a live performance of her song '&lsquo;To Or Not Let Go&rsquo;.&nbsp;
In recent times, Meg has been the voice of Calypso on Bluey, and also the writer of the acclaimed Australian movie, 'How to Make Gravy', adapting the Paul Kelly song of the same name. Her song, 'Fine', won a AACTA Award last year for Best Original Song.&nbsp;
Megan's most recent album is GEM. She has gigs coming up in Feb-April 2026 in Tugun, Brunswick Heads, Cleveland, St Kilda and Main Ridge.&nbsp;
You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining <a href="https://news.speakola.com/">Substack</a>, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/speakola/home">the Patreon</a>, or <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">straight donation</a>.&nbsp;
Tony has written stories about taking his son Jack to music gigs on <a href="https://goodonewilson.substack.com/">Good one, Wilson</a> (3500 subscribers)&nbsp;
Tony has <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">signed picture books for sale</a>, as well as middle grade and <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">sports books for adults</a>.&nbsp;

Meg Washington talks to Tony Wilson about her 2014 viral TED Talk about singing and stuttering. 

'Singing for me is sweet relief': Meg Washington's TEDx speech about stuttering — Sydney, 2014

In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more. 

Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on Speakola library. 

The Church's The Singles Tour has announced some new dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February. 

You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation. 

Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at Good one, Wilson. 

Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. Grab a signed copy for Christmas! 

 

In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more.&nbsp;
Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on <a href="https://speakola.com/arts/steve-kilbey-aria-hall-of-fame-2010">Speakola library</a>.&nbsp;
The Church's The Singles Tour <a href="https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CHURCH25">has announced some new dates</a> in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February.&nbsp;
You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining <a href="https://news.speakola.com/">Substack</a>, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/speakola/home">the Patreon</a>, or <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">straight donation</a>.&nbsp;
Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at <a href="https://goodonewilson.substack.com/p/racey-tips-1-i-actually-turn-25-today">Good one, Wilson</a>.&nbsp;
Tony has <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">signed picture books for sale</a>, as well as middle grade and <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">sports books for adults</a>. Grab a signed copy for Christmas!&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Steve Kilbey of the The Church talks about his ARIA Hall of Fame induction speech and key moments of his music loving life

Steve Kilbey: 'We've been kicked off the best record companies in Australia!' — The Church's ARIA Hall of Fame induction,  7 November 2010, Sydney

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world. 

She also edited the book Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women

The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection. 

Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014

Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018

To support Speakola, make a straight donation at Speakola website, or become a paid subscriber to newsletter

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the <a href="https://speakingwhilefemale.co/">Speaking While Female speech bank</a> that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world.&nbsp;
She also edited the book <a href="https://speakingwhilefemale.co/book/">Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women</a>
The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection.&nbsp;
<a href="https://speakola.com/ideas/emma-watson-gender-equality-un-2015">Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014</a>
<a href="https://speakola.com/arts/oprah-winfrey-cecil-b-demille-award-golden-globes-2018">Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018</a>
To support Speakola, <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">make a straight donation</a> at Speakola website, or become a <a href="https://news.speakola.com/">paid subscriber to newsletter</a>

Founder of Speaking While Female Dana Rubin talks about her collection of speeches by women

'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025

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