20 Square Blocks

Nick Prince received the prestigious Florence Nightingale Medal from the International Red Cross, recognising his 30 years of exceptional service as a nurse. The award honoured his dedication to providing healthcare in challenging environments, including armed conflicts and natural disasters. Nick became the first Australian male recipient of this esteemed international distinction.

Ian Rossiter shares his unique experiences living in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. From overseeing the gardens to managing dramatic events like major floods and vandalism of iconic statues, Ian recounts life in the Curator's Cottage, balancing work, family, and community responsibilities during his career with the City of Ballarat.

Today, we conclude the powerful story of Charles Edwards, a World War II soldier captured at Parit Sulong in Malaysia. In this episode, we follow his journey to Japan, where he was taken to the Ohama prison camp (Hiroshima POW Camp #9-B) which was operating as a coal mine outside Hiroshima. Still in captivity, Charles witnessed the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima—a moment that forever changed the course of history and his life.

Part 2: Initially imprisoned in Pudu Jail, the remaining members of the 2/19th Battalion were allocated to external work parties. Charles Edwards found himself with the largest of these groups and was sent to work on the Burma-Thailand railway at Hellfire Pass.

Charles Edwards was a Prisoner of War in World War 2 spending a total of 1301 days in captivity. His bloody yet compelling story is one of extreme courage, sacrifice and a lot of luck.

In 1998, twenty hours into an abduction case involving a 16-year-old girl, Sergeant Peter Anderson was alone, crawling through a 100 year-old mineshaft with a dodgy torch. As he moved ahead through the damp tunnel, he came across a roll of black tape, a shovel and a large roll of plastic. He now feared the worst possible outcome.

Andrew Wallace has spent the last 20 years as a dedicated pathways co-ordinator helping students think about their future; but Andrew is also deeply passionate about the past.  Serving as a current member and former president of the Ballarat Historical Society, the group actively contributes to preserving and archiving local historical facts, reflecting their commitment to the community's heritage.

David O'Neill's Journey, is one woven with words. Crafting rhymes at the age of 15, he turned that skill into a thriving career in journalism and communication.  Now Dave is pursuing his dream of becoming a published author. He sat down and chatted with us about his first book "The Seagull that soared".

If you live in Ballarat, there's a good chance you know Liana Emerson from somewhere. Maybe the Ballarat National Theatre? Winning this year's Citizen of the year? Perhaps you know her from her band or possibly the tweed ride? Or maybe it's from her personal style blog Finding Femme? There's once thing for certain though …Liana knows herself. 

Andrew Sutherland, a multi-talented individual, possessing a unique blend of skills while maintaining an unassuming demeanour. As a poet, playwright, author, singer and lecturer, he has spent the past two decades away from Ballarat, dedicating his time to teaching in China. Now, he has returned to his hometown, bringing with him a wealth of experiences and insights.

Meet Ash Bedford, a distinctive personal trainer whose deep involvement in shamanic healing, sacred medicines, and yoga has not just helped him overcome personal struggles with depression but has also enriched him with invaluable insights to support others on their journey. 

Tim Sedgwick is an artist exploring different ways of expression, ideas and techniques in many forms through several artistic fields. “When I had secret birthday wishes, I wished I'd become an artist and create interesting things. My wish has come true. My dream came true. I am having so much fun.”  TIM SEDGWICK

Leigh Ericksen, the innovative mind behind Stoke Design, embarked on a remarkable venture in 2019 by founding a web and design studio. Fuelled by his desire to achieve a better work-life balance and spend quality time with his young family, Leigh was willing to do whatever it took to create a thriving business. I spoke to him about his journey and the invaluable lessons he learnt along the way.

Written by AI:  In this episode, we delve into the intriguing realm of artificial intelligence, featuring professor Peter Vamplew, a highly esteemed authority in the field. It is with great pleasure that we welcome him as our guest on the 20 Square Blocks podcast. Together, we embark on a captivating expedition, venturing into the forefront of AI research, examining its far-reaching effects on society, and delving into the profound ethical dilemmas that emerge in this rapidly advancing domain. Prepare yourself for an enlightening experience as we navigate the enthralling landscape of artificial intelligence within the dynamic framework of our podcast.

Michael Westlake is a master of creating soundscapes, carefully composing auditory experiences that transport audiences to other realms. Yet, amidst the symphony of his creative endeavours, he finds peace in the serene simplicity of silence, often finding solace in meditation to tap into his inner muse.https://www.michaelwestlakemusic.com.au/

Life is an adventure. Full of excitement, pain and a hell of a lot of mistakes that if we're wise enough, we learn from. Zane Harris certainly learnt from his. 

Black Hill, once known by its indigenous name, Bowdun, is according to my guest a beautiful mess. And is it any wonder? For over 180 years the hill's been mined, stripped bare, bashed about, reshaped and replanted with monterey pines.It's a place with a rich history if you know exactly where to look.

Roland Rocchiccioli was made for a life in theatre. With a career spanning 50 years, he worked on Broadway and The West End with legends like Ingrid Bergman and Debbie Reynolds.  He is a stage manager, actor, director, playwright, company manager and broadcaster. He has worked with the impresarios Harry M. Miller and Ken Brodziak on productions of The Rocky Horror Show, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. He's worked on Broadway and The West End with luminaries like Ingrid Bergman, Debbie Reynolds and Googie Withers. 

The Black Summer Bushfires tore through massive areas of Australian bushland in 2019 and 2020. As fires ripped through East Gippsland, 4000 people found themselves trapped in Mallacoota with no way out. Olisama  Gibson was one of them.

You might have heard of the global movement called "Extinction Rebellion". If not, Joe will fill you in on the details and let you know why groups like this are vital to our survival ...and keep us away from extinction.

Its not easy throwing caution to the wind and following your dreams.Although some may argue slugging away at a job you have zero passion for isn't either. But at some point in our lives most of us find ourselves at this exact crossroads. Joe Baxter chatted to me about why he chose the path of most resistance.

For this third and final episode on Grainery Lane, we chat to audio engineer, Rex Hardware. Rex taught at the school of mines by day, and at night Grainery Lane proved to be an ideal training ground for his students  as they worked on some of the earliest known live internet broadcasts, in the 90s.

Hap Haywood is the definition of jack of all trades. The thing is, he's actually pretty damn good at all of them. From fronting bands like The Dead Salesman to dipping his toe into the world of comedy to polishing symbols for the Screaming Jets. Hap and I chat about all of these things and how Grainery Lane intersected his world. 

In the vibrant post-punk era in Ballarat, The Grainery Lane Theatre was a bizarre and much loved institution running purely on  adrenaline, high levels of creativity and masses of love. Kiri Smart spoke to us about what the company was and why it was so important to artists of the city.

Seth Leslie, while very happily working in Robotics today, used to be a drug lord, an angry police officer and a best friend. In fact, as an actor he would be anything the call sheet would tell him to. Seth sat down with us and spoke about his time in Hong Kong, acting in an unknown language and dubbing for Japanese Anime.

A musical journey with Dr Jacinta Dennett discussing her instrument of passion, the harp.

Graeme Quick is a researcher, historian and well rounded professional horseman. In fact he was recently awarded the James Stewart bequest for his Phd on social economic and cultural history of horses in Ballarat. Graeme gives us a unique look into Ballarat's history, using his insight and knowledge to transport us back to 1832 to reveal just how the horse has shaped this city.

Lily Mae Martin is a visual artist who graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2008 with a Bachelor of Fine Art majoring in Drawing. I spoke to Lily about scholarships, Tasmania and her Waterloo paintings which came during a time when she changed her direction in life to aged care.  

If you're a fan of board games, Dungeons and Dragons or just your average computer nerd, then you'd probably love GUF. Mark Cater, one of the owners and founders of GUF tells us about growing up in the 80's, writing computer games and getting kidnapped in Kashmir.

I don't know much about 13 year olds....although I guess a long time ago I was one.  I was interested to know what goes on in the mind of a teen in the twenty twenties and, being this time of year,  see what they have to say about Christmas. 

What does Lady Di, a broken clock and Billy the dog have in common? The Bridge Mall of course! With over 100 stores, many multi generational, "The Bridge" has been the heart of Ballarat since the early 80's. I spoke with Germaine Davey (the General Manager of the Bridge Mall Business Association) and some of the locals store holders about their love of the Mall.

We all go through changes in life. Sometimes they impact us positively….other times - not so much. Jason Wakefield is a rehabilitation nurse at the Queen Elizabeth hospital and he witness changes in his patients everyday. However he has been through some rather big changes in his life and came by to share his story.

Chasing bears, taming wild horses  or riding with Bruce Springsteen through the Victorian High County. All in a day for this third generation Australian Horseman.

What do you think the purpose of being a human is?   a) To  live stress-free and happy   b) To push the boundaries of humankind   c) To live a full life   d) Other

I've heard it said that the desire to become a politician should in itself prevent you from ever becoming one.Unfortunately this advice isn't often heeded.My guest today (who remains anonymous for obvious reasons) talks about politics being an addictive, lowbrow games full of dirt sheets, sabotage and backstabbing. All in the life of university student politics.

Coming from South America, Guillermo Guzzoni arrived in Australia 11 years ago without knowing anyone ...or any english. When he decided to stay, he started to question who he was. I had a chat to him about the challenges of moving to a new country, redefining yourself and reestablishing your identity.

Papua New Guinea used to be  known to Australians as "The last frontier", a premium destination in the 1970's before it separated, gaining it's full independence. Janice Newton, an accomplished anthropologist who often visited the country from 1970 - 1979, reflects back on some of the key moments that shaped her life.

WARNING: If you believe in ghosts and want to continue this belief...perhaps skip this episode. Dr David Waldron will drop some logic that may make you re-examine your beliefs.Two blocks South East lives Dr David Waldron. He is a folklorist and historian with a particular focus on the development of urban legends and popular folklore as a response to traumatic community experiences. David tells us about some of the ghosts in Victoria like the mysterious woman’s face that appears in bath lane; or the terrible true story of Mabel Ambrose who was found by two boys in a box in the Yarra River near the Chapel Street bridge; and the indigenous Gunditjmara man's ghost from Portland in 1876. As you will find it's not necessarily the creepy stories that David is interested in, but the intersection of folklore and popular culture that reflect out dark past....and what that means.Also last year I made a short documentary under Ballarat’ Mechanic's institute with David for the Ballarat Heritage weekend. You view this at https://vimeo.com/420587165

In 2001 a group of tourists from all over the world gathered in Tiananmen Square seemingly to take a photo ….but they had other intentions. Unveiling a yellow flag they started a protest. Emblazoned on this flag were just three words  - Truth, Compassion, Tolerance. Seemingly from nowhere, vans and police quickly enveloped the group, arresting them. What were they protesting you might ask? Falun Dafa!

Barry Gilson is a proud Wadawurrung man, a traditional custodian of Ballarat and surrounding areas. He is a poet, a story teller and my local postie.He is also a respected singer songwriter and specialises in bringing back the ancient language of his people through his music.

You know when you’ve had one of those nights, where in the early hours of the morning you find yourself pondering the big questions of life ... until it does your head in? Now imagine if your entire life was doing exactly that. I sat down with Ben Numquam a PHD candidate studying philosophy at federation University.At the end of the show I mention the Podcast 'The Volume knob: The Songs that saved your life'. The host, Keith Serry', spoke to me about the song 'Pore Jud Is Dead' which was actually a song that nearly ended my life. Keith's podcast is a weekly exploration of personal storytelling through song and I hope you will have a listen and binge all of the episodes as I did. You can find it at volumeknob.net or search for 'The Volume Knob' on your favourite podcasting program.

Merv Romeo spent 16 years performing rock n’ roll Christmas carols on his front porch and became an icon of the Ballarat Christmas scene. I spoke to him about where the tradition came from, what it meant to locals and visitors alike and what it meant to him.

Gardens provide us many things - flowers, fruit, weeds and at certain points in our lives, free therapy. I spoke with Kim Nolan, a member of the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens about what the garden means to her and how, when we're at our most vulnerable, a beautiful garden can offer a peace and tranquility to help us to heal.

What happens when things start to go wrong - all around you? I sat down with Chris and Lucy Frith and spoke about when they met, when they got married and how when things started to crumble, they reevaluated and swivelled.

Moving from the UK to Australia in the mid 1960’s, an aspiring young drummer found himself living in Melbourne during the hey day of sharpies, rockers & mods. Geoff Hassall chatted to me about his love of music and what led to an unexpected yet possibly the most fulfilling chapter in his music career.

Ask anyone what Ballarat is known for and you’d probably hear gold, amazing architecture, freezing cold weather and pubs.Torquil Neilson, a former film and tv actor, spoke to me about hanging up his actors hat, moving to Ballarat and opening an intimate bar 'The Comfort of Strangers' and how this decision changed his life.http://thecomfortofstrangers.com

Katrina Hill is a talented performing artist, events manager, podcaster and registered celebrant. But more than that, as many of her friends can attest, Katrina is a truth seeker both on and off the stage.

Ghosts, Ned Kelly and Eureka are all a part of Dana Street Primary school’s history. I sat down with Paul Nolan, the former principal and asked him to tell us about his time there and what he learnt about it’s 160 year history. Find out about how, when locking up the school one night, he took a photograph of a ghost that scared the living daylights out of him and his teachers.

The Mechanics Institute building in Ballarat, perhaps by design, has a feeling of exclusivity and though I walked past it every day I never knew what went on inside. So one day I walked in to find out what is going in there.

Several months ago, before we were all locked down, I spoke with Trav Munro. Trav is an inspirational youth educator, life coach and motivational speaker. In our conversation we explored his upbringing, his relationship with his father and his Rite of Passage program that he designed for Fathers and Sons.

Why do we collect things? Some use it to relax, others for the thrill of the hunt. Then there are those that use it as a way to keep the past alive.