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Rodd gives a run down of what to expect to see in the sky this week, plus shares information about the lunar eclipse which is happening on Sunday.For further details visit https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-09-05/total-lunar-eclipse-blood-moon-path-september-7-2025/105714016

Rodd gives the weekly astronomy update, plus shares some interesting information about our moon.

Natalie Woodfull discusses this years RUOK Day National Day of Action theme - 'Ask R U OK? Any Day'.For further details and resources for starting a conversation head to https://www.ruok.org.au/

Matt Daniels from Roadsafe Otway shares information about the Safe Plate Day and Child Car Seat safety check happening at Bunnings Colac on Sunday 31st of August.

Allison Moloney from Otway Districts Historical Society discusses the upcoming Open Day.

Colac Community Engagement Senior Constable Steph Ward chats to Jonathan about local information being shared toyouth to encourage getting active during Women's Health Week.

Rodd gives a South West Victoria stargazing update, plus shares the history of the telescope.

Mia from Crimestoppers Victoria discusses some recent illegal wildlife and exotic animal trading stories, highlighting how the community can help to report illegal activity For comprehensive information on the 'Your Pet, Our Pest' campaign, visit the Crime Stoppers Victoria website crimestoppersvic.com.au. The site provides resources on surrendering pets and reporting illegal activities.

Senior Constable Steph Ward from Colac Police dropped in to discuss the upcoming Digital Danger Zones info session coming to COPACC on Wednesday 3rd of September. It will detail what every parent must know before their child goes online.  This free event has been put together for any and all parents and carers of young children and teens who are "online".If your child is starting high school, or is already using devices, social media or gaming  then this free session is a must. It will include knowledgeable guest speakers, step by step setup for parental controls and advise on where to turn to for help & support.Register now at https://tinyurl.com/mt75sbef️Please note, this is an 18+ event! #DigitalSafety #DigitalSafetyMatters #vicpol #colacotwayshire #colacareahealth #headspace #VicHealth

Rodd provides a weekly astronomy update for South West Victoria, plus as a special treat for National Science Week discusses the theories around the Big Bang.

Chelsea from the Colac Otway Shire dropped in to chat about the 2025 Youth Photography competition - with full details available at https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Youth-Services/2025-Youth-Photography-CompetitionPlus we heard about the upcoming Youth Fest and Music Showcase. Further information can be found at https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Youth-Services/2025-Youth-Music-Showcase

Rodd brings a weekly update of what can be seen up in space in South West Victoria. Plus this week he continues the chat about potential life in space, and shares what evidence scientists have previous discovered.

Rohanna Hayes from Wolves Theatre Company chats about The Magnolia Tree which is coming to the Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery.This powerful play premiered at La Mama Theatre in May 2017 where it wowed critics and audiences alike. Three mature aged siblings have come together to choose a nursing home for their mother who has advanced Alzheimer's but tonight Jack will attempt to talk his sisters into letting her go. And he has brought the means to do it. The decision is the audiences hands, as they vote for which alternate ending plays out at each performance.  23rd August 2025 2pm and 7.30pm at the Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery, Corangamite Lake Road, Cororooke.Tickets https://www.trybooking.com/DDHSP

Mia from Crime Stoppers discusses the potential for being scammed when seeking romance and companionship. She highlights key 'red flags' and how to stay safe whether seeking love online or when out and about.For more information vivist https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/current-focus/scams/

Rodd shares what's up in the sky this week, plus continues the discussion of what could be up there in relation to extraterrestrial life.For more information visit https://www.seti.org/

Rodd shares the weekly sky watch update for South West Victoria, plus discusses the concept of UFO's.

Mel talks about the launch of the next Mental Health First Aid courses and the upcoming Walk the Walk for Let's Talk.Stay updated at https://www.facebook.com/letstalkcolac

April chats to Jof about the creation of the new local magazine.Find all the details at https://linktr.ee/theotwayedit

Sharon chats to Jof about the upcoming Colac Camp Quality Convoy fundraisers - a movie themed trivia night, Paint and Sip, Gala Dinner and Christmas Market.To stay up to date with all the details visit https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19CbLAYgSx/

Warren Davies, the unbreakable farmer, talks about the current drought conditions and the upcoming community fundraiser for Aussie Hayrunners.Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/hoedown-for-hay-a-ripper-night-for-a-bloody-good-cause-tickets-1432383661089

Rodd provides an update about what can be seen up in the sky in South West Victoria, plus shares some facts and information about safely observing the sun.

Mia discusses potential scams that pop up around Tax Time and what to do to avoid or deal with them.More information can be found at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/current-focus/onlinesafety/tax-time-scams/

Ballarat hip hop artist D.B.L.U discusses the upcoming release of his EP Smoke Screen. You can stay up to date with his releases and upcoming gigs via https://linktr.ee/the.dblu

Tim Dwyer discusses an upcoming seminar organised by 'The Collective' in Colac about the Australian Consitution.Bookings and further info at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1426587

Rodd provides an update on the current positions of planets and stars visible in South West Victoria, plus discusses some indigenous stargazing Dreamtime stories as part of NAIDOC Week.

Rodd provides an update on the current positions of planets and stars visible in South West Victoria, plus shares some tips for using a phone when stargazing.Some of the apps discussed include:Stellarium https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noctuasoftware.stellarium_freeSkyView https://apps.apple.com/us/app/skyview-lite/id413936865Clear Outside https://clearoutside.com/forecast/50.7/-3.52Sky Safari https://skysafariastronomy.com/

Mia discusses the issues around privacy, taking photos and sharing them via social media. In public places like streets, beaches and parks, photography is generally legal, but how you use the images matters. If a photo is shared to harass, humiliate, threaten or abuse, it may become a criminal or civil issue. Commercial use of a person's image (e.g. using someone's photo in advertising or promotion) requires their consent, regardless of where the photo was taken. It's not illegal to photograph private property from a public space (like taking a picture of a house from the street), but photographing someone in a private act without consent may be an offence under voyeurism or image-based abuse laws.If you're unsure whether photography is allowed, always ask.If Someone Is Taking Your Photo Without Consent While being photographed in public is often lawful, intent matters. If someone is targeting you in a way that feels creepy, threatening or harassing, you have options:o Stay calm and move to a safer, more visible area.o Take note of the time, location, and what the person looks like.o Report it to venue staff, security or police, especially if the person refuses to stop.o If the photo is later shared to ridicule or shame you, report it to the platformo Report to police if it escalates into harassment or abuse.Be a Responsible Bystander Don't film or post images of others—especially strangers or children—for laughs, ridicule or content. If someone appears distressed, unaware, or unable to consent, don't share it. Step in or notify staff/security if you see someone filming others inappropriately. Speak up: report harmful content—don't repost it.Just because it's legal doesn't make it right.Always think: Is this respectful? Is this necessary? Would I be okay if it were me or my child?If someone crosses the line—from unwanted photography to online shaming or harassment—report it to the platform, the eSafety Commissioner, or Crime Stoppers Victoria.Online Privacy & Safety TipsProtect yourself and others from digital humiliation, harassment, and misuse of contentProtect Your Own Content Review your social media privacy settings regularly. Turn off location tagging or delay posting until after you've left an event. Be selective with who can comment, share or tag you in photos. If someone else tags you in a post you're uncomfortable with, don't be afraid to untag yourself or ask them to remove it.Think Before You Post Kids OnlineEven if you're proud of a great moment at a school concert or weekend footy match, it's important to think twice before uploading images of children—especially other people's children.Why it matters: You may be breaching another parent's privacy expectations. Images can be taken out of context or misused by others online (especially with AI capabilities). Children don't have the ability to consent to what's shared about them, and those images can live online forever.Safer sharing practices: Only post children if you have their parent or guardian's consent. Avoid sharing school uniforms, name tags, or location-specific identifiers. Use private or invite-only albums when sharing with family or friends. Consider covering faces or using stickers/emojis if you're sharing a group shot.Be a Responsible Digital Citizen Don't film strangers or children at public events for laughs, clout, or ridicule. Call out online bullying or shaming, and report abusive content. Remember: likes fade fast, but the harm can last much longer.If You or Someone You Know is Targeted Save or screenshot the content. Report it to the platform and, if serious, to Crime Stoppers Victoria.For further information head to Crimestoppers Victoria https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/

Xavier Meade talks about the transformation of the Colac Visitor Information Centre and the call out to volunteers and local producers to get on board with the new project.For further info visit https://www.facebook.com/colacunearthed

Rodd drops in to share some star gazing tips, interesting facts about Captain Cook's astronomy links and what we can look out for up in the sky over the coming week.

Simon chats about the program for the second half of 2025 that the Corangamite Film Society have put together.For more information visit https://corangamitefilmsociety.com/

Rodd Westwood joins us to talk local astronomy. This will be a regular feature on OCR FM, so if you've got a space themed question you'd like asked please send it in to admin@ocrfm.org.au.

Mia from Crime Stoppers Victoria discusses several different scams, red flags to be wary of and where to find more information if you become scammed.For further details visit https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/current-focus/onlinesafety/

Chelsea from the Colac Otway Shire discusses the current Youth Art Competition at COPACC, plus a number of upcoming youth activities including some improv and drama workshops.Full details at https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Community-services/Youth-Services/Colac-Otway-Youth-Events

Gillian Brew talks about the upcoming Forrest School Fete which is being held over the King's Birthday weekend.

Mia from Crimestoppers phones in to discuss safety precautions around car theft and car jacking.More information can be found at https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/safecheck/

Robyn Alexander talks about the upcoming Circular Fashion Parade fundraiser on Sunday 1st of June.For further details visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1018681106450649

Geoff Sharp, the CEO of Volunteering Victoria, chats about the importance of volunteering and how people can get involved with their community.Interested individuals can visit the GoVolunteer website or https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au/

Robyn Alexander from the South West Community Foundation talks about the upcoming 15th anniversary celebration at COPACC on Friday 23rd of May.For further details and to rsvp visit https://www.southwestcommunityfoundation.org/

Mia from Crimestoppers chats about strategies to prevent bike theft and what to do if your bike is stolen.Topics include:- locking your bike properly- engraving your ID- mindful parking - exercising caution online - insuranceWhat to do if your bike is stolen: Completing an online theft report. Calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. Contact your local police station.https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/current-focus/bike-security/

Sara Cashman from the Polwarth CWA discusses the upcoming Creative Arts and Home Crafts Exhibition.For further details visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079982313689

Jen from the Polwarth CWA and Jennifer from Colac Toyota drop in to discuss the May donation drive, collecting items to support Meli.For safety and hygiene reasons Meli is only able to accept new or unused items.The following items would be suitable:Toiletrieso Toothpasteo Toothbrusho Toothbrush holdero Shampooo Soapo Soap Holdero Deodoranto Hairbrushes Lineno Towelso Face washero Polar Fleece BlanketsContainers/Bagso Backpackso Toiletry bagso Large Carry Bago Bucketso Washing Baskets Cleaning Itemso Mopso Broomso Dustpan and Brusho Sponges/Scourerso Toilet Brusho Dishwashing Brusho Rubber Gloveso Pegso Cleaning Clothso Disinfectanto Bathroom Cleanero Surface Sprayo Washing Powdero Toilet Cleanero Dishwashing LiquidDonations will be accepted at the Colac Toyota Showroom and the Colac Toyota Service Centre during the month of May.

Paul chats about the launch of the new Plastic Cheeses single 'Mid Strength Crisis'.You can hear it live at the Bell's Beach Brewing launch tonight.Check out all their released tunes at https://plasticcheeses.bandcamp.com/

Andy Gray from Central Otway Landcare Network phones in to discuss the series of Urban Landcare activities being run locally throughout May.For all the details visit https://www.coln.org.au/ or https://www.facebook.com/Centralotwaylandcarenetwork

Mia Gardiner from Crimestoppers Victoria shares information about preventing aggravated burglary and keeping your valuables safe.For details about the discussion or Crimestoppers visit https://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au/current-focus/aggravated-burglaries/

Melissa from Let's Talk Colac talks about the launch of the 2025 Walk the Walk Festival, plus a numbed of other local Let's Talk intitiatives.Stay up to date with all the details at https://letstalkaustralia.org/initiatives/walk-the-walk-festival or via https://www.facebook.com/letstalkcolac

Community Liaison Nurse Brianna Baillie talks about the upcoming Palliative Care Week event at Anam Cara.For more information or to RSVP to the event, please email liaison@anamcarahousecolac.org.au

Ivan Carter here from the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party chats about the noxious weed many people mightn't know much about.For details about identifying Serrated Tussock, managing it or the Working Party, head to https://serratedtussock.com/