Australianarama

In 1940, a plane travelling into Canberra quickly and mysteriously crashed. Key members of the Menzies government were on the plane, leading to huge repercussions in parliament. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: The ABC, Wikipedia, National Archives of Australia, Monument Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not a metaphor or anything, this episode is literally about the use of koalas for international diplomacy. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: Wikipedia, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Conversation, Atlas Obscura, The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Expo 1988: Leisure in the Age of Technology. Brisbane promised to ‘show the world’ and what the world saw was a wildly 80s good time. A monorail above Southbank, countries from around the world and alfresco dining up the wazoo- Expo 88 was a pivotal time in reshaping the face of Brisbane. See ya Joh, hello Stefan. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @austfralianarama SOURCES: Celebrate 88, Wikipedia, World Expo 88 Official Souvenir Program, World Expo 88 Brisbane - Australia, ABC, The Cane Toad Times, BIE Paris, Maddie Nixon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wild tale of a plucky 9 year old boy and his beloved pony on a 1000km journey to see the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: Trove, Westprint, Sydney Living Museums, The Sydney Moring Herald, The ABC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maddie steps through some of the most cracked gaffes, declarations and kidnapping in Australian elections. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: News.com, The Guardian, QI, Sunshine Coast Daily, Wikipedia, The ABC Jess’s show at Sydney Comedy Festival https://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/event/jessica-adie-righto-darl/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We watched Babe and now we’re emotionally compromised and considering vegetarianism. That’ll do pig, that’ll do. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama See Jess at the Sydney Comedy Festival May 11th & 13th https://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/event/jessica-adie-righto-darl/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is 90 years old! Jess tells Maddie a bunch of fun facts about the most famous coat hanger in Australia. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: The ABC, The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, National Museum of Australia, Wikipedia. Come to Jess’s show at the Sydney Comedy Festival! https://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/event/jessica-adie-righto-darl/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did y’all know that Bond was once played by an Australian actor? Only once. Enter George Lazenby. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: George Lazenby Website, Channel 10, Wikipedia, 007 Magazine, James Bond WikiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbours. Everybody needs good neighbours. Or do they? After 37 years classic Aussie soap Neighbours is being cancelled, so for this episode Jess had to watch it for the first time, and we chat to a former cast member (not Kylie Minogue). Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: Network 10, Pedestrian, The ABC, The Guardian, Wikipedia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1770, Captain Cook famously landed in Botany Bay, Sydney. He less famously died in Hawaii on February 14th, 1779. Happy Valentines Day! SOURCES: The Guardian, National Archives UK, Article by Noelani Arista - Associate Professor of Hawaiian and American History at the University of Hawai'i-Mānoa (British Library), ABC, Wikipedia, History Skills.com Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianaramaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever looked at a $20 note and thought “who on earth is this stern lady wearing a bonnet?”, then this is the episode for you. Jess goes through a who’s who of all the people on Australian banknotes. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: Reserve Bank of Australia, Royal Australian Mint, NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, Wikipedia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cast your mind back to 2003. Trucker hats, mini skirts and the mighty ugg boot reigned supreme. The Ugg has come a long way form its humble start in Australia, to an international legal battle of David and Goliath proportions. Follow us on INSTAGRAM @australianarama SOURCES: The ABC, The National Law Review, The New York Times, Wikipedia, CNN Style, Grazia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a big year, so we thought we’d end our first season with a festive film review, and what better film is there than Wiggly Wiggly Christmas, released on VHS by The Wiggles in 1997. Join Maddie and Jess for a very, very silly episode. We’re taking a break over Christmas/New Years, Australianarama Season 2 will return in January! Until then you can follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: Wiggly Wiggly Christmas (1997), Wikipedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dinosaurs are very cool. And in Australia (or Gondwana) we have LOADS of ‘em. Maddie lists some of her favourite big lizards and the tales of their discovery. SOURCES: Natural History Museum, Australian Museum, The Conversation, Wikipedia, Sci-news, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mei Quong Tart was one of the most famous and well-loved people in 19th-century Sydney. Known for his tea rooms, philanthropy, social influence, entertaining personality and bagpipe skills, he was a fascinating man ahead of his time. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: State Library of NSW, Museum of Chinese Australian History, The Sydney Morning Herald, South China Morning Post, Off Campus, Wikipedia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Min Min Lights are a mysterious light phenomenon, following travellers across the roads of Channel Country in the Queensland Outback. Maddie shares sightings, theories and the history behind the legend. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: ABC News, Min Min Experience Boulia, Boulia Shire Council, The Grey Nomads at Boulia Caravan Park, Wikipedia, Australian Georgraphic- Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Boulia Camel Races.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess reads out quotes from a mixed bag of Aussie politicians. Maddie has to guess who said them, and what they’re on about. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: SBS, ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, Junkee, Museum of Australian Democracy, The Guardian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strictly Ballroom (1992) started as a project among theatre students at NIDA and ended up becoming one of Australia’s most successful films ever. Baz Luhrmann, sequins, competitive dancing and the old Bogo Pogo - what else could you want!?! Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: IMDB, Strictly Ballroom (1992), The Guardian, The NFSA and SBS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1976 a group of stockmen entered into a contract to purchase a cattle station in Far North Queensland. The sale was blocked by the Queensland Government because the men were Aboriginal. The subsequent court case was one of the first tests of the Racial Discrimination Act of 1975, and the beginning of a 40 year land rights battle. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: ABC, SBS Living Black, Anti-Discrimination Commission QLD, QLD Department of Environment & Science.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fall of Joh Bjelke-Petersen and The Fitzgerald Inquiry changed the face of politics and the law in Australia forever. She’s a juicy one! Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: Crime and Corruption Commission Qld, The Conversation, Wikipedia, ABC, News.com and Sunrise Channel 7. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A corrupt premier, salacious scandals and the perfect pumpkin scone recipe. That’s right, it’s the 1980’s and Queensland under the rule of Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Join us for the two-part rollercoaster ride through one of Australia’s biggest ever political sagas. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: The ABC, Shirleene Robinson - University of Queensland, Wikipedia and The conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a backyard icon, a suburban staple, a symbol of summer. Literally, it’s a clothes line. Jess tells Maddie about the invention and history of the Hills Hoist. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: The ABC, The Powerhouse Museum, South Australia History Hub, news.com.au, Hills Home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vida Goldstein was one of the first women to run for parliament in Australia and the world. Feminist, lobbyist and badass of the 1890s and beyond. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: Australian Dictionary of Biographies, Parliament of Victoria, National Committee of Australia, The Encyclopaedia of Women and Leadership, Claire Wright, Wikipedia, Ms Represented (ABC), National Museum Australia and SBS.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special guest Michelle Law joins us to chat about the Sunshine Coast’s most iconic roadside attraction, The Big Pineapple. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama Michelle’s book ASIAN GIRLS ARE GOING PLACES is available for pre-order now!! Follow Michelle on INSTAGRAM @msmichellelaw TWITTER @ms_michellelaw WEBSITE michelle-law.com SOURCES: The Queensland Heritage Register, The Big Pineapple website, The ABC, Wikipedia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018 The Australian Cricket Team, a series of masks and a tiny piece of sandpaper sparked an international sporting drama. That’s right. The infamous ball tampering scandal - explained by sports ball expert and co-host of Sporting Woods podcast, Tim Stanton. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people in Australia know a line dance to Nutbush City Limits by Tina Turner. Other countries do not do this. No one knows why. *kick, kick, criss-cross turn clap* Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: Wikipedia, The Big Red Bash website, The Sydney Morning Herald, The North West Star, World Record Academy, and thanks to guest Neridah Matthaei.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Famous Humpty Doo Hotel is home to croc burgers, buffalo riding patrons and a whole lot of character. The township of Humpty Doo, 30 minutes out from Darwin, has a wild and fascinating history. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: ABC Radio Darwin, ABC News, SBS News, Wikipedia, MSN News, AussieTowns.com, HumptyDooHotel.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a bear in there, and a chair as well… Maddie and Jess have a very special guest, Play School presenter Kaeng Chan! A wholesome chat about Australia’s longest running and most iconic children’s television program. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama SOURCES: The ABC, the National Museum of Australia, Junkee, Wikipedia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope (affectionately known as The Dish) is one of the largest on Earth. Did you know that Australia broadcast the 1969 moon landing to the rest of the world? THE DISH IS AMAZING. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: CSIRO, Australian Defence Magazine, Wikipedia, Working Dog Productions, ABC News, ABC Science. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opening Ceremony in all it's glory. Young Nikki Webster is thrown into the air, Australian icons sing their guts out, there's thousands of performers, an enormous flame, and just so much to look at. It's the year 2000, dare to dream.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: SOURCES: Sydney 2000 Opening Ceremony intro, Channel 7 Towards Tokyo Sydney 2000 Rewind, The Olympic Channel on YouTube, ABC, Sydney Opera House, Wikipedia, and thanks to Jenny Gordon.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The games of the new millennium! Thropedo, Fatso the Wombat, Cathy Freeman and plenty of drama. What a time to be alive!Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: Sydney 2000 Rewind Channel 7, Los Angeles Times, Olympics.Com, Encyclopedia Britannica, The Conversation, The independent UK, Benchmark Games, NFSA, Australia Geographic, ABC, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and The Associated Press. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cartoon seagull and a catchy tune that changed a generation. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat as Jess looks into the Cancer Council's classic advertising campaign.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: SunSmart, Cancer Council Victoria, Cancer Council Australia, Cancer Council ACT, The Australian Media Hall of Fame, the ABC, alexanderstitt.com, IMDB, Wikipedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aus Post is the longest running and one of the only remaining publicly owned national institutions in Australia. With that comes plenty of drama, watches and politics. Maddie explains all - no postage necessary.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: Australia Post Heritage Strategy, Aus post website, National Museum of Australia, Four Corners, Wikipedia, Parliamentary Education Office See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The remarkable story of Patyegarang, a young Cammeraygal woman, around 15 years old when the British invaded in the 1780s. She met William Dawes, a British colonist and astronomer, and taught him her language, in one of the earliest documented cultural exchanges between Aboriginal people and European colonisers. His notebooks contain one of the only known first hand accounts of the Dharug/Eora language, and were lost for many years.Follow us on INSTAGRAM and TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: The Notebooks of William Dawes, The ABC, The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Powerhouse museum of applied arts and science, Australian dictionary of biography, Wikipedia.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is know for his ‘unique' style of leadership. Maddie unpacks the rise, fall, and rise again, of the pollie from Tamworth.Follow us on INSTAGRAM and TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: ABC 7:30, Kitchen Cabinet, Buzzfeed News, Bendigo Advertiser, The Guardian, ABC News, BarnabyJoyce.com, news.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time in Port Macquarie there was a little theme park, part Brothers Grimm storybook and part borderline Disney copyright infringement, all delightful. Closed since 2002 and now overtaken by koalas, the low budget animatronics are long gone, but Fantasy Glades still lives happily ever after in Jess's memoriesFollow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: The Guardian, The ABC, The Macleay Argus, Port Macquarie News, and Wikipedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ‘review' of the classic hit ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'. 3 drag queens, 1 bus, many queer times. Follow us on INSTAGRAM or TWITTER @australianarama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tiger King of Australia (sort of). The Bullens were once the owners of Australia's biggest animal tourism empire. This is a tale of travelling circuses, big cats and theme parks gone wrong.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: Triple M, Animals All Around, Real Estate.com, Gold Coast Bulletin, Lost Logan Facebook, Courier Mail, QLD Places.com, Jimboomba Times, Visit Sydney Australia.com, ABC Archives - Dynasties, Sydney Morning Herald, Zoochat.com Forum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Combining elements of dance, gymnastics, and marching in a perfect square, Physie is a uniquely Australian sport you've likely never heard of. Jess investigates a world of leotards, fake tan and fierce competition.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: The BJP website, The APDA website, The EP Physie website, the ABC, Australian Photography, and Wikipedia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Children's television has a lot to answer for. Maddie tracks the history of some of the most iconic, innovative (and sometimes terrifying) puppets that have graced our screens over the last 40+ years.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: Screen Australia, The World Encyclopaedia of Puppetry Arts, Larrikin Puppets, ABC and Pedestrian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tea, scones, handicrafts and 99 years of campaigning for improved services for rural women. Jess tells Maddie what's going on with the CWAFollow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: The ABC, The Guardian, The Conversation, The Country women's Association of Australia, The Country women's Association of NSW, The Queensland Country Women's Association, the Australian Women's Register, and Wikipedia.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part Two: Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison and Onions make an excellent final act in the fifteen year long (and counting) leadership saga.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: The Financial Review, Junkee, ‘The Killing Season' by Sarah Ferguson, ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Weekly Times, The New York Times, Times of London and CNN. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rudd, Gillard, Rudd again. What a rollercoaster. Maddie tracks the 2007-2013 leadership saga. Remember when PM candidates played handball?Follow us on TWITTER & INSTAGRAM @australianaramaSOURCES: The Financial Review, Junkee, ‘The Killing Season' by Sarah Ferguson, ABC, Sydney Morning Herald, The Weekly Times, The New York Times, Times of London and CNN. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop on some footy franks and crack open the Tia Maria and settle in while Jess & Maddie discuss the cultural impact of the foxiest ladies on Australian television, Kath & KimFollow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianarama See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maddie follows the incredible journey of Australia Zoo and the Irwin Family. Crocs, TV, Queensland and romance. What else could you want?Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: WHO Magazine, Australian Story - ABC, The Australia Zoo Website, Wikipedia and The Australia Zoo Website Archive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a young man, Macpherson Roberston made lollies in his parents' bathroom. As an old man, he was an eccentric millionaire with a chocolate empire. Jess tells Maddie all about the over-achieving inventor of the Cherry Ripe.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: Victoria Collections curated by History Teacher's Association of Victoria/Royal Historical Society of Victoria, ABC Local, Australian Dictionary of Biography, and Wikipedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maddie and her mate Dan used to work at Queensland's most notorious prison, Boggo Road Gaol (kind of). Join them as they talk pests, protests, politics and poo.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: boggoroadgaol.com, boggoroadgaol.com.au, The Feed SBS, BTQ7, The Leader, Limina Journal, Australian Law Reform Commission, The Guardian. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poet, activist, educator, icon. A look at the fascinating life and work of Oodgeroo Noonuccal.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: Oodgeroo by Kathie Cochran with contributions from Judith Wright, ABC Rewind, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Encounter on Radio National, The Canberra Times via the National Library, The National Museum of Australia, The National Film and Sound Archive, The Queensland Human rights commission, The Queensland Parliament website, and Wikipedia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's our first film review! This week we're joined by special guest Alexei Toliopoulos (Total Reboot, Netflix's The Big Film Buffet, Finding Desperado) to chat about a beloved Sydney movie, Looking For Alibrandi.Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaFollow Alexei @thisisalexei See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One day, the Prime Minister went for a swim and never returned. A tale of highs, lows, politics and conspiracies. Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: National Archives of Australia, ABC, Australian Prime Minister Centre, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy, Sydney Morning Herald, The New Daily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is home to many weird and wonderful endangered birds, barreling towards extinction through a mix of habitat loss, new predators, and occasional self-sabotage. The appropriately named Difficult Bird Research Group are on a mission to help these feathered weirdos get their act together. Featuring the Palm Cockatoo (rockstars), the Orange-Bellied Parrot (morons), the Masked Owl (murderers), and more!Follow us on INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @australianaramaSOURCES: The Guardian, The ABC, The Difficult Bird Research Group website, and Wikipedia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.