Forever Classic 2CA Catch Up Podcast

Holmsey and Jen catch up with one of their favourite people, Val Dempsey, Senior Australian of the Year, after her trip to London with the Prime Minister for the Queen's funeral. Val beautifully describes her experiences in London, the Abbey and watching the Queen's casket move past her at the service. Afterwards Val snuck out a side door as she'd been confined to her seat for near five hours. On the way back she literally ran into someone extraordinary.

Every year the world scientific community recognises some of the truly out there research with the "Ig Nobel" Awards. Previous winners have gone on to win Nobels - Dr Karl even won one with research into the colour of belly button fluff (spoiler alert - it's usually blue) Holmsey and Jen speak with Jacinta Bowler, a journalist with Cosmos Magazine, about the 2022 Winners. The topics this year include gossip, legalese, constipated scorpions and crash test moose. The prize for winning an "Ig Nobel"? Let's just say it is an unbelievable amount of money.

10 additional Australians will accompany Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. One is ACT local, 50 plus years St John's Ambulance volunteer and 2022 Senior Australian of the year Val Dempsey. Val was also one of the last groups of Australians to have a chat with the Queen when she sat down with Governor General David Hurley and the other 2022 recipients of the Australian of the Year Awards. Holmsey and Jen caught up with Aunty Val and were reminded what a bundle of joy and model of service to the community this remarkable woman is. Photo: Holly Treadaway

Every Wednesday to get Holmsey's grey matter working Jen puts together five songs with a theme to see if he can pick them. Can you get all five??

Every Wednesday to get Holmsey's grey matter working Jen puts together five songs with a theme to see if he can pick them. Can you get all five??

This week we lost two iconic and pioneering women of Australian music - Judith Durham of The Seekers and singer and actress Olivia Newton-John. Holmsey and Jen reflect on Durham's record breaking achievements and speak with The Seeker's Keith Potger about how he wishes Judith to be remembered. Then Holmsey tells his legendary story of being invited to attend the premiere of Xanadu with Olivia Newton-John and Olivia's generosity on 2CA's 90th birthday in November 2021.

Holmsey and Jen speak to Ellen Ryan who is first Australian Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the woman's singles lawn bowls. Ellen is also a fire fighter at the Goulburn Fire Station with her colleagues celebrating her achievement with a big congratulations sign outside the station. This picture is Ellen's, holding her gold!

Did Jen sing the Neighbours theme (in key) for Barry Crocker? Did Holmsey discover that he and Barry are also long lost neighbours in Shepparton? Did Jen confess to once replicating one of Barry's album covers (the album in question pictured)? Ahead of the final episode of Neighbours after 37 years, Holmsey and Jen speak with Bazza McKenzie and original Neighbours theme song singer Barry Crocker about all the above and whether neighbours really can become good friends........

With a couple of Monkeypox cases in the Territory Holmsey and Jen thought they'd get some more information and facts about the virus. They asked Epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett how you get it, how and when you know you have it, what the treatment is & how long it lasts.

Holmsey and Jen got a call from a proud dad whose daughter Anthea had worked with Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin to help create the stunning costumes that are part of Elvis the movie. They were able to ask Anthea about watching the film (and her work), what her favourite era was to dress and how they sourced the fabric of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

When Jen went to Austria she bought a coaster that said, "No Kangaroos in Austria mate!" It turns out Kiss get a little confused too.

Holmsey and Jen chat with Professor Andrew Blakers from ANU, an expert in renewable power and energy policy, about how we got to energy crisis point, what it means for us in the Territory and ways we can reduce our bills and energy usage.

Holmsey and Jen track down Amber who organised the "Marry Me Scott" skywriting seen by hundreds of hopelessly romantic Canberrans yesterday. How did Amber make sure Scott saw the message? Was this a childhood dream come true to do this for the right person one day? And, most importantly, DID SCOTT SAY YES??

The great lettuce shortage continues. The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen on 2CA 1053

Apparently Wally Lewis is a Maroons supporter. So is Holmsey. Not Jen though. And never the pundits who always think the Blues will win, even when Queensland had won eight straight. Wally loves Queensland being the underdog, reminds us how tight this Maroon team is, like the great teams he was involved in, and why you should never write them, or him, off.

The Classic Breakfast: Holmsey and Jen on 2CA 1053

Today marks the start of Platinum Jubilee Celebrations for the 70th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Naturally Holmsey and Jen ask Dr Cindy McCreery the questions we all need to know - like who'll be standing with the Queen on the Balcony (hint - it won't be a few in this image!), whether Queen (the band, not the monarch) might perform on the roof again and even if Johnny Depp might pop up....

Holmsey's Rock Moment - with Diesel. Holmsey and Jen - The Classic Breakfast on 2CA 1053

Do you like a good ginger nut dunked in your cup of tea? So does Jen, but she stopped buying them when she moved to Brisbane from Sydney and thought they'd changed the recipe. Turns out they haven't.........

Jen has never tried spam. I know! How could she? Holmsey rectifies the situation by preparing Jen a (ahem) spam banquet.

Supermarkets in WA sell "naked" onions because apparently the variety they grow there are too ugly to be sold with their skins! When Jen tells Holmsey about the onions, Holmsey is reminded of his own involvement in a naked Caramello Koala incident....

Kyrie Ferguson from Kambah's photo titled "Why We Do It" is the Overall Winner of national photographic competition In.Site Photographic Awards. The photo is of her gas technician husband Ty holding his six year old son Blake's hand. Holmsey and Jen speak with Kyrie about the inspiration behind the photo and why she does it.

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen on 2CA 1053

When traffic hits Canberra, sometimes you ned to make that choice. I think we all know which one Holmsey would prefer.. The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen, weekdays on 2CA 1053

Julia Fox (we don't know her either) decided to go grocery shopping in her underwear. So with an election coming up......... could it happen here? The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen on 2CA, 1053

The 2CA Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen. Weekdays from 5.30am on 1053.

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen - Weekdays from 5.30 on 1053

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen - Weekdays from 5.30 and The Pressure Test at 8

Dave Murphy's house survived the 2019 bushfires but not his yabby farm. Holmsey and Jen were delighted to catch up with Dave to discover that he's got the farm up and running again and to be gifted some (live) yabbies for their dinner. Jen had never cooked anything alive before and this was made harder when her children started to name their new "pets".

"I don't think he'll have any role as a royal in public again." Holmsey and Jen chat with Dr Cindy McCreery on the Queen's 96th birthday about her ongoing influence in Australia, what to expect from Platinum Jubilee celebrations and whether some of the family will still be invited.

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen - weekdays from 5.30am on 1053

Holmsey and Jen on the Classic Breakfast - Weekdays on Forever Classic 2CA 1053

Holmsey and Jen on The Classic Breakfast - weekdays on Forever Classic 2CA 1053

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen - weekdays on Forever Classic 2CA, 1053

Holmsey and Jen on the Classic Breakfast - weekdays from 5.30am on 1053

Holmsey and Jen on the Classic Breakfast - weekdays at 5.30am on 1053

Holmsey and Jen on 2CA's Classic Breakfast - weekdays from 5.30am on 1053

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen, weekdays from 5.30a on Forever Classic 2CA - 1053AM

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen on 2CA - weekdays from 5.30 on 1053

Holmsey and Jen on Forever Classic 2CA - weekdays from 5.30am on 1053

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen. Weekdays from 5.30 on Forever Classic 2CA, Canberra - 1053

The Classic Breakfast with Holmsey and Jen - Weekdays from 5.30 on 1053

Olivia and Emma are two young Canberrans doing small things to make a difference. They are collecting socks - ratty, holy, patched, baby even single socks that they will take to Melbourne to be recycled into pet beds and other products. If you have some socks that you wish to donate you can contact Cheryl, Olivia and Emma's mum via doing.small.things on Instagram or you can drop them into our Crace studios to Jen and she'll make sure Olivia and Emma get them.

Great news for the ACT and pet lovers! The RSPCA is getting a new purpose built facility. Holmsey and Jen catch up with Michelle Robertson to celebrate the news and also talk about the responsibility of bring a pet into your life plus how the RSPCA has adapted to Covid restrictions. 2CA will also be sharing an RSPCA Pet of the Week every Saturday morning if you're looking for your new forever friend! Photo by Danielle Nohra

In 1981 a group of knock about lads from Sydney joined together to form a band. They thought they'd enjoy a good time while it lasted. 40 years later The Hoodoo Gurus are still releasing new music and selling out gigs around Australia. Holmsey and Jen chat with Hoodoo Gurus front man Dave Faulkner about new album Chariot of the Gods, how they've adapted during and post lockdowns and about Gurus vinyl - both records and (ahem) clothing choices.

Holmsey and Jen's interview with Cheap Trick's Robin Zander starts normally enough but after discussing a song Zander wrote about Freddie Mercury and his lost country album, somehow Holmsey sees potential in a yeehaw Dream Police cover........

First Paul Mercurio danced, then he acted and now he brews a bit and cooks. He's a great Aussie story and it continues this Saturday night with food and yarns at Bean Central in Queanbeyan. Jen and Holmsey caught up with Paul to find out what he's been up to and what's on the menu (besides table dancing ;)) on Saturday night. Photo: Sergio Dionisio

Anti Vax protesters pointlessly blocked the phone lines of Canberra Hospital yesterday. Holmsey and Jen have had enough of Canberra's health system time being wasted.

On International Women's Day Holmsey and Jen spoke with Valmai Dempsey who has been a nurse since she was 16, volunteered for St Johns Ambulance for more than 50 years, gave up her Christmas vacation in 2020 to provide first aid and help out at evacuation centres during the Black Summer bushfires and, in 2021 alone, volunteered more than 600 hours, including looking after her fellow volunteers mental health and wellbeing through phone calls to check in. A remarkable woman and worthy recipient of the Senior Australian of the Year 2022, Val would like to see every Australian hold a current first aid certificate. Photo by Holly Treadway for CityNews Canberra

Holmsey and Jen catch up with John who is helping with the recovery effort and clean up in Lismore.

Dawn Simpson is a force of nature. She met her husband Bob when they worked for Telstra here - Dawn was the Tower Controller. They were very happily married when Bob developed dementia. Dawn cared for him till his death. Afterwards, she took off around Australia in her campervan helping indigenous women and children in Alice Springs. When she return to her home in Batemans Bay she didn't want to complete her future adventures alone. Dawn applied for the TV Show First Dates Australia, where she was paired with Phil. Holmsey and Jen catch up with Dawn to find out whether she and Phil are still together, that there's no deadline for love and the special "person" who accompanies Dawn on her campervan adventures......