Postcards from the Bush with Robin McConchie Podcast

Congratulations to young Spanish illustrator and artist Constanca Duarte,  @a_inconstancia for completing her street-art collection painted on electrical boxes in Porto. Artists are brightening up the streets of Porto with their work. Constanca fears the character of Porto is being lost due to pressures from tourism and her art is her way of keeping Portuguese tradition alive.It's tough making a living as an artist, no less so in Porto, good luck Constanca! #ainconstancia https://www.instagram.com/p/CtHexMeMMf7/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dick and Nicola from Holland are walking the Portuguese Coastal Camino with their best mates, four dogs. They started the 270km pilgrimage with three pooches but adopted the fourth after it was hit by a car and left for dead. Walking the Camino with dogs takes planning and patience, this team has both and the rewards are life changing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walking the Portuguese Camino gives you plenty of time to think, get fit and chat with people from all over the world. It was rainy and we were dodging a bit of traffic on the narrow roads when I met Patricia an Occupational Therapist from Lisbon. She works with dementia and Alziemer's disease clients. She provides hope for patient and carers. Her advice- help is available, so don't hideSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sandee Peterson is walking the Camino Portuguese, a 270km trek from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Sandee and her partner are keen volunteers and one project that has taken them around the world is the Fuller Centre for Housing, providing a hand-Up not a hand-out to those in need. Volunteers build simple, decent places to live for those who don't qualify for traditional funding. We chatted on the road to Santiago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sheep and wool production are part of Portugal's tradition. Burel is keeping the tradition alive, training and supporting young people to work in the industry. Burel wool fashion, bedding, home decor and even shoes are known worldwide for quality and elegance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music is a part of the Portuguese lifestyle. Lisbon in Portugal is the home of Fado, a musical genre traced to the 1820s. Traditionally Fado is characterised by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, infused with a sentiment of resignation or longing. Fado performances can be heard in bars and tiny nightclubs throughout the city. If you go to a fado performance, you will see the Portuguese Guitar. Carolina's family own a music shop in the Baixa, which is famous for its guitars and #keepingthetraditionalivelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fishing is big business in Portugal. Over the centuries it has been a mainstay of the economy. Today the Comur company, based in Lisbon is preserving the tradition, and pulling the crowds with its range of tinned fish. You can buy all sorts of flavours of sardine, shrimp, tuna, mackerel and many more. Rob is taking a ‘ramble' through Portugal and Spain in ‘23, join her as she makes her way along the Camino and across northern Spain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-founder of  Back Box Co Emma Black says cattle producers can make better decisions and run their farms more profitably and sustainably if they take the mystery out of cattle statistics. The  Black Box cloud-based service ingests data collected along the supply chain, analyses it and delivers producers practical insights, making it easier than ever to make informed genetic, management and marketing decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Qld AgriFutures Rural Women's Award finalist Kate Lamason founded Cairns-based Little Tuna, which cans wild-caught Australian tuna in olive oil—Kate is passionate about the seafood industry and value-adding. If you want to eat Aussie tuna, try Little Tuna.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louise Noble, a Qld Agrifutures Rural Women's Award finalist, founded the Mulberry Project. Based in Toowoomba, The Mulberry Project is a social enterprise project building industry partnerships to upskill and connect disadvantaged job seekers to agricultural employment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2023 Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women's Award winner is Emma-Louise Gibbons.  Ms Gibbons founded Huds and Toke, a Sunshine Coast-based company that manufactures premium-class pet treats. Emma is an innovator with qualifications in animal nutrition and a passion for pets. Her latest project revolutionises dog treat production using insect protein farmed in Australia. Dogs love the treats, and the process utilises food waste. In the $ 4 billion pet food market, Emma has created a sustainable and novel product which will go down a treat with pooches.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a story of discovery. I discovered a dress I love and the woman who created the artwork for the dress. I am not known for wearing dresses, but when I saw my wattle dress at an exhibition of outback artists in Brisbane, I had to have it. Friends commented on how great the dress looked on me, and one woman said her auntie Jean Barr-Crombie from Birdsville was the artist. On a 6000km trip in outback Qld, I visited the Red Ridge Gallery in Blackall. Red Ridge the Label shines a spotlight on central western Qld Aboriginal artists expressing their work beautifully in fashion. Jean Barr-Crombie and her sister Joyce Crombie have a deep connection with Red Ridge the Label. Their artwork was the basis of the first two fashion collections Red Ridge the Label produced. The collections were recognised internationally with invitations to display dresses on the catwalks of the US and Europe. In Blackall, I bought a painting of the channel country in flood by Anpanuwa 'Joyce' Crombie. So now, with a dress and a picture created by the sisters, I wanted to know more.  In Birdsville, I was lucky to meet Jean and talk about art, culture and language.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A moment in history. That's how the general manager of the Outback Way, Helen Lewis described Labor's $678 million budget commitment to the Outback Way project. The funding honours the promise made by former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce in February. The additional funding will see the sealing of the 2800km stretch of road between Winton in Qld, Alice Springs in the NT and Laverton in WA completed, creating ‘the Longest Short Cut' and the third trans-Australian Highway. It's a billion-dollar project, first pitched in 1997, and Helen Lewis says it's a game changer for transport, indigenous communities and tourism in the outback.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Birdsville in the Australian Outback will become a golfing mecca if President of nation's newest 18 hole golf course has her way. Nell Brook has dreamed of having a golf course at Birdsville for 26 years, ever since she moved from South Africa to marry cattleman David Brook and live in the channel country in remote SW Queensland.The dream has come true after decades of planning and community hard work. The Birdsville Dunes Golf Club Club celebrated its first event with 200 golfers playing in the Outback Queensland Masters Golf.Travellers can now add golf to their bucket list of things to do in Birdsville along with crossing the Simpson Desert, visiting Lake Eyre, placing a bet at the Birdsville Races or enjoying camping under the big sky at the Big Red Bash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard the steer loves to nudge golfers as they putt, he enjoys a wander round the Mt Isa golf course and welcomes campers. Margie McElligott inherited Richard as a calf and added the steer to her menagerie of pets. Margie grew up in outback Australia. As a youngster she ran free on a million acre cattle property at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. After leaving school Margie's helped out at the family butcher shop in Camooweal, ran the pub in Middleton and now ‘runs' the Mt Isa Golf Club in outback Queensland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Molly the Kelpie-coolie cross is quiet and composed as she lies under the caravan, but mention her name and she is out like a shot looking for her faithful owners Rudie and Edwina Christen. Molly and the Christen's are on the Outback Queensland Masters Golf tour, travelling thousands of kilometres to play golf each weekend for six weeks, hoping to win the prized orange jacket or a million dollars for a hole-in-one at Birdsville. Of the trio only Rudie plays golf, Edwina thinks ‘golf is for the birds' and Molly is dreaming of chasing birds. The trio are veterans of the tour and Edwina loves it even though she can't see the point of hitting a little ball around a paddock.. it's a waste of a good dog walk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The newest of Heart of Australia's five massive roadtrain mobile health clinics rolled into Winton over the Opal Festival weekend and tested more than 30 people for respiratory conditions associated with mining. The Heart of Australia provides access to specialist medical care for those living in rural, regional and remote Australia. Since it was founded in 2014  by Brisbane Cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes, the Heart of Australia teams have seen more than 12,000 patients and saved an estimated 500 lives in outback QueenslandSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les, the ‘ant man' loves fossicking for gems and crafting his signature ants from garnets he found around Winton. Les spends winter in Winton because it is warm, friendly and tourists love his ants. The ants are fun and a great gift. Les has been around the traps for a good while and is a fountain of knowledge about opals and selecting the best stone for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golfers love to shop, check out new gear and simply chat with a professional about their game. There is always ‘next time' for golfers and Townsville professional Kevin Carruthers is a good listener. He travels over 25,000 km a year covering most events on the outback sand green circuit and special events like the Outback Queensland Masters. Kev reckons golf is on the up and events like the Outback Queensland Masters are great for the communities in the outback.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The streets of Tambo and Blackall will become alive with the sound of circus in August ‘22 as the towns celebrate their connection to the first circus in Australia. The community is painting, practising and crafting animals, bunting and acts to share their circus story. Red Ridge project manager Gretchen Hayman is covered in paint as she chats about the circus festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Ridge is building stronger communities in the Central Western region of Qld, Red Ridge The Label wants to see aboriginal inspired design recognised on the international stage and seen on catwalks in the USA and Europe. The concept of this social/ economic enterprise promoting, arts, culture and well being was conceived by Louise Campbell nearly 20 years ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#betterinblackall: When Lindy Hardie was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in the early 2000s her doctor suggested she focus on something she loved doing. Lindy had always loved painting and she hit the easel with a passion. Lindy and fellow artists established the Bushman's Gallery in Blackall in western Queensland. It is a must stopover for any visitor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mardi Noonan is a strong believer, that if you cater to the demographic of your client, you will keep them happy. For hungry golfers at the Outback Qld Masters Golf that means lambs fry and bacon for breakfast. Mardi founded Marmaladies Catering in Blackall, central western Queensland after a career in nursing. These days she travels the region catering for weddings, parties and anything! Her enthusiasm is infectious and the golfers love Mardi and her team of volunteers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President of the Tambo Golf Club Grant Johnson says it is the team of volunteers that make hosting the Outback Qld Masters Golf such a great event for the community. Born and bred in the district Grant has been a truckie, a football player, a wool classier and a property owner amongst many occupations. After breaking his neck in a footy accident he turned to golf and can proudly boast a hole-in-one, but warns that you have to shout the barSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tambo Teddies are survivors, each has a number and a recorded history of who purchased the little bear. Since the first bear was made by Tambo local Mary Sutherland in the early 90s, 57,000 have been sown and stuffed by the Tambo Teddy team and can be found in homes across the world. The teddies brought income and tourism to the region at a time of drought and falling sheep numbers. It is a delight to chat with the wonderful Mary Sutherland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Her heart is in the Northern Territory but Jessica Townsend set up Dusty Creek a thriving boutique and online business in Roma, Queensland. The online business thrived during The Covid-19 pandemic, and the boutique which followed is full of Aussie designed country fashion. Jess wears many hats, she’s a single mum, a photographer, a brand designer and a very successful business owner. Her message to young people is to dream big and give it a go.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She is energetic, enthusiastic and understands the challenges a shortage of rural doctors presents rural, regional and remote Australia. Today we talk with the National Rural Health Commissioner Ruth Stewart, who is committed to developing policy advice that will address the problems facing the one-in-four Australian who live outside the metropolitan areas. In her first annual report Ruth Stewart wrote: “Too often our discussions of rural health status and rural health care focus on deficiencies therein. If we only focus on the problems, we will not create a better system. We need to draw upon the strengths of rural communities and the characteristics that have enabled these communities to persist against the odds. "In short, we must take a strengths-based approach to find the solutions. As my term progresses, I am becoming more and more convinced that solutions to the challenges inherent to provision of health care in rural and remote communities will be found in the creation of multidisciplinary primary health care teams that are place based and co-designed by the communities they serve. "Funding should directly support the multidisciplinary primary health care teams that will keep Australians healthy.” Annual report 2020–21 – National Rural Health Commissioner See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dalby’s Jilly Tyler was a finalist in the 2022 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award. Her start-up Busy Beef will offer value added, ready to serve beef meals for time poor consumers. The Awards celebrate the innovation, inspiration and contribution rural women make to agriculture and rural and remote communities. Jilly says being part of the Awards has been valuable and she looks forward to being past of the Rural Womens Award Alumni.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award celebrates the role women play in agriculture.Queensland photographer, author, drone operator and educator Fiona Lake was a finalist in the 2022 awards. Fiona says AgTech is a male dominated field, with tech designed by men, for men. She believes to get the full benefit of AgTech women need training and her video series on practical tips and tricks will support women wanting to understand and use the technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Brisbane deli owner says farmers have dug deep to support a Baked Relief Go Fund Me Campaign to provide meals and groceries for those affected by the floods in Brisbane. Wendy Cox from Graceville Fine Food and Deli says she and her chef have been cooking up a storm and local businesses have helped deliver the meals to many cleaning out flood-affected homes. Wendy says the floods, while devastating, have brought the community together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers hate paperwork and Innisfail based Jennifer Mckee has developed an Application to save them time and money. Compliance audits are time-consuming but necessary and Covid audits were a nightmare for producers with lots of staff. Jennifer says starting her own business has been challenging but has given her a lifestyle that enables her to spend more time with her children. She was a finalist in the 2022 Queensland Agrifutures rural Women's Award.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca Bradshaw is the winner of the 2022 Queensland Agrifutures Rural Women's Award. Rebecca is a Child Health nurse living in the bush, and she knows the challenges facing mothers with a new baby, especially when they live remotely hours away from support. The award comes with a $15,000 bursary, and Rebecca will use this to develop Queensland's first Child Health, Nurse-led Online Service. She was joined with finalists Dalby businesswoman Jilly Tyler, Innisfail Agtech entrepreneur Jennifer McKee and Townsville photographer and Agtech champion Fiona LakeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of six in a family of girls born on a cattle property in Richmond, western Queensland, Lindy Hardy was given two options, go to painting class or join the family at the picnic races. The races won, but nowadays art is the winner. Lindy is one of six outback artists who brought their works to a pop-up exhibition in Brisbane, organised by red Ridge Interiors. As you enter the show, what hits you is a "riot" of colour and a sense of space. Yet, it's the isolation and the colour that inspire many artists. Lindy says painting stimulates her mind and stops the shake from Parkinson's disease. Painting gives her freedom! Lindy says art is alive and well in the bush, and she can't wait for the next artists retreat in Blackall. https://www.redridgeinteriorqueensland.com/outbackartpop-upexhibitionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born in the 1940s at Casino in NSW, Geoff Lehman has cattle trading in his blood and by 17 was the youngest auctioneer in NSW. At 79 Geoff recalls a lifetime buying and selling cattle, property deals and standing up to the odd bank manager who didn't give him a fair deal. He loved working stock and recalls the days mustering cattle in the Northern Territory with aboriginal stockmen. Geoff drove a massive 135,000 miles a year and one year bought and sold 25,000 head, the most of any sole agent in the country. Geoff established feedlots, bought cattle for the Japanese market and helped cattlemen faced with foreclosure turn their business around, An altercation with a rogue bull ended his days in the agency business and Geoff and wife Gillian entered the motel business See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Annabel Tully is a breast cancer survivor, mother, nurse, farmer and artist. Painting helped Amanda get through the trials and tribulations of cancer treatment 1000 kilometres from her home and young family in Western Queensland. She sees beauty in the landscape, even in drought and her paintings and textiles are rich with the colours of the outback. For Annabel, resilience is more than stoicism; it's about adaptability. But she decries the lack of mental health services in the bush! Listen to Annabel's story; it is truly inspirational. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Succession planning is one of the biggest challenges facing any farming family. It is hard work, but a poor plan or no plan can divide families and even see the business go to the wall. In 'the good old days, the farm went to the eldest son and daughters were expected to marry a farmer. Nikki Mahony (nee Joyce) and her three siblings grew up on Gyranda cattle station and Santa Gertrudis stud in Central Queensland. Nikki and her husband Peter saw the need for succession planning and believe the years of discussion between parents, partners and siblings have been worthwhile. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeschooling during COVID 19 school lockdowns has tested families across the country. For some, it has been wonderful for others it's been a huge challenge. How did your family cope? The Isolated Children's Parents Association has been lobbying for equitable access to education for all students for 50 years. Federal Councillor Nikki Mahony says COVID19 presented many challenges for families in the bush but has also seen some big wins and not just for children in rural areas but those living in the city as well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in the bush taught Elisha Parker to be independent; where else can you learn to drive at the age of five and get out of school by lunchtime! Elisha is a strong advocate for the farm sector, a lawyer, mum and co-founder of cattlesales.com.au. She is the 2020 Queensland Agrifutures Rural Women's Award and will use the $10,000 bursary to upgrade the cattlesales website using the latest online technology. Postcards caught up with Elisha Parker and Agrifutures Rural Women's Award board member Emma Robinson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donna and her dorpers at Rising Sun Farm near Stanthorpe in SE Queensland. They love apples!! Donna Gabbott and partner Brad run dorpers, rare English pigs, alpacas and chickens. They practise regenerative agriculture with the aim of rebuilding soil health naturally and producing nutritious and delicious lamb, pork and bacon. Like every farmer, they are challenged by the weather but are thrilled by the recovery of native bushland after finally getting rain after the worst drought in decades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

’We need a governess’, came the cry and Lyn Barnes headed west to Quilpie. So began a love affair with South West Queensland. While Lyn says she was not a good governess, she loved the life and said the 70’s were a great time to be working on properties in the region, ‘the social life was fantastic’.Lyn always drew but it was the establishment of the Quilpie Cultural Society that got her painting and teaching art across the region. And guess what, she really does know the Betoota Advocate boys and painted a great picture of the now thriving Betoota pub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A ticket to the Bilby Show in Charleville is hot property, the show is so popular. The tiny, nocturnal endangered marsupial became famous when one of the Australian chocolate makers started making Easter Bilbies. The Save the Bilby Fund is alive and well after three decades band the bilbies were in mating mode when I caught up with Danielle Lancaster at Charleville in SW Queensland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year the Bar-tailed Godwit flies 11,000 km in nine days from Alaska to arrive at Kinka Beach in Central Queensland. The Godwit is just one species that makes the annual return flight from the shores of Australia and New Zealand to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. The remarkable annual circuit is called the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and passes through 23 countries. The Bar-tailed Godwit was the inspiration for multi-media artist Nanette Balchin’s print for the Overwintering Project. The project aims to raise awareness about migratory shorebirds, and the need to protect their habitat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Head to Monto in the North Burnett for a weekend at Bloodwood Cabin farm stay. You won’t regret the four hour drive from Brisbane.The sunken bath, the stars and the silence are guaranteed to revive your spirits. Your host is Carly Baker-Burnham who is fourth generation born and bred in the area. Carly wants to help build a strong community, a place to visit and a place where young people want to stay. The region has a rich history in dairying, timber, cattle and mining. It is the home of a beautiful old theatre, the Rex. Built in the 1930’s, the Rex was the cultural heart of the region. But it’s glory days were long past until Carly and her community decided to revive the Rex, create an arts hub and rebuild pride in the town. Monto now boasts an art trail, street murals, a community art centre and shop, a couple of old-time pubs, real butcher shops, fabulous scenery good coffee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Birdsville in the Australian outback has a new golf course and will host the Outback Queensland Masters Million Dollar Hole in 2022. Nell Brook has dreamed of building a golf course at Birdsville and after 25 years the dream is being fulfilled. A keen golfer Nell has a course design that will make outback travellers pack their kit, hitch up the caravan and head to Australia’s Channel Country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you have two golf nuts and an event manager, The answer is the Outback Queensland Masters Golf Tournament. The three amigos -Theresa Famularo, Darren Weatherall and Luke Bates have pulled off a golfers dream to travel and play golf in the Australian outback. With the support of tourism, golf and regional sponsors.the three amigos have made a roving golfing tour, with good food, good entertainment and plenty of sand greens work. 2022 watch out we are heading to Birdsville vis Roma, Tambo, Winton and Mt IsaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sorry Dave Pennell, I couldn’t put a photo of you winning $10,000 for a hole-in-one at the Outback Queensland Masters at Quilpie when I had the option of a photo of a golfer and his dog… or maybe I could????? Whatever, what about this - Murrumbidgee golfer on his way to millions and The golfer’s friend-Minnie the sausage dog.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golfers in the Outback Queensland Masters sang and danced the night away to the performance by the newly formed trio The Jillaroos. Brought together for the event in Hughenden Marcia Penman, Ashleigh Denning and Heidi Enchelmaier captivated the audience with a performance that had the ‘lady’ golfers dancing in the aisles, and the ‘blokes’ enthralled. It is hard to build a career in the performing arts in Australia and these girls all have multiple jobs, have performed with the seven sopranos, ABBA tribute bands and in opera.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hughenden in See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jill Blenkey was adopted as a baby, she had a wonderful childhood and excelled at waterskiing, speed boat racing and golf. She is the winner of dozens of sporting titles, and Lady President of the Newcastle Golf Club. Despite a stellar career, a more modest champion would be hard to find. But it was a chance DNA test that led to the discovery of four brothers and sisters and her family story. Jill hopes COVID restrictions will ease and allow all her family to gather in NZ and even travel to India where her Anglo-Indian father grew up.Meanwhile Jill is on the road with a new caravan and enjoying the Outback Queensland Masters Golf Tournament.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bush wedding photographer Edwina Robertson is a keen golfer who reckons the Outback Queensland Masters Golf Tournament is one of the best and most economic ways to see and experience outback Queensland. Six weeks, six tournaments, entertainment and food each weekend and a the chance at ‘the million dollar hole-in-one in Longreach. But there is more to life than golf, as a wedding photographer Edwina had to pivot during COVID. Together with her beloved pooch Jordie, Edwina is determined to focus on making the most of her own life story, including becoming a foster carer. .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heard the expression, ‘beyond the black stump’, well Blackall in Queensland’s Central West is the home of the Black Stump, everything west of Blackall is beyond the black stump. Hosting the fourth round of the Outback Queensland Masters Golf tournament is a team effort for the Blackall Golf Club. Club president Grahame Schluter says the volunteers put in a huge effort to get the course in good condition and the caterers have been preparing for 160 golfers and their partners for weeks. As the local baker for the past 45 years Grahame knows all about feeding hungry travellers and is proud to to introduce Blackall to the world.There is loads of history, art and even an artesian fed swimming pool.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.