Regional Voices

As a teenager, Kiwi Alice Mabin narrowly survived a horse-riding accident that left her in a coma for 3 weeks. After this brush with death, Alice knew she had been given a second chance. She took up a job as a jillaroo in the Riverina, where she fell in love with Australia. After many twists of fate Alice walked into a photographic shop and bought her very first camera and once again she found herself on the cusp of a new adventure, this one involving 551 rural properties across Australia and the creation of her photo books, The Grower series. The images and content are designed to resonate with all Australians and share the stories of agriculture with the next generation. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Alice about her latest work, and how she is getting these books into as many schools around Australia as she can. 

When Jacqui Coleman and her partner Mark decided to buy the local hotel in a tiny Victorian town called Goorambat they never expected to be serving over 100 meals on a Sunday just two years later, all thanks to a revival in street art. With this new interest in street art Goorambat the tiny town of approximately 200 people has expanded local businesses and provided vital employment opportunities for its residents. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Jacqui about how Silo art has captured the imagination and hearts of travelers all over Australia. Have you visited any of the now the famous Australian Silo trails? What did you think of the amazing art and the stories behind the paintings you visited? Let us know on our Facebook page and don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast.

How did a lawyer from Victoria combine a love of vibrant prints and the need to share indigenous stories from the remote Northern Territory, into a social enterprise and fashion label? Maggie McGowan, co-founder of Magpie Goose, explains how she didn’t choose fashion as her next career path but rather the idea of helping to facilitate the telling of stories and culture through textiles. This change of direction for her has resulted in the creation of a smart, social business that is producing income generating opportunities for people in remote communities. With Kendi Burness-Cowan, Maggie discusses how simple clothing cuts and eye-catching designs have become wearable artworks that tell a story.

Water is a hot topic in our currently drought affected country. Do we have enough water? How do we balance the needs of both agriculture and the environment? How can we better use the water we have? Professor Richard Kingsford, Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of NSW, is an ecologist who has worked extensively across the wetlands and rivers of Australia. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks with Richard about what we’re getting right and what we can learn from our current situation and overseas. Has your relationship with water changed during this drought? Have you changed the way you use or store water? Tell us about it on social media and don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast.

March 8 is international Women’s Day. In this interview, meet Michelle Verco, a Civil Engineer who has been selected as a finalist for the 2019 South Australian AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. Michelle says being an engineer in a rural community means every project is different and challenging. Job satisfaction comes from seeing the impact of the works that she has been a part of. Michelle is also passionate about encouraging girls to follow in her footsteps. She talks with Kendi Burness-Cowan about why embracing science and math based subjects offers so many opportunities in modern regional Australia. Do you know of other Women making a difference in non-traditional roles in Regional Australia? We’d love to feature some of their stories in social media so let us know. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast.

Melanie Meers is the Principal of Anson Street School in Orange, NSW which caters for children from Kinder to year 12 with a range of diverse learning styles. Melanie and her fabulous staff work closely with students and their families developing personalised learning plans, but this is only the beginning of the wonderful work being done at their school. Melanie tells us that living life without limits is all about what the children can achieve. Kendi Burness Cowan talks to Melanie about how close connections with the wider community are also benefiting the students now and after they move on from Anson Street School. Do you know a great educator in a regional school? Tell us on social media. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast.    

This week we talk to Erin Peterson, Project Leader for Virtual Reef Diver, an important initiative that collects critical data on the health of the Great Barrier Reef through imagery. Erin explains how, with the help of everyday citizens, they are collecting and sharing data aimed at protecting and preserving our Great Barrier Reef. Erin talks to Kendi Burness-Cowan about how this innovative approach is likely to provide more data than ever before on the reef and how you can get involved. Let us know on social media if you are going to become a citizen scientist and don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast.

Australians are really into watching the weather, and none more than Agata Imielska, Senior Climatologist, at the Bureau of Meteorology. Agata turned a love of maths and science into a career that’s all about weather, using complex modelling to analyse trends and give some clues about what to expect from Mother Nature. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Agata about modern weather forecasting, climatology, the outlook for 2019 and the risks we are all facing this summer. Find Regional Voices on social media to tell us your wild and woolly weather stories, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast. 

This week we talk with CFA Volunteer Trevor Schwarz from the Victorian town of Nhill. When Nhill welcomed a refugee community into town, they had to find a way to educate the newcomers about the bushfire risks of their new home. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Trevor about how making a video better connected the community and is keeping everyone safer. Have you done your bushfire prep this year? Tell us about it on social media. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast so that you never miss one of our great stories about the real people of regional Australia.  

This week, drought is our focus, as we talk with Merriwa beef producer Cassandra McLaren. Cassandra made a heartfelt post on Facebook that grew into an online community of more than 30,000 members. It’s called “One Day Closer to Rain”, and it’s a place for those trying to cope with drought to share their stories, support each other and have the occasional laugh too. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Cassandra about how the drought has affected her own farm, the inevitable long road to recovery and the power of connecting people. Have you been supported through the drought by your local community or an online community? Tell us about it on social media. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast for more great stories like this.

Chris Draffin has been involved in responding to emergency situations for decades, and he was one of two Tasmanian recipients of the Emergency Service Medal in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Chris about the hazards of being in an emergency team, why people volunteer, and the biggest mistake Aussies continue to make in extreme conditions. Have volunteers helped you in an emergency situation? Tell us on social media. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast to catch more episodes about the real people of regional Australia.

In 2016, six dairy farmers died at work. It was a particularly bad year, but even in a typical year, dairying is surprisingly dangerous. This week we talk to Bill Youl from Dairy Australia about DA’s initiative, the Farm Safety kit. The kit was developed with farmers as a starting point to try and improve farm safety and lift the statistics that have not changed for the better over time. Kendi Burness-Cowan chats to Bill about some of the major contributors to farming injuries and how implementing simple measures can often ensure everyone’s safety. Have you made some simple changes to make your property safer? Tell us about them on social media and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast.

Australian research has shown that widened roads result in up to a 42% reduction in serious injury crashes. But around Australia lots of roads don’t have great shoulders and some have none at all. It’s a particular challenge in regional areas where funding is limited. Now there’s a new approach, thanks to some classic Aussie inventiveness. A Wauchope based, family run company has developed a system to provide a cost effective way of making roads safer, and they’re about to take their great idea to the world. Ashleigh Pinson tells Kendi Burness-Cowan how her dad came up with the idea for the ShoulderMaster, which enables quick and effective repairs to road shoulders.

Today we talk to Alex Thomas, a safe work campaigner who says safer farms are not about ticking boxes but about changing the culture. Alex has started a number of initiatives on social media, including ‘plant a seed for safety’ and the rather catchy ‘save a life listen to your wife’. She wants everyone in farming, including family members who might not be out working on the property every day, to talk about safety. Alex tells Kendi Burness-Cowan how having conversations can lead to practical solutions. Have you had a safety conversation with those around you? Get in touch on social media to let us know how it went.  

This week we share the powerful story of Rob Cook, a fourth-generation farmer whose life was turned literally upside down in a terrifying helicopter crash. In an instant, the future Rob had planned for him and his young family completely changed. His injury left him with quadriplegia. But after a lengthy recovery, and with the unwavering support from his wife Sarah, Rob is back on the farm. Rob talks to Kendi Burness-Cowan about rethinking the future, his love of farming, and the world first joystick he and a friend created that lets him operate the gate and drafts in his cattle yards from his wheelchair. Join the conversation on social media to share your thoughts on this episode.

This week we chat with Shannon Malseed, current Australian champion women’s road cyclist. It’s been a big year for Shannon, who took the road cycling title in her home town of Ballarat and went on to be part of the team which brought home gold at the Commonwealth Games.  But as she’s discovered, winning is definitely not everything for Shannon. Join us as Kendi Burness-Cowan chats to Shannon about the social and team aspects of cycling, the elation of winning and maintaining the motivation to keep training while aiming high. Are you a recreational cyclist or a tour tragic? Join us on social media and tell us what you love about cycling.

This week we chat with Barry Biffin, President of the Australian Tentpegging Association; Member of the Australian Tentpegging Team and Coach of the Australian Ladies team. Tentpegging is an equestrian sport with military origins. It involves competitors galloping, while carrying a lance aimed at a target, in individual and team events. Join us, as Kendi Burness-Cowan chats to Barry about competing in far-flung overseas countries and the following that the sport has in the Middle East and Pakistan where tentpegging is as celebrated as cricket. And remember to subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast so that you never miss one of our great stories about the real people of regional Australia.  

Today we talk to Michael Albert, the Chief Executive Officer of Garnduwa, an Indigenous sport and recreation organisation covering the vast Kimberley region in West Australia. Michael has seen how sport can be transformative for people of all ages and abilities. He also knows that getting a sporting program up and running is no mean feat when the communities you service are tiny and very remote. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Michael about building healthy people and communities through participation in sport, and how sport is linked to better educational and employment outcomes. Follow us on social media to join the conversation.  

The Invictus Games bring together wounded, injured and ill servicemen and women from around the world. Among them will be Corporal Sonya Newman, from the tiny town of Marrakai outside of Darwin, representing Australia at her second Invictus Games after a four medal haul in Toronto last year. Sonya tells Kendi Burness-Cowan about her lifelong love of sport, her competitive spirit and why neither of those are the most important things about the Invictus Games. You can subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast and never miss one of our great stories about the real people of regional Australia. Catch us on social media to join the conversation.

Dr Wendy Craik AM has been making a huge contribution to society for decades and she’s not about to slow down any time soon. In fact, she recently accepted an appointment to the Board of the Reserve Bank. She’s also a former Chair of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and Director of the National Farmers Federation. Listen as Wendy talks with Kendi Burness-Cowan about leadership development and policies affecting rural and regional Australia. You can subscribe to the Regional Voices podcast and never miss one of our great stories about the real people of regional Australia. Find Regional Voices on social media to join the conversation.

Judy Hocking is one half of a farming couple in their 70’s. Judy and her husband Charlie, whose family have been on their property outside Bendigo for 4 generations, are continuing to advance their holding while also succession planning to ensure its future. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Judy about Cultivate Farms innovative assistance in this process and the advantages of a farming matchmaker service. Having a flexible plan for the future looks to be a way to keep Australians farming. Do you agree? Look for us on social media to join the conversation. You can catch another episode of Regional Voices on your local station next week or subscribe to the podcast and never miss one of our great stories about the real people of regional Australia.       

This week we talk to the indomitable Charlotte Drake-Brockman, artist and occasional troublemaker. If you were lucky enough to catch the Archibald Prize exhibition this year, you may have seen Charlotte’s portrait hanging among the finalists. The artist who painted her described her as “a woman who is strong, unconventional, flamboyant and still formidable”. Does our society value the experience of older Australians? How can we better include and benefit from the wisdom of Australian seniors? Find Regional Voices on social media to join the conversation.  

After retiring from the corporate life, Mark Evans and his wife Judy returned to Australia from Singapore and set off around the country in a caravan looking for their next life. What they found was an incredible and consuming experience at Paronella Park, near Innisfail in Queensland, complete with gardens and waterfalls, a once glittering dance hall and a cinema, set in a Spanish castle. Mark tells Kendi Burness-Cowan about restoring the property to its former glory. 25 years and many awards later there are still grand plans afoot for Paronella Park. What would you do if you could choose any kind of career for your ‘second time around’? Look for us on social media to join the conversation. You can catch another episode of Regional Voices on your local station next week or subscribe to the podcast and never miss one of our great stories about the real people of regional Australia.    

Why are patients living in rural and regional areas 35 per cent more likely to die within five years of a cancer diagnosis than their city counterparts? Dr Kate Fennell from the University of SA Cancer Research Institute discusses some of the complex reasons for this statistic and a series of videos called Rural Cancer Stories which have been created to assist remote cancer patients pre and post treatment. Kate also speaks with Kendi Burness-Burness Cowan about her work on ifarmwell, a website developed to pro-actively support farmers’ wellbeing and mental health. Let’s hope Kate's hands-on approach, international study and regional roots are a combination that will really help remote cancer patients into the future. Do you have a regional cancer story?  Do you think tips from rural people could help others without support? You can join the conversation on social media.

Today Regional Voices looks at what it means to be a GP in a regional area – and who better to ask than 2017’s Rural Doctor of the Year, Dr Colin Farquharson? Colin has been serving the community of Kempsey for 30 years, so he knows a bit about what’s involved. He’s delivered plenty of the region’s babies, covered countless shifts at the local hospital and to this day he works with a number of other services in the region. Listen in as Kendi Burness-Cowan and Colin talk about passion for the job, the resilience required to be a rural GP and attracting graduates to rural practice. Do you have a great regional GP?  We’d love to hear more about what you value in a doctor. You can join the conversation on social media – look for us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.  

Did you know 1 in 5 people in outer regional or remote areas smoke daily and the number goes up in the most disadvantaged rural areas? Dr Adam Coltzau, President of the Rural Doctors Association, talks with Kendi Burness-Cowan about some of the reasons for these figures and to how to address the problem.   They also talk about access to healthcare and how the association is working with doctors and government to try to get more GPs to go to and stay in regional and remote areas. Are you smoker who’s tried to quit? Tell us about accessing support in regional areas. You can join the conversation by finding us on social media. If you enjoyed this episode don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast.  

How much can technology improve access to healthcare in rural and remote Australia?  Richard Sykes, CEO of Panaceum Health, in regional WA says technology has led to big strides in regional healthcare, but it will never be the whole answer. Kendi Burness-Cowan and Richard discuss the use and limitations of technology including telehealth for regional Australian GPs as well as other measures GPs can take to make sure their practices are as healthy as their patients. Does your rural GP use technology like SMS appointment reminders? What technology would you or do you use to make dealing with your doctor easy? You can also join the conversation on social media, by finding us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.  

Is upskilling the answer to the delivery of improved regional health services? This week we speak to Fiona Currie about how the Rural and Isolated Practice Endorsed Registered Nurse qualification is improving the delivery of services to patients at Cobram Health. Kendi Burness-Cowan talks to Fiona about returning to study, working in a regional hospital and what patients think about being treated by a nurse instead of a doctor. What do you think about giving nurses extra training to help meet healthcare needs in our regions? Is it a good use of the advanced skills so many nurses have? Find Regional Voices on social media to join the conversation.

As most parents are aware, the joys of parenthood come hand in hand with sleep deprivation and a lot of hard work. This week we talk to Debbie Russo, a mother to 3 boys and a fly-in-fly-out wife. Debbie shares how she and her husband juggle their parenting roles and how her own battle with depression inspired her to start a support network for other FIFO partners.Kendi Burness-Cowan speaks with Debbie about her unique lifestyle, the support network that helped her and how honoured she is that she can now assist others in similar situations.

Having survived his own battle with depression after losing the farm, Brian Egan took the advice to “help someone worse off than himself” to heart in a big way. His charity Aussie Helpers provides both practical assistance to farmers battling drought and mental health guidance where it is desperately needed.Kendi Burness-Cowan speaks with Brian about the Virtual Psychologist, a mental health program aimed at giving accessible mental health support to farmers in regional Australia. Mental health training and support is also provided to all Aussie Helper volunteers who visit the farmers. Where relevant, the local community-based services are linked in to provide ongoing care.  

In 2015, things were not great in the Clarence Valley. Suicide rates were three times the national average. The youth suicide rate was especially high. It was a time of grief and despair for the community – but instead of burying themselves in that grief, the people of the region came together to look for solutions. This week Kendi Burness-Cowan speaks with Sue Hughes, Project Co-ordinator for Our Healthy Clarence, a community led program to better address mental health issues in region. And it’s working. Sue talks about how listening to the community and focusing on wellbeing, hope and resilience have helped turn things around.  

This week Kendi Burness-Cowan speaks with Dr Rachel Winterton, from the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research. Rachel has long been interested in what it means to grow older, and particularly what it means to grow older in regional and rural Australia. Rachel has studied the role of place, the importance of community and the need for belonging in facilitating healthy ageing and the good news is that she thinks there are plenty of positive aspects to ageing. Listen as Rachel shares her thoughts on what individuals, communities and governments can do to help us all enjoy a happier, healthier older age.  

This week Kendi Burness-Cowan speaks with Greg Bradfield, managing director of Musselroe Beef, a progressive, privately owned cattle breeding, backgrounding and cropping business, situated in the North East of Tasmania. The business grazes over 5,000 head of cattle in the peak spring season. Musselroe Beef has $17 million worth of assets under the management of its strategic board, which has an innovative culture and commitment to relationships and governance. Greg discusses technology and growth including developments in AI research and software directly connecting farmers with their accountants and bankers.

As the demand for great produce continues to grow around the world, branding has become more important than ever. This week Kendi Burness-Cowan speaks with Bevan Eatts, Executive Chairman of the Southern Forests Food Council. Bevan discusses the investment in and the passion of the 280 producers behind Genuinely Southern Forests.  Raising the profile of the region’s diverse producers has strengthened the region’s economy by opening domestic and export opportunities. Already the Genuinely Southern Forests brand has proven a hit in metro Perth, but Bevan has his eye on even bigger goals.

This week we’re chatting with Greg McNamara from Norco Dairy Cooperative about what it takes to be a member focused group without losing sight of the bottom line. Greg has been a director of Norco for 20 years and he runs a 300 head dairy just outside Lismore. He talks with Kendi Burness-Cowan about the co-operative’s role on behalf of its collective of farmers and some of the challenges facing the industry.  

When Fiona Hall married and moved to Buckrabanyule in Victoria, she found some friends and set up a casual theatre group. They came up with the idea of doing plays for community groups in the region, helping the community group fundraise and ensuring an audience for their plays. Two seasons and twelve performances later, the group has helped schools, clubs and other community groups bring people together and raise money for local initiatives and causes.

Today on the program we talk to Kimberley Baird from Djarindjin Airport on the Dampier Peninsula, which is 170km north of Broome in WA. The airport has become one of a kind in Australia as it is fully staffed and managed by local indigenous workers. For the tiny community, the airport offers jobs and, maybe even more importantly, the chance to address drug and alcohol challenges. Kimberley has brought in a range of support services to help his team deal with drugs and alcohol, and he’s coupled it with a very strict zero tolerance policy.  

We all know that one of the biggest challenges in regional Australia is attracting good staff to small towns. But what if you didn’t have to? What if you could take on great staff wherever they are?  Verity Morgan-Schmidt, CEO of Farmers for Climate Action works remotely from her home in Cooroy, QLD, and manages a team who all work remotely in regional areas all over Australia. She says it’s not for everyone, but in the right circumstances it can be ideal.

Will Barton, CEO of Gundagai Meat Processors (GMP) joins us this week to chat about community and creating jobs. One of GMP’s biggest milestones during Will’s tenure has been the announcement of a A$30 million expansion. He chats to Kendi about how this is set to double the size of the business in the next 12 to 18 months and increase its staff from 180 to 255.

This week we speak with Esme Cairns about her and her team’s work creating employment opportunities for those most in need in south west Queensland. With a very personalised approach, Gateway to Training’s three major programs – Get Set for Work, Steady Ready Go! And Transition to Work - are making a powerful difference to both employers and employees in the region. Employers are gaining better skilled workers and people who need help finding new directions are given the opportunity to focus their efforts toward a more fruitful employment path.

This week we speak with Ray Johnson about why there are so many great career opportunities in agribusiness – and how there are not enough skilled people to fill them. Kendi has an interesting chat with Ray about current and future trends in rural employment, and what it will take for people to realise how far agribusiness could take them.

This week we speak with Tasmanian tulip grower Dave Roberts-Thomson. Dave's family provide the star attraction - a paddock full of beautiful array of tulips - at the annual Bloomin’ Tulips festival in Wynyard, Tasmania. The town organises additional festivities from markets to cocktail parties and even a Mayoral Ball, ensuring a flow of tourism every year and longevity to the town’s small businesses.

This week we speak with Andrew Bate, who together with his wife Jocie, have been creating innovative robotic technology for the agricultural industry. In the race for increased production and efficiency, farm machinery continues to get bigger to answer the demand for greater capacity. But what if we stopped making farm machinery bigger and just made it smarter? Andrew chats with Kendi Burness-Cowan about the philosophy behind the Bate’s venture, and how he sees it furthering the future of agriculture in regional Australia.

Darriea Turley discusses the opportunities that renewable energy bring to Broken Hill, NSW, and how those opportunities led to the development of a 53 megawatt solar farm and the new 200 megawatt Silverton wind farm.

Katie van den Brand has had an intriguing journey to become a leader in regional innovation and entrepreneurship in the south west region of Western Australia. Katie was leading Maker & Co, a co-working and entrepreneurial space in Bunbury, when, after a chance meeting, she realised there were several similar hubs springing up all over the state.

As well as being a colour consultant by day, Catherine Baker is also hunter, working with pastoralists and with NT Parks & Wildlife initiatives to help control feral animals across the Territory. Catherine challenges the stereotype of the typical hunter in more ways than one, and is now becoming the “face” of a growing community of female hunters in the NT. Feral animals are a huge problem for biodiversity in the Northern Territory, and Catherine talks to us about her work and her message for ethical and humane hunting.  

This week we speak to Christine Britton. Chris is a Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse and care coordinator in the Riverina region of NSW. At first glance, prostate cancer might seem like a “men’s issue” but Chris knows all too well that cancer touches whole families and whole communities.

This week we speak with Cynthia Lui, who has made history as Australia’s first Torres Strait Islander elected to parliament. Representing the far north Queensland electorate of Cook, Cynthia spent most of her life in the remote northern Torres Strait. In her career as a social worker, she has seen and dealt with some major issues facing indigenous communities, especially in areas of health, education and employment. Cynthia talked to Kendi Burness-Cowan about her role as a female representative, and her hopes for her community and people.

This week, we’re speaking to Katrina Sasse, who has been travelling Australia and the world to interview farming families as part of her Nuffield Scholarship. Katrina’s research is filling a gap in understanding about what brings farming daughters back into the business, and what we need to do differently to lift the number of daughters taking on the family farm. While plenty of farmers say they’re happy to find a place for their daughters, women still represent about 10% of farm leaders – so what needs to change?

At 50, Mary Jane was suddenly single with two kids still at home and a government job about to disappear after a restructure. While she thought about how to make ends meet, she started experimenting with making sustainable packaging wraps using natural bees wax. Today she’s working full time in her own business, Waxiwraps.

Christine Roberts-Yates leads the Disability Unit at Murray Bridge High School in South Australia. In 2017, Christine was recognised for her outstanding contribution to education and won a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award. Since beginning her role, which educates students with moderate to severe intellectual and multiple disabilities, Christine has introduced a technology rich learning environment, including socially assistive robots. She has established work experience placements, school-based apprenticeships, and animal-assisted therapy, resulting in students maximising their learning potential and transforming the unit into one of Australia’s pre-eminent disability educational settings.