Podcasts about Charters Towers

Shannon Speight, a vet-turned-entrepreneur who has made waves in the beef industry. From growing up in a family that moved around for mining work to working as a jillaroo in the NT, Shannon's journey into agriculture wasn't a straight path—but it's been a remarkable one.Shannon shares how her experiences as a vet in Charters Towers and Longreach shaped her understanding of the beef supply chain and ultimately led her to co-found Black Box, a game-changing data analytics company for livestock producers. We also talk about her journey into farm ownership, what it's really like balancing a thriving career with raising three young boys, and how burnout in 2023 forced her to reassess her approach to work and life.We discuss:The lessons learned from starting Black Box and what it's changing for cattle producersThe realities of living remotely, from childcare challenges to health accessThe mental load of juggling motherhood and business in agThe biggest opportunities and roadblocks in the beef industry todayWhat more women in ag need to hear about building a career while raising a familyThis conversation is full of insights, honesty, and lessons learned from the land—a must-listen for anyone in agriculture, business, or rural life.Follow Shannon on Instagram and follow her Instagram picks or social suggestions:Instagram: @shannon.speightWebsite: Black Box CoLinkedIn: Shannon SpeightFarmHER Hands UPF50+ sun protection gloves our mission to safeguard the hands of rural and remote women as they work, live, and play. Our UPF50+ sun protection gloves empower them with confidence and comfort, enhancing their well-being and resilience in agriculture. We are dedicated to nurturing and celebrating these extraordinary women who shape our agricultural landscape. www.farmherhands.com.au

Angela Jones has ridden another two winners since our podcast was recorded on Friday Feb 7th. She won the last at Doomben on Master Showman for Stuart Kendrick and scored on Wanganeen for Tony Gollan at Caloundra on Sunday. That makes it 65 in the state and 38 in town for the current season. Angela's backstory makes for an interesting podcast. She grew up on a sprawling cattle farm 300 kms south west of Mackay where she and four sisters were schooled at home. She could ride a horse at age 3, but had no idea a racing industry existed, until she went to boarding school. Angela begins by confirming that she and partner Kyle Wilson-Taylor talk of little else but racing. She acknowledges how lucky she is to have no weight issues. Angela explains that she rode with no allowance towards the end of her apprenticeship. She was pleasantly surprised when race rides kept coming her way. The twenty three year old takes us back to childhood days on the farm. She says a 20,000 acre spread isn't all that uncommon in rural Queensland. She remembers early times on horseback including long days with her dad out on the muster. Angela talks more of father Jason, mum Julie and her four sisters. The young jockey explains that Julie and all four sisters live in Toowoomba nowadays. She takes us back to boarding school days in Charters Towers. She chose that particular school only because it provided accommodation for one of her horses. Angela remembers a day at  Charters Towers races where Racing Queensland had installed an information booth. That booth was manned by former champion jockey Shane Scriven. Angela bombarded him with questions about the racing game. She looks back on a happy apprenticeship to Lindsay Hatch and an exciting first day as a professional jockey. She takes us through her Dalby treble. Angela says Lindsay Hatch restricted her to non TAB meetings early days. The trainer didn't put a race ride her way for quite some time. She looks back on her transition to the provincial circuit and finally a transfer to top Brisbane trainer Tony Gollan. Angela hasn't forgotten her first meeting with future partner Kyle Wilson-Taylor. The young jockey explains that Tony Gollan arranged extra tuition from retired jockey Robbie Fradd whose stellar international career is well documented. Angela takes us through the horses who've impacted her career thus far with special mention of the talented Zarastro. She says wins in the Ipswich and Caloundra Cups have been career highlights. Angela outlines the ambitions she harbours going forward. This is an insight into the life of a very grounded country girl who followed a dream and hasn't wasted an opportunity. 

Virgil and Mark welcome Steve Snell, co-owner with his wife Debbie, of Tors Drive-In Cinema in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia, to talk about his love of film, being a pre-teen projectionist, teenage Drive-In owner, theater maintenance and expansion, FOUL PLAY, digital difficulties, small-scale railroad tycoonery, and more! Recorded 4/10/24 Visit Tors Drive-In online here: https://www.torsdrive-in.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ChartersTowersTorsDriveIn https://www.instagram.com/charterstowerstorsdrivein/ Check out our map of all of the Drive-Ins that have been featured on the podcast at: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1yJn88ZGUVg73Ui-lPCKOK3OzBulcOIg&hl=en&ll=40.32804053761244%2C-100.05065412604952&z=4 For exclusive additional podcasts, videos, sneak peeks, and on-site discounts, visit the Mahoning Drive-In Patreon page at: https://www.patreon.com/mahoningdrivein https://www.mahoningdit.com https://www.facebook.com/mahoningdriveintheater https://www.instagram.com/mahoningdriveintheater https://twitter.com/mahoningdit For Mahoning Drive-In merch online: https://merchbin.net/collections/mahoning-drive-in-theater https://www.crackerjackposters.com/s/shop

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, we have the pleasure of speaking with the Honourable Justice Lincoln Crowley. His Honour grew up in Charters Towers and is a proud descendant of the Warramunga peoples. Since joining the legal profession in 1996, Justice Crowley has had a varied and impressive career. He has worked at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service in Townsville, for the Queensland and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, within the New South Wales' Crown Solicitors' Office, at the private bar and as the senior counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. In 2018, Justice Crowley became the first Indigenous person to be appointed as Queen's Counsel in Queensland, and on 13 June 2022, became Australia's first Indigenous judge of a superior court when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland. On this episode of The Callover, we discuss his life in the law and why representation and diversity are important within the legal profession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a Text Message.What drives someone to leave their childhood dream of working with computers behind to pursue a high-stakes career in law enforcement? Join us on "Behind the Thin Blue Line" as we sit down with Garth Kirkwood, a former Queensland police officer and undercover agent who now serves as a firefighter. Garth shares his compelling journey, from overcoming childhood bullying to his motivations for joining the police force, and the unexpected twists that led him there. His unique perspective sheds light on the often unseen camaraderie and rivalry between police officers and firefighters, revealing a shared commitment to community service that transcends professional boundaries.Garth takes us through the rigorous process of police training and his early career's defining moments. From cleaning up after devastating floods in Charters Towers to dealing with personal hardships like gastroenteritis, Garth's resilience and adaptability stand out. He recounts his first postings in Maryborough and Harvey Bay and his unexpected foray into undercover work. These experiences not only honed his skills but also shaped his passion for law enforcement, preparing him for the challenges and complexities of life as an undercover agent.In one of the most gripping parts of the episode, Garth opens up about his undercover assignments, including a memorable operation involving stolen bikes. He discusses the psychological and emotional toll of undercover work, the importance of keeping a light-hearted demeanor, and the profound impact on personal relationships. Transitioning back to uniformed duty presented its own set of challenges, from managing personal relationships to dealing with the stress of re-integration. Garth's candid reflections provide a raw and authentic look at the human side of law enforcement, highlighting the dedication and sacrifices made by those who serve to protect our communities.Support the Show.Please be sure to Subscribe to and Follow the Podcast so you never miss an Episode and if you like what you are hearing then please "Like" the episode and podcast on your favourite podcast app.If you would like to be involved in a "Whisper In The Shadows" Podcast through talking about your experiences as an current or former Police/Law Enforcement Officer or tell your stories then I'd love to hear from you.I can be contacted on my socials below -Email - whisperintheshadowspodcast@gmail.comInstagram - @whisperintheshadowspodcastFacebook - Whisper in the Shadows Podcast Page

Angela Jones grew up on a property between Charters Towers and Clermont and now rides winners on the biggest race tracks in Australia. Winner of the 2022/2023 Metropolitan Apprentice Jockey Premiership, Angela out rode her claim on the last day of the season. Stepping up to being a senior jockey, Angela has new goals and a lot of things to tick off her bucket list. More Than Mail is proudly brought to you by Brodie Agencies, McKinlay. Contact Jim Brodie on 0427468713 or Lachy Smith on 0401168915.  You can follow More Than Mail adventures on Instagram, on Facebook, or at morethanmail.com.au  Or, you can send me an email hello@morethanmail.com.au

Our first stop is historic Charters Towers, before making our way through the Dinosaur Country of Hughenden and Richmond. We visit the fascinating Kronosaurus Korner and camp off grid in the town's low cost RV park. Then we continue further west to the ghost town of Mary Kathleen, located between Cloncurry and Mt Isa, and cook up the best campfire dessert we have ever tried! Only 2 ingredients (and one of them is healthy!), this is one every member of the tribe will love! Get your hands on our new The Red Centre eBook and start planning your road trip to Uluru and Central Australia - https://thefeelgoodfamily.com/product/the-red-centre-ebook-the-ultimate-road-trip-to-uluru/ This episode is proudly brought to you by our friends at Nakie – the world's first 100% recycled hammock! Relax wherever you go with the awesome range of Nakie products. Take advantage of our 15% Discount - https://www.nakie.co/?ref=feelgood (ENTER FEELGOOD DISCOUNT CODE). Listen to our Feel Good Road Trip Spotify playlist here -https://open.spotify.com/playlist/47S2LkmpBxztMEH8sw6Frt?fbclid=IwAR0Xk2BwpoAhbk5Xvl1cwadO2FzPVl2PHboIWNDPmtzW_F-1-4fKfw4AalU Be sure to Subscribe and join us for all of the road trip adventures! Check out the footage from our latest episodes on our Family Travel Australia YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@TheFeelGoodFamily Subscribe to Jasperoo - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCceGx3esRSQBYZfWvf4KVtw  Our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/thefeelgoodfamily has a new destination video every Sunday night at 6.30pm (AEST). We would love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.thefeelgoodfamily.com  Our Family Travel Australia Podcast is now LIVE and available on all podcast platforms, with a new episode aired every Friday night 8:30pm [AEST].

Paul Murray Live is back on the road this year with the popular Our Town series heading to Charters Towers for a special one-hour program. In partnership with Harvey Norman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian author Kerry McGinnis makes the Australian landscape come alive in suspenseful, best selling rural mysteries that capture the soul and spirit of the Outback. Hi I'm your host Jenny Wheeler and today on The Joys of Binge Reading Kerry McGinnis talks about her childhood in the bush with her father and four siblings – years that helped form her deep understanding of nature, and how she got established as a best selling author while working an outback cattle station with her siblings. This Week's Giveaway Our Giveaway this week is historic fiction freebies for August including Sadie's Vow Book #1 in my Home At Last Series. HISTORICAL FICTION FREEBIES Sadie's Vow, Book #1 in Home At Last INCLUDED A bunch of top authors have got together and offered a great range of historic fiction - Take your pick. ​https://books.bookfunnel.com/historicalfictionfreebiesaugust2023/dm9y0sujx9 download free historic fiction Audio Book Sale Offer AUDIO BOOK SALE Offers are Audio books Galore sale ENJOY BOOKS EVERYWHERE PROMO Poisoned Legacy, Book #1 in Of Gold & Blood INCLUDED ​https://books.bookfunnel.com/audioeverywhereaug2023/kgr0xzcoio​ ENJOY BOOKS EVERYWHERE AUDIO SALE And we also have an Audio Book Sale – Enjoy Books Everywhere – with a range of entertaining fiction – including Poisoned Legacy – Book #1 in Of Gold & Blood series – available at special sale prices for a limited time. Links to follow up on these offers in the show notes for this episode on the website at The Joys of Binge Reading .com. A mention too, that my latest mystery romance Rosie's Rebellion - #3 in the Home At Last series – is on preorder at a special launch price of .99 cents for two weeks. Order online at your favorite E book store.. And remember – if you enjoy the show. Leave us a review so others will find us too. Word of mouth is the best way for others to discover the show and great books they will love to read. Links to things in this episode The Bombing of Darwin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Darwin Katherine:  https://northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds Adelaide River: https://northernterritory.com/darwin-and-surrounds/destinations/adelaide-river-town The Waddi Tree, Kerry McGiness:  https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/the-waddi-tree-9781742280141 Kerry's Two Memoir books: Pieces of Blue: https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Blue-Kerry-McGinnis/dp/0655632727 and Heart Country: https://www.amazon.com.au/Heart-Country-Kerry-McGinnis/dp/0670899216 Siege of Tobruk:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tobruk The Renmark Flood: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/disaster/flood/display/51616-the-1956-flood#: Meanjin Quarterly: https://meanjin.com.au/ Charters Towers:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charters_Towers Kerry's Fantasies: Far Seeker: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=far+seeker&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&crid=3EFWXC6Q2YS1V The Burning Mountain; https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Mountain-Far-Seeker-Trilogy/dp/064680667X The Crow Road: https://www.amazon.com/Crow-Road-Kerry-McGinnis/dp/0646833707/ Kerry's Favourite Authors Kate Morton: https://www.katemorton.com/ Robert Galbraith: https://robert-galbraith.com/ Jodie Picoult: https://www.jodipicoult.com/ Reginald Hill: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Hill Robin Hobb: http://www.robinhobb.com/ Linwood Barclay: Lindwoodbarclay.com Rebecca Yarros:  https://www.rebeccayarros.com/ Mary Stewart:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Stewart_(novelist) Where to find Kerry McGiness https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/kerry-mcginnis Introducing author Kerry McGiness Australian mystery author Kerry McGiness and Outback stories Jenny Wheeler: But now here's Kerry. Hello there, Kerry, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us. Kerry McGinnis: Thank you, Jenny. Thank you for asking me. It's great to be here.

This week we speak with 22 year singer-songwriter Billie Rose, hailing from Charters Towers in North Queensland. Adding a new slant to Outlaw Country, Billie is an award winning artists destined for greatness. The episode features her new single “can't Bring Back the Dead” and a the killer track “Label me a Killer” What follows is an engaging chat with a very talented artist setting exciting new standards for Australia country music. Breaking the mold. WATCH THE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE AND AS ALWAYS WATCH TILL THE END.  ———————————————————————————————- Links from the Show Billie Rose - Can't Bring Back the Dead - https://youtu.be/mmxTzCh25xc  Billie Rose - Label me a Killer - https://youtu.be/QUYFsRolm4M  Website - https://billierosemusic.com/home  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Qs5MA2NXUcCB4YdgfdYsf  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/billierosemusic  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxaGbS2Ody6UNnPluGmaM7Q/featured  Final Song  Allison Asarch - Cotton Dress https://youtu.be/NwtunewRJYo  —————————————————————————- If you enjoyed this episode, please like and subscribe. And please leave a review, it helps us get found.  We appreciate you. YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/UnfilteredUndiscovered/featured Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/unfilteredundiscovered TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@unfilteredundiscovered Check Out our Website: https://unfilteredandundiscovered.com/ Enjoy our Spotify Playlists Unfiltered & Undiscovered –https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5R84KLNeq7MhDewUtFJuqe Unfiltered Protest Songs https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2GTQ9aEQvxnVzRojKgtPdU?si=1fa4aadcd2244e15 Undiscovered Covers Uncovered https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hnG997ahqqtI10PIlmohY?si=5faa9e38f38649bd #NewMusic #MusicDiscovery #MusicRecommendations.#NewMusicFriday  #IndieMusic #UndergroundMusic #NewArtist #MusicPodcast #MusicLovers #DiscoverNewMusic

In this episode, Neil chats to owner of In Spades Marketing, Catherine McCabe from Charters Towers in Queensland. Local Government Area: Charters Towers Website: www.inspadesmarketing.com.au This episode is proudly supported by our season sponsor - Nufarm. Australian Through and Through. Visit their web site at www.nufarm.com.au

In this episode, Rob and Neil chat with musician, actress and TV presenter, Alyce Platt and as part of our Regional Roundup segment, they visit Charters Towers in Queensland and chat to Catherine McCabe.

It takes a particular sort of person to be a support worker. In this episode of Be Stories, we chat with Emma and Katie about their roles as disability support workers. Katie and Emma both care for Daelle, a creative 22-year-old woman living with Pachygyria Cerebral Palsy. We find out how Daelle helps to enrich Katie and Emma's lives, and how exercise physiology has helped Daelle improve her overall health and abilities (a shameless plug for us EPs, we're not even sorry).  We also find out about what it's like in Charters Towers, a small town in rural Queensland where they are both from. The town has ghost tours, a great pub, and a fireman pole in the local bowling alley - what more could you need? In this heartwarming conversation, Katie and Emma tell us how growing up around people with disabilities inspired them to become support workers and we get their top tips for future support workers, we learn what NOT to say to someone with a disability, and the best (and worst!) parts of being a support worker – happy listening!   Be Stories By Be Physiology | Season 2 of UNAWARE Tune in to hear our amazing guests talk about their experiences of disability. Ever wondered how it feels to live with a spinal cord injury? Or what it's like to use a wheelchair every day? Curious about how a brain injury can affect someone's day-to-day life? We discuss all this (and more!) in our second season of the podcast, titled ‘Be Stories'. Gain valuable insights into the world of NDIS support work, and learn what you definitely shouldn't say to a person living with disabilities! We chat about the perks of living with disabilities (convenient parking is one of many) and discover more about the challenges our guests have faced and overcome. We feel so privileged to be given the chance to discuss life and disability with these incredible people. Get ready for a stream of honest and eye-opening conversations – with a lot of laughs along the way!  P.S. This podcast contains a number of shameless plugs for exercise physiology, the most fantastic industry in the world. And no, of course, we're not biased… Subscribe now

Charters Towers has broken a 24-year rainfall record, recording 122.8 millimetres in 24 hours and the previous record of 67 mm was set in 1998 and drought declarations dropped for more than half of Queensland following long wet season with the Balonne, Murweh, Western Downs, Maranoa, Quilpie, North Burnett, and part of the Flinders shire having had their drought status revoked.

Chad from Charters Towers, QLD

Robyn Russell grew up on Charlotte Plains, near Cunnamulla, in south-west Queensland. The property has been in her family now for 100 years. A century of ownership, with Robyn at the helm (not the entire time, of course - she's too young for that!). It's not the first time she has been the sole operator keeping Charlotte Plains running. Indeed, she and her husband Reid spent four years running their family operations – Robyn's at Charlotte Plains and Reid's at Plain Creek, south of Charters Towers – separately and together. There's a bit of distance between the two places, but they were determined to make it work, and they did. Charlotte Plains is the backdrop for a lot of this conversation. It was where Robyn first met Reid, where their romance blossomed and waned and blossomed again over a 7-year courtship, and it's been the predominant place she's called home for her +70 years. In this conversation, we talk about Robyn's two great loves: Reid and Charlotte Plains. Reid died in 2011. It meant a great deal of change for Robyn. Charlotte Plains has called for Robyn to similarly adjust over seasons of drought. We also talk about Robyn's time travelling overseas in her twenties – it's not the story of a global jaunt we are used to today. We talk about life away from the land, struggling with succession, and how Robyn bought her first home by door knocking in the neighbourhood.

Todays guest is a captivating story teller, her journey has been anything but straight forward. I first met Jane at Beef Australia, she was part of the advancing beef leaders program and shared a piece she had written in front of the audience, speaking about the importance of representation she used 'The Hat' as a symbol that represents our industry, good bad or indifferent the people wearing that hat are symbolic of who we are as people. You can find it on our Instagram or facebook. From a young age, Jane Weir had seen through her parents what it was like to be a trailblazer. Daring to have a greater impact they left their relatively accomplished farming operation near Roma in Central Qld and headed north where they took on the next challenge at Amelia Downs, not too far from Charters Towers. In Part One you will hear about Jane's early life, from a kid working the land alongside he parents to trying to get as far away from agriculture as she could, ultimately pursuing a dream of riding horses internationally. Taking a few short cuts, Jane returned home in 2013, where she was training a young horse when the horse fell onto her, beginning the journey that would be three operations, a bone marrow transplant and years of recovery. Thank you to this episodes sponsor who really help me make it possible to bring these conversations to life. LAWD are the specialists in agribusiness valuations and transactions. You can find out more at www.lawd.com.au --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/humans-of-agriculture/message

Emma’s massive 55,000-hectare farm is based in the remote area of Charters Towers but she is a big believer that farmers who share insights, knowledge and work together can thrive, even in such isolated environments. Upon being awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study abroad, Emma went in search of answering fundamental questions in search of the best model for beef farming and agriculture. After looking at lots of different models, Emma returned to the co-operative model as the ideal structure. Follow Us On:Facebook – coopfarmingInstagram – coopfarming Episode Notes:North Queensland-based Emma Robinson is passionate about family farming, beef and business models and believes the co-operative business model can help future proof the family farm. So much so, she founded the Beef Collaboration Project and has stories to tell about building producer membership and providing scalable opportunities in the bush. Listen to her fascinating journey spreading the word about collaboration in farming and how much it can benefit agriculture and the economy. In spite of her being in such a remote area, she travelled the world as part of a Churchill Fellowship, exploring and connecting with other farming enterprises – and she kept coming back to the co-operative model as the structure that seemed to stand out. In this podcast episode she talks about why that was. In this fascinating podcast series, you can hear from real farmers who are successfully using co-operative farming business models. Through their stories and experiences (warts and all), you will learn how this positive farming model can change lives. Links & Resources: Listen to all podcasts – https://coopfarming.coop/podcasts/ Watch Peter Lewis interview Emma Robinson talk about her unique journey into farming https://coopfarming.coop/coop-conversations/episode-8-part-1-interview/ Watch Pete Lewis discuss how co-ops attract, keep and engage members in a co-op. Featuring Emma Robinson (Beef Collaboration Project), Kate Davies (Tooraweenah Prime Lamb Marketing Co-operative), John Seccombe (Casino Food Co-op), and Melina Morrison (BCCM). Want to find out more about the Beef Collaboration Project https://beefcollaborationprojectinc.com.au/ Find out more about co-op farming – https://coopfarming.coop/ Contact the Meet the Co-op Farmers Podcast team: https://coopfarming.coop/contact/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready for a heartwarming catch-up with none other than the legendary Rob Elliott, the voice that has graced Australian TV and radio for decades. We traverse through his illustrious career, meandering from his humble beginnings in Charters Towers to becoming a household name in the industry. Rob also opens up about his life on the Sunshine Coast, his nomadic journey through various radio stations across the country, and heartfelt memories of the late Sammy Power. And while the Melbourne lockdowns have cast a shadow, Rob sheds light on its impact upon his friends and family, while also sharing his thoughts on his friend Dan's nomination for the Leader of the Year Award.Brace yourselves for some laughter as Rob serves up a generous dose of his funniest on-air moments! Remember that time he spun Prince's 'Sexy MF' on the airwaves? We certainly do! From the DJ booth to the game room, Rob gives us a glimpse into the genesis of his successful board game, Smart Ass, and how the pandemic is playing a game of uncertainty with the industry. Lastly, as we prepare to roll up our sleeves for the vaccine, Rob doesn't shy away from sharing his candid thoughts on the matter. So, buckle up for a rollercoaster ride through Rob's life and career, filled with laughter, nostalgia, and captivating tales that are sure to entertain!Support the show

Thoroughbred prices bolting as Easter Yearling Sale surpasses $132 million and the top price at the sale was a colt by Snitzel which sold for $2.5 million by the famous Arrowfield Stud near Scone in New South Wales and southern buyers from Toowoomba and Dalby have hit the Charters Towers weekly cattle sale and the interest is boosting prices and there are strong gains for prime females with a rise of 20 cents per kilograms for some lots and a small pen of crossbred weaner steers which made to $6 per kilogram.

Shane Knuth grew up in North Queensland, moving from the cane town of Tully to Collinsville, a union stronghold. At 17 he became a fettler on the railway and at 38 the Nationals MP for Charters Towers. In eight terms in the Queensland Parliament he's represented three electorates and three parties, creating a place for himself as a humble, authentic and well regarded local representative. Rachel Nolan asks what he knows about North Queensland politics that the major parties find so hard to understand. Follow: @McKellInstitue @RachelGNolan https://mckellinstitute.org.au/

Crossing the world in 1932, two German airmen ran out of fuel in a remote region of northwestern Australia. With no food and little water, they struggled to find their way to safety while rescuers fought to locate them. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the airmen's ordeal, a dramatic story of perseverance and chance. We'll also survey some escalators and puzzle over a consequential crash. Intro: Winston Churchill had a confusing namesake in the United States. Shelley's friend Horace Smith wrote a competing version of "Ozymandias." Sources for our feature on the 1932 Kimberley rescue: Barbara Winter, Atlantis Is Missing: A Gripping True Story of Survival in the Australian Wilderness, 1979. Brian H. Hernan, Forgotten Flyer, 2007. Anthony Redmond, "Tracks and Shadows: Some Social Effects of the 1938 Frobenius Expedition to the North-West Kimberley," in Nicolas Peterson and Anna Kenny, eds., German Ethnography in Australia, 2017, 413-434. Frank Koehler, "Descriptions of New Species of the Diverse and Endemic Land Snail Amplirhagada Iredale, 1933 From Rainforest Patches Across the Kimberley, Western Australia (Pulmonata, Camaenidae)," Records of the Australian Museum 63:2 (2011), 163-202. Bridget Judd, "The Unexpected Rescue Mission That Inspired ABC Mini-Series Flight Into Hell -- And Other Survivalists," Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Jan. 16, 2021. Peter de Kruijff, "Survivalist Retraces Lost Aviators' Trek," Kimberley Echo, Jan. 29, 2018. Michael Atkinson, "Surviving the Kimberley," Australian Geographic, June 28, 2018. Erin Parke, "No Food, No Water, No Wi-Fi: Adventurer Tests Skills in One of Australia's Most Remote Places," ABC Premium News, Jan. 29, 2018. "Forgotten Territory," [Darwin, N.T.] Northern Territory News, Feb. 28, 2016. Graeme Westlake, "They Accepted Their Saviour's Fish and Ate It Raw," Canberra Times, May 15, 1982. "German Fliers Got Lost in Our Nor-West," [Perth] Mirror, June 2, 1956. "37 Days in a Torture Chamber," [Adelaide] News, April 21, 1954. "Air Passenger," [Grafton, N.S.W.] Examiner, July 18, 1938. "Hans Bertram," Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 1938. "Aviation: Pilot Bertram," [Charters Towers, Qld.] Northern Miner, April 20, 1933. "Bertram Lands at Crawley," [Perth] Daily News, Sept. 24, 1932. "Bertram's Marooned 'Plane," Singleton [N.S.W.] Argus, Sept. 21, 1932. "Captain Bertram," Sydney Morning Herald, Sept. 20, 1932. "Fully Recovered," Sydney Morning Herald, Aug. 6, 1932. "The Search for the German Airmen," [Perth] Western Mail, July 21, 1932. "The German Airmen," Albany [W.A.] Advertiser, July 7, 1932. "Death Cheated," Cincinnati Enquirer, July 5, 1932. "Lost German Fliers," [Adelaide] Chronicle, June 30, 1932. "Search for Hans Bertram," [Carnarvon, W.A.] Northern Times, June 16, 1932. "Strangers on the Shore: Shipwreck Survivors and Their Contact With Aboriginal Groups in Western Australia 1628-1956," Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, 1998. Listener mail: "Escalator Etiquette," Wikipedia (accessed Feb. 8, 2021). Brian Ashcraft, "It's Hard For Japan to Change Its Escalator Manners," Kotaku, June 20, 2019. Jack Malvern, "Mystery Over Tube Escalator Etiquette Cleared Up by Restored Film," Times, Oct. 21, 2009. Laura Reynolds, "11 Secrets of Harrods," Londonist (accessed Feb. 14, 2021). Adam Taylor, "A Japanese Campaign Wants to Rewrite the Global Rules of Escalator Etiquette," Washington Post, Aug. 26, 2015. Linda Poon, "Tokyo Wants People to Stand on Both Sides of the Escalator," Bloomberg City Lab, Dec. 20, 2018. Johan Gaume and Alexander M. Puzrin, "Mechanisms of Slab Avalanche Release and Impact in the Dyatlov Pass Incident in 1959," Communications Earth & Environment 2:10 (Jan. 28, 2021), 1-11. Robin George Andrews, "Has Science Solved One of History's Greatest Adventure Mysteries?", National Geographic, Jan. 28, 2021. Nature Video, "Explaining the Icy Mystery of the Dyatlov Pass Deaths" (video), Jan. 28, 2021. New Scientist, "The Dyatlov Pass incident, which saw nine Russian mountaineers die in mysterious circumstances in 1959, has been the subject of many conspiracy theories. Now researchers say an unusual avalanche was to blame," Twitter, Jan. 28, 2021. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Alex Baumans. Here are two corroborating links (warning -- these spoil the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

A bull at the Big Country Brahman Sale has sold for $130000 in Charters Towers today with confidence in the stud industry off the back of record returns last year and distance education enrolments in western Queensland are on the increase this year with new families signing up and more students doing high school on the airwaves.

A bull at the Big Country Brahman Sale has sold for $130000 in Charters Towers today with confidence in the stud industry off the back of record returns last year and distance education enrolments in western Queensland are on the increase this year with new families signing up and more students doing high school on the airwaves.

Live exporters say the big rain from ex tropical cyclone is exactly what was needed and will ensure good supply in the long term; some parts of north Queensland are continuing to tip out large totals of rain from their gauges as ex tropical cyclone Imogen moves eastward; and, breeding ducks and geese in Charters Towers.

Live exporters say the big rain from ex tropical cyclone is exactly what was needed and will ensure good supply in the long term; some parts of north Queensland are continuing to tip out large totals of rain from their gauges as ex tropical cyclone Imogen moves eastward; and, breeding ducks and geese in Charters Towers.

New figures out today on vacancy rates and they show that the national average is a further drop in vacancies. Vacancies in very low in most locations across Australia and the monthly report from SQM Research shows they’re still falling – in most places. The national vacancy rate for residential rental property from 2.1 per cent to 2 per cent during August. Melbourne is only capital city where vacancies have risen, especially in in the CBD. City-wide, the vacancy rate rose from 3.1 per cent to 3.4 per cent, with its CBD recording its highest ever vacancy rate of 10 per cent, up from 8.8 per cent in July. But it continues to be better news for property owners in other capital city CBD's – not so good if you’re a tenant. Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart all have vacancy rates below 1%, which means there’s very little available for rent, while Perth and Darwin are both 1.1%. Brisbane is around 2%. Sydney has dropped to 3.5% but there are significant sections of the greater Sydney area where vacancy rates are well below 2%. And I know from my day to day research that there are many locations across Regional Australia where vacancies are under 1%. Some regional centres have the tightest rental markets ever recorded. And all of this means there’s upward pressure on rents. *** Competition over rentals in some of Australia’s regional towns is so fierce that some tenants are offering to pay three months’ rent in advance to secure a property. Others are applying for rentals before they have even had a chance to look through them in person. Eleven regional areas across NSW, Victoria and Queensland recorded rental vacancy rates of less than 1 per cent in July, SQM Research data showed, as people left the capital cities for less populated areas during the pandemic. The region with the tightest rental market is in Far North Queensland, where residents face intense competition securing a rental. In Townsville, the vacancy rate was just 0.5 per cent in July. Northern Queensland, which includes Charters Towers, Mount Isa and Flinders, was a close second with a vacancy rate of just 0.6 per cent.    There are also very tight rental markets in the Riverina in NSW, which includes Wagga Wagga and Griffith. The vacancy rate in that region was just 0.7 per cent. It was also 0.7 per cent in the Northern Victoria region – think Bendigo, Shepparton and Wodonga – as well as the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.  *** Now, because rents are so strong in so many places, it’s now considered cheaper to buy than to rent – almost everywhere in Australia. New research indicates that Australians in all capital cities, bar Sydney and Melbourne, would be better off buying a home than renting it. That’s means it’s actually cheaper to buy than to rent in most places around Australia at the moment. RiskWise CEO Doron Peleg says: “When it comes to houses, in many cases it is cheaper to buy than rent.” RiskWise research found that interest-only repayments for both owner-occupiers and investors are lower than the annual rental cost in most areas. What’s more, in all states and territories except for Sydney and Melbourne, even the principal and interest repayments are lower than the annual rent – that’s assuming that you have a 20% deposit. In Adelaide, for example, annual rent on the median priced house is around $20,500. That’s nearly $10,000 more than it costs to pay the interest-only repayments, and $1,567 more than it costs to service payments on a principal and interest loan. It’s the same in Perth, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra and Brisbane, where annual rent is thousands more expensive than servicing principal and interest repayments on a mortgage. *** The Commonwealth Bank has revised its national property price forecast – with a more optimistic outlook, in what’s been described as a show of confidence for Australia’s property market. The Commonwealth Bank now expects smaller price falls that it previously predicted, updating its national dwelling price to drop 6% from the April peak to a predicted trough in the first quarter of 2021. So it’s suggesting that the national average situation – because economists always generalise and speak of Australia as a single market – will be a decrease of 6% between April 2020 and the beginning of 2021. That’s a six percentage point improvement on its initial scenario – made back in April – of a 12 per cent fall in national property prices from peak to trough. Now there’s a couple of things about that. One is the way they generalise and make a prediction about “Australian property prices” as if the same scenario is going to happen right across this huge nation – which, I can tell you, never ever happens. The second is that they have changed their forecast just a few months after making it. Economists, particularly bank economists, do this all the time. They make a forecast about interest rates or GDP or unemployment or property prices – and then a few months they issue a new, different forecast – thereby rendering the earlier forecast redundant and a waste of time. CBA’s head of Australian economics Gareth Aird says most state and territories’ property markets are performing better than expected. Well, they’re not performing better than I expected, only better than the bank’s economists expected. Aird says: “The reality is prices haven’t been falling as much as we thought they would. In fact, they’ve held up very, very well in some parts of the countries. “Outside of Melbourne, most economies are open now. The evidence suggests that we won’t see falls of 10 or 12 per cent.” Yes, in fact, in many parts of Australia, prices haven’t fallen at all. They have continued to rise. In August, house prices fell in only two of the eight capital cities, according to CoreLogic data – and rose also in many of the regional markets as well. And, yet again, Aird has explained the better than expected price performance by talking about the level of interest rates. The only thing economists know, or think they know, about residential real estate is they think it’s all about interest rates. Let me tell you – Gareth Aird, head of economics at CBA, is a pretender when it comes to residential property. He clearly understands nothing. In any case, for what it’s worth, CBA expects Canberra property prices to actually rise 2 per cent from April 2020 to the first quarter of 2021, while Hobart is forecast to rise half a per cent in the same period and Adelaide prices will remain flat. So while it says Australian property prices will fall 6 percent, it then reveals it’s forecasting that they won’t fall at all in three of our capital cities. The only places to record significant falls, in fact, will be Sydney and Melbourne and that will drag down the national average. *** Now here’s another view on prices.   The chief executive of Australia's third largest credit union, People's Choice Credit Union, expects robust house price growth in regional areas close to capital cities as the work-from-home shift triggers permanent lifestyle changes.   Steve Laidlaw says demand for housing in regional centres in various states is rising and home lending activity in July and August was solid. Large country towns which are relatively close to big cities - are the types of regional centres to be in big demand as people reassess their work-from-home options.   People's Choice Credit Union, which increased its home loan book by 4 per cent to $7.4 billion in the 2020 financial year, has 36 branches across South Australia, Victoria, the Northern Territory and the ACT.   And it’s suggesting a lot of that growth is coming from city people buying in regional areas close to the capital cities. This provides further evidence of a trend that has been under way for a couple of years and has been exacerbated by the pandemic lockdown periods, which have opened the eyes of more people to the possibility of working from home. I call it the Exodus to Affordable Lifestyle and it’s the biggest national trend impacting on real estate. *** Home loans recorded the largest increase on record in July, the latest month for which we have official data from the ABS. About $19 billion was spent on new home loan commitments in July and the ABS reveals that this was a 9 per cent month-on-month increase - the largest ever in the ABS data series on home loans. The surge in home loan commitments excluded people refinancing existing mortgages and was bolstered by the strong presentation of first home buyers – which, as far I am concerned, is the most active cohort impacting property markets at the moment. Amanda Seneviratne, head of finance and wealth at the ABS, says the increase was caused by the easing COVID-19 restrictions, including open houses and auctions, in most parts of the country. She says: “July owner occupier home loan commitments rebounded with the largest month-on-month rise in the history of the series, as social distancing restrictions eased in most states and territories," she says. “New loan commitments for owner occupier housing rose in all states and territories, except the Australian Capital Territory.  “The largest increases were in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.” *** Now, according to CommSec's Ryan Felsman, home prices hit record highs in 11 regions across Australia. He says Aussie home prices eased – overall - in August but at a local level there were many locations where prices rose. Felsman says: Price weakness was most pronounced in the larger virus-affected Melbourne and Sydney housing markets. But he says there were solid price gains across the relatively virus free capital cities of Canberra and Darwin. Prices in Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane all remained stable. Regional home prices also held up, highlighting the increasing divergence between virus ‘hotspots’ and the rest of the country. In fact, home prices rose in 34 out of 88 SA4 regions in August with home prices lifting the most in the NSW Southern Highlands & Shoalhaven (up 1.2 per cent), South East Tasmania (up 1.1 per cent), Coffs-Harbour-Grafton (NSW), North West Victoria, Queensland’s Wide Bay and Darwin (all up 1 per cent). He says: “It certainly appears that ‘lifestyle’ regions could stand to benefit from a potential virus-induced exit of people from big cities - encouraged by changing working arrangements - allowing them to work from home.” Home prices hit all-time highs in 11 regions in August, including the ACT, Adelaide-South (SA), Brisbane-East (QLD), Brisbane – North (QLD), Moreton Bay – North (QLD), Capital Region (NSW), Central West (NSW), Coffs-Harbour Grafton (NSW), Richmond-Tweed (NSW), Gold Coast (QLD) and South East Tasmania. *** Here's another view on prices. Australian house prices have outperformed wages over the past financial year, new analysis shows. In every capital city but two, house price growth was stronger in the year to June than wages growth, despite the pandemic. Sydney house prices finished the financial year 10.5 per cent higher than the previous year, Domain data shows. But wages for NSW workers inched up just 1.8 per cent over the same period, ABS figures show, leaving housing outperforming wages by 8.7 percentage points. Melbourne house prices were 6.9 per cent higher in June than a year ago, but Victorian workers’ wages only grew 1.8 per cent, meaning housing again outpaced income by 5.1 percentage points. *** Aussies given a taste of working from home are so keen to keep their newfound flexibility that one in three would take a pay cut for the privilege. Research figures from payroll and HR software company Ascender reveal 37 per cent of Australian workers would happily sacrifice a portion of their income to avoid going back to their workplace after the coronavirus pandemic – and another 30 per cent would consider it. The idea is most popular among respondents aged 25 to 34 (45 per cent) and least popular among those aged 65 and older (25 per cent). Ascender general manager Richard Breden says the research shows how much value employees place on flexibility and that some workers may ask to work from home as an alternative to a pay rise this year. “I think many Australians are very aware of the challenges businesses face and the prospects of a pay rise in the near future are remote,” he says. *** Borrowers who have deferred bank loans for six months or longer will not have their credit ratings affected until at least March 2021 under new guidelines announced by the Australian Banking Association. The ABA announced it would extend the credit rating amnesty by a further six months, as the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic takes longer than expected. Customers granted loan deferrals on mortgages and other credit products in April were assured that banks would not report missed payments to credit agencies, provided they were up to date with payments when the relief was authorised.   Under the new guidelines, the amnesty is extended and customers who have fallen into arrears with repayments can escape a credit rating penalty if they restructure their loan or apply for another hardship program. Customers who have made partial payments during the loan deferral period will also exit with an improved repayment history. This provides further evidence that economists who predicted a September Cliff with everything collapsing thereafter were, yet again, wide of the mark.   Many economists and other doomsday commentators claimed that the Federal Government and the major banks would switch off support at the end of September.   We now know that federal support programs like JosKeeper and JobSeeker will extend beyond this month and now the banks have revealed they will continue to support customers who are struggling in the pandemic conditions.   Just another example of how the attention-seeking economists got it so very wrong with their forecasts.   Bye for now.      

A north west grazing family breaks records with $35 million gulf property purchase; a pen of heifers sells for an incredible $11.74 at a Charters Towers store sale; and, training extension officers to communicate with farmers.

Leigh is on a cricket trip for the Wanderers through central and north Queensland. So Skin and Haz take the intro… not the smoothest you will hear. The FOTS cards have been delivered so the boys discuss their aesthetics, and find a departing Englishman to present a FOTS card to, on one condition.  Leigh has targeted “Karen from Bunnings” in his new parody song titled Wear Your Mask. The boys discuss the issue with one of the segment names they have been running with, and Haz produces a segment on Quoits that is filled with innuendo. There is a phone call to Leigh as he is in Charters Towers to discuss his cricket and we are lucky enough to have Luke “Fox” Feldman on the line too to give some detail about what it is like to tour with Leigh. 

The White Horse in Charters Towers have installed some bowling lanes! See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The Queensland Government has confirmed there has been a new tick outbreak in Southern Queensland, occurring on a cattle property near Durong in the South Burnett region and storm rain has filled gauges on many properties in the Charters Towers and Hughenden districts and with the forecast pointing to more decent rain landholders are hoping for more.

The first of 14 regional Future Drought Fund meetings is held in Charters Towers, with local agriculture leaders meeting with board members. New medicinal cannabis research hub launches, as industry overcomes legal hurdles.

This BONUS Episode is recorded live at the 2019 ICPA Qld State COnference in Charters Towers. This panel session was held on the morning of Day 2 of the conference and was sponsored by Drought Angels. The Q&A Event was titled – For You. For Them. Taking Care of Yourself so You Can Take Care of Your Children Join ABC’s Charlie McKillop as she hosts; Comedian, Fiona O’Loughlin School Leader, Montana Spurdle Community Advocate, Fleur Anderson Yogi, Jade Lord Clinician, Susan Harrison Leading Educator, Nigel Fairbairn Care.Connect.Nurture.Protecthttps://qld.icpa.com.au/

Another road trip and another podcast. Bram and Reece (The Patron Saint of common sense) talk ADF leadership and the similarities between that and leadership in the mining sector. Leadership super powers are covered in the back end of the podcast too, with the promise to devote a whole podcast to this topic in the future. This was recoded at 5am between Charters Towers and Townsville; and a word of warning - it starts slow and then after a few coffees the lads hit their straps. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What measures can be taken to taken to stop people leaving small towns? It's a question that bothers many small communities all over the World, but in this episode of There's an Elephant in my Paddock we shine the spotlight on a small town in Western Queensland has come back from the brink. Matt Bennetto is a grazier and small business owner in Charters Towers and also chairs AgForce North. He joins our host Nicole Bond to ask the tricky questions about the PR problems in rural Australia and what can be done to keep businesses in the bush. They are joined by Jane McNamara- the Mayor of the Flinders Shire in North-Western Queensland. She’s taken an innovative approach to diversifying industry in the area and it’s paying off dividends. Neil Argent is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of New England. He’s done extensive research on understanding the factors and processes that make robust and sustainable rural communities and Ross Maclean is the managing partner of Maclean Partners in North Queensland, who financially advises and services a huge rural and regional client base.

Gladys grew up in Charters Towers over 100 years ago. She cites the simplicity of life as her secret to old age. Gladys served for two years in WWII. Gladys thinks we have become a bit impatient and dont value anything anymore.

An 800km stretch of highway runs almost directly west from Townsville, Queensland, before heading through Charters Towers and straight on to Mt Isa. This stretch of road, known as the Flinders and Barkly Highways, has seen more than its fair share of disappearances and deaths over the last 30 years. Locals call it the Townsville Killing Fields. We call it the Highway of Death...**Correction: The Highway of Death runs through the top half of Queensland, not the bottom half.Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeodUsed under a Creative Commons license.

An 800km stretch of highway runs almost directly west from Townsville, Queensland, before heading through Charters Towers and straight on to Mt Isa. This stretch of road, known as the Flinders and Barkly Highways, has seen more than its fair share of disappearances and deaths over the last 30 years. Locals call it the Townsville Killing Fields. We call it the Highway of Death...**Correction: The Highway of Death runs through the top half of Queensland, not the bottom half.Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeodUsed under a Creative Commons license.

An 800km stretch of highway runs almost directly west from Townsville, Queensland, before heading through Charters Towers and straight on to Mt Isa. This stretch of road, known as the Flinders and Barkly Highways, has seen more than its fair share of disappearances and deaths over the last 30 years. Locals call it the Townsville Killing Fields. We call it the Highway of Death...**Correction: The Highway of Death runs through the top half of Queensland, not the bottom half.Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeodUsed under a Creative Commons license.

I join other producers today at the Elders Information Roadshow in Charters Towers. It was a great afternoon to catch up, have a BBQ and learn from some interesting presenters supporting graziers in the north.Thanks to Elders team and reps for having me, love a good yarn especially with a great BBQ to match.Scott Mawn - Elders Area Manager TownsvilleSam Cox - Elders TownsvilleMick O'Grady - Bayer AustraliaJennifer Peart - MLA Project OfficerAndrew Paynter - Elders Charters Towers ManagerLinks:Elders Charters TowersElders RuralSubscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on ApplePodcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our FacebookPage, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

This is part two with Jim Callcott following on from our recent episode Shanghai's on Gill Street. Jim yarns about so many things in the Charters Towers region including his research into the old pioneer's graves in the district. Subscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on ApplePodcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our FacebookPage, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

Jim Callcott has been in the Charters Towers region all his life. Today I have a yarn and its a good one from everything from having Shanghai's up the main street of Charters Towers to after-school antics at the rifle range. But it doesn't end here, this is just part one!If you want a mud map? Please leave a comment.Subscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on ApplePodcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our FacebookPage, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

Every Man n His Dog is a podcast I recorded with a few of the competitors who attended the Fletcherview Working Cattle Dog Trial near Charters Towers over the weekend. A great insight to the handlers and working dogs in North Queensland.Links:QLD Working Cattle Dog Trial Association Inc.Subscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on ApplePodcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our FacebookPage, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

I arrived at Leahton Park, Charters Towers at sunset hour. Oh, what a sight! I catch up with Michael Bethel after hours in Michael and Lynda's Saddlery Shop. We cover so many things, but the takeaway is "we can always find reasons not to do something - but just do it" Enjoy this one!All the Great Links:Bethel SaddleryTexas Longhorns Wagon Tours & SafarisHorseshoe B LonghornsSubscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our FacebookPage, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

I catch up with Bob and Beryl Johnston at their place near Charters Towers. Bob worked on the railway in the sleeper mills.  Cutting timber sleepers for the railway line. Beryl talks about her time as a railway workers wife, bringing up a young family in a tent on the railway in the 1950's.  Before moving to Charters Towers to work at Mossman Hall, a large psychiatric hospital in its time. Hope you enjoy our yarn.Subscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our Facebook Page, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

I called in and had smoko with Don, we sat around the kitchen table and had a great yarn.  I could have spent hours more and this podcast could have been made up of a complete season with serial episodes of Don Douglas's life. But what I have had to do, was give you just one episode.Helping Dad Dad drove the tractor while I operated the drawn scoop. Then he handled the mouldboard plough (sometimes called a road plough) while I drove the tractor.  The single mouldboard and plough shear was next (behind an adjustable skid plate which gave the depth of cut). Behind that were two iron handles by which the operator held it upright and against the countering effect of the mouldboard. It required strength and a certain skill to be managed in hard ground.Gone Cop can be purchased from Amazon KindleLike a Book in Your Hand?These books can be found at:Cunningham's Newsagency in Charters Towers,Woods News in AyrRhonda's Refits in ToowoombaBoolarong Press Don knows how to tell a good yarn. With five generations of pastoral experience in his blood, these books will have you hooked!!! Happy Reading. Subscribe to the PodcastIf you enjoy the show, please subscribe (it’s free) to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.  If you enjoy listening, please share Bindis n Bulldust with someone who shares our love of Outback Stories.Join Us on FacebookWe have a (free!) Facebook group where you can ask questions, share your thoughts and experiences and engage with others who love the Australian Outback. Join us by going to Bindis n Bulldust PodcastWant to keep up to date with all that is happening at Bindis n Bulldust head over to our Facebook Page, Twitter and Instagram.Got an idea for an episode, a story to tell, have some feedback or just want to say G’day? Please get in touch.Thanks for listening!CheersHeather Jonsson

When you call 000 in an emergency, it usually takes a minute for the operator to establish your location. But two Charters Towers graziers have developed a phone app that essentially eliminates that, giving you the ability to get help sooner.Russ Broad and Ben Callcott have developed Koorca in a remote part of North Queensland, despite the fact they don’t have phone reception (to test the app!) or any kind of tech background.“There’s 15,000 calls to 000 a day in Australia from mobiles where they don’t know where that person is located,” says Russ.“We’ve also built the app to take a photo to send to a central database with a date and time stamp on it, so emergency services have evidence of someone who might be threatening or attacking someone.”“It takes away their anonymity- hopefully preventing a lot of crimes even taking place.”Visit www.koorca.com or find them on your preferred app store.

Beating Around the Bush is focusing on the Charters Towers region of North Queensland.Rural Business Collective champions the small businesses and entrepreneurs of rural Australia, so we thought it would be fun to take ‘economic pulse’ of some of its regions, starting in the North.Jayne Cuddihy spoke to Phil Hill-Warner, a former president of the local Chamber of Commerce and Mines who owns Rural Mechanical Repairs, Ben North from the Hollimans Group – an employer of 60 people through six local business arms, and entrepreneur Bernie Kruger, who takes change in his stride. He owns Bits for Cars, but is trialling new technology for the agricultural sector with mind to diversifying.  All three agree that it’s a strong economic region, but the strength has switched from the mining sector, to the agricultural.Phil Hill-Warner says while the community is resilient, not enough is done to educate people on the economic issues and how attitude and buying choices effect everyone.He said a lot of positive outcomes came out of an incubator program run by marketing guru Mellissah Smith a few years ago.https://www.marketingeye.com.au/marketing-blog/entrepreneurship/why-a-melbourne-company-is-setting-up-an-incubator-in-rural-queensland.htmlIncluding Koorca, a crime prevention app designed and built by two cattlemen.

RBC’s Jayne Cuddihy speaks to businesswoman Kylie Stretton in this weeks’s BATB episode. Kylie and her husband Shane run a livestock agency and beef business outside Charters Towers in North Queensland.Inspired by a holistic management course, and encouraged by a significant improvement in pasture coverage, they were looking at ideas to improve the carrying capacity and soil health, so invested in 30 chooks.The hens not only produce delicious eggs that are sold locally through a direct marketing campaign, but they have made dramatic improvements to the pasture. https://www.facebook.com/clancelladownsKylie has had tremendous success with the use of social media as a marketing and educational tool.http://www.target100.com.au/Farmer-stories/Shane-Kylie-Strettonhttps://fleurmcdonald.com/kylie-stretton-passionate-agvocate-and-author-of-my-story/ ​

This week, Beating Around the Bush is showcasing Mark Sowerby.Mark Sowerby is the founder of Blue Sky- an alternative investment business http://www.blueskyfunds.com.au/people/He’s Queensland’s first chief entrepreneur, as appointed by the State Government. http://advance.qld.gov.au/innovation-movement/news-events/first-chief-entrepreneur.aspxMark started the role, which is a new initiative from the very active Advance Queensland team and Minister Leanne Enoch,  in October and says he’s been trying to take a ‘stocktake’ of what’s going on in Queensland in terms of entrepreneurship and business ownership.He’s recently returned from a regional tour of 10 Queensland towns including Goondiwindi, Emerald Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Charters Towers, Longreach, Mount Isa, Lockhart River, Cairns and Mackay with five other inspiring entrepreneurs http://advance.qld.gov.au/our-vision/chief-entrepreneur/tour.aspx, including 2016 Young Australian of the Year Lucas Patchett, from Orange Sky Laundry, who is currently helping out with fallout from Cyclone Debbie in some regional areas. http://www.orangeskylaundry.com.au/He said the group were really impressed with the innovation, passion and ideas coming out of regional Queensland and they ended the tour more energised than when they started. He has some great takeaways for the way ewe look at the opportunity in the rural sector and the great cuylture growing in Qld for startup businesses. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-10/entrepreneur-shares-top-tips-run-start-up-business-qld-regions/8344238