Radio

Here’s a sample of packages I made for the ABC in regional Australia, the weekly radio correspondent segment I do for the Morning Brew program on RTHK3 in Hong Kong and two radio series I made about Australian music 

Australian affairs correspondent

Since 2015 I’ve been appearing every Tuesday on the Morning Brew program presented by Phil Whelan on RTHK3, where I discuss the latest goings on in Australia. We talk politics, culture, the ongoing effects of climate change, and some of the wacky news that doesn’t make international headlines.

Almost each week we pick apart another aspect of the complex history and ongoing relationship Australia has with China, from some lesser known aspects of Australia’s Chinese heritage to major economic and political developments. 

Note: you need to navigate to ‘Tuesday’ in this archive to listen

 

Murray Harrison - the Stolen Generation and the Prime Minister's apology

Murray Harrison experienced Australia's shameful policy of separating Aboriginal children from their parents first-hand. He was taken from his family in Gippsland, and grew up in an orphanage in Ballarat, serving in the Australian army and becoming a a star footballer. This interview was recorded as Murray prepared to travel to Canberra to witness Kevin Rudd's historic apology on behalf of the government to the 'Stolen Generation' of Aboriginal children and their families

The inaugural Mad Max ride to Clunes

Clunes is the historic town near Ballarat where many key scenes from the first Mad Max movie were shot in the late 1970s. The cult following of the movie includes a cult following of people who own a specific type of motorbike featured in that movie - the Kawasaki 900. This piece documents very first Mad Max Ride to Clunes by hundreds of motorcyclists to celebrate 30 years since the movie's release. Some people in the town were a bit nervous... but you'll hear how the day turned out. {Note: story no longer available on ABC website)

London cabbies in Ballarat

In the leadup to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne a small group of London taxi drivers were flown out to visit some of Victoria’s tourist spots in order to have them become unofficial ambassadors for the great places to visit outside of Melbourne. When they came to Ballarat I decided to get two of them into a Ballarat taxi for a drive and a chat. (Note: story no longer available on ABC website)

Ballarat car culture: a tribute

The town of Ballarat, where I lived for just over 12 years, is motor city. Its car culture is fascinating: it’s not just the cars themselves but the way they drive. The farmers in from the outlying districts, the visitors who drive up from Melbourne on the Western Highway, and the locals - I made this audio tribute to all of them - and had lots of fun finding the music to fit. (Note: story no longer available on ABC website)

Australia's first community-commissioned symphony

The town of Portland in south west Victoria has an amazing series of walking trails called the Great South West Walk. It’s a 250km loop that takes you from the Glenelg River through forests, ancient geological features and to the wild surf coast. The people of Portland commissioned composer Dindy Vaughan to write a symphony about this walk, and I documented her journey in creating it, as well as the locals closely involved in the project

The Wide Open Road

Originally aired on Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK3, this series takes the listener through Australia’s capital cities and its country towns and regions to play you the music made by people who lived there.

You won’t just hear the music made by immigrants like AC/DC and the Bee Gees, you’ll go through Ballarat, Broome, Perth, Tamworth and Hobart hearing Australian-made music of all persuasions. 

Here’s three episodes to get you started … strap on your seat belt, crank up the volume and let’s fang it right around Australia or listen to them here on Mixcloud.

 

 Down Under Uncovered

A series made for RTHK3 investigating the songs written and performed by Australian artists that were taken on by the likes of Johnny Cash, David Bowie, Grace Jones, and Bruce Springsteen to name just a few.

 There’s a whole episode on the artists who’ve been influenced by, and performed their own versions of the music of AC/DC…

There’s also episodes on some classic and lesser known Australian reworking of songs from overseas, with a special episode devoted to Aboriginal artists and the songs they have interpreted and made their own.

Here’s three episodes to whet your appetite – listen to all eight episodes  here on Mixcloud.