16 JAN 2018 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). Welcome to About Regional, a new place for the stories of South East NSW. Today’s conversation is with Michael Grab. Michael’s rock balancing art stops the world dead, and in the same way that breathing just happens, your mind automatically asks, "How the hell does he do that?" The gallery of photo and videos on his Gravity Glue website is extraordinary. Canadian born Michael has been on the Far South Coast of New South Wales over summer, bringing his brand of land art to Picnic Point and Goalen Head, a magic bit of coastline between Bermagui and Tathra. His work defies gravity, at least how the rest of us understand gravity, but Michael seems to have an ability to tap into and read this invisible earth force - something he describes as "gravity glue". How does he do it? You are about to find out! A shout out to those who support local story telling – Julie Rutherford Real Estate Bermagui, the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre, and Kiah Wilderness Tours. Thanks for listening. Ian #gravityglue #art #NSW #Australia #SouthEast #storytelling #MichaelGrab #artist @MichaelGrab

1 NOV 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly) Show notes – Podcast 20 – when nan and pop have to be mum and dad About Regional is a new place for the stories of South East NSW. Podcast 20 features an extraordinary group of people who have just started meeting regularly to support each other through challenges and troubles that most would find impossible. This group of a dozen or more grandparents are raising their grandchildren and great grandchildren. The parents of these kids have deserted them for a range of reasons and these Grandparents – the parents of the parents are the safety net. Karen Thomas and Vanessa Bragg from PlayAbility in Bega have bought these families together. PlayAbility provide early intervention services for families who have young children with a disability or developmental delay. You are about to meet people that carry an interesting range of emotions - sadness and despair, mixed with joy, humour, and love. What stood out to me as I listened to these stories is that these people walk among us, carrying the most heartbreaking experiences, stories that have gone unheard, told by people who haven’t been recognised or supported – until now. I’ve beeped out the names of the kids to respect their privacy. About Regional content is supported by members, thank you to 2pi Software, The Crossing Land Education Trust at Bermagui, Sam Bright and Loz Hunt, Amanda Fowler and Kylie Dummer. Thanks for tuning in, your interest adds weight and momentum to the stories you’ve just heard. Your feedback and story ideas are welcome – email hello@aboutregional.com.au See you out and about in South East NSW. Ian #regional #nsw #Australia #southeast #aboutregional

30 SEP 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). Some school holiday listening this time round. During Local Government Week recently, Eurobodalla Shire Council made space for the youth of the shire. Senior students from Carroll College and St Peter’s Anglican College at Broulee, and Batemans Bay High School were given time to address Council – including Mayor, Liz Innes and Deputy Mayor, Anthony Mayne. One of the Shire’s Federal MP’s was also taking notes – Member for Gilmore, Anne Sudmalis. Courtney Fryer from Carroll College, used the opportunity to advocate for young people living with physical and mental disability. Harrison O’Keefe from Batemans Bay High, made a great point around youth engagement –“show them what they are missing out on” and he has an idea to do just that. While Pippi Sparrius from St Peter’s presented some surprising stats around teenage pregnancy in the Eurobodalla. Keen to give the students a ‘real council meeting’ experience, Cr Innes was watching the clock, with Courtney, Harrison, and Pippi given five minutes each. For support or more info about the issues raised in this podcast check in with the Eurobodalla youth services directory or drop by one of the Shire’s popular Youth Cafes in Narooma and Batemans Bay. About Regional is supported by the financial contributions of members, including Jill Howell, Max Wilson, Sue MacKinnon, Geoff Berry, and Four Winds at Bermagui – who have just released the program for next Easter’s festival, 60 artists, 10 ensembles, 26 performances, 10 stunning locations, over 5 days starting in late March 2018. Early bird tickets are on sale now. Thanks for tuning in, see you out and about in South East NSW. Cheers Ian Subscribe, rate and review About Regional podcast at Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Stitcher, Pocketcasts, audioBoom and all good podcatcher apps. For more, visit http://aboutregional.com.au/ #Australia #NSW #regional #Bega #Southeast #Eurobodalla

22 SEP 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly) In the depths of a Bega winter around 70 people turned out to the Bega Campus of the University of Wollongong to hear a local perspective of Feminism in the 21st Century. Local writers group Mnemosyne posed the question – ‘Is feminism still relevant?’ A lively discussion followed. Your host will introduce you to the panel and the meaning of Mnemosyne. The discussion doubled as the launch of a new local journal. The Kickstarter fundraising campaign runs until the end of September hoping to turn the journal into a reality. You are about to find out more. Your host is PhD student, Jodie Stewart who has just been awarded the Deen De Bortoli Award for Applied History from the History Council of NSW for her work and research around the Bundian Way, and ancient Aboriginal pathway linking the Far South Coast and the Snowy Mountains of NSW. Thanks to About Regional members, Tania Ward, Ingrid Mitchell, Deb Nave, and Scott Halfpenny for their support in making this podcast. Cheers Ian Subscribe, rate and review About Regional at Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), Stitcher, Pocket Casts, audioBoom and all good podcast apps. For more visit http://aboutregional.com.au/ #regional #asutralia #bega #southeast #NSW #aboutregional

22 AUG 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly) Podcast 17, August 22 2017, show notes Gabrielle Powell is one of those familiar faces around Bega, but she has just had an experience that took her way beyond her Pedan Street base. For almost 11 years Gabrielle has been the manager of the town’s Women’s Resource Centre. With long service leave in her sails Gabrielle took off for Malawi in South East Africa, a country of 18 million people bordered by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. There are no banana lounges or pina coladas with this getaway, Gabrielle was there for two months as a mentor to an artist’s co-operative. A basket maker herself, Gabrielle had to put her art on the back seat, it was her management, admin, and leadership skills that were put to work with ‘People of the Sun’. I got talking to Gabrielle about this experience of a life time just a few days after she returned. Thank you to the About Regional members that made this podcast possible - investing in local stories. People like Julie Rutherford Real Estate at Bermagui, the Bega Valley Regional Learning Centre at Merimbula, Deborah Dixon, Robyn Amair, and Patrick Reubinson. Thanks for listening in. Ian

18 JUL 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly) About Regional – podcast 16, July 16 2017 Welcome to About Regional – a new place for the stories of South East NSW. This podcast is brought to you by Julie Rutherford Real Estate at Bermagui, Doug Reckord, Wendy Gorton and Shan Watts – thanks for your support. About Regional Memberships are now open and come packed with perks! Find out more at www.aboutregional.com.au Charly Thorn is the talk of the town, not only in her home town of Cooma but also on the other side of the world in Vancouver and Los Angeles. Charly is a young fashion designer, not long out of high school, learning her trade and so much more at Birdsnest Cooma. FashFest 2016 in Canberra was her big break and has led to a spot on the catwalk for Charly’s garments at Vancouver Fashion Week in less than 9 weeks. Cooma has been helping Charly raise the money she needs to get there. Since Charly and I spoke on a cold Cooma day, she has also been invited to show at LA Fashion Week in October. As you are about to hear, Charly has all the ingredients of success. You can stay in touch with Charly via her Facebook page. Your feedback, story ideas and advertising inquiries are always welcome, just click on the contact tab. Thanks for your interest, see you out and about is South East NSW. Cheers Ian Subscribe, rate and review About Regional with Ian Campbell at all good pod-catcher apps, including Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), audioBoom, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Podbean etc. #regional #life #stories #people #Cooma #Bega #NSW

20 JUN 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). Show notes podcast 15 – Refugee Week in South East NSW Welcome to About Regional – a new place for the stories of South East NSW. Refugee Week is being marked around the region, the theme is a clever play on words borrowed from our national anthem - “With courage let us all combine.” The aim of the week is to celebrate the contribution refugees make to Australian society and to ultimately build a better understanding between different communities and bring about successful integration. A range of cultural, social and advocacy events are planned across the Eurobodalla, Bega Valley and Snowy Monaro in the coming days. At Cooma on Thursday (June 22) there is a film screening, “Constance on the Edge” between 5:30 and 7:30 at the Cooma Multicultural Centre on Mittagang Rd. ‘Constance on the Edge’ follows charismatic Constance, a mother of six, as she confronts her painful past in war torn Sudan, and risks everything in Australia so her family can thrive. Filmed over 10 years in Wagga Wagga, the documentary is an unflinchingly honest portrayal of one refugee family’s resettlement story in regional Australia. The Bega Valley branch of Rural Australians for Refugees has a packed program of movie screenings, dinners and author talks and on Friday, June 23 at 10 am in Littleton Gardens Bega, a rally to raise awareness of Refugee Welcome Zones. And in the Eurobodalla, locals are invited to join in a celebration in Moruya on Saturday morning (June 24) as the Welcome Scroll visits on its national journey. The Welcome Scroll is 5 metres long, features hand turned red gum handles and the signatures of representatives from over 140 Refugee Welcome Zones around the country - including the signature of Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes. Head to Russ Martin Park between 10 and 12 this Saturday, they’ll be food and live music and you can check out the Moruya Markets at the same time. South East NSW busy as always! To this week’s podcast - William Maley is Professor of Diplomacy at the Australian National University, and Vice President of the Refugee Council of Australia, he has just been in the region as a guest of the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast. Bill’s book “What is a Refugee?” is a guide to the complex issues that surface whenever refugees are discussed, while also telling the stories of families and individuals who have sought refuge. Bill came to Merimbula keen to motivate and inform advocacy around the issue, hoping for a more human approach to refugees from the Australian Government and sections of Australian society. He spoke for almost an hour, to about 200 people, I’ve boiled it down to about 17 minutes, I’ve cleaned the audio up as best I can, but there is a little bit of background noise, which I hope doesn’t get in your way. Thanks for tuning into About Regional, your feedback, story ideas and advertising enquiries are welcome, just flick me an email – hello@aboutregional.com.au Thanks to my partners in this week’s podcast - Light to Light Camps – pristine beaches, great food, hot showers and comfy beds. This is your chance to explore the Wilderness Coast in style. See you out and about in South East NSW. Cheers Ian Subscribe, rate and review About Regional via all good podcast apps including Apple Podcasts, audioBoom, Stitcher, PocketCasts, Podbean etc. #regional #nsw #australia #aboutregional

5 JUN 2017 · Stream episodes on demand fro www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). About Regional – a new place for the stories of South East NSW… Long before Donald Trump turned America’s back on the Paris Agreement, Australian families decided that investing in solar energy for their homes and businesses made sense – Australia has the highest take up rate in the world. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) have just been in the region, dropping in on towns where the take up of solar panels hasn’t been as great as it has been in other communities. Free community seminars were held in Queanbeyan, Cooma, Eden and Ulladulla under the banner of ‘Demystifying Solar Power’ OEH staff were on hand to answer questions and lead discussion – explaining the different options for businesses and households wanting to switch to solar and save money and save the planet. The Paris Agreement was part of the conversation, but it all happened before Trump quite, but I don’t think that would have changed a thing. Lisa Miller, is a confessed solar geek from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Thanks to my partners in this program – Light to Light Camps rolling out the red carpet on the 31 km track between Boyd’s Tower and Greencape Lighthouse south of Eden. Feedback, story ideas and advertising enquires are really welcome – send your email to hello@aboutregional.com.au Thanks for tuning in, see you out and about in South East NSW. Cheers Ian #bega #southeast #NSW #Australia #regional #stores #life #solar #solarpower

16 MAY 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly). Podcast 13 – Reusable water bottles for every high school student. Welcome to About Regional - new place for the stories of South East NSW. This week, one man takes on the garbage building in our oceans… Every high school student in the Bega Valley will soon have a reusable drink bottle, cutting the need for one use, light weight, disposable plastic water bottles. Over the last couple of months’ students at Eden Marine High School, and Lumen Christi Catholic College at Pambula have received a stainless steel drink bottle to refill at school taps and bubblers. Kids at Bega High School got there’s today (May 16), and Sapphire Coast Anglican Collage down the road will soon have theirs. It’s the initiative of Bega Valley philanthropist Peter Hannan. As someone who loves the ocean Peter says he felt compelled to act after hearing of the impact plastics are having on the world. Following last year’s Marine Science Forum, hosted by the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Peter made a pledge to buy 2500 reusable bottles and distribute them to year 7 to 12 students across the Shire. Peter comes from a family of community action, his late mother Shirley, established a trust before she died to fund a national portrait prize that is held every two years, which has since grown to incorporate a youth prize in the alternate year. Click play or subscribe to learn more. My partners in this podcast are Jen, Arthur and Jake at Light to Light Camps in Eden - offering fully-supported hikes along Australia’s most spectacular coastline, it’s wilderness done comfortably. Thanks for tuning in, your feedback, story ideas and advertising enquires are really welcome, send your email to hello@aboutregional.com.au See you out and about! Ian www.aboutregional.com.au Subscribe, rate and review About Regional at Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), audioBoom, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, Podbean, 60db, or any good podcaycher app. #regional #australia #nsw #bega #southeast #ecology #environment #platics

8 MAY 2017 · Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com (mobile friendly) Podcast 12 – The Wanderer Replica Project, May 7 2017 Shownotes: Today the story of a bunch of people with history and salt water in their veins, people making progress on ambitious plans to build a replica of an 1830’s luxury sailing ship. Scottish born entrepreneur, Ben Boyd sailed the 25 metre Wanderer into Sydney in July 1842, he soon set sail for Twofold Bay at Eden on the NSW Far South Coast following four steamers crammed with supplies down the coast. Seeking his fortune, Boyd quickly established a network of pastoral properties spanning a landscape that took in the sea and the snow. He also took charge of coastal steamship operations linking the region with Sydney, Melbourne, and Tasmania, and was a player in Eden’s whaling industry. Part of his enterprise remains – the impressive Seahorse Inn. Construction started in 1843 using sandstone imported from Sydney and oak fixtures from England. Boyd’s Tower on the southern shores of Twofold Bay is his other legacy. Constructed in 1847 the 23-metre-high lighthouse was intended to guide his fleet of ships home. A number of challenges, not at least his overly ambitious plans and the financial depression of the time, combined to undo Boyd and he was declared bankrupt in 1848. He left Eden on the Wanderer to restore his fortunes in the Californian Goldfields, but his treasure chest was never the same. He was last seen in the Solomon Islands hunting for duck. Creditors came looking, but his body has never been found. The Wanderer Replica Project was launched in 2014 by a group of locals with a love of Boyd’s story and skills in shipbuilding. Fundraising moves ahead, and so too does the ship building. I caught up with one of the committee members selling raffle tickets. Jon Gaul says apart from the historical and tourist interest the completed Wanderer will also offer youth training and development programs. My partners in this program can also help you explore much of this history, Light to Light Camps explore the coastline between Boyd’s Tower and Greencape Lighthouse in style – it’s kinda like Attenborough meets Kardashian. Check in with Jenny, Arthur and Jake at Light to Light Camps. Thanks for tuning in – your feedback and stories ideas are always welcome, flick me an email to hello@aboutregional.com.au or we can connect via the About Regional Facebook page. About Regional – a new place for the stories of South East NSW. #australia #nsw #history #sailing #whaling #eden