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.