Author: Columnist

Across Australia and Beyond: Turtles, Floods, War Zones and Wide-Open Roads

From a turtle conservation victory in Hawaii to missile strikes over Dubai, this week’s calls to Macca painted a vivid picture of Australians scattered across the globe — each with a story to tell. Listeners heard how a grassroots group from Port Hedland earned international recognition for protecting one of the world’s rarest sea turtles, while an Australian construction worker described watching missiles streak across the night sky over the United Arab Emirates before finally making it home.

Back in Australia, dramatic flooding in the Northern Territory, a debate over electric scooter laws inspired by Japan, memories of one of Australia’s earliest aviation disasters in the Snowy Mountains, and an extraordinary motorcycle charity ride across the outback all added to the mix. As always on Macca’s line, the conversation travelled far and wide across continents, communities and causes.

Eye Movements and Medical Mysteries in Auckland

The morning opened with Dr Ian Francis calling from Auckland, where he had attended lectures by renowned neurologist Professor David Zee from Baltimore.

The event had been organised by Professor Dame Helen Danesh-Meyer, an ophthalmology specialist based in New Zealand. According to Francis, Zee’s lectures explored how subtle eye movements can reveal a surprising range of health conditions.

Doctors can sometimes detect nutritional deficiencies, neurological disorders and other illnesses simply by studying how a patient’s eyes move.

After the lectures, the group celebrated with dinner in Parnell at the restaurant Non Solo Pizza, where the conversation shifted from medicine to travel and good food.

Port Hedland’s Turtles Win Global Recognition

The program then crossed the Pacific to Kona, Hawaii, where Kelly Howlett checked in from the 44th International Sea Turtle Symposium.

Howlett, Operations Manager with the Care for Hedland Environmental Association, had travelled there to present research on flatback turtles that nest near Port Hedland.

Flatbacks are unique among sea turtles because they nest only in Australian waters.

Her presentation outlined how local volunteers monitor nests each season, tracking turtle numbers and protecting hatchlings along the Pilbara coastline.

The program received international recognition at the conference, winning the Grassroots Conservation Award.

For a small community organisation based in remote Western Australia, it was a significant moment and one that put Port Hedland firmly on the global conservation map.

Tasmania’s Dry Spell

From tropical waters, the conversation moved south.

Dave from New Town in Hobart reported unusually dry conditions across much of Tasmania.

The island state is often imagined as permanently green, but Dave said rainfall had been well below average. The dry spell had even begun affecting the hydroelectric system that generates most of the state’s power.

Lower dam levels have forced Tasmania to import electricity from the mainland, a reminder that even a place known for water can feel the effects of drought.

A Blood Moon Over Broken Hill

Trevor from Broken Hill reported on a spectacular sight in the night sky.

Cloud had initially threatened to spoil the view, but the sky cleared just in time for locals to see a total lunar eclipse, often called a blood moon.

Trevor said experienced astronomers have seen many eclipses, but events like this still excite people who rarely look up at the night sky.

Broken Hill’s remote location and stable air make it an excellent place for stargazing, with clear views that draw amateur astronomers from around the country.

Japan’s Orderly Streets

Another caller, Brendan, joined the program from Furano, a ski village in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

He described a culture where everyday life runs with remarkable order.

Crime is rare, homes are often left unlocked, and even bicycles must follow strict rules. Riders cannot wear headphones, and electric scooters require registration and number plates.

The comparison sparked discussion about Australia’s rapidly growing e-bike culture, where accidents and injuries have raised concerns in many cities.

Missiles Over Dubai

One of the most dramatic calls came from Scott Turner, who had just returned to Australia after working in Ras Al Khaimah, north of Dubai.

Turner had been involved in construction work on a massive resort project when regional tensions escalated.

Missiles were regularly visible overhead as they travelled across the region, many intercepted by air defence systems.

After several cancelled flights, Turner finally secured a seat on a plane back to Sydney.

When he landed, the relief was obvious. After days of uncertainty, he was grateful simply to be home.

A Story From the Music World

Jonathan Dixon from Melbourne shared a story from the entertainment world.

Decades earlier he had seen singer Engelbert Humperdinck perform in London. Years later, through a chain of coincidences involving actor John Pertwee, he ended up playing golf with the star in Australia.

According to Dixon, the international performer proved to be relaxed and friendly, introducing himself simply as “Eng”.

Remembering the Southern Cloud

Chris Riggs from Cooma called to discuss the anniversary of the Southern Cloud disaster.

On 21 March 1931, the aircraft vanished while flying across the Snowy Mountains, carrying eight people.

The wreckage remained undiscovered for nearly three decades until bushman Tom Saunders found it in 1958.

A memorial near Cooma now honours the victims, and locals gather each year to remember the event.

The Cost of Living Conversation

The program also turned to the cost of living after reports that food in parts of Europe can sometimes be cheaper than in Australia.

One listener suggested creating a simple “everyday inflation index” focusing on essentials such as food, petrol and electricity, the items households notice most.

The idea prompted discussion about how official inflation figures compare with the lived experience of rising prices.

A Doctor’s Research Into Driving and Illness

Dr John Gillette called in to describe his research into driving among people with advanced illness.

A palliative care specialist, he completed a PhD examining how patients, particularly women with late-stage breast cancer, make decisions about driving while taking strong medications.

Gillette said many patients remain careful and responsible drivers, but the issue raises complex questions about safety, independence and quality of life.

Floodwaters in the Top End

Attention then shifted north as Adam Steer from ABC Darwin reported severe flooding across parts of the Northern Territory.

Some areas had received more than 250 millimetres of rain in just 24 hours, pushing rivers toward major flood levels.

Communities around Katherine were among the hardest hit. Roads were cut, evacuations were carried out by helicopter and crocodiles were reported moving through floodwaters.

Forecasters hoped the worst of the rain would soon ease.

Marinus Link Debate

The national energy debate surfaced when entrepreneur Dick Smith called to discuss Marinus Link, the proposed electricity cable connecting Tasmania and Victoria.

Supporters say the project will help turn Tasmania into a renewable battery for the nation.

Critics question whether the state’s hydro dams can reliably support the plan during extended droughts.

The discussion highlighted the complexity of Australia’s transition to new energy systems.

Dogs at Work

From national policy the program returned to the paddocks.

Tomo from Ebor in northern New South Wales described watching dog trials in Dorrigo, where highly trained working dogs guide cattle through gates and obstacles.

Handlers used whistles, voice commands and hand signals to direct the animals, whose intelligence and speed can transform life on a farm.

Top working dogs can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

Flood Stories From the Stuart Highway

Lindsay from the Humpty Doo area shared a story from the road.

Driving the Stuart Highway, he encountered a bridge whose foundations had been undermined by floodwaters.

Engineers eventually allowed traffic to cross slowly, with heavy road trains guided over the structure at a careful angle to reduce pressure on the damaged supports.

It was a reminder of how fragile transport links can be across Australia’s vast interior.

Floodwaters Around Katherine

Later in the program, ABC reporter James Elton joined Macca from Katherine.

River levels had reached around 19 metres, placing parts of the town under serious threat.

Floodwaters surrounded homes and emergency crews worked to protect key areas with temporary levees.

Residents were watching closely for signs that water levels upstream were beginning to fall.

Mining Life in Papua New Guinea

From the flood zone the program travelled to Papua New Guinea, where Richard Kerrison called from the Hidden Valley Gold Mine in Morobe Province.

Located nearly 2,800 metres above sea level, the mine operates in rugged terrain with heavy rainfall.

With global uncertainty pushing gold prices higher, operations are running at full capacity.

Despite the challenging environment, Kerrison said the region maintains strong ties with Australia dating back to World War II.

A Motorcycle Ride With a Purpose

One of the most inspiring calls came from Lida Szabunia, who is planning a charity motorcycle ride across remote Australia.

After surgery and chemotherapy for gastric cancer, she decided to organise a journey from Uluru through Warburton to Laverton in Western Australia.

The trip will take about a week across largely off-road terrain.

For Szabunia, the ride is about staying positive while raising funds and awareness for a cancer that receives relatively little research attention.

Life in Remote Northern Communities

Malcolm from Barunga, southeast of Katherine, described how quickly floodwaters can isolate remote communities.

Heavy rain in rocky headwaters can surge into rivers within hours, cutting roads and surrounding towns.

Despite the risks, residents say the Northern Territory’s storms and landscapes remain among the most dramatic in Australia.

Posters, Cars and the Joy of Collecting

The morning also included a lighter story from Noel in Bathurst, who has spent decades collecting historic movie posters.

His exhibition at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre features classics such as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Spartacus and Gladiator.

For Noel, the collection celebrates both cinema history and the many Australians who helped shape the international film industry.

A Country of Conversations

From turtle conservation in Hawaii to flooding in the Northern Territory, from Japanese ski towns to gold mines in Papua New Guinea, the morning’s calls once again showed how far Macca’s program can travel in a few hours.

The stories ranged from global events to quiet local moments, stitched together by the voices of listeners calling from wherever life had taken them.

It is that unpredictable mix that defines the program, a rolling conversation across a vast country where every call adds another small piece to the national story.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: ‘Australia All Over’ is a program produced and broadcast by the ABC Local Radio Network and hosted by Ian McNamara. Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara, the ABC, or the ‘Australia All Over’ program. This weekly review is an independent summary based on publicly available episodes. All original content and recordings remain the property of the ABC. Our summaries are written in our own words and are intended for commentary and review purposes only. Readers can listen to the full episodes via the official ABC platforms.

From Ocean Nash to Bormio Snow: Rain, Work, Emus and the Cost of Living

The first morning of March began, as it often does, with weather.

Not forecasts.

Reports from the road.

“I’ve Never Seen It Rain Out Here”

Leroy was driving through South Australia when he rang. Eight years running freight across that country and he’d never seen rain like this near Morgan and Renmark.

“Torrential.”

The kind of rain that makes truck drivers slow down. The kind that turns dry paddocks into sheet water in hours.

Around Lake Nash in the Northern Territory, 550 millimetres had reportedly fallen in a weekend. Three hundred and fifty in a single night. Not Lake Nash anymore, Macca quipped — Ocean Nash.

And then, half an hour later, Lyndon called from Wellington East near Tailem Bend.

Bone dry.

Three feet down with a post-hole digger and nothing but powder. Tumby Bay had 30 millimetres. Snowtown too. His place missed it entirely.

That’s Australia in one program — flood and drought separated by a few hundred kilometres.

Moreton Bay to Holbrook

Andrew was driving home through Holbrook after competing in the International Finn Class World Championships on Moreton Bay.

108 boats. 16 countries. The Finn — a single-handed Olympic class since 1952 — still pulling serious sailors from Europe and beyond, even after being dropped from the Paris Games.

He sounded tired, but satisfied. Weeks on the water, now long kilometres of highway back to Melbourne.

Macca lingered on the value of those gatherings — rowing regattas, sailing titles, surf carnivals. People from different lives converging briefly, then dispersing again.

Red Skies and Ancient Boats

Tracey rang from near Bairnsdale, below the silt jetties on the morass. Red sky in the morning. Spectacular light. Magpies and kookaburras providing the soundtrack.

She photographs the sunrise most days. Some mornings feel sent, she said.

In nearby Paynesville, the boat show was on — ancient boats, good food, impossible parking. Regional Australia still turns out for timber hulls and community sausage sizzles.

The Worker on the Pedestal

Guy from Swan Point shifted the tone.

April 28 is Workers’ Remembrance Day — three days after Anzac Day. He helped establish the Workers’ Commemorative Park in Launceston near Aurora Stadium.

There have already been 188 workplace deaths this year.

“We don’t lift the worker high enough,” he said.

It wasn’t an argument against military remembrance. It was an addition to it. Armed forces defend freedoms. Workers build the world in which those freedoms are lived.

The call sat heavily — no theatrics, just numbers and conviction.

Dolphins at Solomontown

Lucy from Port Pirie brought the temperature back up.

Morning swimmers at Solomontown Beach noticed a ripple. A dolphin calf surfaced two feet away. Then the mother arched between the swimmers and splashed.

“They were just hanging around us.”

No one reached out. They just watched.

You don’t have to fly to Antarctica for wildlife, Lucy said. Sometimes it swims past your knees.

From Ushuaia to Antarctica

Speaking of Antarctica — Chris rang from Ushuaia in Argentina, boarding a small cruise ship heading south.

Safety briefing horn sounding in the background. Survival suits to be demonstrated. Ten nights at sea ahead.

The cycling correspondent from Flying Fish Point, now on the edge of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Live radio rarely gets closer to the planet’s edges than that.

An Emu in a Banana Box

Then came Alan Hale’s letter.

He found the emu chick on his Snowy River property with a dislocated leg. Scooped it up. Jacket. Cardboard box. Hot water bottle.

The chick recovered.

And stayed.

Edward — named because he was third in line — followed him like a kelpie. Slept on his stomach. Travelled in the ute to Cooma Woolworths. Played with a retired guide dog during a house sit. By five months he was four feet tall and invisible when buried in sawdust.

Male emus raise the chicks in the wild. Edward simply reassigned the role.

It was the kind of story that can only unfold slowly on radio — detailed, funny, domestic, absurd and entirely believable.

Driving While Dying

Dr John Gillette rang while jogging in Toowoomba’s Peak to Park run.

His PhD research examined women with advanced breast cancer on opioid medication who still drive.

Ten women followed over a year. Two died during the study. All were conscious of risk. None had clear guidance.

They wanted to do school pick-ups. Groceries. Maintain some control.

The policy gap, he argued, is large. Doctors lack consistent advice to give. The conversation isn’t about recklessness — it’s about independence.

It was one of the morning’s most substantial discussions.

Grain, Pride and the Royal Easter Show

Rodney from Coolamon was collecting grain samples across the Riverina — Coleambally, Finley, Tocumwal, Corowa — for the Sydney Royal Easter Show district exhibits.

The colour in the dome comes from cleaned barley, wheat, pulses and seeds gathered by volunteers. Months of coordination for displays most city visitors walk past in minutes.

Agriculture still underwrites the spectacle.

Italian Golf and Measles Advice

Bruno phoned while driving to Victor Harbor for the South Australia Italian Golf Club’s monthly event — one of several Italian golf clubs across the country that hold interstate tournaments.

He is a GP. He casually confirmed measles cases are reappearing and vaccinations still matter.

Between jokes about handicaps and brothers, he delivered public health advice.

Bormio and the Price of Breakfast

Georgina Topp had just returned from Bormio in northern Italy, host town for men’s alpine skiing events.

Food, she said, was about 30 per cent cheaper than Australia. High quality. Local production. Wood-fired pizzas with big puffy borders. Pastries made on site.

The town square is more than a thousand years old.

The comparison with Australia’s cost-of-living pressures was unavoidable. Mechanic rates at $188 an hour. Insurance climbing. Groceries rising. Inflation spoken about in abstract terms until someone mentions the price of bread.

Marinus Link and State Debt

From Latrobe in Tasmania, Malcolm was driving to a rally against the proposed $5 billion Marinus Link power cable.

He fears rising state debt, stretched hospitals and long-term financial strain.

Energy infrastructure, like rainfall, depends on where you stand.

The Morning in Full

By the time the program closed, we had travelled:

Flooded highways near Morgan.
Dry paddocks near Tailem Bend.
Sailing courses on Moreton Bay.
A dolphin pod at Port Pirie.
An emu in a lounge room.
A thousand-year-old square in Bormio.
A protest in Burnie.
A fun run in Toowoomba.
A grain shed in Coolamon.
A ship leaving Ushuaia for Antarctica.

No grand theme.

Just the country speaking, one call at a time.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: ‘Australia All Over’ is a program produced and broadcast by the ABC Local Radio Network and hosted by Ian McNamara. Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara, the ABC, or the ‘Australia All Over’ program. This weekly review is an independent summary based on publicly available episodes. All original content and recordings remain the property of the ABC. Our summaries are written in our own words and are intended for commentary and review purposes only. Readers can listen to the full episodes via the official ABC platforms.