Author: Columnist

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 podcast transcripts and 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.

Father’s Day framed this week’s program, and callers from across Australia – and a few further afield – offered a rich tapestry of stories: from sheep stations and steam engines to shark nets and macadamia farms.

A Buoyant Dunedoo

Dave from Dunedoo phoned in while driving to Coffs Harbour, reflecting on renovating a California bungalow with cypress floors. Once written off as a “cheap rental,” the house has become valuable thanks to an unexpected influx of workers drawn to new wind and solar projects around town. Dunedoo’s café is serving 800 bacon-and-egg rolls a day, he laughed.

Delivering a Cruiser on the High Seas

Chris called from a 41-foot flybridge cruiser off Montague Island, mid-delivery from Melbourne to Sydney. A marine industry man, he revelled in seeing Wilsons Prom by water for the first time and mused on the fragility of relying solely on satellite navigation – “work smarter, not harder,” he quipped, though he still keeps charts and compass on hand.

From London with Dosas

David checked in from London, babysitting his granddaughter while his daughter worked in banking. He praised the uncharacteristically warm English summer and confessed to trekking across the city to Wembley for the best dosa batter, second only to his wife’s.

Father’s Day Reflections

Kelly in Sydney offered a moving tribute to her late father, saying Macca’s voice rekindled the sound of his. She was preparing breakfast with her daughters for her husband. Later, Lindsay from Granville Harbour, Tasmania, praised Kelly’s call and reminded listeners that “there are more pathways than just university” for young people – recalling his own 15-year-old self working underground in a tin mine.

Sharks, Swimming and Safety

Kieran Kelly joined from Utah to comment on the tragic shark attack at Dee Why. A veteran ocean swimmer, Kieran argued sharks rarely target humans deliberately, and that nets are both ineffective and destructive. He advocated humane alternatives like shark-repelling cables, recalling his own long swims from Palm Beach to Manly.

Neil, a truckie hauling 44 tonnes of potatoes, later added poignancy: he’d lost a mate to a shark attack in Ballina. Still, he stressed that beaches popular with families deserve better protection.

Machines, Music and Mentors

In All Over News, Macca met Chris Jericho on the Mildura road, hauling a 1920 Fowler crane engine home from the Toowoomba machinery rally. Jericho’s other life is growing watermelons and pumpkins, though rising costs make the work harder.

Listeners also met Bella Barton, a second-year civil engineering student in Adelaide, who loves designing roads and sees opportunity in blending user experience with engineering.

Dr Fred Cole, a musician and piano tuner in Lismore, spoke about the decline of live pub music, the resurgence of pianos, and his work reviving forgotten Beale pianos.

Life Lessons and Career Pathways

Education became a recurring theme. Anthony, a teacher from Gippsland, urged schools to show children multiple pathways, from fixing motorbikes to technical trades. Callers reflected on how career satisfaction, rather than status, defines a good life.

Outback Memories and Family Reunions

Former pastoralist David Oag rang in to recall Macca’s 1999 broadcast from Woomera and life running sheep at Arcoona Station. He later worked on the SA Pastoral Board.

Alison spoke from the Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe, where she and her family gathered to honour their grandfather James Mitchell, once manager of what was the world’s largest sheep station.

Yoli in Bundaberg, a Filipino-born accountant turned macadamia farmer, reminded listeners that true wealth is “doing what makes you happy.”

Collections and Connections

Michael, a passionate collector from Adelaide, described his trove of Holden cars, tools, and memorabilia. His tale of sheds full of rare vehicles – from Monaros to GTs – showed the lengths Australians go to preserve history.

Nicole from Ballarat remembered her late father, harness racing trainer Peter Tompkins, who won the AG Hunter Cup with Paris Affair. She proudly reported that her brother Clayton had just won the $2.8 million Eureka with Bay of Biscay.

Jeremy in Darwin looked back on being in the very first engineering class at Melbourne Uni to include women, praising today’s female engineers like Bella.

Finally, Ray from Bargo, NSW, shared perhaps the most touching Father’s Day story: his 13-year-old son had surprised him with tickets to the Australian Open, bought with wages from a café job.

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 podcast transcripts and 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.