Capes Conversations

From concerts and touring theatre to gallery exhibitions and local amateur performances, live events are a powerful way to bring people together, not only drawing visitors but creating meaningful experiences for locals. The opening of Saltwater Busselton, a state of the art performing arts venue complements the Margaret River HEART, and increases the region's ability to attract world class performances.But what does it take to put our region on the touring map? What do artists and promoters look for in a venue? And how do we balance big-name acts with opportunities for local performers and community access?And it’s not just about what's happening on the stage but everything it brings with it. Shared moments for locals, new reasons to visit, and a region that continues to thrive after dark.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Most of us have spotted a gold medal sticker on a bottle of wine, but what happens behind the scenes to earn it? Host Kellie Tannock takes you inside the world of wine shows, where hundreds of wines are judged blind, reputations are built, and the quality of an entire wine region is put under the microscope.  From judges and scoring systems, to the value wine shows bring to both producers and consumers, our guests help uncover how this mystical process helps shape the wines we enjoy.Thanks to Pip Heaford of the Margaret River Wine Association, winemaker Glenn Goodall and Associate Judge, Ulrika Larson (pictured judging at the Margaret River Wine Show).Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

As winter gives way to spring, or Djilba as it’s known in the six-season Noongar calendar, the Margaret River Region transforms in a spectacular way. From delicate orchids and colourful kangaroo paws to wattles, banksias and flowering heath, our landscapes come alive with thousands of native wildflowers. It’s stunning. And it also marks our status as a global biodiversity hotspot, one of the most botanically rich and unique regions on Earth.  But with that, comes the realisation that our biodiversity is under pressure.Host Kellie Tannock talks to local author and wildflower expert, Jane Scott and Chair of Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, Ann Ward to find out how we can enjoy the region's wildflowers with conservation and protection in mind.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Art has a unique way of helping us see a place differently. And every year, Margaret River Region Open Studios (MRROS) invites us behind the scenes to meet the artists who help shape our region's creative identity. From painters and potters to photographers, sculptors and glass artists, more than 150 creatives open their studio doors every September, giving locals and visitors the chance to discover the stories behind the artwork. Host Kellie Tannock explores how MRROS has become one of the region's most celebrated events, bringing together creativity, community and tourism while showcasing the extraordinary talent that calls the Margaret River Region home.Margaret River Region Open Studios – Australia's largest open studios eventPhoto by Martine Perret, an arial of the Western Australian landscape.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Nearly 200 years ago, a small group of settlers arrived in Augusta, facing isolation, uncertainty and a landscape unlike anything they had known before. In this episode of Capes Conversations, author and historian Bernice Barry shares the extraordinary stories uncovered through years of research into diaries, letters and journals from the region's earliest European residents. From the life and legacy of pioneering botanist Georgiana Molloy to the realities of raising families, surviving hardship and navigating life at the edge of the colony, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the people who helped shape the Margaret River Region. Along the way, Bernice reflects on the importance of local history, the challenges of interpreting the past, and why these stories still matter today.Bernice Barry has authored four books. The two historical accounts of Georgiana Molly are The Mind That Shines (2015, second edition due 2027) and A Lady's Pen (2023). Sarah Evans was published in 2024 and The Names of a Hare is due out in late 2026. Find out more at her website Bernice Barry.Image supplied by Bernice Barry, partial cover of A Lady's Pen.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Wildlife encounters are among the most memorable experiences for travellers, and often a highlight for locals too.  In the Margaret River Region, that could be spotting whales and dolphins from a boat or paddleboard, watching stingrays in the Hamelin Bay shallows, seeing a quenda or a possum, kangaroos, birds, reptiles and so on. But where is the line between observing wildlife and disturbing it? When does a memorable encounter become a risk — for people, for animals, or for the environment itself? Tourism Australia has guidelines for responsible animal tourism, reflecting growing traveller interest in experiences that prioritise animal welfare, conservation and education. Global research shows visitors increasingly want animal experiences where welfare comes first, learning is encouraged and interactions are managed responsibly.  On Capes Conversations, we learn that a great wildlife experience is one where the animal doesn't have to change its behaviour because you're there.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Capes Conversations heads into the darkness to explore the nightlife of our region's forests and caves. As the sun drops, researchers armed with acoustic monitors and bat traps take to the bush around Mammoth and Jewel caves on a delicate mission. With great care, they’re learning which microbat species are living, feeding, roosting and moving through this landscape.  The research is led by the Conservation Council of WA in partnership with Capes Foundation to better understand why these often-misunderstood animals matter - to the health of our forests, caves and the broader South West. The guests are Conservation Council of WA's Kelly Sheldrick and Capes Foundation Conservation Manager, Alysha Johnson.  Show Noteshttps://www.ausbats.org.au/bats-in-buildings-faq.html Mammoth Cave After Dark: Bat research in the Margaret River Region - Capes FoundationThanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Every day, visitors learn through the places they visit. Whether it's understanding local wildlife, connecting with cultural heritage, exploring history, or gaining a deeper appreciation for a region's landscape, tourism experiences can be powerful learning opportunities.Sometimes that learning comes through a guided tour, an interpretive display, or a conversation with a passionate local. Other times, it comes simply from standing somewhere remarkable and seeing the world from a different perspective.In Capes Conversations, host Kellie Tannock looks at the importance of tourism in helping people to learn about a place, including how formal education programmes are creating ambassadors in the younger generations. Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

There’s something pretty special about spending time in the Margaret River Region — the open space, the slower pace, long afternoons that stretch into evenings.  But for many, the question isn’t just where to go… it’s whether they’ll feel comfortable getting there in the first place.  In this episode of Capes Conversations, Kellie Tannock explores accessibility as a mindset, not as a checklist.  What makes someone feel welcome? What makes an experience feel possible? And how do we, as a community, make it easier for more people to enjoy everything this region has to offer? Because sometimes, it’s not the step or the doorway that stops someone coming — it’s not knowing what to expect. Show NotesThis episode was inspired by Wild Lot Distilling's Why Accessibility Matters blog.Stephen Bebbington is a member of the Augusta Margaret River Shire's Inclusive Communities Advisory Network (ICAN).Accessible Holiday Homes Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Food is much more than something we eat. It’s one of the most powerful ways we connect with a place, its people and its stories.In this episode of Capes Conversations, we explore the role food plays in tourism and the way memorable culinary experiences can deepen our understanding of a destination. From family recipes and cultural traditions to paddock-to-plate experiences and hands-on cooking classes, food has the ability to bring people together and create lasting memories.Guest host Janine Carter speaks with Sarina Kamini, a Kashmiri-Australian writer and spice educator, about the stories, heritage and personal connections woven through regional Indian cooking, and Sioban Sargant from Wildwood Valley Cooking School in Yallingup who invites visitors and locals to slow down, learn new skills and explore ways to prepare seasonal produce.Together, these conversations reveal how food tourism extends well beyond restaurants and menus. It’s about the people who grow, prepare and share food, the stories behind every ingredient, and the connections visitors make along the way.Photo credit: Patricia NivenThanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

 Have you ever walked into a space and felt transformed? In the Margaret River Region, it could be a grand restaurant with plenty of polish, or a small rustic cellar door that makes you feel a certain way as soon as you walk in.In this episode, Kellie Tannock focuses on the senses, exploring how the spaces around us shape how we feel, or how we learn, often without us even noticing.  From the subtle details of lighting, sound and layout in everyday businesses, to immersive experiences — it all points to one idea: thoughtful design can shape how we connect, relax and remember a place.  Image: Whicher Ridge Winery sensory gardenThanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

For ten days every July, the Margaret River Region comes alive as venues from Busselton to Margaret River open their doors with something a little special for the Cabin Fever Festival.  But Cabin Fever isn’t just a festival — it’s a chance for our community to lean into winter. To leave hibernation, come together and celebrate everything we do best: incredible produce, bold local wine and beer, and the great talents among us.   Cabin Fever makes winter feel warm, social and full of life. Host Kellie Tannock talks to event organiser, Erin Molloy, about Cabin Fever's 10th anniversary and truffle farmer, Ben Warner who has created two special events to get his guests putting on their wellington boots for some winter fun.Cabin Fever – Margaret River Region winter festivalThanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Each year, one of nature’s great journeys tracks along Western Australia’s coastline. Before winter, humpback and southern right whales leave Antarctica’s icy waters for their long migration north to warmer seas — hugging our continent before trekking south again months later. Known as Margaret River Region's 'whale nursery', Augusta's calm, sheltered waters provide a safe place for mothers to rest, feed and nurture their calves before the long journey home. From its headlands and beaches, locals and visitors can witness breaching, tail slaps and those unforgettable moments when a calf surfaces beside its mother. This week, host Kellie Tannock speaks to two researchers with different projects at each end of our Capes, and the creative force behind Augusta's Whalesong Festival that marks the start of the whale migration.Image by Tim Campbell.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

In every regional community, volunteers are the backbone.  It's volunteers who run or support regional emergency services, kids sport, community events, arts festivals, historical societies, leisure groups ... the list goes on. So much of this only happens because our volunteers give thousands of unpaid hours to make it happen. This week, host, Kellie Tannock talks to guests about the impact our volunteers make and hopefully inspire more people to get involved. With National Volunteer Week each May, this is the perfect time to say thank you.The image supporting this podcast is the voluntary members of Margaret River Off Road Cycling Association working to maintain mountain bike tracks.Here are some links to local volunteering resources;Busselton Dunsborough Volunteer Centre Community Clubs & Interest Groups - Augusta Margaret River Community Directory Directory Category | Rotary Margaret River Directory Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

On Capes Conversations this week, host Kellie Tannock takes us back in time to look at what’s widely regarded as WA’s first tourism attraction. It’s one of Margaret River’s show caves, which suffered damage in its early years of tourism, when a visit was an eight-hour adventure, not the one-hour experience of today. We’ll find out just how much our behaviour has changed with better understanding about how fragile these cave systems are. We’ll also hear about how the caves are being protected for future generations to enjoy. This episode features Ngilgi Cave Manager, Tod Kearns and Alysha Johnson, Conservation Manager for the Capes Foundation, which operates Ngilgi Cave in Yallingup, as well as Lake, Jewel and Mammoth Caves in the region’s south.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

In  the past decade, Australia’s craft beer scene has shifted from niche to mainstream.  More and more beer drinkers were chasing local, independent, flavour-driven brews, and the industry responded... with brewers in the Margaret River Region right at the forefront of this golden new era.. Margaret River’s craft beer story began in the mid 90s with Bootleg Brewery – then something of a lone wolf in wine country. But a small, distinctive group of breweries followed, choosing quality, place and hospitality over scale.  Today, craft beer is firmly part of the Margaret River experience, shaped by landscape, local produce and community. It’s not about rapid growth here – it’s about character, connection and great beer made close to where it’s enjoyed. Raise a pint to our local brewers, as Kellie Tannock chats with the South West Brewers Alliance, a brewery with sustainability front and centre and a local hops farmer. Photo credit: Josh Ball Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

This week, Capes Conversations looks at the plight of some lesser known, or less publicised, wildlife in our region, and the work being done to protect them. This episode could apply to so many of our native species where human impact, feral animals, habitat loss, light pollution, introduced species and climate change have all impacted our local wildlife and put them under threat.Host Kellie Tannock talks to conservation researchers and advocates for our beach-nesting birds, the white-bellied frog and the snake-necked turtle to find out what is being done to protect these often elusive and vulnerable animals. Image supplied by Tegan Knowles.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

There are numerous land & coast care groups across the region, focused on rehabilitating degraded and weed-ravaged land, returning it to native bushland.One group, the Augusta Land and Coast Care Group also moonlight once a month as the Friends of Cape Leeuwin, with projects around Augusta as well as working alongside the Capes Foundation team at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse Precinct.Gudrun Theile explains more about the group's purpose and activities before host Kellie Tannock is joined by Dianne James from the Capes Foundation and Peter Murphy, Horticultural Lecturer at SW Tafe, and all of them have some great tips for caring for your backyard.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Each year, Margaret River’s Surfer’s Point plays host to the world’s best surfers, all chasing a win as they vie for the World Surf League’s World Title in the Western Australia Margaret River Surf Pro.  This year, Margaret River is number two of 12 stops across 9 countries on the circuit.  This season also marks pro surfing’s 50th year.This week, Kellie Tannock speaks to World Surfing League's Asa Pacific President, Andrew Stark on the Pro's history, evolution and exposure for the Margaret River Region.She also speaks two former surf champions who are hugely influential in the local surfing scene, Mike McAuliffe and Dave Macaulay, who share tips on Pro for residents and visitors, and explain why the event is so important for the community. Images supplied by WSLThanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

Margaret River Region is internationally renowned for its wine, particularly Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon.From late January to early May, depending on the season, the harvest takes place - international workers arrive, all-night operations begin in the vineyards and crates of grapes are brought into the many wineries across the region. Viticulturalist, Tim Quinlan and winemaker, Ely Jarvis speak to host, Kellie Tannock to learn what really happens during the harvest.For further listening, the four-part Wine Unearthed podcast series is available on margaretriver.com. This series takes a deeper dive into Margaret River's wine scene and some of the stories behind the labels.Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

This week, Capes Conversations looks up ... up at the vast dark skies above us. It's something we take for granted but Carol Redford, founder of Astrotourism WA, wants us to proud of what's above our heads every night. She shares her knowledge of our visible astronomical objects with practical tips to start learning more about our stars and planets.Photographer, Aidan Kean also shares his tricks on capturing the elusive Aurora Australis.There are some books references on Indigenous Astronomy. Look out for The First Astronomers by Duane Hamacher, Emu Dreaming by Ray and Cilla Norris and First Knowledges: Sky Country by Karlie Noon & Krystal De Napoli. To help monitor aurora activity, take a look at some of these resources;Aurora Australis Facebook GroupSpaceWeather.com Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (part of Bureau of Meteorology) My Aurora Forecast app There's also information on sky gazing in the Margaret River here: Night sky: where to stargaze | The Margaret River Region@light_to_lens, @astrotourismwa Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

The Ludlow Tuart Forest was once the entry into Busselton, before the bypass was built. It’s now signposted as the scenic route into town and most people miss it. This week, Capes Conversations looks at what makes the Ludlow Forest so special and why it needs community help to regenerate and thrive. The Ludlow Tuart Forest is the only tall Tuart forest ecosystem in the world. Once covering more than 110,000 hectares, it has been reduced to just 3% of its original extent. What remains is fragmented, under‑managed, and facing accelerating ecological decline.Des Donnolly and Evelyn Taylor are from the Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration Group and they believe community can regenerate this forest.Visit the Group's website for more information on their activities, opening hours and ways you can support them: Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration GroupThanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.

We recorded this episode on March 3, 2026 to highlight the devastating impact of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) on our native wildlife. The regulatory body, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Association (APVMA) is conducting a review of SGARs and taking public submissions.Then, great news, on March 10 came the announcement that SGARs poisons would be declared restricted chemical products and the registration of all products containing SGARs would be suspended for one year from 24 March, 2026.  Read the APVMA March 10 announcement in fullThis is an important step but it's not a full ban on the products so we have decided to air this podcast as it was recorded to give a full summary of the impact these products have on our birds and wildlife and explain why we want to see them banned in Australia. Host, Kellie Tannock chats to Dr Boyd Wykes from Owl-Friendly Margaret River and Tara Finch, Manager of the Capes Raptor Centre.For more information on the Capes Raptor Centre's recommendations for alternative safer rodent control visit the Capes Foundation website. Thanks for listening and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please share with your family and friends. It will help us to keep this show going if you leave us a review.For more inspiration on visiting the Margaret River Region follow @margaretriver on Instagram or explore www.margaretriver.com.This show was recorded at RMR 101.9FM, Margaret River Region.