Episodes
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Swooping Birds
It's spring in southern Australia, so all creatures great and small are working to deliver the next generation. In some cases, like magpies, this means hyper-vigilance to threats which sometime causes perceived threats (such as humans) to be warned off by swooping. How to lessen the risk and get…
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Are electric cars catching fire lots?
Some spectacular videos of electric cars burning in cargo ships has raised some concerns in the public, but it appears that the facts don't back up such concern
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RSPCA calls for improvements in cruelty laws
Cruelty to animals reports are increasing putting costs onto the RSPCA, who are enforcing state laws with their own fundraising. Repeat offenders are increasing as well raising the need to stronger deterrence. Both issues are being raised ahead of the coming state election.
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How to pick the "sweet spot" for best return when installing solar pannels and batteries/
An Adelaide University team have examined the best combination of solar panels and batteries for maximum return. We also consider the factors to consider before accepting the options of apparently cheap rates offers in power bills, and the developing idea of "virtual power plants".
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Bird flu and pets
H5N1 doesn't only affect birds. It has been found to kill some mammals, including pets. The RSPCA has ideas on what you need to do to protect your pets.
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Deadly birdflu finally gets to australia - what now?
Sean Dooley is a knowledgeable birdo and policy advocate with Birdlife Australia. We discuss in detail the impact on native birds in australia whose genetics have not encountered this disease before, and the preparation, and lack of it, by authorities.
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Baw Baw Shire Mayor regular chat
We discuss the on-going controversy about rubbish collection, with the State opposition chiming in, we discuss the other issues council is raising with candidates, and the process when a Councillor chooses to stand for election. We also touch on the new community consultation policy which now…
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Victorian State Parliament member for Narracan - full chat
Full replay of our chat with Member for Narracan Wayne Farnham, in which he defends proposals by te Liberal leadership to mandates "red bin" collection and cap road tolls. He also takes a swip at One Nation's leader for standing in a seat that is considered winnable, rather than his residential...
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Battery Energy Storage Systems continue to raise concerns
Several Battery Energy Storage System proposals are in the application process around west gippsland and raising much miss-understanding, miss-information and even husteria, so here we seek explanations for what is proposed and what the real risks are.
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RSL concerns for veterans support
Warragul RSL has a strong focus on supporting veterans with health issues and getting appropriate support from Veterans Affairs, and in this chat we discuss their services with Ben Vahland, immediate past president and welfare manager, and he also raises the wide concern about decisions to cap…
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Will EV charging stations expand quickly enough to match car sales?
EV cars have been selling strongly in recent months in Australia, at an average rate of one every 77 seconds, so will the charging infrastructure match this surge?
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Helping Wildlife recorver from disasters.
Well intention-ed efforts to assist wild life following disasters such as the wild-fires on Kangaroo Island can be counter-productive unless done with knowledge. Prof Sophie Pettit from Adelaide University has done some of the research required.
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Coffee with Chris - hoarding
Is hoarding a symptom of anxiety? In at least some cases, so we chat with psychotherapist Chris Roering about it and how to tackle the issue.
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Sexual Abuse Redress Scheme on verge of closing
After the huge Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Child Abuse a redress scheme was established but demand has well outstripped initial estimates to administration has been slow, and it is now due to close which risks many missing out. We discuss the issue, the problems with and…
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Discovering the hidden ways that phone apps are weaponized.
A survey by federation University aims to understand the ways in which phone apps are used in domestic abuse. We explore what is going on and how to be part of the survey.
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Critical minerals
There is much talk of critical minerals but what are they and are they a net benefit to our environment?
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Emplyment statistical anomolies and how to get through the filters to the interview.
Employment in Australia appears to be statistically "full", but hours worked show many want more work, but employers still complain of insufficient skills in applicants. And further many are using automatic culling of written applications. What helps to get through this maze...
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Home Batteries
Home batteries come with several different chemistries with different performance. We explore some basic choices.
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Regular Chat with victorian state member for Narracan
We discuss state politics with Wayne Farnham, member for Narracan in Victoria. We look at language in robust debate, the experience of late night sitting in parliament, the opening of a new rail tunnel in Melbourne and some fresh ideas to speed the supply of housing.
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Costs of climate change
A recent report from Infrastructure Victoria (the state government organization that plans and recommends development) has set out the costs likely to be faced arising from continuing climate change
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Deer awareness campaign
The increasing threat to our environment and safety presented by feral deer has prompted the start of an awareness campaign, the need for which we discuss with the manager from the federal department.
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Sport officials under stress
Increased scrutiny and aggression has increased the stress on umpires and referees and a recent survey has shown just how much it has become an issue, and looked at the threat to our sports if they do not continue to offer their services.
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Battery Recycling
With batteries in almost everything these days, the need for much increased recycling is obvious. But the different chemistry and the many machines in which the batteries are built in makes it tricky. We discuss the problems with the industry association CEO.
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Warragul RSL vets support
Returning veterans from military service often need support across a range of medical issues and Warragul RSL has taken on the issues from the ground up. Beginning with opening a tranquil garden to advocacy and support for those seeking from the department of veteran affairs they have set out to...
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Employment in regional Gippsland
Simon Ortega is an employment consultant in Gippsland and we discuss current opportunities, future possibilities and approaching applications from the point of view of the employer.
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Shocking Diptheria outbreak in Central Australia
A fairly sudden increase in diptheria in central australia raises questions about vaccination rates, living condition in indigenous communities and whether we should consider getting a shot. AMA Vice President Julian Rait discusses.
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Baw Baw Shire issues
Regular chat with the Mayor of Baw Baw Shire includes discussion of staffing, rubbish costs and collection, governance and more.
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Will a gas tax help our costs?
Much discussion has been had about ways in which Australia should be getting more benefit from the gas that is extracted here. What is going on?
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Disability Access
Segment produced by people with an intellectual disability presented by Yooralla and Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with a Disability (VALID). In this episode we meet Ben Haack who is a leader fro the Special Olympics in Australia and hear about his early struggles and how sport has...
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Keeping warm in winter
With winter well and truly starting we discuss ways to keep warm while keeping the costs as low as possible with Amelia Pearson from Monash University.
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Social media and the young
Social media companies have been required to exclude Australian under 16 years. Year 13, a charity aimed at helping young people navigate the years after school, has actually acted the young people what they think of the situation and what they feel they are missing.
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World Bee Day
World bee day has been established by the UN to highlight the vital role in food supply played by our pollinators, mostly bees. We explore all things bee with Cormac Farrell, Chair of the Australian Bee Day Steering Committee, and Beekeeper for teh Australian Parliament.!
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State member for Narracan Wayne Farnham
Regular chat with member for Narracan in state parliament, and in this one he is had as hell...!
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PFAS in drinking water
PFAS has been across our media and has been dubbed "the forever chemical". Full name: polyfluoroalkyl substances which refer to a man-made compounds that are widely applied in industrial and consumer goods because of their resistant characteristics to both water and grease. Although PFAS have...
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Solar for renters and other issues
Australia leads the world in uptake of rooftop solar and it is making a major contribution in keeping costs down, but almost all of that benefit goes to home owners. Renters largely miss out and Solar Citizens are campaigning to introduce tax law to give landlords incentive to install solar…
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Why are power prices staying so high?
With the expansion of cheaper renewable energy into our supply power prices were expected to come down, but they remain stubbornly high. We chat about where the costs come from and where the most expensive parts of the system are.
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Baw baw Shire Mayor
Mayor Kate Wilson discusses the way state government shifts jobs and costs on to municipalities, without the funds to carry them out. Also their objections to Battery Energy Storage System proposals and the desperate need for additional childcare.
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Member for Monash puts her view
In a regular chat with Member for Monash in the Australian parliament we discuss the situation in the opposition party, gambling control, and more.
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Windfarms
Amelia Pearson discusses the role and impacts of windfarms both on and off shore.
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Hoarding
What is the psychological underpinnings of hoarding, which is seems to be more common. Gippsland psychotherapist Chris discusses in another episode of Coffee with Chris.
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Coffee with Chris - ADHD
Chris is a psychotherapist, and we chat informally about topics on mental health. In this episode we discuss the increases in diagnosis of ADHD and what it might mean.
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Rabbits are back
Rabbits were imported in early colonial times for sport but quickly spread throughout Australia (well, they bred like rabbits!). The consequences were devastating to the environment and agriculture for many years until a virus provided a biological control - myxomatosis - which eventually lost…
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Battery Energy Storage Systems Explained Part 2
Proposals for BESS operations have been controversial and generated lots of misinformation. Here we explore some.
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Battery Energy Storage System Gippsland Project explained Pt 1
Proposals for BESS operations have been controversial and generated lots of misinformation. Here we explore some.
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How to retain vets in practice and stop suicide in the profession
Vets leave their degrees and are dropped into full practice with limited if any mentoring. Here we have a story of someone who has been recognized for a Women in Agriculture award for developing and implementing a mentoring system to help new vets stay in the profession and reduce their stress.
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Global Money Week
You are perhaps not aware of Global Money Week but the Financial Basics Foundation want you to know, and wants to ensure that we all understand our finances better.
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Federation Uni opens accelerator hub
Getting a good idea for a new product or service is often a long way from bringing it into existence. The opening of this accelerator hub is aimed to help get over the startup hump, beginning with market assessment, pitching for capital and more.
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Attitudes to girls in sport
While girls sport has been more widely recognized and encouraged recent research has uncovered some still entrenched attitude which is making participation uncomfortable for many.
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Sport and menstruation
While women's sport has received much improved attention and support menstruation is still not catered for at many levels and is a significant inhibition for young women continuing with sport.
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Little Pygmy Possum
One of the tiny (and cute) animals, that was believed extinct in South Australia might have been re-discovered!
About this show
Events and issues, affecting the broad west gippsland community, and the state and nation. Features local musicians, arts and theater, as well a community activists, leaders, politicians. A podcast that truly doesn't fit a category!
Hosted by
Paul E Strickland
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