Shows
Station 70731: Part #2 - Losing farm land to renewables *UPDATE*In episode #3, we spoke with Emily Hill from Colbinabbin, in Victoria.
Emily was detailing the proposed solar farm in their region, and what the impacts of that would look like.
Unfortunately, the solar farm has been approved; despite community pushback, including from the local council, genuine concerns from local businesses and farms, and zero consultation from the company involved, who actively avoided meeting with the affected community members.
On top of this, given that the project is to do with 'Net Zero', it comes with special, sweeping powers that effectively prohibit the community me...
2025-06-1912 minStation 70730: The Dawson Society - Conference on the Home 2025, with Dr. Tom Gourlay“the suburbs ought to be either glorified by romance and religion or else destroyed by fire from heaven, or even by firebrands from the earth.” – G. K. Chesterton
That is the first line you'll read on the event information page for the upcoming conference in Perth WA, from the 10th -12th July. The event is called, "Home; Family, Place, Economics", and is being brought to you by The Dawson Society. https://dawsonsociety.org.au/event/home-conference/
Tom Gourlay from The Dawson Society joins me to discuss the event, which is compelling in the sense that it's...
2025-05-1241 minStation 70729: Grounded Australia 2025 - with Matthew Evans*If you're a budding homesteader/farmer/foodie/health enthusiast/policy maker/wine drinker/entrepreneur/anyone?...have a read and check out the links for some amazing free content!*
Following on from our previous conversation in episode #19, Matthew Evans joins me once again but this time, to debrief the inaugural Grounded Festival Australia - which took place at Matthew's farm on the 4th and 5th of December in 2024.
What is Grounded?
(From the website:) "GROUNDED is a cross between a world class conference, an informative field day and a cracking food festival. The first one...
2025-04-2931 minStation 70728: New Content + Election OverviewIn this brief episode we cover:
- Why are your groceries more expensive?
- The upcoming WA State Election (If you can't stand politics, please listen to this episode!)
- Voter Apathy - why some people are not voting, and why that's a problem.
- How to make your vote count
And very importantly, an exciting announcement about new video content that is about to go up!
(Jump to the last 4 minutes to hear about those)
Keep an eye on these links:
https://www.fac...
2025-02-2117 minStation 70727: Keep the Sheep - with Tiffany DaveyTiff Davey joins us on Station 707 for a fact-based update on why the Live Export Industry is alive and strong!
How does Tiff know?
When she's not helping out The Livestock Collective, Keep the Sheep, or managing her Wheatbelt based pasture-raised egg business, Tiffany is on board the live export vessels, ensuring the sheep are well taken care of from paddock to port to processing.
Tiff shares with us her most recent voyage to Kuwait, how the demand for LIVE sheep is as strong, and as necessary as ever, what the campaigns are ac...
2025-02-1329 minStation 70726: Bringing Home the Bacon - with Shorty The Butcher.Our guest today on Station 707, is none other than Shorty The Butcher.
Shorty's been a butcher a long time, and his career has spanned many different workplaces and environments. This variety has given him a keen insight and perspective on not just butchering, but farming, animal husbandry, rural living, policies and more.
Listen in as Shorty and I chew the fat on a number of current issues, discuss animal raising and butchering practices, and also talk about what's next for Shorty The Butcher, which is a very exciting offering where he will be teaching you ho...
2025-02-0643 minStation 70725: Adjusting Your Understanding of Health - with Chiropractor, Dr. Andrew SmithWelcome back to 707!
It seems appropriate that in 2025 we are starting off with episode #25, and joining me today is Dr. Andrew Smith, of Ascension Chiropractic.
Andrew is passionate about his work, continuously pursuing a greater understanding of overall health and how chiropractic care plays a vital role therein.
Having travelled and worked overseas in multiple countries, he brings a wealth of experience and well-rounded knowledge to our conversation as we discuss the varying impacts on our health today, especially our children's health, and the vital importance of incorporating a whole-of-body-and-mind approach to health car...
2025-01-3042 minStation 70724: Gun Laws - with SteeloToday we're catching up with Bevan Steele (Steelo) from Steelo's Guns and Outdoors in Narrogin, W.A.
We talk about the current firearm reforms and some of the complications that have come up, how it's affecting business and regular, good, honest people who hold a license; politics, voting and more.
The State Government are not being overly cooperative or communicative with people representing the firearms industry and community, like Steelo, and that's something that is good to be aware of, because you'll often hear ministers using the phrase, "We've consulted with industry"... And now you k...
2024-12-0625 minStation 70723: RailFail - Train Lighting Update with Lara Jensen.Today we catch up again with Lara Jensen, who joined us for Episode 6: The Value of a Life.
Lara shares some updates on what's been happening since we last spoke, including some great endorsements to the cause, and also some political movements.
Lara has been tireless in her efforts for over 20 years now, and it's just unconscionable that reforms have not yet taken place. There are State and Federal elections coming up in Australia next year, and there's no better time to let the various political parties know what you think about this particular issue, a...
2024-11-2915 minStation 70722: Theatre Days - The Farmer and the Stevedore.Shem, otherwise recognizable as the living embodiment of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, joins us today to tell us some stories about the work he's done since we graduated from theatre school together.
Music videos, stunt performing, cruise ships, children's entertainer...the list goes on!
As the title suggests, we were both from unusual backgrounds to be getting into musical theatre, but that's exactly how and where we met. It's been 10 years since we graduated, so a catch up was well overdue!
Our final production. Shem (left) and Tom (right)
N...
2024-11-2249 minStation 70721: Chemicals, GMO's, Food and Health - with Moms Across AmericaZen Honeycutt is the founder and director of Moms Across America, and she kindly joins me as my first international guest for this episode.
One of the listeners brought my attention to a report by Moms Across America, which was around the testing of gluten-free products to see how much gluten and/or toxins were present. That article is here: https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/gluten_free_food_test_results
It's well documented that chemicals, plastics and other toxins are responsible for an entire host of health issues, but rarely is it traced back to food, and...
2024-11-1659 minStation 70720: WA Labor Party Stunts and Firearms ReformsBoyup Brook, in the South West Region of WA, recently held a Nationals Party meeting where Labor's zealous and over-reaching firearms reforms were discussed.
If you're not aware of the situation, essentially, Labor are using their abundant balance of power to push through reforms which do nothing to target illegal firearms or criminals, but instead goes after law-abiding gun owners who use firearms for work, sport, or recreation.
In some cases, 100 + year old family heirloom firearms, handed down through the generations, are being seized and or destroyed for no good reason.
The narrative of...
2024-11-0214 minStation 70719: Matthew Evans on Milk, Soil, Cooking, Farming, Health, Shopping, Society...etc.As the title suggests, this conversation with Matthew Evans - Food critic, chef, author, farmer, TV series host and more, covers a lot topics.
I recently attended a talk by Matthew on Milk, his latest release, as he was touring WA and discussing his findings whilst researching for the book. Here's what it looks like if you're interested in getting a copy, which I highly recommend.
We discuss various farming practices, positives and negatives of the food industry, eating seasonally, milk, and importantly, what the best thing is to grow if you only h...
2024-10-2445 minStation 70718: The Real CostAt a request from several listeners, and out of an abundance of interest in the subject, it's time to talk about renewable energy. Alex Nichol joins me for the conversation today.
We did discuss this topic in episode #3, with Emily from Colbinabbin in Victoria, regarding the proposed solar plant lined up to go in on their prime agricultural region.
Today, we talk about the plans and proposals here in WA, and what we can learn from people's lived experience over East, and around the world.
It's impossible to summarise such a big topic, but...
2024-10-1453 minStation 70717: Alternatives to supermarkets - exploring options with the Food Connect Foundation.Emma-Kate Rose is the program director of Food Connect Foundation, based in Queensland, Australia.
For 18 years, Food Connect operated as a social enterprise, directly connecting farmers/growers with consumers in Brisbane.
Essentially, farmers within 5 hours of Brisbane would grow and deliver their goods to a central warehouse/homestead in the suburbs, where it would be packed into pre-purchased boxes and delivered to 70 different pick-up locations around Brisbane, such as homes, churches, or schools.
The effects were remarkable, two of the standout ones being that the food miles averaged 140km compared to the national ave...
2024-10-0719 minStation 70716: Anvil Hide LeatherworksEver had a great belt that lasted a really long time?
Or maybe a belt that only lasted 3 occasions before cracking/flaking?
Aaron from Anvil Hide, home of Australia's best, handmade leather products, joins us today to talk all things leather, including the different grades, tanneries, and even a bit about 'vegan leather' belts...you'll never guess what they're made of!
Anvil Hide belts come with a 7-year guarantee, and I believe there's even a new belt with a 100-year guarantee!
Support Aussie made and small businesses, and if you're in the...
2024-09-2727 minStation 70715: Paddock to plate vs corporate farm - with Patrick and Chloe from Tingle Ridge Farm.Paddock to plate is a common way to describe the process of farmers selling their products direct-to-consumer.
In the case of Tingle Ridge Farm and many other farms, this involves sending their pasture-raised lambs to the nearest abattoir for processing (custom kill in this instance, where it's only a small number for an individual business), and then they receive the carcass back and have it packed by a local butcher, ready to be delivered by the farmers themselves, straight to the consumer.
It's a great system, and one that is growing in popularity with both gr...
2024-09-2118 minStation 70714: Augustine AcademyStudying liberal arts, whilst also learning how to make cheese, grow vegetables and cure jerky, is not something that most training organisations offer...unless it's Augustine Academy.
Founded by Ben McCabe, who was home-schooled and farm-raised in Boddington WA, the academy is situated in Fitzroy Falls NSW and offers a 1-year course of study that challenges students in a way that simply does not exist in the mainstream education system.
History, literature, philosophy, theology, drama and debating, and a hefty dose of agriculture and nature, combine to offer students a single year that can assist t...
2024-09-1634 minStation 70713: Climate Change: The FactsJohn Abbot is a Senior Fellow in the Research Program at the IPA (Institute of Public Affairs), and also a contributing author and editor on several editions of, 'Climate Change The Facts'.
This book series, which contains contributions from many scientists and researchers across varying knowledge bases, offers an evidence-based approach to discussing the facts and myths around climate change (previously identifying as global warming), and follows the basic scientific process of challenging something until it can be proven, or disproven...as opposed to simply stated, repeated, and enacted.
John joins us today to discuss th...
2024-09-0931 minStation 70712: Studio Session - with AllyAlexandra Vyner is a close family friend from Sydney, who’s particular skill in making costumes led to her studying a degree in properties and objects at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, or NIDA.
Ally has now worked on several major movie productions that have filmed in Australia, and while she was visiting us at the farm, Ally was kind enough to join me in the studio for a catch up on how her studies have gone, what she has learned, and what she has been working on.
If you would like to su...
2024-09-0224 minStation 70711: Where are the farmers?CEO of WA Farmers, Trevor Whittington, joins us in this episode to discuss a range of topics, including:
- The varying assaults on private property ownership,
- The trend in the size of farms getting bigger and the number of farmers decreasing,
- Where people live and why,
- Comparisons from agricultural regions abroad,
- Sheep vs abattoirs
- Politics, and more.
Subscribe to be notified when new episodes release, and thanks for listening!
If you would like to support the work o...
2024-08-2522 minStation 70710: Sheep ahoy!If you want to know what the Sheep Live Export process is really like, you need to hear it from people in the industry, not the people stopping it.
Mandy joins us to talk about her experience working with livestock, how she came to WA and ended up sailing multiple live export voyages (and still is today), what the process is like on-board, at the destination port, and much more.
The Livestock Collective have some amazing videos and other info showcasing the entire live export process from paddock to processing. https://www.thelivestockcollective.com.au/
...
2024-08-1820 minStation 7079: Animals on Screen - Behind-the-scenes on an upcoming Aussie feature film.Filming animals for movies and productions is no easy feat, and training them to be camera-ready, harder still.
Farmer Nigel from York in WA has had an incredible life working with and training animals, and we'll hear more of his stories in time, but today he joins us to chat about his experience on the set of the upcoming Aussie feature film, Runt, starring quite a few of his animals, and plenty of dramas besides!
If you would like to support the work of Station 707, please follow one of these links:
htt...
2024-08-1115 minStation 7078: Policy Problems - Hon Nick Goiran MLCNick joins us today to discuss:
- A wide range of policy issues, including Firearms Legislation, Health and Education.
- His reasons for entering politics.
- The political landscape and culture now, and what it could be in the near future.
- Getting actively involved and the importance of knowing who you're voting for.
If you would like to support the work of Station 707, please follow one of these links:
https://buymeacoffee.com/station707
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JUQ7BKCY...
2024-08-0420 minStation 7077: Supermarket Price-Gouging 101Consumers are paying more, for less.
Farmers are getting paid less, for more.
Why is that? And how?
Jeremy Griffith, a member of the National Farmers Federal Horticulture Council, joins us to clearly explain the situation, how we got here, who's running the show, what it means for farmers and consumers, and what the future holds unless change is imminently brought about.
If you would like to support the work of Station 707, please follow one of these links:
https://buymeacoffee.com/station707
https://www.paypal.com...
2024-07-2822 minStation 7076: The Value of a LifeCurrently there is no legal requirement for trains to be lit to a particular standard in Australia.
80% of the 23,000 railway crossings in Australia don’t have warning lights.
The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator reports that 26% of railway collisions with vehicles at level crossings occur during night time hours.
The Jensen family, and many other families around Australia, have lost loved ones and family members in that 26%. These families have been advocating for improved visibility and lighting on trains, and at level crossings, for over 20 years.
The rail industry in...
2024-07-2128 minStation 7075: Choice and Change - with Louise O'Neill of Farm Life FitnessMaking difficult choices and navigating change doesn't have to be overwhelming.
Louise O'Neill is a wife, mother, founder of Farm Life Fitness, winner of the 2022 AgriFutures Western Australian Rural Women’s Award, and a good friend.
Farm Life Fitness has really grown and developed since I first spoke with Louise during our radio days, and she joins us now for an open and honest conversation to discuss:
- Choices: Our responsibilities, the importance of autonomy, and how to make difficult ones.
- Change: How to navigate change, what it can mean to us...
2024-07-1742 minStation 7074: Nationals Party WA interview - with Peter Rundle.Peter Rundle is the Deputy Opposition Leader in WA, and is also a farmer from Katanning.
We cover a broad range of local, political topics in this interview, and Peter also shares some personal insights as to the day-to-day workings of Parliament in WA.
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If you would like to support the work of Station 707, please follow one of these links:
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2024-07-1425 minStation 7073: Losing farm land to renewables - impacts on a rural community.Emily Hill is from Colbinabbin in Victoria. It's a small farming community, and a great wine growing region with a fantastic soil profile. Family farms and mixed enterprises are common.
There's plans afoot to install a massive solar plant right in the middle of it. Around 700,000 + panels on over 600ha of land.
Emily lays out the impacts this could potentially have on the region, and the families living and farming there.
If you live in Victoria, please consider signing this petition calling on the State Government to reconsider the application for the solar fac...
2024-07-1014 minStation 7072: Wool outlook in WA + live export ban effects - with Greg TilbrookGreg Tilbrook is the WA state wool and livestock manager with AWN Rural.
In this episode of Station 707, we catch up with Greg briefly to discuss the local outlook here in WA for the coming season or two, and also how the live export ban is affecting producers' decisions moving forward, and what the economic impacts of that may look like.
If you would like to support the work of Station 707, please follow one of these links:
https://buymeacoffee.com/station707
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=JUQ...
2024-07-0707 minStation 7071: Live Export with Steven Bolt from The Livestock CollectiveThe federal government decision to phase out live exports will have far reaching impacts, no matter where you live in Australia.
Steven Bolt wears many hats, but we are chatting to him today as a farmer, and as one of the directors of The Livestock Collective.
Steve talks about his farm, live export, and how it will affect and has already affected many industries and family businesses.
*At the time of recording, the live export phase out bill had not been passed. It now has been.
Links:
The Livestock Col...
2024-07-0717 minStation 707Welcome to Station 707A quick G'day and introduction to the show, your host, and an invitation.
Thanks for listening!
2024-07-0505 min