The veteran Wiradjuri journalist spent his first year living in the wreck of a Model T Ford on a NSW mission. He has reported from China and North Korea, covered Nelson Mandela’s release, the death of Princess Diana, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and reported from outside Osama bin Laden’s house after he was killed.

His father was a hard man and an itinerant sawmiller who taught Stan the lessons he would need to survive and thrive as he grew older.

On the surface, Stan seemed disinterested in his studies, but he memorised everything he learned and gathered his knowledge for the future.

The family moved to Canberra when Stan was a teenager and suddenly the world opened up for him.

Further information

Originally broadcast May 2013.

This episode was produced by Michelle Ransom-Hughes and the Executive Producer is Carmel Rooney.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode of Conversations touches on Indigenous family, Wiradjuri country, tabloid TV, racism, fatherhood, fathers, origin stories, personal stories, epic life stories, family dynamics, First Nations, news reporting and international news and journalism.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.