Big Little Small Talk

Julz McBain is a surprise package from start to finish. She moved to Toowoomba in 2023 after her marriage ended. During this time she completed a full-time fashion marketing degree (with high distinctions!) and continued to raise her two small children.Julz is now the co-founder and creative director of the Toowoomba Fashion Festival. It’s a high end event, sure to put Toowoomba on the design map.Julz has also just launched Fashion Field Magazine, a digital publication focused on conscious consumerism and thoughtful industry conversations.

Mick Metcalfe joined the Queensland Ambulance Service in 1991. He has held various roles from Union Delegate to Deputy Assistant Commissioner, all the while dipping in and out of the job of a first responder.

Mick is sanguine about his work “people die all the time” he says. “Sometimes the most important thing you can do is be there in their hour of need”.

Mick speaks candidly about his upbringing; his family of origin and his family of creation. A compelling listen.

Mark O’Brien is a man of many talents. He’s an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur, he’s a former mayor and aspirational State Member.

From a young child Cassie Carson loved cars and four wheel driving. But she recognised that it wasn’t a safe space for women.

She decided to create a business that would teach women how to be outside in their cars and allow them the freedom of adventure.

A lot of Cassie’s ideas revolve around empowering women to believe in themselves and to celebrate their healthy bodies with healthy minds.

John Elliott has lived a rich and varied life; from radio DJ to tourism officer. However John’s greatest love has always been photography.

He’s photographed everyone from Chad Morgan to Dame Edna Everage and Slim Dusty (arm in arm).

John describes his photography as “social documentary making”. His photographs are beautiful and evocative, his story compelling.

His exhibition 'Almost A True Story' is now on display at the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery until February 23, 2025.

In a fair life, nobody should have to sit beside a hospital bed with their loved one on life support. Mel Lancaster has had to do it twice.

In May 2009 Mel’s 16 year old son Henry was involved in a tragic car accident. Her loving husband Gary helped her grieve and remember Henry with grace.

Fast forward 15 years and Mel is sitting beside Gary’s hospital bed. Mel says this of Henry and Gary “speak their name, when you speak of them to me, it’s music to my ear”

This episode may contain themes that may be distressing for some listeners.

When 143 graves were vandalised in the Drayton and Toowoomba cemetery in August 2024, local columnist Greg Johnson wrote a call to arms. He expressed his sadness that the forebears of this region had been disrespected. Who could help? What could you offer in terms of reparation? A group of over 30 people came together and project “Headstone Healing Project” was underway.

Today Megan chats with four members of the group; Founder’s Jim O’Dea and Greg Johnson, Marie Green from Toowoomba & Darling Downs Family History Society and Lisa Herbert from Cemetery Tours Toowoomba.

Jeremy Rhode own a place where “you can find books that are looking for you”. Jeremy’s Book Exchange is his life, work and passion.

He went from being a dyslexic child to writing and publishing children’s books and owning a bookstore. His love of reading runs deep, but he won’t finish a book if it doesn’t grab him.

Life is too short and there’s too many good books to read.

Reverend Yvonne McRostie’s signature tune is “I am Women”. She’s an independent woman who loves to preach. She brings her unique perspective to her ministry.

She’s a Director, an Advisor, a Speaker and an honorary Toowoomba-ite.

Kylie Sprott is all this and so much more. She is a professional woman who is going places….fast.

But where Kylie really likes to go is a small village in Scotland where her grandmother hails from. Kylie revels in her Scottish history and shares her incredible life’s journey thus far.