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 Group
SpaceWeather.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 Group

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.

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 full

This 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.