For those with a long history with Mount Gambier, shops and stores such as Fidler and Webb, Hustler’s and Moran and Cato are almost as iconic as the Blue Lake/Warwar itself. For this episode we are joined by long term residents of Mount Gambier as they share their stories and memories of these shops and learn how different the shopping experience was in times gone by.

Fame and infamy closely followed composer, traveling salesman and disabled war veteran Freddie Woodrow during most of his adult life.

Following his success with an album of war songs during the 1940’s, Woodrow arrived in Mount Gambier in 1951, with a song he dedicated to the Blue Lake city. A song that would raise $25,000 for the local community. But that’s not half the story.

Throw in an meeting with Phar Lap, a revolutionary toothbrush invention, and a high-profile court case and you’ve got one colourful, creative and cunning life story.

The Mount Gambier Library is a regional public library in the Limestone Coast of South Australia.

Mount Gambier local Greg Buck had a desire to create content and release it on his very own YouTube channel. The only thing stopping him was the knowledge and skills to create, edit and release his videos.

For this episode we chat with Greg to hear about his journey as a computer novice to YouTube creator releasing regular content on his channel ‘Dirty Socks.’ We talk about his journey, his content and how the Mount Gambier Library has helped him along the way.

#mentalhealth #publiclibrary #travel #caravan #adventures #lifelonglearning

Dirty Socks - Greg Buck YouTube Channel

Dirty Socks - Greg Buck Facebook Page

Local medical doctor, researcher, TEDx speaker, and advocate for rural health and pathology, Dr Harry Gaffney can now add children’s author to his to his impressive CV.

Dr Harry joins us for a special Storytime featuring his debut book “Tiny Adventures Inside Me: a Journey into Microbiology” and sticks around to chat about the transition from doctor to author and how he is making microbiology fun.

Bestselling Australian author Fiona Lowe can certainly tell a story. Whether it’s a tale from her life living across Papua New Guinea, the USA and Canada, her former career as a midwife, or the sweeping sagas from her impressive list of popular novels. In this episode of the Writers on the Road series, we are joined by Fiona and her collection of fascinating, funny and surprising tales from her extensive writing career, and some behind the scenes insights into her latest novel The Money Club.

If you have ever visited the Mount Gambier Library on a Wednesday afternoon you may have had the pleasure of hearing the sounds of fun and laughter echoing throughout the library. The chances are that this joy is coming from the Headspace LINK Group. For several years this group of 18 – 25 year old’s have made regular visits to the Mount Gambier Library and Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre for a wide range of activities. Join us for this episode as we talk to members of the group as well as key people who have made the partnership between the Mount Gambier Library and Headspace Mount Gambier a great success.

Moments before stepping onstage here at the Mount Gambier Library to launch her latest novel The Women’s’ Pages, internationally best selling Australian author and crowd favourite Victoria Purman joins us for the third instalment of the "Writers on the Road" series.

Victoria, with her trademark warmth and humour, shares with us her fascinating research and writing processes, her inspiration, and a glimpse of life in 1950’s Australia.

Join us for our second episode of our Writers on the Road series as we chat to Tricia Stringer just moments before her recent book launch at the Mount Gambier Library to promote her title ‘Keeping Up Appearances’. We chat about Tricia’s journey to bestselling and award-winning author and find out being a successful author is much more than just writing books.

On Wednesday February 16th 1983, much of southern Australia faced the deadliest bushfires in Australia’s history.  More than 180 fires swept across South Australia and Victoria destroying 2,000 homes and claiming the lives of 75 people. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday Bushfires, a day that remains imprinted in the memories who were witness to the ferocity and devastation. In this episode we speak to a variety of locals who share their memories of that horrific day. 

Key Topics:

Bushfires, Ash Wednesday, South Australia, Victoria, Disaster, Tarpeena, Mount Gambier, History, Emergency, Forest fires.