Keys to Macarthur

What does it take to ride at four Olympic Games, win three medals, and get back in the saddle just weeks after breaking your pelvis, femur, ribs and vertebrae?

On this episode of Keys to Macarthur, host Stuart Davies from McGrath Camden sits down with local legend Shane Rose, a four-time Olympic equestrian based at Bimbadeen Park in Menangle. Shane explains the sport of eventing (think triathlon, but with a horse), shares what a 50-horse working day looks like, and talks through his Olympic medals at Beijing, Rio and Tokyo.

He also opens up about beating thyroid cancer, his remarkable recovery to compete at Paris 2024, the bond with his champion horse Virgil, and yes, the infamous mankini moment that went global. Plus, why Camden could be the next big home for elite eventing, and whether LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 are on the radar.

Chapters
0:00 Welcome & eventing explained
2:17 From pony club to a crossroads: rugby or horses?
6:24 Bimbadeen Park & a day in the life
12:03 Second careers for off-the-track thoroughbreds
21:11 The Olympic journey: Beijing, Rio & Tokyo
31:27 Virgil, All Luck & CP Qualified
35:32 The Camden Equestriad & bringing big events to Macarthur
45:05 The horse–rider bond & building an Olympian
53:02 Beating cancer & the road to Paris 2024
1:07:07 The mankini, LA 2028 & advice for young riders

About Keys to Macarthur
Conversations with the people, businesses and stories that make the Macarthur region special. Hosted by Stuart Davies, McGrath Camden.

#ShaneRose #Eventing #Equestrian #Olympics #Camden #Macarthur #KeysToMacarthur #McGrathCamden #LA2028 #Brisbane2032

This week on Keys to Macarthur, Stuart sits down with Tim Pickles, the nurseryman behind Tim’s Garden Centre in Campbelltown and one of the most recognised faces in Australian gardening on social media.

Tim bought his Campbelltown nursery in 1986. He tells how a poor HSC result led him into an orchid nursery, then night classes in horticulture, then running Flower Power Fairfield, where one simple pricing rule lifted sales by 25%. He looks back on 40 years of change in Campbelltown and why fewer people garden on today’s smaller blocks.

Tim also explains how he built an audience of millions by telling stories instead of advertising specials. He shares his easy roast potato soup recipe and the right way to start a garden on Macarthur clay: don’t dig a hole, build up on top. He finishes with the potting mix trial that showed half the “Australian Standard premium” mixes tested couldn’t grow a lettuce, and why bad potting mix is turning would-be gardeners away.

📍 Tim’s Garden Centre, 2 Queen Street, Campbelltown (corner of the Moore Oxley Bypass)
 🌐 timsgardencentre.com.au
 📱 Follow Tim’s Garden Centre on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Tim's move to Campbelltown in 1986
00:59 From a poor HSC to a career in horticulture
03:03 Flower Power Fairfield and the pricing rule that lifted sales 25%
07:56 How Campbelltown has changed over 40 years
10:38 Small blocks, busy lives and fewer gardeners
15:19 Spring planting, cordylines and choosing plants by aspect
19:03 Privacy, trees and why leaves are tomorrow's soil
25:00 Spring rush and gardening as therapy
29:13 Tree canopy, heat and a new idea for street trees
34:26 Native trees, mangoes and avocados in Macarthur
42:55 Social media, storytelling and Tim's potato soup
54:48 Starting a garden on clay, compost and Tim's Best Potting Mix

Keys to Macarthur is brought to you by McGrath Camden.

For 33 years, Tanya Whitehouse OAM has stood beside women navigating the court system at the Macarthur Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service. She joins Keys to Macarthur to talk about establishing Blue Wren House, the state of the sector, and why she keeps showing up.

Content note: this episode discusses domestic and family violence. Support details are below.

Tanya Whitehouse OAM has spent 33 years at the Macarthur Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service — long enough to have watched the law, the language and the community's willingness to talk about domestic violence all shift around her. She was integral to establishing Blue Wren House, Camden Women's Shelter, and today convenes the Camden/Wollondilly DV Committee while sitting on the Campbelltown DV Committee.

In 2020 she received a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through welfare initiatives, the highlight among multiple awards across her career. Her focus hasn't changed in three decades: being the voice for women who haven't yet found theirs.

Chapters

• 0:00 — Welcome, and introducing Tanya Whitehouse OAM
• 0:37 — Seven hours a week, two small kids, and shorthand
• 1:26 — Tea ladies at court: what's changed in 33 years
• 4:42 — What a WDVCAS actually does: Safer Pathway and 130 referrals a week
• 7:18 — Working alongside police, prosecutors and the courts
• 11:06 — The forms DV takes: coercive control, financial, spiritual abuse
• 12:19 — Older women, lifetimes of abuse, and "can I go and have a cup of tea now?"
• 17:20 — Tanya's challenge to faith and community leaders
• 23:46 — Resilience, and the privilege of watching a woman find her voice
• 41:20 — The biggest gap in the system: housing and cost of living
• 49:46 — The OAM: "I'm just little old Tanya from Campbelltown"
• 55:50 — If you're in a DV situation: first steps, safety planning, hidden apps
• 1:02:44 — The Say No to DV Breakfast, and closing thoughts

Support

• NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 463 (24/7)
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 (24/7 national counselling)
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491

In this episode we sit down with John Macarthur-Stanham, the current custodian of one of Australia's most historically significant colonial estates, to talk about what it means to inherit not just a house and its gardens, but a responsibility that stretches back generations and forward well beyond his own.

John grew up on the property and, alongside his wife Edwina, has spent years continuing the conservation work begun by his parents, Quentin and Antonia. It's a story about far more than heritage architecture and rare plants — it's about the people who make preservation possible, the agricultural enterprises that keep the estate sustainable, and the practical, often unglamorous work of protecting something nationally significant for the long term.

In this conversation we cover John's path from an economics degree and a corporate career to full-time stewardship, the volunteer groups and community that have grown up around Camden Park, the digital effort to open its garden history to the world, and most importantly where the estate goes from here.

CHAPTERS

0:00 The Macarthur legacy: seven generations at Camden Park
5:52 Taking on Camden Park & preserving it
10:51 The garden, nursery & open days
13:00 The land and its industries
19:30 Threats, community & the Macarthur papers
24:26 The next generation, career & what endures

FOLLOW US

• Instagram: @keystomacarthur → https://www.instagram.com/keystomacarthur

You spoke, we listened. After the response to his last appearance, our great friend of the show Glen Denholm is back — and this time the conversation goes somewhere far more personal.

In this episode, we take a candid, unfiltered look at Glen's years as a police officer. He opens up about what the job was really like: the split-second decisions, the gunfights he found himself in, and the times he put his body on the line without hesitation. But this conversation goes beyond the adrenaline. Glen gets honest about the parts of the job that don't make the headlines — dealing with deceased persons, the scenes that never leave you, and the lasting toll that this work takes on police and first responders long after they hang up the uniform.

We talk about the mental and emotional weight first responders carry, why so many struggle in silence, and how these experiences shape a person for life. It's a raw and important conversation about resilience, trauma, and the human cost behind the badge.

Whether you caught Glen's first episode or you're meeting him for the first time, this one stands on its own and it may stay with you.

In this episode:

• Why Glen is back, and the feedback that brought him here
• Life on the force: what the job actually demanded
• The gunfights and the moments Glen put himself in the line of fire
• Dealing with death on the job — and the scenes that stay with you
• The long-term impact of trauma on police and first responders
• An honest look at mental health
• Where Glen has landed after it all

This is a heavier episode than usual, but an important one. Thank you, as always, for listening — and for the feedback that keeps these conversations going.

If this episode raises anything for you, support is available. In Australia, you can reach Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

From a boy learning to box under his great uncles to being named Inheritor and Head of the TKD Kwon Bop Do Federation, Master Nick Donato has spent more than fifty years dedicated to martial arts. In this episode he traces a journey that runs through the golden era of Australian boxing, the arrival of Tae Kwon Do and Ju Jitsu on our shores, and the mentors who shaped him along the way.

About the Guest

Master Nick Donato's martial arts story began in the late 1960s, boxing as a boy under great uncles who fought in the 1930s and '40s. Between 1973 and 1975 he trained at Penrith PCYC alongside Ted McKenzie, a sparring partner of World Bantamweight Champion Jimmy Carruthers. In 1974 he took up Tae Kwon Do and Ju Jitsu under Steve Wilson at Warrimoo Community Centre.

After moving from the Blue Mountains to Campbelltown in 1980, he continued his Tae Kwon Do under Grand Master Chong Chul Rhee and Geoff Stubbs. Over the following decades he trained with a remarkable roll call of masters — Graham Johnston, John Gallegari, Jim Sheedy, Andrew Darlington, and Sensei Ben Di Pede, from whom he earned a Menkyo teaching license in 1998. In 1995 he began training under Grandmaster Joe Onopa, and following Onopa's passing in 2010 was appointed by the family and senior Grandmasters as Inheritor, International Director, and Head of the TKD Kwon Bop Do Federation.

Today, Master Donato is a full-time professional martial arts instructor with over 55 years of experience, who has travelled throughout Asia and America to teach, test, and study the arts, and has been inducted into numerous martial arts halls of honour.

Featured Book

Master Donato has published his memoir, The Memoirs of Master Nick Donato: My Journey as an Aussie Martial Artist — a candid, honest account of the trials and lessons behind his lifelong pursuit of the arts. It's a story with something for readers from any walk of life, not just martial artists.

📖 Grab a copy here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Memoirs-Master-Nick-Donato-Journey/dp/1958037168/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Glen Denholm, a legendary Australian horseman with over 60 years of experience in the saddle and arena. 

Glen has broken in, handled and started approximately 2,000 horses throughout his career and shares his incredible journey from a 2-year-old discovering his passion for horses to becoming a respected equestrian educator and performer.

In this episode, Glen discusses:
- His journey into horsemanship and why he fell in love with horses
- 60+ years of riding and driving experience
- Working with the Royal Agricultural Society on iconic productions including "The Man from Snowy River"
- Performing the State Funeral for R.M. Williams in Queensland
- Unforgettable moments with his beloved horse Doublet
- Film, TV, and arena work in the equestrian industry
- The art of stock whip making

Glen represents the true spirit of Australian horsemanship - combining practical expertise, genuine passion, and a commitment to sharing his knowledge with the next generation.

In this episode of The Keys to Macarthur, we're joined by David Funnell OAM, a name synonymous with both business and community service in Camden.

David founded Funnells Electrical back in 1969, when Camden was still a small rural township. More than five decades on, Funnells Electrical has grown into the trusted name in electrical service and maintenance across greater southwest Sydney, now employing over two dozen electricians with radio-controlled mobile vans, servicing commercial, industrial and residential clients throughout the region.

Beyond business, David has spent decades giving back to the area that shaped him. He served for years as a Councillor and Deputy Mayor on Camden Council, sat as a community representative on both the Camden Bicentennial Park and Camden Town Farm committees, and was named Camden Citizen of the Year in 2018 in recognition of his long-standing dedication to the region.

Most recently, David was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours List, for his service to local government and the Camden community — capping off more than 50 years of contribution to the place he calls home.

We talk about what's changed in Camden, building a business that's lasted generations, and what community service has meant to him along the way.

Whether you're a local business owner, long-time Camden local, or new to the area — this one's a great look at the people who've helped shape Macarthur into what it is today.

In the debut episode of The Keys to Macarthur, we sit down with Camden Mayor Therese Fedeli — one of the most influential figures shaping the future of Sydney's southwest.

Cr Fedeli has served on Camden Council since 2012 and has been Mayor since 2019. A trailblazer in regional governance, she recently made history as the elected Chair of the Western Parkland Councils' Mayoral Forum — a unique alliance of eight councils operating in partnership with the NSW and Australian governments under the Western Sydney City Deal.

In this conversation, we explore what it takes to lead one of Australia's fastest-growing regions — from major infrastructure challenges like the Oran Park rail line and Spring Farm Parkway, to community moments like the Menangle Store fire. Mayor Fedeli also opens up about her Italian heritage, her passion for getting younger people involved in local government through Rotary, and her vision for Camden over the next five years.

Whether you're a local resident, a business owner, or simply curious about what drives growth in Sydney's southwest — this episode is your inside look at the people and decisions shaping the Macarthur region.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Introduction
01:28 — Meet Therese Fedeli
02:02 — Which ward does she represent?
02:34 — Is local government political?
03:21 — Why run for Mayor a second time?
04:07 — Rotary Club & engaging younger people in local government
05:30 — A passion for local government
06:32 — What's changed in Camden during her second term?
08:10 — The case for a rail line to Oran Park and Narellan
09:07 — Tackling parking in Camden
11:08 — A day in the life of the Mayor & the importance of family
14:40 — Italian heritage & identity
16:07 — Key council milestones for 2026
18:45 — Where will Camden be in five years?
20:39 — Growth, change & Western Sydney Airport infrastructure
22:12 — The Nurses Quarters on Menangle Road — are there council plans?
23:08 — The Spring Farm Parkway issue
24:34 — The Menangle Store fire & advocating for community support
26:19 — Outro