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You'd know the face, but you might not know that Mark Stevens, formally of the Herald Sun and Channel 7 Footy has been the Deputy Chief Of Staff and Head of Media for the Victorian Nationals for the past two and a half years.

He's got a few stories,  none of which he exposed too much of here - at least not as many as. would've liked,  but on his last day with the Nats before heading back home to the world of footy, Steveo sat down for a chat.

Now, my husband tells me I slip into "radio voice". when there's a mic in front of me, which I acknowledge at time and honestly,  I don't think it's that different tbh so imagine the absolute shock I got when I switched the mic on and El Steveo slipped into a personality we've not really seen in corridors of Parliament.

Steveo, it's been a blast.  Thank you and don't be a stranger!

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Forgive me. I have sinned.  It has been over three months since my last podcast upload and not because of any sort of Government mandated break.

I've just been head down, bum up getting things done, except for new podcast episodes that I already had recorded.

Anyway, nevermind. Here we are now with a chat I had with Leader of The Nationals Danny O'Brien at State Conference earlier this year.

This is the first chat with Danny since he became our esteemed leader but there will be more, so if you have any questions for him,  please - find me on socials and shoot through your questions.

Find information and social media links here: https://www.jadebenham.com.au/

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As the great Bill Belichick once said "True leadership is when you do the best thing for the team, knowing it's not the best thing for yourself."

David Littleproud has faced a pile on from the media in the past few weeks for digging in his heels and not compromising on whats best for regional Australia.  That is true leadership and he sat down with me at State Conference in Wodonga to unpack it a little,  talk about some of the rumours and reflect on what it means to be part of The Nationals.

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Hon. Tim Bull MP has taken the lead on the Kokoda scholarship program the Liberals & Nationals have been running over the past decade or so.

It fits - he is the Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs in Victorian Parliament and he's extremely passionate about it.

This year, we are launching the inaugural Farnsworth Lochhead Lowe Scholarship for senior students in the Mildura electorate to attend this pilgramage to Kokoda to walk in the footsteps of our fallen heroes who essentially helped save Australia from a Japanese invasion during World War II.

You can find out more about the Farnsworth Lochhead Lowe Scholarship program here: https://www.jadebenham.com.au/kokoda-trek/2025-farnsworth-lochhead-lowe-scholarship-recipients/

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Look, I never thought I'd see the UFU come on a Nats podcast.  History will show that we haven't been friends.  However, history also shows that I work with anyone if its in the best interests of my community.

Fortunately,  I have an excellent relationship with our UFU representatives in Mildura, as well as our professional firefighters at Station 72 and our CFA staff & volunteers so we can have some very frank conversations.

Luke Alexander is a born and bred Merbein boy and now one of the firefighters at station 72 in Mildura.  He loves it,  You can see how much he loves it and he's also our UFU rep, so he certainly lets me know when things are right.

Do I agree with the politicisation of our emergency services, no. But the unions do have a lot of power with the Labor Government so when Luke wants to come and explain to you why this is such a bad idea, I opened the doors wide.

The Emergency Services Volunteers Levy is just another tax that the Allan Labor Government have dressed up to appeal to the goodwill that the community has for firefighters.  But it's another tax and it's legislates cuts to the budgets of the CFA and FRV (Fire Rescue Victoria).

It will cost farmers 189% more on that fire services levy you get on your rates notice so local councils will cop the blame for it, meanwhile,  there's provision for this to fund new appliances and bloated pay packets,  but no guarantee it will come back to the communities it hurts the most.

It stinks and we're asking you to help us kill it.

Go to scrapthetax.com.au and sign the petition.

Find information and social media links here: https://www.jadebenham.com.au/

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If you've ever been to Olympic Park Speedway, at least in the past 30 years or so, or you've ever switched your wireless over to 1467 The River, then you'd know the gravely sounds of Damion Bradshaw.

I wanted to chat to Damo and Brenden Gledhill because between them they have over 50 years calling experience at Olympic Park.  However, Brendan was "unable to make it" when we recorded this pod back in March, so it was just Damo & I left to our own devices.

It did start out all about the speedway, then we somehow got onto Damo's ex-wife, retirement, Covid, aliens, the Jesuits & Elon Musk.  I know. It escalated quickly.

That's the kind of conversation I love though - when you just go wherever it takes you.

Here's a little insight into the mind of the man you hear daily on your wireless - Damion Bradshaw.

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It's been a long time in the making this election.

We knew it was coming, but no one knew exactly when, so the campaign has been on for a long long time.

Anne has rallied the LNP to be able to secure funding should we end up with a Dutton - Littleproud Government comen Saturday night.

We discuss her announcements, her work ethic and a whole raft of other issues in the half hour we both had spare.

This is stuff you'll never read in the paper and we're bringing it straight to your ears.

You're welcome.

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I thoroughly enjoy the art of conversation.  I hold it in high regard.
I’ve met and got to know a lot of different people from all walks of life Let’s say I have.a fascination with getting to understand what motivates different people. I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character.

It may be what has led me to follow interesting, slightly obscure sports people who I think will be incredible on a world stage.

Toby Hederics is a young man full of talent & common sense. 
Hederics is a name sonononous with motorsport, who is a rookie off to race the greatest, toughest, most prestigious rally on planet earth - Dakar.

This . Toby HedericsI think it’s living so close to death that make motorcycle riders the most down to earth, easy going, happy people I’ve ever met.

Toby Hederics is certainly no exception. 

Down to earth, grounded, hard working with a beaming smile - he is a bit of a freak on a motorcycle, just like my other Toby,  so who’s to say that he won’t make his mark on Dakar in the same vein as Price did?

Doing the post production on this episode, I had to giggle at the level of excitement contained within. Toby is very level headed - doing what he does in Nav Rally you have to be,  but I am, once again, a bit like a giggly fan girl - no keeping a lid on it at all. No keeping things cool, so bare with us.  We get there in the end, but I could sit and chat with Toby for hours just to unpick all of the intricacies of what he does. 

 It truly makes my head spin and I am in awe.

To follow Toby through Dakar, download the app - he is rider number 126, or follow along with my friend Conor McNally on SBS On Demand at the end of each day.

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This is one of my favourite chats. 
The location,  the people I was speaking too, the common sense that flowed from them, the ideas - it was everything.
Yes, it happened a while ago,  but I'm posting this chat with two members of Buloke-Loddon's Youth Parliament now.

DustyRaine & Fletcher presented a 'The Mandatory Concussion Education Bill 2024' and it passed with great support.

It was a great Bill largely written by Dusty who's a bit of an expert in the field and Fletcher with his first hand knowledge of PCS.

Have a listen to how bright our future is with young people like this to put in positions of leadership!

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** Before you start this podcast - please be aware that this could be quite traumatic for some listeners and it contains some very sensitive and personal recollections of traumatic events.**

Please be advised

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February 18 2006 is The Night The Phones Fell Silent.
It is a book that tells of Marco Medici’s accounts of that night and the after math that followed.
It's written by Nathan Carnie.

You’d remember Nathan from such books as "Monster of the Mallee", and he is one  incredibly fascinating human.  

In this episode we talk to both Nathan and Marco about that night and the feelings 18 years on from the event.

Again, another warning, there are very sensitive subjects discussed in this podcast, some of which may be triggering for you so please, listener discretion is advised.

We are in the planning stages of a series of fundraising events “Candid Conversations” and I am a little nervous as to what we might learn,  but if you do want to be on the list for extremely limited tickets,  please head to my website:  jadebenham.com.au

This is the link to buy the book from Nathan's website, or grab a copy from any of the local outlets.  Every copy sold helps to pay for a new memorial.
https://yourtownmurders.com/products/the-night-the-phones-fell-silent

Find information and social media links here: https://www.jadebenham.com.au/