Open House Interviews

George Francis enlisted for WWII at the age of nineteen and spent his twenty first birthday in New Guinea on the Owen Stanley Ranges. He talked on Open House about faith under fire and the importance of a positive approach to life.

Flanders poppies have a special connection with World War One. Imagine the surprise art restoration expert, Professor Robyn Sloggett, got when she opened a letter from a soldier on the Western Front and out fell dried and pressed poppies from that battle field. On Open House she discussed the stories that are embodied in such simple objects and issues of culture, ownership and identity that arise in times of conflict.

The heroism of William Cooper, a Yorta Yorta elder who protested Nazism, will be honoured as part of a massive multi-media commemoration on the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in Fitzroy. Artistic and musical director for the performance, Warren Wills shared the story on 'Open House'.

AB Bishop has written a beautiful and practical guide to turning your garden into a habitat to attract native animals. She shares a wealth of advice and information in 'Habitat' including how to build places for all sorts of animals to congregate. There are even step by step guides to building an insect hotel and a bee apartment block.

Catholic theologian, Rev Dr Michael Trainor, warns Christians should understand the context of New Testament writings and that the anti semitic "Jews killed Jesus" tone arose from tensions between the Church and Synagogue when the stories were written down generations after the time of Jesus.

Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev made his public debut at nine and is an inspiring musical communicator. He is the grandson of famous Russian pianist Tatiana Nikolaeva who was a contemporary of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Brazil has just elected an extreme hardline conservative President who will take office on the 1st of January 2019. Dubbed the "Trump of the Tropics" Jair Bolsonaro is an ex-army captain who admires dictators, despises political correctness and has been described as one of the most extreme figures in global electoral politics. Melbourne University Latin American specialist Michelle Carmody spoke on Open House about his win.

How did Australia decide to join what started as a far way European conflict?  And why did they declare war on Germany 40 hours before Britain? Historian, Douglas Newton, told Open House that the offer of an expeditionary force on Monday 3 August 1914 far exceeded the measures agreed between Australia and Britain as necessary.