Stars and Stories: The Black Star Radio Podcast

Herberton Jacaranda Festival: A Weekend of Purple, Music and Family Fun

In this episode, MJ chats with Ros about Herberton's Jacaranda Festival and the weekend of celebrations planned for the town.

Ros talks about the jacaranda trees bursting into purple flowers, Saturday's family fun day on Grace Street, local performers, Tin Town Market and the best dressed in purple competition.

There's also free entry to the mining museum, a chance to try your hand at gold panning, and plenty of activities for the whole family.

And the celebrations continue on Sunday at the railway station, with a special 120th birthday celebration and a steampunk theme.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

Learn more about the festival here:

https://www.facebook.com/jacarandafestivalherberton

Skin Sores or a Sore Throat? Here's Why You Should Get Them Checked

In this episode, MJ speaks with Dr Allison Hempenstall, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service Public Health Medical Officer, about an outbreak of Acute Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis (APSGN) at the Injinoo community in the Northern Peninsula Area. Four cases of APSGN have been confirmed to date.

Dr Allison explains the Symptoms to look out for which are skin sores, itch from scabies, or a sore throat. A puffy face and limbs, or sometimes reddish to dark urine.

Any children found to have skin sores or sore throats will be offered a simple course of antibiotics to prevent them developing APSGN.

She also outlines the signs parents should look out for, including puffy eyes or feet and dark, cola-coloured urine, and discusses plans for public health teams to visit schools and homes to check children's skin and help identify infections.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

What can you do now to prepare for cyclone and flood season, before a warning is issued?

Get Ready Queensland Ambassador Johnathan Thurston joins MJ to talk about his recent visit to Far North Queensland communities still recovering from cyclones and floods, and why getting prepared now can make a difference when disaster strikes.

JT shares practical advice on emergency supplies, staying up to date with local weather warnings and checking in on neighbours who might need a hand.

He also talks footy with MJ, reflecting on the North Queensland Cowboys' season and looking ahead to next year.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

Get Ready Queensland Learn More here

In this episode, MJ speaks with Rex O’Rourke, Chief Executive of the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, about the new $35.4 million Pormpuraaw Primary Healthcare Centre.

Rex explains what the new facility offers, including a resuscitation room, treatment room, X-ray and ultrasound facilities, and six consultation rooms for local and visiting health services.

He also discusses the next stage of the project, which includes plans for a culturally safe morgue, landscaping and artwork developed with local community members.

The community is invited to a public viewing on Wednesday, 14 October, from 11.30am, at the clinic’s main entrance on Yalu Street. There will be traditional dancing, lunch and an opportunity to meet the team.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

A New Chapter for the Tablelands: Meet Mayor Kevin Cardew

In this episode, MJ speaks with Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Kevin Cardew about his first council meeting and what he wants to see happen across the region.

Kevin talks about receiving more than 70% of the vote in the recent mayoral election, his six years as a councillor and his approach to making changes while working with the rest of council.

He also discusses some of the major issues and projects ahead, including proposed traffic lights at Drove Street and the highway, a new sewage treatment plant for Atherton and the development of a new town planning scheme to help manage growth across the Tablelands.

Kevin also talks about the importance of volunteers, improving the look of town centres and the community groups helping make the Tablelands such a great place to live.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

In this episode, Michael speaks with Gerald Quigley, pharmacist and Master Herbalist, about prostate checkups and what can happen when a PSA test comes back elevated.

Gerald talks about the anxiety many men experience when they're told they need further investigation and why some men may switch off when they're confronted with information they're not comfortable with.

He also discusses the Prostate Cancer Foundation's Telly Nursing service, which provides a trained male to talk through the information you've been given and help explain what your options may be.

Gerald explains why having a conversation and understanding what you've been told can be important, rather than putting it off and hoping everything will be fine.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Prostate Cancer Specialist Telenursing Service

The number 1800 22 00 99 is the nationwide helpline for the Prostate Cancer Specialist Telenursing Service, which is a free telehealth service run by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).

Learn more: https://www.pcfa.org.au/prostate-cancer-specialist-telenursing-service

Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

Meet Gerald

Gerald Quigley is a practising Community Pharmacist, as well as an Accredited Herbalist.

Gerald is a Pharmacist and Master Herbalist based in Melbourne. He is a media health commentator heard each week on many radio stations.   

He is co-hosts the House of Wellness radio program heard each Sunday on the Nine Radio Network live across Australia. 

Gerald is a Fellow of the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia and Fellow of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society. 

Gerald’s passion is to empower each person to make sensible health decisions, and to continually maintain and improve their quality of life, especially as they age. 

Contact: https://www.geraldquigley.com/contact

In this episode, MJ speaks with Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Chad King about the Barra Bash and what's planned for the big fishing weekend.

Chad talks about the prizes up for grabs, including a $30,000 boat supplied by Bill's Marine, and explains why you'll need to be at Blanco Park on Sunday afternoon if your number is drawn to win it.

He also reveals a change to the barra competition this year, with the winner being the heaviest barramundi caught that is no more than 85 centimetres long.

There are also categories for queenfish, mangrove jack, fingermark, bluebone, bream and salmon, plus separate categories for junior anglers.

Chad says the event is bringing together local anglers, families from Weipa, tourists from across Cape York and visitors from further south for a family-friendly weekend of fishing and community.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

In this episode, MJ chats with Greg Bowden, General Manager Placemaking at Tablelands Regional Council, about some of the things happening across the Tablelands over the long weekend.

Greg runs through the markets, live music and movies happening across the region, including the night markets at Priors Creek Parklands, live music at Mount Uncle Distillery and the Creekside Cinema.

He also talks about Gem Fest at the Tolga Racecourse and why it's worth taking a closer look at the rocks and gems on display.

And for the mountain bikers, Trail 12 has reopened at the Tablelands Mountain Bike Park after work by the local mountain biking community and trail designers.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

In this episode, MJ speaks with Dr Sarah Pye, the author of Curious Kai Asks Why, a children's book that follows Kai and her mum as they travel around Queensland, meeting scientists and learning about the natural world.

Sarah shares the story behind the book and how her interest in endangered wildlife began with

a trip to Borneo, where she met a conservationist working to save a species from extinction.

That experience eventually led Sarah to write about endangered wildlife and connect children with the scientists and people working to understand and protect it.

Sarah also talks about the real scientists featured in Curious Kai Asks Why, including experts from Far North Queensland, and her upcoming Tablelands workshops, where children and adults can explore wildlife, science, writing and even build a rainforest in a jar.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

Dr Sarah Pye

Connect here

In this episode, MJ speaks with Dr Graham Lauriston from Tropical Vets Atherton about cassowaries and a very unusual member of his team, a cassowary skeleton named Victor.

Graham explains how Victor came to be, why cassowary skeletons are so interesting, and what makes their anatomy unique, including the many vertebrae that connect the head to the rest of the body.

Victor will also be making an appearance at workshops at Atherton Library and Malanda Library, alongside Dr Sarah Pye and Curious Kai.

Graham talks about what cassowaries eat, where they live, the threats they face around roads and rainforest edges, and why protecting their habitat is so important.

He also shares what to do if you come across a cassowary in the wild, including why you shouldn't turn and run and how to give the bird plenty of space.

Listen to the full conversation.

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Stars and Stories

Broadcasting straight from the heart of Remote Communities, Black Star Radio brings a fresh twist to local radio with stories, music, and connections that matter. Powered by Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM), we’re here to amplify voices, celebrate culture, and bring you the latest from Far North Queensland.

Learn more: https://blackstarradio.com.au

Meet Dr Graham Lauriston

Graham started working in Tully in 1996 and enjoys all aspects of Veterinary work in Tropical North Queensland. Working with ‘All Creatures, great and small’, he can never decide which animal species is actually his favourite. He can be out with cattle and horses one day, and in the clinic dealing with a dog with a broken leg the next.

Graham works in conjunction with the Qld Department of Environment on the region’s iconic endangered species, the Cassowary, and has written several scientific articles on their care and anaesthesia. He also travels into Cape York to assist the Aboriginal Shire Councils in improving the welfare of the animals that live in these communities.