Gold Coast motivational speaker Damien Rider is on a transcontinental odyssey of the United States spreading his message about dealing with trauma.

Damien knows a bit about it as a survivor of child sexual abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

He’s visiting prisons, homeless shelters and suicide prevention groups and tells Mark his One Breath Tour is as much as about learning from others as sharing his experiences.

There are ructions at the top of the state Labor government with reports that members of the party’s right faction are working to undermine the left’s standard bearer and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.

It is claimed Ms Trad is being blamed, at least in part, for Federal Labor’s failure in Queensland because of her stance on the Adani Carmichael coal mine.

The Courier Mail’s Steven Wardill tells Mark it’s a bit like a political Hunger Games.

There is perhaps no more iconic Australian television show than Skippy.

By the time the last of its 91 episodes was filmed in 1969 the show was being watched by more than 300 million people in 128 countries around the world.

In fact, Skippy can still be seen on the Nine Network.

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia has just launched an online tribute to celebrate the show and broadcast curator Bronwyne Barnett tells Mark it is filled with magic moments and rarities.

www.nfsa.gov.au/skippy

The internet is a wonderful tool for children but it comes with significant risks ranging from online bullying to sexual predators.

A new report Parenting in the digital age done by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner finds only 46% of parents feel confident in dealing with the risks their children might face.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant tells Mark there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach but parents need to educate themselves.

When the Rosalie Marist College closed its doors in 2008 it was based on the belief that families were abandoning the innercity in favour of the outer suburbs.

Now 11 years later there are hopes the school will be resurrected as inner city living proves increasingly popular.

The push is coming from a group of dedicated Rosa Old Boys including Joe Nowak who tells Mark it could become a highrise school.

At a loose end for something to do in the great southeast this weekend?

Well, you’ll have no excuses after listening to Olympia’s What’s On.

John Fleming made his name on the Australian entertainment scene as one half of the comedy duo the Scared Weird Little Guys but now he’s transformed into a Dirty Rascal.

Dirty Rascal is the name of the new rock band he’s in along with former Men at Work drummer Jerry Speiser.

On the back of their new album You Be The King the band plays the Milk Factory in South Brisbane next Friday and John tells Mark it’s no laughing matter.

Under pressure following Labor’s poor election showing the Palaszczuk Government has given bureaucrats three weeks to finalise the approvals process for the Adani Carmichael coal mine.

The move has been roundly welcomed with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying it is time just to “get on with it.”

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane tells Mark all the delays and hurdles put in Adani’s path just “don’t add up.”

Adani Australia boss Lucas Dow today got his promised meeting with the Queensland Coordinator General and top bureaucrats to work on a clear timetable on the outstanding approvals for the Carmichael coal mine.

The mine still requires the Palaszczuk Government to tick off on its water management plan and conservation plan for the Black Throated Finch.

Lucas tells Mark there has been a significant shift in the government’s handling of the project and it was a constructive meeting.

There are many ways to see southern Africa but there can few more genteel and romantic ways to travel than by luxury train carriage.

There are a range of five star options in southern Africa including one operator that has beautifully rebuilt vintage carriages and caters to a relatively small number of discerning passengers in superbly appointed suites.

Sean Lues from Journeys Worldwide tells Mark the rail network gives travelers access to some of southern Africa’s greatest treasures.