Advertise on podcast: Great Australian Lives with Laura Turner

Join Laura Turner and her guest June Factor. June is a much loved children's book writer responsible for titles like Far Out, Brussel Sprout! and All Right Vegemite! She's also a highly respected folklorist and social historian. Her new book Soldiers and Aliens explores some of the lesser know stories of World War Two and the men who served in the Australian Employment Companies. For more information about June's work and book click HERE. This program is proudly supported by Tobin Brothers Funerals - celebrating lives. Great Australian Lives is produced, engineered and edited by Jane Nield for SEN.

aura Turner catches up with mental health pioneers who are working to remove the stigma of complex mental health issues and support families in need as the leaders of SANE - CEO of SANE Rachel Green & SANE Founder Dr. Margaret Leggatt. For more information about SANE head to www.sane.org SANE was born out of a movement of people looking to remove stigma and create better support and opportunities for people and families facing schizophrenia and other complex mental health difficulties. This came after the deinstitutionalisation of many vulnerable patients, without the integration knowledge to allow for them to thrive, where SANE worked to remove stigma from those families and patients that were vulnerable, working to improve services and improve awareness of mental health issues.

Laura Turner catches up with award-winning journalist, acclaimed author, leader of public debate with over 25 years' experience across radio, newspapers and TV - Madonna King. Madonna has spent her career writing in depth about politics, education, health, crime and business; and has built her expertise on the most pressing issues confronting teenage girls, publishing her findings in her novels 'Being 14' and 'Fathers and Daughters', among others. Her vast knowledge is sought by governments and corporations in the hopes of better understanding this influential, yet vulnerable part of the population, as well as being the Chair of the Queensland Anti-Cyber Bullying Taskforce in 2018. Madonna writes weekly columns for Fairfax Media for the past six years, and has worked previously writing weekly columns for the Courier-Mail, and has appeared on television programs including breakfast programs, The Drum & Q&A. It is with her vast knowledge that Madonna is able to conducts podcast tailored to teachers about professional development, and has worked alongside several universities on a range of programs that need moderators who can cut through complex debates to come to clearer and more finite resolutions. Madonna has just released her brand new book - 'L Platers: How to support your teen daughter on the road to adulthood.' Listen to some of her amazing stories, lives she has changed and all about her new books!

Join Laura Turner and guest Sandi Logan. Sandi is an award winning senior communications and issues management executive who started out as a journalist in the mid 70s and early 80s before transitioning into public affairs diplomacy in the foreign service - a role which saw him posted to Papua New Guinea, Germany and Washington DC. From there he threw himself into the cut and thrust of Australian politics in Canberra as a spokesperson for various departments, agencies and ministers before turning his hand to consulting as a communications strategist. He's now added author to his resume and has just published a fascinating true crime tale - Betrayed: The incredible untold inside story of the two most unlikely drug-running grannies in Australian history. For more information about Sandi's book and his work you can visit his website www.sandiloganauthor.com HERE. Great Australian LIves is proudly presented by Tobin Brothers Funerals Celebrating Lives. This show is produced, engineered and edited by Jane Nield for SEN.

Join Laura Turner and her guest Sally Warriner. Sally has just released a new memoir, 'Not Just the Wife of the General Manager - Life in the Outback'; a fascinating memoir of her life on outback cattle stations that pays homage to countless unsung heroes - just like herself. Her story begins after hitchhiking to Australia's far north in the 1980's while she was in her early twenties, where Sally stayed instead of returning home to Canberra where Sally married a cattle manager. Her life was filled with farm work consisting of 14 hour days, working 7 days a week alongside her husband until she was 50; before something inside her snapped and she came to the realisation that there is more that she wants to accomplish in her life, deciding to leave that life behind for something greater. As well as being 'just' a wife of a station manager during her stay up in Northern Australia, she was also a nurse (and working alongside with The Royal Flying Doctors), she was a dedicated mother to several children (not all of them her own children), a travel agent, a social secretary, and a high-profile event host and organiser for some of Australia's most prominent figures in her time. Her story is one built on resilience, adventure, journey, courage, overcoming vast obstacles and so much more across her encompassing and captivating life journey. Listen to her unique and fascinating story! Great Australian LIves is proudly presented by Tobin Brothers Funerals Celebrating Lives. This show is produced, engineered and edited by Jane Nield for SEN.

Join Laura Turner and her guest Professor Elaine Fox. Elaine is considered a pioneer in her field - she's a world leading experimental psychologist, an expert in the science of optimism and emotions and a performance coach who draws on the wisdom gained in 25 years of scientific research to help top athletes, military leaders and business professionals harness their potential. She's currently a Professor of Psychology and head of the school of psychology at the University of Adelaide. Somehow she find the time to write as well and has just released her latest book Switchcraft in which she explores the potential for all of us to master a set of skills we need to navigate a complex and uncertain world and restore our fulfilment, curiosity and zest for life. You can conect with Professor Elaine Fox on Instagram HERE. Great Australian Lives is proudly supported by Tobin Brothers Funerals. This program is produced, engineered and edited by Jane Nield for Sport Entertainment Network

Laura Turner's guest this week is Fergus Watts. Fergus is a businessman, former AFL Player and current CEO of The Reach Foundation, Fergus Watts. Originally from England, Watts was educated at Wesley College before being selected as a first round draft pick for the Adelaide Crows in the 2003 AFL Draft, before an injury marred his career by 2007, forcing him to retire from footballing competitions. After football, and at just 23 years old, Fergus then started his own entertainment, sports and marketing agency which became Bastion Collective. Bastion Collective evolved over the years to accommodate more than 100 employees, with offices around the world and evolved to have various subsidiaries to ensure that the markets that they were in were being effectively catered for, and today is valued as a $20 billion company and is continuing to grow each day. Fergus has has just been named the CEO of The Reach Foundation, an organisation that is looking to tackle the mental health crisis head on. Fergus considers himself lucky to have gone through the the program 20 years ago as a member of the St. Kilda Football Club, when The Reach Foundation was run by the late, great Jim Stynes. Listen to his amazing story, journey and the inspiration to join The Reach Foundation, and how he is still managing to inspire and lead others into a better future! #TobinBrothers #CelebratingLives #SayItNow #ListenNow

Laura's guest this week is Sandy Thorne. Sandy is a former jillaroo, brumby runner, horse breaker and bull catcher turned best-selling author, bush poet and performer with a knack for capturing the essence of life on the land. Her work has taken her all over the country and the world - and she's appeared and performed on countless television and radio shows including David Letterman, Larry King, US Today, Good Morning America and the Michael Parkinson show - earning her the reputation as Australia's foremost promoter of rural Aussie culture. Her latest book My Mate Gidgee: An Outback Story of Hard Yakka and Humour has been described as heart-warming, sometimes shocking, full of tragedy and treachery - extreme hardship and heartbreak. To connect with Sandy or for more information about her books and performances head to her website www.sandythorne.com.au HERE. Great Australian Lives is proudly presented by Tobin Brothers Funerals - celebrating lives. This program is produced, engineered and edited by Jane Nield for Sport Entertainment Network

Laura Turner's guest this week is Jacinta Clayton. Jacinta shares a very personal story that is sadly all too familiar for many women. In mid 2021 she was one of the 55 people to be diagnosed with Breast Cancer each day in Australia, and in the midst of a global pandemic her breast cancer journey began. Nearly a year later Jacinta is still undergoing treatment but that's not going to stop her pulling on her sneakers and getting into the active wear to be part of the 25th Mother's Day Classic- Australia's largest charity fun run and walk - raising much needed funds for Breast Cancer Research. To get involved in the 2022 Mother's Day Classic head to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au Great Australian Lives is proudly supported by Tobin Brothers Funerals - celebrating lives.

This week Laura Turner's guest is award-winning screen director, author and activist, Damon Gameau. Damon is best known for his smash documentary hit 'That Sugar Film' to coincide with his accompanying best-selling book 'That Sugar Book'. His latest short film 'Regenerating Australia' is one which transports viewers into the future world of 2029, as the tumultuous 2020's draw to a close. The film then asked the questions 'What would Australia look like by 2030 if we simply listened to the needs of its people'? Damon has had sporadic roles as an actor in some highly acclaimed shows, and has won various AACTA and AFI awards, among his large collection of great works.

Join Laura Turner and her guest Gavin Wood. Gavin has one of the most well know and 'tuned into' voices in country. From hosting a number one breakfast radio show on EON FM, to being the Voice Over guy on shows like The Price is Right, he is perhaps most well known for his role as the voice of pop music show Countdown which in its hey day was watched by 3 million viewers every Sunday night. After a stint in Hollywood Gavin has now returned to Melbourne and is one of the Say It Now month ambassadors for Tobin Brothers Funerals.

Join Laura Turner and her guest this week Professor Bob Kearney. A self-declared addict of recreational fishing for most of his life and keeper of the legends and lore of the Australian angler, Bob has cultivated and culminated his scientific knowledge and all-round passion into his new book: Fishing in the Good Old Days. In his book, Bob takes a look at the history of Australian fish and fisherman as well as a deeper insight into fisheries and Australian Marine ecosystems, spanning over six decades. Alongside some key powerful environmental and coastal activities, he perfectly blends his technical prowess alongside colourful personalities, unforgettable adventures in the pursuit of the lingering question - was it really better in the good old days? Great Australian Lives is proudly presented by Tobin Brothers Funerals. April is Say It Now month at Tobin Brothers Funerals. You can watch the welcome video HERE. SayItNow returns in 2022 as Victorian's join the conversation to celebrate the important people in their lives. Starting on 1st April 2022, Victorians young and old are encouraged to celebrate the important people in their lives throughout the month of April for Tobin Brothers Funerals' #SayItNow campaign. #SayItNow encourages people to pick up the phone, catch up for a coffee or send a message to a loved one or friend, to tell them how important they are in their life, and then share their #SayItNow moment on social media.