Category: Macca on Sundays

Spring was in the air on this week’s program, and Macca’s callers brought with them a lively mix of stories: from kites on Brazilian beaches and four women pedalling a quad bike across the Nullarbor, to Nashville songwriters, disappearing bees, and classic cars in suits. Add in students bound for Kokoda, a squeeze box festival in Queensland, and a surprise call from guitar legend Hank Marvin, and it made for a show as varied as Australia itself.

Danny from Melbourne – Health and Kite Adventures

Danny began with an update on his health, relieved to be clear after prostate cancer surgery but now facing a long wait for a hip replacement. He admitted staying active was difficult, but insisted, “You’ve just got to keep moving. You can’t sit still.” Danny also recalled his days in Brazil flying stunt kites, including a massive 3.8-metre prototype that pulled him barefoot along the sand. Trying the same at Anglesea ended badly: “I came crashing down on the rocks and got cut to pieces. Never again.”

Ride for Life – Quad Tandem Across Australia

Anna from the Gold Coast called from Port Augusta, midway through a national ride on a four-woman “quad tandem” bike. “We’ve had caravanners stopping to take photos, people making donations on the side of the road,” she said. Even a busload of grandmothers gave them fresh scones. The group is raising funds for Gotcha4Life’s suicide prevention programs, aiming for \$500,000 by the time they reach Bondi Beach on 10 October.

Angus Gill – Music, Nashville, and Alzheimer’s Awareness

Angus Gill checked in from Nashville, where he has been collaborating with Marty Stuart and James Burton. His new record Postcards is due out in October, alongside his first novella, Departure and Arrival, inspired by his grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s. “I used to play cards with my nan every night,” he said, “and that’s where the song In the Cards came from.” Gill described Nashville as a city where “there’s live music on every corner,” saying it has sharpened his songwriting and performance.

Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive – Classic Cars for Movember

Organisers Mark Hawwa and Corey Brown explained how the Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive swaps motorbikes for classic cars. Hawwa said, “We started this to break stereotypes — people think bikers are hairy blokes in leather. We put them in suits.” The event has since grown into a global fundraiser, raising over \$100 million for Movember’s men’s health initiatives. Sydney and Brisbane are among hundreds of cities worldwide hosting drivers next Sunday.

All Over News – Bank Closures Across Australia

Journalist Dale Webster discussed the latest wave of Bendigo Bank branch and agency closures, calling it “the biggest mass closure I’ve seen in 10 years.” Despite a government moratorium, dozens of towns are losing their only service. Webster argued the solution is to “re-establish a people’s bank, like the old Commonwealth Bank,” noting that a Senate inquiry recommended it over a year ago.

All Over News – Where Are the Bees?

Veteran apiarist Keith Steele gave a sobering report on Varroa mites. “Backyard hives are down 50 per cent,” he said, with many hobbyists giving up because of the cost of constant treatments. Commercial operators, he added, are paying tens of thousands just to keep their bees alive. Steele warned bluntly: “Without bees, we don’t eat.”

Michael Gallus – From London to Nottingham

Michael Gallus called from London while celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary. He planned to watch Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, only to discover his great-great-grandfather was born there. “I’ve even found some living relatives,” he said with amusement. Gallus also described London as “Disneyland for adults” and laughed about trying Britain’s so-called “warm beer”: “It’s not warm at all — just not as cold as ours.”

Seasonal Dates and Listener Letters

Rob from Maidenhead explained the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons, using solstices and equinoxes to show why dates vary. Another letter came from Oliver DiMarscio in Italy, who reflected on 25 years abroad. He praised Australia’s “mateship and optimism” compared with Europe’s social tensions, adding that listening to Macca gave him a sense of home.

Outdoor Learning – Students on the Kokoda Track

Jason from Guildford Grammar in Perth called before leading 18 students on the Kokoda Track. “Brigadier Potts was a student here,” he said, noting that Potts’ great-granddaughter was joining the trek. Jason described it as “an exercise in grit and resilience” that teaches lessons far beyond the classroom.

McLaggan Squeeze Box Festival

Cheryl from McLaggan promoted the town’s annual Squeeze Box Festival on 11 October. Now in its 22nd year, the event features button accordions and ends with an old-time dance. Despite its small-town setting, it attracts musicians and visitors from across the country.

Skunk Works Community Youth Band Festival

Philippa phoned from a bus heading to Sydney with 45 young musicians from Victoria. The group, aged 13 to 25, will rehearse with professionals from leading orchestras before performing at the Kogarah School of Arts. Philippa said the day was about “showing young people they belong in music.”

Native Bees and a Reset for Honey Production

Sam from near Taree offered a different perspective. With European bees in decline, he said, “Our native bees are thriving. They’re filling the gap.” Some commercial beekeepers, he added, were reporting higher honey yields as competition for nectar eased. While native bees can’t replace Europeans for all crops, Sam described the shift as a “reset” that could help biodiversity.

Leadlight Windows – An Artist’s Eye

Macca replayed an interview with stained-glass artist Keith Little. He recalled that architects often delayed installing his windows until after dedications “so they wouldn’t overshadow the building.” To critique his own work, Little said, “I put it up against a mirror — when you see it backwards, you spot the faults.”

Letters – Rising Power Bills and Remembering Charlie Townsend

One letter described a \$1,346 winter electricity bill, highlighting the struggles of pensioners. Another came from Janine, remembering her father Charlie Townsend, a baker turned cattle station owner in Wilcannia. A replay of his earlier interview revealed his deep love of breadmaking and community life.

Hank Marvin – Gypsy Jazz on Tour

The show closed with a surprise call from guitar legend Hank Marvin. Now touring with his gypsy jazz quartet, he praised accordionist Nunzio Mondale and spoke about the joy of Django Reinhardt-inspired jazz. “It’s challenging, but so rewarding,” Marvin said. He will perform at Chatswood’s Concourse before heading to Brisbane’s Oz Manouche Festival.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

From gold mines in Kalgoorlie to abalone diving off Tasmania, from CrossFit competitions in Williamstown to the mystery of Ludwig Leichhardt in the Channel Country, Macca’s Sept 14 program stitched together a lively tapestry of voices and stories. There were tales of sheep pregnancy scanners, music at the Bridge to Brisbane, a looming protest in Bendigo, and even a caller awaiting the birth of her baby in Melbourne. Add in reflections from Santa Cruz and Rabaul, and it was a program that captured the breadth of life at home and abroad.

Russell in Kalgoorlie – First-time Listener Call

Russell Lawrence phoned from Kalgoorlie, speaking from the top of a gold mine pit. He explained how listening to Macca had become a regular Sunday habit but admitted this was his very first time calling. Though he didn’t stay on long, he wanted to let the show know how much it meant during his quiet shifts. “Thanks for the show,” he said warmly. “It makes my Sunday mornings.”

Clarky in Camvilligo – Broken Phone Box

Clarky called from Mount Poppy gold mine near Camvilligo, east of Cobar. He reported that the Telstra phone box wouldn’t accept cash, leaving him reliant on his mobile instead. “I’m reporting a Telstra fault,” he said with a laugh, adding that he was “digging dirt chasing gold.” Macca joked that Telstra would be out there “before you can turn around.”

Chris – An Accent and a Love of Australia

Chris rang in to reflect on his life in Australia, recalling how he stood out when he first arrived. “I qualified in my class because I was the only one with a barbecue and an interest in things Australian,” he joked. He said that about 12 per cent of his country’s population now live in Australia — roughly 650,000 people — and all share a deep love for the country. “We love you guys… we think you’ve got a great country. It’s a lucky country. We hope your luck doesn’t run out.”

Evel Knievel Memories

The conversation shifted briefly to stuntman Evel Knievel, remembered for his dramatic visits to Australia. Listeners recalled how difficult he could be, but one wryly suggested his brother “Good Evil” would have been a much better guest — “a really nice boy.”

Pete in Watheroo – WA Crops Looking Strong

Pete rang from Watheroo, WA, where he pulled over to admire the fields around him. “I’ve just had the pleasure of looking at some of the wheat fields and canola crops, which is absolutely outstanding this year,” he said. He described the canola as “as high as an elephant’s eye” and said conditions were the best he’d seen in years.

Quote of the Week – Brendan Nelson

Macca shared his quote of the week, taken from Brendan Nelson: “The most important things in life, in my experience, have always been funded by cake stalls and raffles.” Macca reflected that volunteers really are the glue of communities. “Exactly, exactly,” he said, “true a thing, isn’t it? Volunteers… they run cake stalls and raffles and chook raffles.”

Stuart in Rochedale – Raffles Keep Things Running

Stuart from Rochedale responded to the quote, adding with a chuckle that government certainly doesn’t keep things afloat. “Well, certainly not the government,” he said.

Dave at Twin Cuttle Station – Lake Cadibarrawirracanna

Dave from Twin Cuttle Station near Coober Pedy rang to talk about Lake Cadibarrawirracanna, a lake with the longest name in Australia. He explained that it’s dry most of the time, filling only after heavy rains. The name itself means “lake with a long name,” and it became infamous after vandals repeatedly stole the road sign. Locals eventually shortened it to “Lake Caddy,” which finally stopped the thefts.

Malcolm Wood – Music, Unions and AI

Musician Malcolm Wood shared a story from Broken Hill in the 1990s, where musicians had to be union members to perform. “If you weren’t a paid member, no pay, no play,” he recalled. He contrasted that with today, where computers and AI often replace live music. “There’s just no play because nobody’s playing,” he lamented. He warned that machines have no “feeling” and can never replicate what musicians bring to their art. “Every new house should have a piano,” he added.

Alex the Sax Player – Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run

Alex, a saxophonist, was preparing to perform with his band at the Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run. “We’re playing 100 meters from the finish line… trumpet, sax, drums, a bit of singing, a bit of… I bought my tap shoes, a bit of tapping,” he said. Their goal was to keep runners motivated in the final stretch with lively music. Macca invited Alex to join a future jam in Brisbane with other local musicians.

Sue from Newcastle – Country Train to Armidale

Sue, a primary school principal from Newcastle, called after a train trip from Sydney to Armidale. She praised the relaxed pace, the opportunity to talk with fellow travellers, and the scenery of the New England Tablelands. “It’s a great trip,” she said, adding that the train splits at Werris Creek, one branch to Moree and the other to Armidale. Sue also used her call to highlight the dedication of rural teachers, calling them “the glue of the community.”

Bernie at Kidman Camp – The Mystery of Leichhardt

Bernie phoned from Kidman Camp in Bourke, en route to Eromanga with his daughter. He was armed with a metal detector and was keen to find traces of Ludwig Leichhardt, the explorer who disappeared in the 1840s. “We’re heading through to Eremanga and looking for Lycart… camps and some of the remains,” he explained. He admitted he hadn’t had much luck in past searches but hoped this time would be different. Along the way, he noted the abundance of feral goats in the region.

Ray – The Darling River Run

Ray called to describe his recent trip along the Darling River Run, travelling from Bourke to Menindee Lakes. He spoke of “rough, corrugated, potholed, boggy” roads that tested his vehicle, but also the lush green country around the Flinders Ranges. He noted that the river at Louth had risen eight inches in two days, a sign of healthy flows. He planned to cap his journey with a scenic flight over Lake Eyre and the Painted Desert.

Jono in Ballina – Health Battles and Rugby Joy

Jono, a regular caller from Ballina, gave a heartfelt update on his health. “I thought I was doomed. I thought I was going to leave the building,” he admitted, describing how close he had come to death. Six weeks on, he said he was learning to look for joy in every day. His son’s rugby season provided that joy, as the team won nearly every match, and his son was made a life member of the club.

Dr Zach Turner – A Doctor in Ballina

Dr Zach Turner joined from Cabarita Beach, ready to start work at Ballina Hospital. Originally from Toowoomba, he spoke about working across rural and remote areas and the burnout many health workers suffered during COVID. He urged people to think of mental health as exercise: “I kind of consider it to be brain gym… if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Alastair Calder – Sheep Pregnancy Scanners Conference

Alastair from Ballarat spoke after attending a pregnancy scanners’ conference in Mildura. He explained that 40 scanners with a combined 417 years of experience had scanned 6.1 million sheep in a year. Identifying twins and triplets allows farmers to better manage animal welfare and boost farm efficiency. “It saves four to five dollars for every dollar spent,” he said. The group has since formed a network called Scanners United.

Rob from Tasmania – Diving for Abalone

Rob called from Cape Barren Island while diving for abalone. He described the icy waters, just 11 degrees, and the physical effort required to gather green lip abalone. He said the industry was struggling with competition from Chinese aquaculture. When asked about cooking, he gave his advice: “Just bash it pretty hard, and a bit of garlic butter in a hot frying pan is the way I like it best.”

Mark on the Highway – Reliable News Matters

Mark phoned from near Taree, praising the ABC’s roadside frequency signs that keep drivers connected to local radio. He voiced concern about the spread of fake news and deepfakes, mentioning viral hoaxes such as the “baby lifted by an eagle” video. “So much fake news is put on the internet these days,” he warned, adding that reliable sources are more important than ever.

All Over News – Jimmy the Kelpie

Listeners heard the story of Jimmy, a timid sheepdog who became a champion after observing another dog at work. “He was absolutely useless,” owner David Oakes said, “but then Jimmy got off his haunches, belted this other dog out of the way, and became a champion thereafter.” Breeder Jan Lowing from the Darling Downs explained that some pups are slow starters but Kelpies are highly adaptable, with some now fetching tens of thousands of dollars at auction.

Svane in Santa Cruz – Restoring a Boat

Svane called from Santa Cruz, California, where he is restoring a 40-year-old sailboat with plans to eventually sail back to Australia. Having lived in the US for 40 years but still tied to Ballina, he compared the two coasts. “Santa Cruz and Byron Bay have a lot in common. I think they should be sister cities,” he said. He also spoke of California’s reliance on migrant workers and the state’s high energy prices.

Ian on Bribie Island – Walking for Prostate Cancer

Ian phoned while walking along Pumicestone Passage as part of The Long Run. Diagnosed with prostate cancer a decade ago, he described himself as “probably the luckiest cancer sufferer in the world.” He has endured recurring tumours but remains active and positive. “Go and get yourself checked out young, and keep doing it,” he urged men.

Mark in Williamstown – CrossFit Competition

Mark from Williamstown was competing in the Masters HQ CrossFit national final. In his 50s, he said he was inspired by athletes in their 70s who were still competing. He explained CrossFit as “a high-intensity fitness program that combines a whole bunch of styles of exercise,” and embraced the event’s tagline: “Don’t be old, be epic.”

Kevin Butler – BlazeAid Protest in Bendigo

Kevin Butler, head of BlazeAid, phoned in ahead of a planned protest rally in Bendigo. He criticised a Victorian levy that taxes farmers and volunteers while they’re helping communities after disasters. “When we leave our farms to fight fires or to do the months and months of work after floods, the government puts a levy or a tax on us,” he said. With 500 people and 100 fire trucks expected, he described the levy as “unreasonable and unfair.”

Ellen in Parkville – Awaiting a Baby

Ellen called from the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, ready to deliver her second child. She admitted she was “feeling very lucky and happy, but also kind of freaking out a bit.” It was a joyful and nervous moment, and Macca wished her luck on behalf of listeners everywhere.

Chris in Rabaul – PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary

Chris rang from Rabaul as Papua New Guinea prepared to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence. “There are flags and shirts… people in the streets are wearing meri dresses with P\&G, 50-year independence,” he said. He also recalled the devastation of the 1994 volcanic eruption, which destroyed much of the old town. Despite mixed feelings about independence, he said locals remain deeply proud of their culture and history.

Peter Nitske – Life on the Tamar River

Peter, 81, called from Beauty Point, Tasmania, aboard his yacht Zero Balance. He explained how he always wanted a boat but only found the time after retirement. “When there was money, there was not enough time. So now I’m retired. And I’ve bought a boat,” he said with a laugh. Years of restoration have gone into the vessel, and he now plans to sail around Flinders Island.

John in the Phone Box – Solstices and Equinoxes

John phoned from Hustle, standing in a public phone box to make his point. He argued that Australia should align its seasons with solstices and equinoxes instead of fixed calendar dates. “The spring should be the 21st of September, which is the equinox,” he said. Macca replied that maybe the simpler dates were just easier to remember — and easier to spell.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

Father’s Day framed this week’s program, and callers from across Australia – and a few further afield – offered a rich tapestry of stories: from sheep stations and steam engines to shark nets and macadamia farms.

A Buoyant Dunedoo

Dave from Dunedoo phoned in while driving to Coffs Harbour, reflecting on renovating a California bungalow with cypress floors. Once written off as a “cheap rental,” the house has become valuable thanks to an unexpected influx of workers drawn to new wind and solar projects around town. Dunedoo’s café is serving 800 bacon-and-egg rolls a day, he laughed.

Delivering a Cruiser on the High Seas

Chris called from a 41-foot flybridge cruiser off Montague Island, mid-delivery from Melbourne to Sydney. A marine industry man, he revelled in seeing Wilsons Prom by water for the first time and mused on the fragility of relying solely on satellite navigation – “work smarter, not harder,” he quipped, though he still keeps charts and compass on hand.

From London with Dosas

David checked in from London, babysitting his granddaughter while his daughter worked in banking. He praised the uncharacteristically warm English summer and confessed to trekking across the city to Wembley for the best dosa batter, second only to his wife’s.

Father’s Day Reflections

Kelly in Sydney offered a moving tribute to her late father, saying Macca’s voice rekindled the sound of his. She was preparing breakfast with her daughters for her husband. Later, Lindsay from Granville Harbour, Tasmania, praised Kelly’s call and reminded listeners that “there are more pathways than just university” for young people – recalling his own 15-year-old self working underground in a tin mine.

Sharks, Swimming and Safety

Kieran Kelly joined from Utah to comment on the tragic shark attack at Dee Why. A veteran ocean swimmer, Kieran argued sharks rarely target humans deliberately, and that nets are both ineffective and destructive. He advocated humane alternatives like shark-repelling cables, recalling his own long swims from Palm Beach to Manly.

Neil, a truckie hauling 44 tonnes of potatoes, later added poignancy: he’d lost a mate to a shark attack in Ballina. Still, he stressed that beaches popular with families deserve better protection.

Machines, Music and Mentors

In All Over News, Macca met Chris Jericho on the Mildura road, hauling a 1920 Fowler crane engine home from the Toowoomba machinery rally. Jericho’s other life is growing watermelons and pumpkins, though rising costs make the work harder.

Listeners also met Bella Barton, a second-year civil engineering student in Adelaide, who loves designing roads and sees opportunity in blending user experience with engineering.

Dr Fred Cole, a musician and piano tuner in Lismore, spoke about the decline of live pub music, the resurgence of pianos, and his work reviving forgotten Beale pianos.

Life Lessons and Career Pathways

Education became a recurring theme. Anthony, a teacher from Gippsland, urged schools to show children multiple pathways, from fixing motorbikes to technical trades. Callers reflected on how career satisfaction, rather than status, defines a good life.

Outback Memories and Family Reunions

Former pastoralist David Oag rang in to recall Macca’s 1999 broadcast from Woomera and life running sheep at Arcoona Station. He later worked on the SA Pastoral Board.

Alison spoke from the Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe, where she and her family gathered to honour their grandfather James Mitchell, once manager of what was the world’s largest sheep station.

Yoli in Bundaberg, a Filipino-born accountant turned macadamia farmer, reminded listeners that true wealth is “doing what makes you happy.”

Collections and Connections

Michael, a passionate collector from Adelaide, described his trove of Holden cars, tools, and memorabilia. His tale of sheds full of rare vehicles – from Monaros to GTs – showed the lengths Australians go to preserve history.

Nicole from Ballarat remembered her late father, harness racing trainer Peter Tompkins, who won the AG Hunter Cup with Paris Affair. She proudly reported that her brother Clayton had just won the $2.8 million Eureka with Bay of Biscay.

Jeremy in Darwin looked back on being in the very first engineering class at Melbourne Uni to include women, praising today’s female engineers like Bella.

Finally, Ray from Bargo, NSW, shared perhaps the most touching Father’s Day story: his 13-year-old son had surprised him with tickets to the Australian Open, bought with wages from a café job.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

An omnibus recap of Australia All Over – June 22 to July 27, 2025

Over six crisp mid-winter Sundays, Australia All Over became a living map of the continent. From flooded cane paddocks to Red Centre stargazers, suburban sea scouts to outback vets, the country phoned in with wit, warmth, and more than a few unexpected moments. These are the stories that stood out across the weeks.
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🔧 Bush Ingenuity & Outback Life

In the July 6 episode, Dennis from Cunnamulla called in to describe a makeshift solution for fencing repairs. Armed with a chain, a shovel, and the bonnet of an old EH Holden, Dennis turned what looked like a lost cause into a functioning gate. It wasn’t pretty, but it kept the cattle out. “It’s the sort of thing my dad would’ve called ‘bush elegant,’” he laughed.

Meanwhile, Harry from Quilpie told of the intense work done by aerial vets helping restock western Queensland with vaccinated cattle. He painted a picture of low-flying choppers and dusty yards, where the only reprieve was the water truck and the occasional scone from the local CWA.

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🛠️ Odd Jobs & Unexpected Careers

One of the year’s most memorable stories came from Tom, a 76-year-old from Junee, who confessed on July 13 that he’d just taken on a “part-time job welding trailers for a bloke half my age.” He said it keeps his hands steady and mind sharper than Sudoku. “No plans to retire until my knees give out,” he chuckled. Macca asked how long that might be. “Give me another decade.”

In the same episode, Margie from Townsville rang in about her retirement passion: she collects defunct vending machines, restores them, and gives them away as novelty pantries to families doing it tough. “You open the door and there’s tins of spaghetti instead of Coke,” she explained.

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🍉 Queenslanders and Watermelon Skis

On June 29, a young caller from Childers shared the most unusual agricultural invention of the season: melon skis. During a school fete, the kids hollowed out watermelons, slipped them onto their feet, and raced across a soaked tarpaulin. “We ended up with more bruises than winners,” she laughed, “but it raised $500 for the SES.”

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🛰️ Big Skies, Deep Listening

The July 20 show featured Robyn, phoning from a stargazing gathering near Oodnadatta. There, a group of amateur astronomers had set up camp with telescopes aimed at the centre of the galaxy. “There’s no light out here—none,” she said, “You feel like you’re falling upward.” Later, Dr. Ian phoned in from Uluru, where he’d spoken at a remote health symposium. His voice cracked slightly when recounting a 19-year-old Anangu man’s story of surviving a heart condition through community health access.

On July 27, a marine engineer from Port Hedland rang to say he was overseeing underwater drone testing beneath supply barges. “We can now scan the hulls in real time—saves us time, fuel, and the divers.”

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🚂 Trains, Trucks & Tin Sheds

Fabian and Greg, train drivers from Wagga Wagga, called while hauling freight across Victoria on July 13. Their story wasn’t just about engines—it was about friendship and rhythm. “We’ve been on the same run for 18 years,” said Greg. “We don’t talk much anymore—just hum the same songs.” Later that day, Sandra from Port Augusta spoke about working alone in a highway rest stop. “We see everything—from city dads trying to fix flat tyres, to grandmothers hitchhiking with chooks.”

In a July 27 segment, Trevor from Roma proudly described rebuilding a shearing shed entirely from salvaged tin and scrap timber. “Cost me $700 and six weeks. Looks like hell, but it’ll stand longer than me.”

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🌾 Cultural Roots & Quiet Histories

In the June 25 episode, a Wiradjuri elder named Elsie phoned in to share a story about a ceremonial possum skin cloak her great-grandmother had helped stitch, now held at the National Museum. “She used to say the patterns were maps of memory,” Elsie said. “Not just for finding places, but for finding yourself.”

Rosemary from Temora called on July 6 to talk about reviving a community wheat festival last held in 1983. “We’re baking bread the old way—coals, iron pots, and a recipe from the back of my auntie’s wedding album.”

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🛶 Across Oceans & Inland Waters

July 20 brought a remarkable call from a young sailor, broadcasting via sat phone from the middle of the Coral Sea. He and his crewmates were delivering a wooden sloop from New Caledonia to the Whitsundays. “We’ve had dolphins all day and radio silence all night,” he said. “Feels like living inside a storybook.”

On July 6, a woman named Carla from Gundagai reported that the local rowing club had found a hand-carved oar buried beneath their boat shed—dated 1912. “It’s now hanging above the fireplace,” she said. “With all the names etched down the shaft.”

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🧭 The Spirit of the Show

Across all six weeks, Macca’s Sunday morning broadcasts formed a quilt of Australia in winter: full of hand-made fixes, voices on dusty roads, and a sense that life out bush and by the sea isn’t measured by headlines or economies—but by stories passed down in phone calls.

There were hard yarns, like the farmer from Biloela whose sugarcane crop drowned in flash flooding. There were soft ones, like the girl in Lorne who found a bird with a broken wing and taught it to perch on her handlebars.

Through it all, Australia All Over continued to do what it’s done best for decades: open the phone lines, and let the country speak for itself. 

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

Bush mail must go through

A veteran mailman from outback South Australia rang in from the Oodnadatta Track, where he’s one of a dying breed delivering post across hundreds of kilometers of red dirt . He painted a vivid picture of last week’s adventure when flash floods turned dry creeks into torrents overnight. With the road cut and station families awaiting their mail, he improvised by enlisting a stockman’s old diesel Toyota and even a horse float to ferry sacks of mail through mud and water. He laughed describing how a half-dozen locals met him on the far bank, swapping stories as they helped unload letters and the odd care package. “The pub had a cold one waiting by the time I got through,” he chuckled, saying that in communities so remote, neighbours pull together just as they did in his father’s day. It was a tale of perseverance and bush camaraderie that had Macca beaming – a reminder that even in 2025, the outback still runs on trust, ingenuity and a handshake.

Wetlands teeming in Kakadu

From the Top End, a park ranger at Kakadu National Park called in, breathless with excitement at the sight before him. After one of the best wet seasons in years, the floodplains around Yellow Water were transformed into a wildlife paradise . He described the dawn chorus of thousands of magpie geese, egrets and jabirus rising from the misty marshes as the sun came up. “It’s like the land is alive and singing,” he said, recounting how crocodiles cruise between floating lotus pads and buffalo graze on the fresh green fringe. Campgrounds that had been quiet during the rains are now bustling with tourists and grey nomads. Macca could almost smell the damp mud and feel the steamy morning air as the ranger invited everyone to come see Kakadu’s temporary lakes before they dry up. The call captured the pulse of the Northern Territory’s wild heart, where nature puts on a grand show after the monsoon.

Still shearing at eighty

A delightful call came from Gundagai, NSW, where listeners met Bruce – an 80-year-old former shearer who’s proving you’re never too old for the shed. Bruce cheerfully reported he’d spent the week helping his grandson crutch and shear a small mob of merinos on the family farm. With a voice as weathered and warm as a worn saddle, he reminisced about the 1960s when he could shear 200 sheep a day with blade shears, and how “the wide combs today are a young man’s game.” He described the familiar rhythm of the work: the smell of lanolin, the scrape of shears, and morning tea under a gumtree with the team. Macca asked what keeps him going. Bruce reckoned it’s the camaraderie and a love of hard yakka, and admitted with a laugh that he “can’t quite hang up the handpiece just yet.” It was an inspiring yarn bridging generations – the kind of heartfelt, authentic Australian story that had listeners around the country smiling and tipping their hats to a legend of the wool sheds.

Nude swim at dawn

Down in Tasmania, a caller from Hobart gave a preview of a decidedly chilly tradition – the annual Winter Solstice Nude Swim in the River Derwent. She set the scene: in two days’ time, on the year’s longest night, hundreds of brave souls (herself included) will fling off their clothes before sunrise and charge into the icy 11°C water just as dawn breaks. “It’s absolutely freezing and absolutely fantastic!” she exclaimed. In past years, participants have emerged blue-lipped but grinning, wrapped in nothing but an Australian flag or a quick towel, with onlookers cheering from the shore. She explained that the swim, part of Tassie’s midwinter festival, is about community spirit, courage, and a little bit of crazy fun to ward off the winter blues . Macca was tickled by the idea, joking he might stick to hot cocoa by a fire, but he applauded the Tasmanians’ plucky enthusiasm. The story added a dash of quirky humor and colour to the morning, proving that even in the coldest depths of winter, Aussies know how to celebrate life (and laugh at themselves).

Hello from Antarctica

In a truly “Australia All Over” moment, Macca patched through to Casey Station, Antarctica, where expedition doctor Samantha phoned in during the depths of the Antarctic winter. With the satellite delay crackling, she described the surreal beauty of life at 65° south: the sun hadn’t been seen in over a month, the outside temperature was – thirty-something (not that it mattered once it’s below –20!), and the station’s 24 wintering crew were preparing for their Midwinter’s Day feast – an icy Christmas-like celebration of community. She painted a picture of stepping outside at noon under the aurora-lit sky, the Milky Way blazing overhead at what should be midday. Despite the cold and isolation, morale was high – they had home-brewed beer, a makeshift band tuning up, and even a “snowman building contest” planned for when a pale sun finally peeks over the horizon in a couple of weeks. Macca and Sam traded banter about who had the colder winter (no contest there). The call was equal parts awe-inspiring and heartwarming, connecting listeners to compatriots at the farthest edge of the earth and highlighting the camaraderie that thrives even in the extreme dark of an Antarctic winter.

Byron Bay tales from a bygone era

Mid-show, Macca treated listeners to a special recorded interview from his recent road trip through Byron Bay, NSW. He caught up with Norm “Staunchy” Wilson, an 85-year-old Byron local who’s lived through the town’s transformation from a quiet whaling port to the bustling surf and tourism hub it is today. Over a cup of tea on Norm’s verandah (with rainbow lorikeets squawking in the background), the old-timer shared vivid memories of Byron’s past. He talked about the 1950s whaling station days when the whole town would smell of boiling blubber, and how he as a young deckhand helped haul in the last catch before whaling was banned . He recounted the town’s lean years after the whaling and meatworks closed – “you could buy a house for a song then, nobody wanted to live by the beach!” – and the remarkable rebirth after the hippie surfers arrived in the ’70s, bringing craft markets, music and a new laid-back culture. Macca and Norm laughed about present-day Byron’s traffic jams and celebrity spotting, which Norm finds bemusing. But with a twinkle in his eye, Norm admitted he still walks up to the lighthouse most mornings to watch the sunrise and the migrating whales spouting offshore. “Some things don’t change, mate,” he said quietly. The interview was rich in nostalgia and local lore, a loving portrait of Byron Bay through the eyes of someone who’s seen it all – and it lent the program a reflective, storybook moment that listeners won’t soon forget.

Other calls included:

• On the road north: A cheery call from a roadside rest area outside Katherine, NT came from a retired couple towing their caravan – part of the annual winter exodus of “grey nomads” heading to warmer climes. They joked that the Stuart Highway was “bumper-to-bumper with caravans and campervans” and that every happy hour at outback campgrounds now feels like a school reunion. They had just left Daly Waters, where dozens of southerners gathered under the stars with guitars and campfires. “It’s like a travelling town moving up the map,” the husband chuckled. Their message was simple: if you’re looking for half of Melbourne or Adelaide in June, try the Top End! The call added a wonderful sense of seasonal migration and camaraderie on the open road.
• Striking black gold: From the cool hills of Truffle country near Braidwood, NSW, a truffle farmer shared the excitement of the first black truffle finds of the season. With the winter rains and chill setting in, her trained spaniel had just snuffled out several knobbly, fragrant truffles beneath the oak trees that week. She described the “Eureka!” moment – the dog freezing then pawing at the earth – and the rich, earthy aroma of truffle hitting the air. These culinary treasures will be making their way to fancy restaurant plates, but for her, the real joy is in the hunt and the knowledge that this once-unusual crop is now a thriving little industry for Aussie farms. Macca was fascinated (and jokingly angling for an invite to a truffle omelette breakfast). It was a quirky agricultural success story that left listeners almost smelling that unique truffle scent through the radio.
• A poem at daybreak: As the program neared its close, Macca read out a short bush poem sent in by a listener from Longreach, QLD. In just a dozen lines, the poem evoked a chilly outback dawn: frost on the spinifex, a lone drover’s campfire painting the pre-dawn dark with a flickering glow, and kookaburras laughing the sun up over the horizon. Its final lines – “From dusky night a day is born / gilded promise with the morn” – brought a hush to the airwaves. In classic Macca style, he let the moment breathe before wishing everyone a safe and happy week ahead. It was a gentle, fitting sign-off that captured the show’s soul: celebrating the poetry in everyday Australian life.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

An Engine’s Echo for a Mate Remembered

One of the morning’s most stirring calls came from central NSW, where a convoy of 27 vintage tractors had set off the day before in memory of a much-loved local mechanic, Trevor, who passed away suddenly last year. His daughter rang in from the road — her voice emotional, but proud — describing how farmers, family friends, and mechanics had polished up their rusting Masseys, Fergies and Deeres for a slow journey between Gilgandra and Dubbo, raising funds for mental health charities. “Dad could fix anything with a motor, but he was hopeless at asking for help,” she said quietly. Each tractor bore a ribbon with his name stitched in, and as they crawled along the bitumen, strangers waved them on from paddocks and shopfronts. “The noise was deafening — all that diesel and memory.” She said her dad would have hated the fuss, but loved the turnout. Macca let the silence sit after she signed off, then softly said: “That’s Australia right there.”

In Winton, Poetry Stitched in Cloth

A cheerful call from Winton’s old CWA hall brought a welcome contrast — Betty, in her 80s, described how a group of local women had just completed a massive embroidered panel depicting the history of the region, from the Dreamtime serpent winding through the hills to shearers striking under a boiling sun. “It took us three years,” she said. “I had to unpick the barbed wire fence twice because the tension was wrong.” The panel, 9 metres long and stitched with every imaginable thread, is now the pride of the shire, and will be unveiled during the upcoming Outback Festival. Betty chuckled that her great-granddaughter had embroidered the QR code onto the corner so people could scan it and learn more — “we’re not that behind the times.” Macca was clearly charmed, and promised to make a detour to see the cloth if he’s ever up that way again.

An Emu Invasion in the South West

From near Lake Grace in WA, a wheat and sheep farmer rang to report a strange emu phenomenon — more than 100 of them, wandering through his recently sown crop in a slow, silent procession. “They’re not eating it, just walking through like they’re off to vote,” he said, mystified. He’s seen flocks before, but never so many, and never so determined. A local ecologist he spoke to reckons the birds are tracking ground vibration — following the memory of ancient songlines or the promise of water. “All I know is they ruined half a paddock and left not one feather behind,” he said. Macca wondered aloud whether the emus knew something we didn’t. “I wouldn’t put it past them,” the farmer laughed. “They’ve been outthinking us since 1932.”

Shed Music in Suburban Tasmania

A quieter but equally rich story came from Margate, just south of Hobart, where a recently retired school principal named Tom has transformed his backyard shed into a monthly chamber music venue. “We fit about 14 people, two cellists, and a kettle,” he said. The idea started with some friends during lockdown and now draws string players from around the region who squeeze between gardening tools and a model train set to play Mozart quartets. His latest guest was an 18-year-old violinist from Burnie who had never played to a live audience before. “She nearly cried,” he said. “So did we.” The concerts are free, the acoustics are better than expected, and his wife bakes scones for intermission. Macca, ever the musical magpie, seemed genuinely moved.

A Poem Rediscovered

Fax machines aren’t extinct, at least not on Australia All Over. A listener from Gundagai, digging through his late father’s war trunk, found a yellowed envelope with a poem scrawled on the back of an old invoice. The handwriting was faded but legible, the rhymes simple but steady: a bushman’s tribute to a fallen horse, written in 1944. Macca read it slowly — each line ending with the soft sound of dust and boots — and when he finished, there was a moment’s pause. “Whoever wrote that,” he said, “wasn’t trying to be fancy. Just true.” The caller said he’s sending a copy to the Australian War Memorial.

Other Highlights

• A Brisbane caller checking in from a wool shed in Dirranbandi where a “shearing school” is being trialled for high schoolers. “Kids with clippers learning to crutch and count — we’re keeping the skills alive.”
• A quick hello from a family camped by a frozen creek in Omeo, in Victoria’s high country. “Minus three this morning, billy froze solid — but the stars last night were magic.”
• A pilot from Cairns, tuning in during his pre-flight checks at 5 a.m., who thanked Macca for “keeping me company in the dark before I head into the blue.”
• A guest appearance by a volunteer meteorite hunter who helped confirm a recent find in South Australia’s Gawler Ranges — a 1.3 kg rock from space, now being studied by geologists in Adelaide. “It rang like iron when I tapped it with a hammer,” he said. 

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

• Roofless but not hopeless in the outback: At the far-flung meeting point of NSW, Queensland and SA, a tiny roadhouse proved community spirit is alive and well. Mick, the proprietor of the Cameron Corner Store, recounted how a freak storm earlier in the week tore the iron roof clean off his pub. Rather than see their only watering hole shuttered, neighbors from stations 100 km around converged with tools, tarps and elbow grease. He laughed as he described serving ice-cold beers “under the biggest sky in Australia” that evening, locals and travelers all raising a glass amid bits of flapping tin. By next day, they’d patched the roof together out of salvaged iron and sheer determination. “We’re a tiny dot on the map, but everyone pitched in,” Mick said proudly. It was a portrait of bush camaraderie in crisis – equal parts hardship and heart – and by the sound of clinking glasses in the background, the Corner Store is back in business come rain, hail or shine.

• Digging up dinosaurs in Queensland: Out near Winton, QLD, an amateur paleontologist named Julie rang in positively bubbling with excitement from a fossil dig. She and a volunteer crew had just uncovered what they believe is a sizable sauropod bone, peeking from red earth that hasn’t seen daylight in millions of years. “It’s like unearthing a time capsule,” she told Macca, describing the careful work of brushing away sandstone to reveal the fossil’s honey-brown surface. The find – possibly a new species – is the talk of the town; locals have been stopping by the makeshift dig site to take a peek at Winton’s latest prehistoric resident. Macca was enthralled, peppering Julie with questions about how big the creature might have been. She joked that the outback’s ancient giants make her cattle back home “look like toy dinosaurs.” The call offered a sense of real-life Jurassic Park in cattle country – science and history entwined under the big Queensland sky, with Julie’s grin practically audible as she invited Macca out west to see the discovery for himself.

• Sweet start to the cane season: Further north in the cane country of Queensland, Gary – a fourth-generation grower in the Burdekin – gave a lively report on the first crush of the sugarcane harvest. At first light a few days ago, Gary fired up his harvester to begin cutting the season’s inaugural paddock of tall, green cane. By mid-morning, the local mill’s stacks were puffing out sweet-scented steam. “You can smell the molasses in town, Macca – sweetest smell on earth if you ask me,” he chuckled. He painted a rich picture of the northern winter routine: cane trains trundling along narrow tracks, cane fires crackling at dusk (“just a quick burn to take the trash off before harvest”) and everyone from truck drivers to mill workers gearing up for months of long shifts. A decent wet season earlier in the year means a bumper crop, and Gary’s optimistic this could be their best harvest in over a decade. Macca could almost taste the sugar in the air as he congratulated Gary, reminiscing about past visits to cane country and the sight of “flames dancing along the rows at night.” It was a sensory slice of rural life that brought a dose of Queensland sunshine into the studio.

• Birds flock to a desert lake: From Marree, SA, charter pilot Trevor called in with an awe-inspiring update on Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, which months after rare rains is now a temporary oasis in the desert. “It’s an inland sea out there, Macca – water as far as you can see,” he said, describing the view from his Cessna. He’s been flying sightseers over the lake’s glimmering expanse and was elated to report thousands of waterbirds have made it their home. Huge flocks of pelicans in V-formation are cruising over mirror-like waters, and down below, the shoreline is peppered with black swans, gulls and even duck species rarely seen in the interior. Trevor recounted one sunset landing where he was greeted by the distant din of birds – a wild, joyous noise in a place that was cracked saltpan not long ago. The normally quiet outback pub at Marree is bustling with tourists who’ve driven up for a glimpse of the phenomenon. “Last time the lake filled, it was 2019 – we don’t take this for granted,” he noted. Macca marveled at nature’s spectacle, reflecting on how a flood hundreds of kilometers away can bring life to the heart of the continent. Trevor’s report gave everyone listening a mental postcard of shimmering waters and whirring wings in the middle of Australia’s arid expanse – a reminder that even the driest regions can spring to life in the most dramatic way.

• Hello from the Great Wall: Perhaps the most far-flung call of the morning came from near the Great Wall of China, where a Brisbane couple, Tracy and Dave, decided to start their Sunday with Macca. In a scratchy but enthusiastic line from a village outside Beijing, they explained they’ve been overlanding through Asia in a trusty 4WD for the past four months – and never miss a show thanks to patchy hotel Wi-Fi and a bit of luck. “We’ve got Australia All Over playing under the shadow of the Great Wall,” Dave laughed, saying it was surreal to hear familiar accents while overlooking such an iconic scene. The pair had woken up before dawn to hike a quiet section of the wall, thermos of tea in hand, and couldn’t resist phoning in to share the moment. Tracy described the sun rising over the wall’s winding ridges and how, despite being thousands of kilometers from home, “we feel like we’ve got a bit of Australia with us each Sunday.” They’ve been keeping a journal of friendly faces and curious questions encountered on their journey (including a Chinese truck driver who was astonished to hear an Aussie radio show playing in the background). Macca was tickled and declared it a highlight to have the Great Wall join the program’s long list of outside broadcasts – if only by phone. Before signing off, the couple gave a hearty zàijiàn (goodbye) to Australia and promised to ring again from wherever the road takes them next. It was a delightfully all over moment that shrank the world for a few minutes, connecting listeners at home to two adventurers on the other side of the globe.

Other calls included:

• Pumpkins on a roll: A caller from Goomeri, QLD celebrated her town’s famed Pumpkin Festival held last weekend. She painted a hilarious scene of dozens of bright orange pumpkins careening down Policeman’s Hill in the annual pumpkin roll, with locals cheering like it was the Melbourne Cup. The whole town turned out in good humor – kids in pumpkin costumes, pumpkin scones in the CWA tent, and visitors from afar learning how to roll a squash with just the right flick of the wrist. It was country quirk at its finest, and even Macca could be heard grinning at the mental image of rogue pumpkins bouncing through the crowd.
• Pearls and whale sharks: Up in Broome, WA, a pearl diver shared an awe-struck account of an underwater visitor that stopped by during his morning dive. While checking oyster lines in the clear waters of Roebuck Bay, he suddenly found himself shadowed by a gentle giant – a whale shark gliding slowly past. “Big as a bus and utterly beautiful,” he said of the surprise encounter, noting it’s early in the season for the world’s largest fish to be in close to town. The diver swore even his oysters seemed impressed by their colossal company. He took it as a good omen for the pearling season and invited Macca (half-jokingly) up to Broome “to help shuck a few” if he fancied an adventure.
• Southern lights: From Bruny Island, TAS came news of the Aurora Australis putting on a midnight show earlier in the week. A stargazer phoned in to describe green and pink ribbons of light dancing on the southern horizon – so vivid that even long-time locals grabbed their coats to step outside and watch in wonder. “It was like the sky was waving the Aussie flag in neon,” the caller laughed, noting that the aurora’s magic made the chilly 2 a.m. air well worth braving. The celestial spectacle was brief but breathtaking, and Macca mused that one day he’d love to see the “Southern Lights” for himself, preferably with a warm thermos in hand.
• Bush verse at dawn: The program closed on a poetic note thanks to a listener’s bush poem faxed from the Snowy Mountains. In just a dozen plain-spoken lines, a retired stockman named Clarrie evoked the bite of a winter pre-dawn – frost on the paddocks, a billy boiling over a campfire, and the first rays of sun catching the gumtrees. The poem’s humble homage to cold mornings and warm hearts brought a reflective hush over the airwaves.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

• One of the first calls came from flood-weary Kempsey on the NSW mid-north coast, where heavy rain last week sent the Macleay River over its levee. A local café owner described the town’s sodden CBD on Friday: waist-deep water in the streets, supermarket shutters down, and volunteers ferrying elderly residents to higher ground by tinny. By Saturday afternoon the power was finally back on – and she flung open her doors immediately. “No one else was open and people were hungry,” she laughed, recounting how she served coffee by gas burner and meat pies by candlelight to a crowd of mud-splattered locals. Despite the damage (muddy floors, waterlogged fridges), her voice brimmed with optimism. “We’re a tough little town – we’ll mop up and get on with it,” she insisted, thanking the SES and “mud army” of neighbors who turned up with mops and muffins. It was a portrait of community spirit in crisis, painted in equal parts hardship and heart.

• In a completely different scene, a call from the Sydney Writers’ Festival captured a cultural high. Ange – a first-time caller and an aspiring novelist – phoned in from a buzzing Wharf Theatre at Walsh Bay. She had just stepped off stage from a dawn poetry reading and was still riding the excitement. “It’s like a rock concert for book lovers,” she said of the festival, describing crowds huddled under umbrellas between venues (a drizzly Sydney morning didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm). The theme this year was “In This Together,” and Ange noted how fitting it felt: bestselling authors, local poets, and readers shoulder-to-shoulder, swapping stories in the rain. She recounted a magical Festival moment the night before – an open-air yarning circle led by First Nations storytellers, flames crackling in a fire pit as ancient and new tales intertwined. Macca chuckled that she was “broadcasting from literary ground zero,” and Ange admitted she’d grown up listening to the show from country NSW. Her call offered a joyful glimpse into Australia’s literary heart, bridging city and bush through shared love of story.

• Heading west, a grain grower in Western Australia’s wheatbelt phoned in from a tractor cab, giving a stark paddock update. He was dry-sowing wheat into parched red soil on a farm near Mingenew, north of Perth. After a promising early April drizzle, not a drop had fallen in weeks. “We’re planting on a promise and a prayer,” he said wryly, running 12-metre bars through powdery topsoil. He’s putting in 80 kilograms of seed per hectare with minimal fertiliser – “no point in wasting the good stuff if the rain won’t come,” he noted. Some neighbours have held off planting altogether, but his attitude was pragmatic. By his calculation, if a decent front doesn’t sweep through by mid-June, the canola and wheat won’t sprout at all. “We’ll know by the winter solstice who bet right and who bet wrong,” he told Macca, his tone equal parts concern and dry humour. The image of WA’s broadacre farmers gambling on weather – silos empty, fields seeded in hope – spoke to the quiet tension of the season.

• From south-western Queensland, a much more dire tale of weather came through. A cattlewoman near Charleville shared that her family station hasn’t seen proper rain since January. Now early winter, the Mitchell grass plains have crisped to brown stubble and the waterholes are nearly dust. Each morning she’s out in a paddock of gidgee trees, chainsaw in hand – “cutting mulga branches for the hungry stock,” she explained – a backbreaking ritual to provide fodder when the grass is gone. She’s also trucking in cottonseed and hay bales from the coast at exorbitant cost. Calves are being weaned early and weaker cattle sold off because there’s simply nothing left to eat. “You either destock or watch them starve – that’s the choice,” she said matter-of-factly. Her voice carried fatigue but also resolve. After surviving the 2019 drought, she’s learned to plan for the worst; their station’s dam is now just a cracked bowl of clay, and they’ve begun drilling a new bore deeper into the Great Artesian Basin in hopes of tapping drinkable water. Macca listened in sympathetic silence as she described the red haze of dust that often closes in by dusk. Still, she ended on a determined note: “This isn’t our first dry rodeo. The season will turn – and when it does, we’ll still be here.” It was a sobering reminder of the drought’s human toll, straight from the heart of cattle country.

• From the Northern Territory came a brighter update – the annual migration northward is in full swing, not of animals but of grey nomads. The manager of the iconic Daly Waters Pub, off the Stuart Highway, called in to report that their caravan park is “overflowing with southerners in shorts and sunnies.” He’s seeing one of the biggest early-season turnouts in years: dozens of caravans and campervans rolling in each day now that the dry season’s begun up Top End. “It’s only May, but you’d think it was July up here,” he laughed, describing the cheerful chaos of happy hour the night before. The pub’s nightly “Beef ‘n’ Barra” barbecue was sold out by 5pm as travellers packed the beer garden to swap road stories. The caller reckoned many retirees hit the road extra early this year, keen to escape chilly southern weather or just itching for adventure after a few quieter years. He told a charming story of one couple from Geelong who showed up with an eight-month-old kelpie pup and a homemade map of Australia they’re filling in with marker as they go – Daly Waters was a big red star on that map. Macca could hear the buzz of evening country music in the background as the publican quipped, “Mate, the birds are back on the wire – you can tell the season’s turned when every site’s filled with a caravan and a clothesline.” The influx of nomads means a boost for outback roadhouses like his, and his pride in offering a warm welcome up north was evident.

• Meanwhile, an utterly remote form of connection was highlighted by a call from Alice Springs. An amateur radio operator named Steve described how he runs a nightly HF radio “sked” (schedule) for folks in the bush who live beyond phone reception. Every evening at 7 o’clock sharp, Steve’s voice crackles out across the continent on the shortwave band, and stations from lonely cattle properties and remote national park outposts call in to check on each other. He’s been volunteering as a net controller for years, linking far-flung Australians through the radio waves. “When you’re 500 kilometres from the nearest town, a friendly voice means the world,” he told Macca. He shared an example from last week: a young governess on a Kimberley station was feeling isolated until she hopped on the nightly sked and found camaraderie with strangers-turned-friends across the Outback. Steve chuckled that sometimes the biggest challenge is the wildlife – “I’ve had dingoes howl back at my signal and geckos crawl into the radio shack, but we always manage to make our roll call,” he said. His story was a nod to the old-school bush communications that still thrive in the digital age – a blend of nostalgia and practicality that clearly struck a chord with listeners.

• A particularly special phone connection came from far, far overseas – Antarctica, in fact. In what felt like a live cross to another planet, Macca spoke with an expeditioner calling from Casey Station, where it was still pre-dawn and bitterly cold. The caller, a weather technician from Brisbane on a year-long posting, painted a vivid picture of life at 66 degrees south of the equator. “The sun set in early May and won’t be back for weeks,” she said, describing how the 19 crew members are coping with continual darkness and temperatures down to –20°C. Her team had just celebrated “Midwinter Day” a bit early with a plunge into the icy ocean (each person dunked into a hole cut in the sea ice, attached to a safety line while colleagues stood by with hot toddies and towels). She laughed recounting the shrieks as “even the penguins looked startled by the crazy Aussies.” Despite the harsh conditions, morale at Casey was high – they’ve been holding regular trivia nights, brewing their own beer, and even tuning in to Macca’s show on Sundays (albeit via patchy internet) as a taste of home. She described stepping outside at noon under aurora-lit skies, the Milky Way swirling overhead in green and purple curtains – a sight few of us will ever witness. Before signing off, she wished her mum a happy birthday back in Australia. The line from Antarctica was crystal clear, and for a few minutes, the entire country was connected to a tiny outpost on the frozen ocean’s edge.

Other calls included:

• Two young blokes undertaking a quirky tractor trek for charity. They rang in from a roadside camp on the Nullarbor Plain, having departed Perth on vintage 1950s tractors en route to Sydney. Topping out at 20 km/h, they’re raising money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and “raising eyebrows on the highway” as one joked. “We get a toot from every road train,” he said. At night they’re camping under the stars beside their rumbling old machines. By the time they reach Sydney (weeks behind schedule, no doubt), they hope to have proved that “slow and steady can do a world of good.”
• A listener’s email gem shed light on an Aussie icon: the word “Akubra,” as in the famous hat, comes from an Aboriginal word believed to mean “head covering.” Macca was tickled by this trivia – “I never knew that!” he exclaimed – noting how a piece of Indigenous language lives on atop many a sunburnt face. (Linguists debate the exact origin, the emailer admitted, but it’s a good yarn regardless.)
• An excited whale-watcher from Eden, NSW reported the first humpback whales of the season heading north. She spotted two big spouts off Twofold Bay at dawn on Saturday – an early start to the annual migration. “They’re on their way to Queensland, and we’re the welcoming committee down here,” she laughed. The sight of those tail flukes had the volunteers at Eden’s lookout ecstatic; the caller joked they nearly spilled their thermos tea as the whales breached. It was a sure sign that winter’s on the doorstep and the humpbacks are highway-bound for warmer waters.
• A bush poetry moment came when a retired stockman from Longreach faxed in a short poem that Macca read on air. In just a dozen plain-spoken lines, the poem reminisced about “the smell of wattle after rain” and “campfire embers at midnight,” bringing a reflective hush over the airwaves. It was a humble, heartfelt piece that celebrated resilience through hard times – a fitting epilogue to a morning of shared stories from all over.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

• Skies over the Black Sea: One of the morning’s most remarkable calls literally came from the clouds – a Qantas A380 pilot dialing in at 35,000 feet “high above the Black Sea.” The Aussie captain, en route from London to Singapore, surprised Macca by phoning in during a cruise altitude lull. In the crackling call he painted an awe-inspiring picture: a pale dawn breaking over the Black Sea far below, the silhouette of Istanbul off to the west as he flew toward daybreak. “Not a bad office view, mate,” he chuckled. He explained that he tunes into ABC via satellite whenever he’s piloting long hauls – “Hearing Macca and the callers, it’s like I’ve got Australia in the cockpit with me.” The captain gave a shout-out to his family in Brisbane and even let his co-pilot say a quick g’day. Macca was tickled by the truly all over nature of the moment, joking that it might be the show’s highest-ever call. Before signing off to prepare for descent, the pilot cheerily promised, “I’ll drop you a line again from somewhere over the world, Macca – blue skies!”

• Silo art sparks town pride: From Pingaring, WA, came a heartwarming update on how art is bringing new life to a tiny wheatbelt town. A local farmer’s wife named Ellen rang in to tell Macca about their brand new silo mural completed just days ago. The massive grain silos now bear a vibrant painting of the region’s early settlers and wildflowers, 30 metres high and impossible to miss. “You can see old Bill Jones driving his horse team across a field of everlastings – four stories tall!” she laughed, describing the scene. Ever since the mural was finished, locals have been gathering at sunset to admire it, and travelers on the highway are detouring into Pingaring for a look. The caller said the project was a labor of love by an artist from Perth and dozens of volunteers. It’s already become the pride of the community. “For the first time in ages, our town’s on the map – literally, tour companies are adding us!” she said excitedly. Macca loved the story, noting how country ingenuity and art can lift spirits and put a speck on the map in a big way. He mused that he’ll have to swing by Pingaring on his next WA visit to see those giant painted pioneers gazing out over the wheat fields.

• Roo rush at the waterhole: A southwest Queensland station owner provided a classic outback yarn tinged with the reality of a drying land. Phil from near Cunnamulla rang in to report that, after a wet spring last year, conditions have sharply turned to drought – and the kangaroos know it. He woke up this week to find hundreds of thirsty roos crowding the last functional bore drain on his property. “It was like an outback version of the Boxing Day sales – roos shoulder-to-shoulder at the trough,” he said. At first light, he counted about 200 kangaroos jostling alongside his cattle for a sip of water. The unexpected visitors knocked down part of a boundary fence and chewed through a poly pipe in their frenzy. Phil’s tone was a mix of wry humor and concern; the sight of so many kangaroos told him the country beyond his fences has little feed or water left. He’s carting water every second day now to keep up with demand. “When the roos start acting like livestock, you know it’s dry, mate,” he noted. Macca and Phil shared a laugh about the roos’ rowdy behavior – “they didn’t even queue up, Macca!” – but both understood the seriousness behind it. The caller recalled the late-’70s drought when similar scenes played out and said he’s hoping for rain before things get truly dire. The story gave listeners a vivid image of life on the land: cracking black soil, mobs of desperate kangaroos, and a stoic grazier doing what it takes to get through another dry spell.

• “Liquid gold” olive harvest: A sweet and savory report came from Boort, Victoria, where an olive grower named Marco just wrapped up an abundant autumn harvest. He manages a small family grove of about 500 olive trees, originally planted by his Italian grandfather in the 1950s. Marco’s call brimmed with pride as he described pressing this season’s olives into oil. An unseasonably mild April with just enough rain led to a bumper crop of plump purple-black olives. The first cold-press extra virgin oil of the year flowed just last week, and Marco could hardly contain his excitement. “It pours out green-gold, and the aroma fills the shed – fresh cut grass, apples, a bit of pepper at the end,” he said, practically tasting it over the phone. He’s been bottling up the new oil to share at the local farmer’s market. Macca, a known foodie, peppered Marco with questions about the process, joking that he could almost smell the frantoio (olive press) from the studio. Marco explained how his family still picks many of the olives by hand to avoid bruising the fruit, and how they cure a portion for table olives using his Nonna’s old recipe. He chuckled when he admitted his kids roll their eyes at the “old-fashioned” ways, but he’s teaching them that some traditions are worth keeping. The call offered a delicious slice of regional life – heritage trees, hard work and a product that connects bush and table. Macca signed off by congratulating Marco and suggesting listeners seek out real local olive oil if they can: “It’s the good stuff – liquid gold straight from the grove,” as Marco proudly said.

• Cross-country on a tractor: In one of the more delightfully quirky segments of the morning, Macca caught up with two mates who are driving a 70-year-old tractor across Australia for charity. Glen and “Crusty” (as he introduced himself) phoned in from the side of the Nullarbor Plain, where they had paused their vintage 1950 Ferguson tractor to take Macca’s call. They’re chugging along at 20 km/h from Perth to Byron Bay to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Glen described the scene: the little grey tractor puttering on the endless highway with a bright orange “Slow Vehicle” triangle on the back and a support ute following close behind. “We’ve got our swag, a toolbox, and plenty of WD-40 – that’s about it!” he laughed. They’ve been on the road for three weeks now, covering roughly 100 km a day when weather permits. Along the way, strangers at roadhouses have donated to the cause and offered meals (and mechanical advice). Crusty told Macca the roughest stretch so far was crossing the WA/SA border in blasting winds: “Mate, sitting at 5 miles an hour into a headwind feels like walking pace – but we’ll get there!” The pair take turns at the wheel to stave off “tractor backache” and say the camaraderie of Aussies they meet keeps them going. Macca was clearly charmed, dubbing them the “slowest great race in Australia.” He promised to give RFDS a plug and wished them good weather and steady running. As they fired up the old Ferguson to continue eastward, Glen signed off with a grin, “We’ll give her an extra toot for ya, Macca, each morning!” – a true-blue sign of two determined blokes and one very old tractor making a difference, one mile at a time.

Other calls included:

• Dogs on parade: A quick check-in from Sydney’s Million Paws Walk had listeners practically hearing the excited barks in the background. An event organizer breathlessly reported thousands of people and their pooches flooding into Centennial Park for the annual RSPCA fundraiser. “There’s a sea of wagging tails and tutus – even the dachshunds are dressed up!” she shouted over the cheerful chaos, noting that it was their biggest turnout in years thanks to sunny skies.
• Dozen chooks delight: “Don from Dubbo” made everyone smile with his light-hearted update from the chook yard. He called to proudly share that his 12 pet hens had finally all started laying. Don rattled off each chook’s name on air – from Henrietta to Princess Layer – and joked that he’s got more eggs than he knows what to do with now. “The girls are happy and the grandkids get free brekkie, so it’s a win-win,” he laughed, inviting Macca for scrambled eggs if he’s ever out Dubbo way.
• First snow of the season: Winter’s approach got a mention from a weather watcher in Victoria’s high country. Simon from Mount Hotham rang in to confirm it snowed overnight – a light dusting, but enough to turn the peaks white at dawn. “Brass monkeys weather, Macca – minus 2 and beautiful,” he reported. Ski operators are buzzing with the earliest snow in a decade, and Simon had already broken out the snow shovel and the billy for a warm cuppa.
• Century of wisdom: Among the morning’s memorable personalities was Stan from Mackay, who phoned in at age 100 to prove you’re never too old to be part of the show. Spry-voiced and cheeky, Stan shared the secret of his longevity: “Keep busy, have a laugh, and a teaspoon of golden syrup every morning.” He told a quick yarn about hearing Australia All Over on his shed radio since the program began in the 1980s, and thanked Macca for “keeping me company all these years.” It was a simple, touching moment – one generation saluting another – and it earned a heartfelt happy birthday chorus from the studio.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights. 

This week’s Australia All Over fell on Mother’s Day, and the program was as warm and down-to-earth as ever. Macca moved easily between hearty bush yarns and heartfelt tributes, creating a Sunday mosaic of life around the nation. From cattle musters under the outback sun to a surprise call from an Aussie truckie on a U.S. highway – and even an in-studio serenade by a beloved children’s entertainer – the show delivered a rich tapestry of Australian voices and stories, all threaded with the day’s family spirit.

• Big muster in Cloncurry: The morning kicked off with a call from a cattleman in Cloncurry, northwest Queensland, who was in the thick of a station muster. He reported that a generous wet season had left knee-high grass across his paddocks – welcome feed for his Brahmans after years of drought. With a team of stockmen on trail bikes and a chopper buzzing overhead, they were rounding up about 800 head of cattle for the first weaner sale of the year. He chuckled that his wife was spending her Mother’s Day morning driving the ute as the makeshift “smoko truck”, delivering tea and sandwiches to the muster crew. “She’s the best bush mum there is – keeping us fed and the herd moving,” he said proudly. The call painted a classic outback scene of family teamwork, dust, and determination under the Queensland sun.

• Honey flow down south: From central Victoria, a beekeeper near Bendigo rang in with sweet news. He’s managing 150 hives in the ironbark country and described an unexpected bumper autumn honey flow this year. An unseasonably warm April kept the native wildflowers blooming, so his bees packed away a late crop of dark, rich honey. “The red gum nectar came in thick – dark and caramel-like, with a hint of eucalyptus,” he said, clearly pleased. Now, with chilly nights creeping in, he’s prepping the hives for winter – insulating boxes and moving them out of frost hollows. The beekeeper noted the first light frost silvered his paddocks last week, which is the cue for him to curtail hive inspections. “Bees get cranky when the frost hits, like clockwork,” he laughed. His call blended practical bush know-how (like wrapping hives in itsy-bitsy woollen blankets, Macca joked) with a real pride in living off nature’s rhythms.

• Hello from the USA: In a memorable mid-show surprise, a call came all the way from the United States. An Aussie long-haul truck driver named Colin – originally from Toowoomba – phoned in from a truck stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma. It was early evening there, and Colin had pulled over his 18-wheeler “just to say g’day on Mother’s Day” back home. He painted a vivid picture of trucking American-style: endless interstate highways, big rigs with sleepers “the size of a Sydney studio apartment,” and roadside diners serving chicken-fried steak instead of meat pies. He joked about driving on the “wrong” side of the road at 110 km/h through the prairies (“you get used to it, but I still reach for the blinker with the wrong hand”). Colin also shared that he streams ABC online to stave off homesickness on his 10-hour drives. “Hearing Macca and the callers, it’s like I’ve got a bit of Australia in the cab with me,” he said. Before signing off, he gave a shout-out to his mum back in Queensland, promising he’d video-call her that night. The call captured the program’s all-over reach – even from half a world away, an Aussie voice found its way home to Macca on Sunday morning.

• In-studio with Don Spencer: Midway through the show, Macca welcomed a special guest into the studio – Don Spencer OAM, the famed singer-songwriter and children’s entertainer (and a familiar friend to generations of Play School kids). At 86, Don’s energy and love of music are undimmed. He chatted with Macca about his lifelong mission to bring music into kids’ lives, especially through the Australian Children’s Music Foundation he founded. Don reminisced about the early days – from growing up on a farm learning bush ballads, to strumming his guitar on Play School in the 1960s. With a gentle laugh, he recounted how a song about a kangaroo got him his first big break (“I figured if I sang about joeys and billabongs, kids would listen – and they did!”). Don even treated listeners to a few lines of his new song “Hold On To Your Dream,” a tender tune encouraging young Aussies to persevere in tough times. He picked up Macca’s studio guitar and, in a warm, slightly gravelly voice, sang a chorus that had toes tapping across the country. By the end of his segment, Don had shared both music and memories – including a touching tribute to his own mum, who bought him his very first guitar decades ago. The live studio chat added a lovely dash of nostalgia and inspiration to the morning’s parade of callers.

• Camel trouble in the Territory: From the Northern Territory came a call that had everyone listening in amazement (and a few chuckling). A station owner outside Alice Springs rang up to report an invasion of sorts – by camels. After good rains in the outback, a mob of feral camels had roamed onto his property, drawn by the only permanent water for miles. “I woke up to find about 20 camels crowding our bore drain like it was a desert oasis,” he said. The caller described the scene: gangly silhouettes emerging from dawn mist, jostling with his cattle at the trough. It wasn’t all harmless either – the hefty creatures had knocked down a fence or two and guzzled precious water meant for livestock. In true Territory fashion, he and a neighboring stockman hopped in the ute and shooed the camels off with a lot of horn-honking (and maybe a well-aimed skyward shotgun blast or two). “They run in slow motion, mate – it’s like a weird dream seeing camels gallop off into the scrub,” he laughed. The station owner noted that feral camels have been on the move with the season’s growth, sometimes causing havoc for pastoralists. His yarn was equal parts comedy and bush reality, and as Macca quipped, “only in Australia would a Sunday morning chat about camel traffic jams make perfect sense.”

• A Mother’s Day poem on air: Fittingly, the program’s most tender moment came toward the end, thanks to an 87-year-old bush poet from the NSW Riverina. Phyllis from Griffith phoned in to share a short poem she’d written as a tribute to mothers in the bush. In a steady, lilting voice, she recited verses that took listeners back in time: morning dew on the wheat, a mother’s hands lighting the wood stove, children’s laughter echoing in a one-room schoolhouse. Her poem honored the quiet, relentless work of country mums – “the tea-and-toast queens of the outback, holding the family together.” One line that lingered in the air was, “She fed the poddy lamb at dawn, then fed her family at dusk – a day’s work never done, powered by a mother’s love.” As she finished, Phyllis wished all the mums listening a happy Mother’s Day, adding with a chuckle, “Don’t forget to give Mum a call, okay?” The studio fell silent for a moment – even Macca was clearly moved – before he thanked her for a beautiful contribution.

Other calls included:

• A fun run in full swing: A quick check-in from Melbourne revealed thousands of pink-clad participants flooding the parks for the annual Mother’s Day Classic fun run. The event organizer breathlessly reported a record turnout at sunrise – runners and walkers honoring loved ones and raising funds for breast cancer research. “There’s a sea of pink tutus and big smiles here, Macca!” she shouted over the cheerful hubbub.
• First frost down south: A weather watcher in Liawenee, Tasmania (one of the coldest spots in the country) called to confirm that winter is knocking. He measured a pre-dawn low of -1°C, leaving a glitter of frost over the paddocks. “Brass monkeys, mate – the dog’s water bowl was iced over,” he laughed, noting that the wood heater was cranked up and keeping the shack cosy for his wife on Mother’s Day.
•  Tuna tales from SA: A fisherman from Port Lincoln, SA gave a brief update on the tuna season offshore. It’s been a ripper season for Southern Bluefin – he himself landed a 75-kg tuna last week. He joked that since he couldn’t be with his mum in Adelaide that day, he sent her a photo of the massive fish and promised her some prime fillets. “That’s one way to do Mother’s Day brekkie – tuna steaks on the barbie!” he quipped, signing off with a laugh.

Listen to the podcast episode here.

Disclaimer: Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara or the “Australia All Over Show.” This weekly review is an attempt to share the wonderful stories that Ian broadcasts each week and add value to what is a smorgasbord of great insights.