Big Little Small Talk

In 2023 Phil Loxley was diagnosed with prostate cancer. While he accepts that Antigen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) is a necessary part of the treatment, he wishes he could have been better prepared for the side effects. Phil felt completely blindsided by the mental and physical challenges ADT presented to him; hot flushes, lethargy, breast swelling, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, erectile...

Jane Smith is an author, librarian/archivist and editor with a love of history. Her latest book “One Free Woman” tells the compelling true story of Hannah Rigby. Hannah was the only female convict to stay in Moreton Bay when the penal settlement closed – a woman who notoriously served three separate sentences of transportation, including two at one of the harshest establishments in the country. Ja...

Brendan Keal is a content creator. In his beautiful and unique way he reviews all things Toowoomba. From restaurants, pubs, shit parks, public transport to the cheapest basket of essential groceries….. it’s all vlogged with dead pan humour. Brendan explains to Megan that young people don’t trust the news or governments any longer and that content on social media is taken much more seriously as a b...

Dr Barb Ryan is the founder of “Cicada Research and Communication” a company that specialises in how communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural hazards. Barb’s PHD thesis explored the concept of where people seek information in a natural disaster. She talks about the notion of informational and disinformation and the prominence of social media as a modern (and not always reliabl...

Dave Wallis started his working life as a carpenter but after his son was born profoundly deaf, his life took a completely different turn. When Dave realised that only about 10% of parents with a deaf child learn sign language, he went about bucking the trend. Dave not only learnt Auslan, he started interpretting professionally. In 2015 Dave started his own NDIS business which expanded rapidly and...

Peter Castles wanted to be a saddler from the time he was a boy in short pants riding his pony to school. When he couldn’t get his hands on the tools he needed to be a sadde maker, he decided to became a blacksmith. He had a talent and passion for both. These trades are in peril of being lost to history due to mass manufacturing and lack of time. Peter does his best to spread the word about the va...

Uma Kumar is a local GP who focuses on the holistic care of her patients. To this end she volunteers with the Heartfulness Institute - an organisation that offers meditation practices and lifestyle tips. Each week, Uma takes at least two free classes to guide people to search for a happy and purposeful life by taking care of their mental and physical well-being. Uma is also the chair of Toowoomba’...

Chris Meyer is a Christian Cowboy. With a degree in theology and a history of rodeo bronc riding, he managed to combine his two passions; horses and Jesus. Chris was appointed the first official Chaplain of the National Rodeo Association of Australia, a job he did for 25 years. He conducted funerals, married people on the circuit, even baptised baby cowboys and girls. A thoroughly delightful inter...

Gunter Glaser is a snake catcher. He even wears a shirt with the inscription “Keep Calm - Let Gunter handle it”. Gunter tells Megan some incredible stories of close encounters with reptiles. One story involved Gunter being called out to collect a snake which turned out to be the neighbour’s pet. Another of snakes eating the family pets (think guinea pigs and chickens). A delightful interview with...

Trish Mullins is passionate about her work as the coordinator of the Kath Dickson Community Toy Library and Mobile Library. She drives a van, kitted out with over 1600 toys, on a 1500km round trip to bring joy to western Queensland families. Trish was born and raised in the bucolic Norfolk (UK) countryside, the daughter of a Vicar and a Bishop’s daughter. At 8 her family moved to Zululand in South...

Louis Gilshenan is one of Toowoomba’s much loved and hard working veterinarians. He’s been guilty of calling people by their pet names but there’s nothing he loves more than having a genuine friendship with their owners. Louis’ enthusiasm for his work is infectious and he tells Megan stories that made her think long and hard about the role of the local vet in our community. A delightful interview…...

Helen Cowley has written a book “Behind Every Great Tradie is a Woman Rolling her Eyes”. She describes it as a love letter to the women holding businesses together behind the scenes. Helen tells Megan how she balanced babies, business and board meetings. It was at times, all consuming and she often felt she was feeling lost and burnt out. Pink hair and lots of laughter seem to be part of the reaso...

Senior Constable Catherine Nielsen’s story is a chilling one. On 29 May 2017, she and her work partner, Brett Forte were in the Lockyer Valley pursuing a fugitive killer. They followed him down a dirt track only for him to stop his vehicle, get out and open fire upon them. Brett was fatally shot. The fallout from this tragedy and the subsequent inquest has left Catherine with more questions than a...

What motivates a group of mild mannered older Australian women to protest outside their local member of parliament’s office every week? Rhonda Allen, Morley Grainger & Franziska Charteris explain to Megan; it’s the fear of what coal and gas mining is doing to our precious planet and what our future generations will inherit. Knitting Nannas call themselves a “disorganisation”, they are not part...

Sharyn Howard has lead an incredible life and she’s written a book; “What’s in the Box” to document her journey so far. From a childhood marred by trauma and loss, Sharyn embarked on a path of liberation that would take her to the farthest corners of the world and into the depths of her own soul. From the monasteries of Tibet to meeting the Dalai Lama in India... from volunteering on Mother Theres...

Ahri Tallon is the coordinator of Darling Downs Environment Council. He grew up in the Northern Rivers region of NSW with parents who valued the environment. Ahri has a strong sense of community and the components that make a “rich” one. From his youth work to programs around healthy masculinity, his advocacy and activism is admirable and inspiring.

In his own words Michael Harrison is a Brisbane-based community advocate, husband, and dad who has found his purpose in supporting people with Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities. His life has been shaped by family, career, and the journey he’s been on since becoming a father 18 years ago. A charming interview with a man who can see a silver lining at 100 paces.

Eliza Lebsanft describes herself as empathetic, passionate and loyal. After completing an economics degree she thought she had to get a “serious” job. But what Eliza really wanted to do was keeping working and learning about her part-time job as a dog behaviour therapist. Everything from pack walks, safe socialisation and destination days, Eliza lives and breathes dogs. Eliza is such a delightful...

Ian Stewart Koster is passionate about many things. Painting, horses, timber craftsmanship, the story of Cobb and Co. are but a few. Thankfully for the people of this region, Ian was able to combine all these loves. Funded by community supporters, Ian painted an incredible 15 x 4 metre mural on the side of a building on the corner of Clifford and Margaret Streets, Toowoomba. The mural commemorates...

Tabitha Wordsworth is a biology honours graduate whose life has seen many twists and turns. From writing a book on intensive early intervention for children with autism to selling healing stone jewellery, Tabitha has walked down a lot of roads. She’s honest and raw about her mental health journey and the importance of being connected to others in the community. Tabitha’s story is a fascinating one...

Peter Ellis worked on the coldest, driest, windiest continent on earth - Antartica. In fact he did two tours of duty, each time spending a year living and working at a place known as “the final frontier”. Peter was originally employed as a carpenter but ended up being in charge of the dogs and the dogs breeding program. He recalls the years spent in Antartica with pragmatism and extreme fondness.

Steven Paull is the president of 102.7 FM Toowoomba, the community radio station who broadcasts Big Little Small Talk. Effectively Megan’s boss! The list of Steven’s achievements is long. His family business Big Dog Disability Support Services has empowered countless individuals to thrive within their chosen communities. Steven also believes there should be a value put on volunteering and has work...

Peter Collins is the closest thing to a living legend that Megan has ever met. He has been working in the media for over 40 years, sometimes in front of the camera and sometimes behind. It could be said he’s looked at life from both sides (now). Peter had seen every type of human behaviour; every triumph, every tragedy. Every story is told with humour and gratitude that he was taught by the best i...

Hugh Wilson is passionate about many things but active transport, particularly cycling is right up there. He Is President of the Toowoomba Region Bicycle User Group. They organise social rides and work to improve cycling within the Toowoomba region. Hugh was a stay at home father for his three boys, lives in a sustainable house, has a strong opposition to the chaplaincy in schools program and many...

Jacqui Walker is a well known face in Toowoomba and surrounds. She is a highly respected real estate agent who works hard. She has built a formidable reputation by living by the three golden rules: have passion, be loving and care for others. Jacqui grew up the youngest of five siblings in Warragul, in the Gippsland region of Victoria. She describes her childhood as overwhelmingly loving. Her fath...