HERSTORY on RTRFM

In this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Drisana Levitzke-Gray speaks to Taylah Strano about Deaf Culture, human rights and the power of advocacy. Drisana Levitzke-Gray is passionate and dedicated in advocating for the human rights of deaf people, raising awareness about Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and the right of deaf children in Australia to access Auslan from birth. Drisana was born deaf a...

In this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Dr Carmen Lawrence speaks to Taylah Strano about life in public office and environmental activism. And netball. Dr Carmen Lawrence was Western Australia’s first female Premier (1990-1993), the Federal Member for Fremantle (1994-2007) and is currently the Chair of the Conservation Council of WA. The WA Women’s Hall of Fame was first established in 2011 in recog...

In this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Margret Medcalf speaks to Taylah Strano about keeping records, working at The Hague, and what we define as history. Margaret Medcalf grew up in Albany, studying science in a classroom of boys. After completing studies at UWA, Margaret travelled abroad and took on a role in the Australian Embassy in The Hague. She would become the WA State Archivist and Princip...

In this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Margret Medcalf speaks to Taylah Strano about keeping records, working at The Hague, and what we define as history. Margaret Medcalf grew up in Albany, studying science in a classroom of boys. After completing studies at UWA, Margaret travelled abroad and took on a role in the Australian Embassy in The Hague. She would become the WA State Archivist and Princip...

On this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Taylah Strano talks with WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2016 inductee, The Reverend Pam Halbert OAM. Pam Halbert is a remarkable woman who has weathered many storms over the course of an amazing life of compassion and caring. Halbert was born in rural Queensland, schooled in Sydney, and lived on the land in South and Western Australia where she ministered to many, an...

On this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Taylah Strano talks with WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2016 inductee, The Reverend Pam Halbert OAM. Pam Halbert is a remarkable woman who has weathered many storms over the course of an amazing life of compassion and caring. Halbert was born in rural Queensland, schooled in Sydney, and lived on the land in South and Western Australia where she ministered to many, an...

Dr Tracy Westerman AM is a proud Nyamal woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia and is widely recognised for spending over two decades working to reduce the burden of mental ill health and suicide in Aboriginal communities. Dr Tracy Westerman , has been acknowledged and awarded with many titles, including Western Australia’s Australian of the Year for 2018 and was inducted in the Wester...

Dr Tracy Westerman AM is a proud Nyamal woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia and is widely recognised for spending over two decades working to reduce the burden of mental ill health and suicide in Aboriginal communities. Dr Tracy Westerman , has been acknowledged and awarded with many titles, including Western Australia’s Australian of the Year for 2018 and was inducted in the Wester...

At the age of 22 and already mother to one child, a random act of luck led Libby Stone to nailing her audition for the local Merredin radio station, which would be the start of a glittering career in nearly every pocket of the arts, notably acting and radio.  That would lead her on to then work as the only woman at radio station 6PR (until she was fired for being so), and her acting pursuits over...

At the age of 22 and already mother to one child, a random act of luck led Libby Stone to nailing her audition for the local Merredin radio station, which would be the start of a glittering career in nearly every pocket of the arts, notably acting and radio.  That would lead her on to then work as the only woman at radio station 6PR (until she was fired for being so), and her acting pursuits over...

On this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Taylah Strano talks with WA Women’s Hall of Fame inaugural inductee, Estelle Blackburn OAM . Blackburn is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, who despite having no experience with the law, made history by challenging the legal system. Blackburn spent six years researching and writing the 1998 book Broken Lives , which led to the exoneration of two men, John Bu...

On this episode of HERSTORY on RTRFM, Taylah Strano talks with WA Women’s Hall of Fame inaugural inductee, Estelle Blackburn OAM . Blackburn is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, who despite having no experience with the law, made history by challenging the legal system. Blackburn spent six years researching and writing the 1998 book Broken Lives , which led to the exoneration of two men, John Bu...

Margaret Seares is a musician, academic, arts administrator and a 2016 inductee to the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame . She spent her career advocating for arts in education and was also the first music director for 6UWA … which is now RTRFM! From childhood stories of snow to exploring new music in 2021, Seares shares memories with Taylah Strano for episode five of HERSTORY. HERSTORY is a...

Margaret Seares is a musician, academic, arts administrator and a 2016 inductee to the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame . She spent her career advocating for arts in education and was also the first music director for 6UWA … which is now RTRFM! From childhood stories of snow to exploring new music in 2021, Seares shares memories with Taylah Strano for episode five of HERSTORY. HERSTORY is a...

This week, we meet a woman who has spent her adult life advocating for social justice. Kedy Kristal has worked in the area of family and domestic violence for more than thirty years. Kedy Kristal is a Justice of the Peace working voluntarily in the Magistrate’s Court hearing Family Violence Restraining Orders and is an independent prison visitor to Boronia Pre-release Centre. Kedy Kristal was an i...

This week, we meet a woman who has spent her adult life advocating for social justice. Kedy Kristal has worked in the area of family and domestic violence for more than thirty years. Kedy Kristal is a Justice of the Peace working voluntarily in the Magistrate’s Court hearing Family Violence Restraining Orders and is an independent prison visitor to Boronia Pre-release Centre. Kedy Kristal was an i...

Marg Agnew grew up in rural Victoria, relishing life on the family orchard before moving to Western Australia for a new life in broadacre farming.  Overcoming challenges of the conditions of the 1980s  – environmental and economic – led to a full life on and off the land. Agnew assisted in establishing the Neridup Soil Conservation Group in 1989, created the  Rural Remote and Regional Women’s Netw...

Marg Agnew grew up in rural Victoria, relishing life on the family orchard before moving to Western Australia for a new life in broadacre farming.  Overcoming challenges of the conditions of the 1980s  – environmental and economic – led to a full life on and off the land. Agnew assisted in establishing the Neridup Soil Conservation Group in 1989, created the  Rural Remote and Regional Women’s Netw...

Dr. Carina Hoang has had an unusually diverse career, taking her from the biotech industry to the United Nations to a prime time ABCTV drama. After surviving a harrowing escape from Vietnam as a teenager, Dr. Hoang has become a tireless advocate for refugee rights. Along the way, she’s garnered four degrees, an award-winning book, and an iconic role on The Heights. In this episode, Dr. Hoang speak...

Dr. Carina Hoang has had an unusually diverse career, taking her from the biotech industry to the United Nations to a prime time ABCTV drama. After surviving a harrowing escape from Vietnam as a teenager, Dr. Hoang has become a tireless advocate for refugee rights. Along the way, she’s garnered four degrees, an award-winning book, and an iconic role on The Heights. In this episode, Dr. Hoang speak...

Our series begins with Jan Cooper: AFLW trailblazer, wellbeing expert, and raconteur. Jan tells us the story of her passionate advocacy for women’s excellence in sport, from witnessing bravery in a Boulder footrace to energising a 53,000-strong crowd at the AFLW Grand Final. Jan Cooper is an innovator, a pioneer, and a delight to listen to. Her conversation with Taylah Strano is illuminating and i...