iHeart Far South Coast

The Griffith family of Narooma has owned the Kinema movie house for 100 years, so the decision to sell comes with mixed emotions but it's time for a new era.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political candidates chasing votes in the Far South Coast have been warned to keep the issues close to home. We chat with Liz Ritchie from the Regional Australia Institute on why your vote will matter.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people tip-toe around the subject of suicide prevention, but Bega's Karen Wright from the Southern Women's Group says a heartfelt chat is all it takes to start the healing.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pambula mum Wendy Wait knows the mental health system inside out, as she draws on her son's journey.   Now she's deriving a petition to get the sub-acute mental health ward Bega has always been promised. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wondering where construction is up to on the new $330mill Eurobodalla Regional Hospital in Moruya?   We corner NSW MP for Bega, Dr Michael Holland for an update on one of the coast's biggest projects in decades.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bermagui's marine rescue commander Caron Parfitt has spent a decade at the centre of some of the coast's most traumatic chapters. So where does Caron find the courage to keep running towards an emergency?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-airforce officer Cindy Chawner is born'n'bred Cobargo, but right now, she’s in Canada as one of 10 defence force veterans within the Aussie team competing at the Invictus Games. She's no finely tuned athlete, but that's not the point.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

5 years on from the coast's worst ever firestorm, former RFS District Manager Angus Barnes recalls his actions on that day, and explains why our fire-fighting force is so much better prepared for the unthinkable.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 50 years since the first George Bass Marathon hit the waves off the Far South Coast, and ask anyone who's suffered the blisters of rowing 190 kays over 7 days, and they'll tell you, it's an exhilarating test of human endurance.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mat Hatcher may have hailed from Alabama, but his passion as Mayor for a second term is focused on a brilliant vision for the Eurobodalla into the next 50 years!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was close local election result, but Russell Fitzpatrick is into his second term as Mayor of the Bega Valley. He's big on credibility, and it all starts with making sure ratepayers dollars will be spent more wisely.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerry Patford is the Chief nurse of the McGrath's Foundation, and she leads an army of 300+ breast care nurses, including those in the Far South Coast. Kerry believes women diagnosed in regional areas should be putting themselves first to improve their outcomes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's cruise-ship season and we can expect to see 26 vessels dock at Eden Port this summer.  It was a bold vision to make Eden a cruising destination, but it's one that's about to go gang busters!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surgical nurse Diane Lang has spent many shifts on the frontline, and here's why she believes our Far South Coast nurses deserve better pay, better conditions and lower staff-patient ratios.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bega Valley is set to become the poster child for a Circular Economy, with a next-level  $19mill centre to educate and attract tourists, and yes - there's a cool cafe included!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It took two of his mates to be evicted from their rental, for Tilba's Chris Scroggy to decide more needs to be done to reduce homelessness. So where are the speedhumps on finding truly effective solutions? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's causing so many music festivals to pull the plug on the amplifier? Pambula indie star Kim Churchill and Cobargo Folk Festival director Zena Armstrong give their take on why live music events are struggling.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's peak hour for whales up and down the coast right now, so we get our sea legs to meet the crew from Saphhire Coastal Adventures, and also chat to Tathra's David Rogers, one of Australia's best wildlife photographers, on how to get that perfect shot.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moruya mum Julie Irwin has asked herself that question a million times, since her son Billy took his own life at the age of 15. Julie is also a counsellor, and she's helping those struggling with mental health and the aftermath of a death by suicide.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're not the only ones embracing the warmer weather. Tick season is here, and vets have already seen a rise in cases of pets presenting with allergic reactions, some serious. And don't think we humans can avoid the ick around ticks either!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Schumann sat down 40 years ago to write "I Was Only 19", and he never imagined Vietnam war veterans and other vets would adopt the song as their personal anthem. And the classic has a special connection to the Far South Coast!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She's a woman with courage by the truckload. Born and bred in Dalmeny, Nikki is in Paris primed for Paralympic gold in the rowing, 8 years after a horrific rugby injury forced her off a field and into a boat!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second part of our conversation with forensic DNA expert Prof. Jodie Ward, we delve into the disappearance of Narooma's Renee Aitken and touch on the murders of Bega teenagers Lauren Barry and Nicohle Collins. Dr Ward ponders how much today's science might have assisted the investigative process for those two cases.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Her job is something you might see a TV series like CSI, Bega's Professor Jodie Ward is a DNA forensic 'match-maker for the missing', helping police locate missing people and finding closure for their families. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda George is super proud of her Matilda's baggy green - she's officially the side's number 48 cap, having represented Australia in the 80's. These days, Amanda's life revolves  around dairy farming in the Bega Valley, which is a big 360 on her days as a Tillie! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.