Riverland Women

In this episode of Riverland Women , Kerrie Lush speaks with Jayne Meneghetti from Loxton about her son Jock and the life-changing diagnosis that reshaped their family. During her pregnancy, Jayne unknowingly contracted cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common but little-known virus that can have serious consequences for unborn babies. Jock was born with multiple disabilities, and from that moment, life as...

In this episode of Riverland Women , Kerrie Lush speaks with Rachel McLeod, whose journey from a young dancer in Adelaide to building a thriving dance school in the Riverland has left a lasting impact on the community. Dance was always a central part of Rachel's life, taking her to Melbourne at just sixteen to pursue full-time training, before eventually guiding her back toward teaching. Rachel sh...

In this episode of Riverland Women , Kerrie Lush speaks with Caitlyn Larssen from Berri, whose journey to the Riverland is anything but ordinary. Originally from the United States, Caitlyn trained in theatre in New York before building a career in circus performance, travelling extensively and working across the globe.  After moving to Australia, Caitlyn's life took an unexpected turn with the arr...

In this episode of  Riverland Women , Kerrie Lush speaks with Suzi Evans from Mantung — a passionate advocate for mental fitness. After the devastating loss of her only son to suicide, and supporting her husband Mick through a life-threatening illness, Suzi found purpose in helping others. She shares how studying positive psychology, training in mental health first aid, and developing her own prog...

Imagine discovering you had hundreds of siblings you had never met… In this episode of Riverland Women , I sit down with Kat Dawson.  After learning she was conceived through anonymous sperm donation, she began searching for her biological connections. What she never expected was the sheer scale—she could have up to 700 siblings … maybe even more. Now, Kat is on a mission to track down as many of...

In this episode of Riverland Women , Kerrie Lush sits down with Caroline Phillips, the dynamic Mayor of Karoonda East Murray. Caroline shares her story, from growing up on her family's farm in Wynarka to studying abroad in Norway, dressing up as a Caramello Koala in Rundle Mall and eventually becoming a driving force behind some of the most exciting projects in her local community. Caroline talks...

Riverland Women: Episode Summary Guest: Pat Mickan In this episode of Riverland Women , we sit down with one of the Riverland's most accomplished athletes, Pat Mickan. Growing up in Renmark, Pat's sporting talent took her from local courts to the international stage, representing Australia in basketball at two Olympic Games and three World Championships as a member of the Australian Opals. Pat sha...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Corina Sims, a rural GP and obstetrician from Renmark, who shares her incredible journey from a challenging childhood in the United States to becoming a doctor in Australia. Corina reflects on her upbringing, marked by domestic violence, addiction, and instability, and how these experiences shaped her resilience and drive. We explore her move to Australia, the im...

It's a long journey from the bustling streets of central Dublin to the outskirts of Renmark, but for Stephanie Brookes, it's a journey that has led her to exactly where she wants to be. Her path to the Riverland started with a stint as a winemaker – despite no formal qualifications and that's where she met her husband Andrew.  Now deeply rooted in the Riverland, and working for the Renmark Paringa...

Welcome to another episode of Riverland Women. In this episode, our guest is Elspeth Radford. Elspeth is a woman of many talents and has a fascinating story to tell. Founder of Saltbush Clothing : Elspeth founded one of South Australia's most renowned country clothing brands. Nursing Career : From stitching up shearer's hands to being the onset nurse for the filming of the iconic Australian movie,...

In this episode of Riverland Women we chat with Amanda Wells, a PhD candidate researching the environmental history of citrus growing in the Riverland from 1948 to 1970. Amanda reveals that the name "Riverland" was initially a brand name for oranges and only became the region's name in the 1960s. She discusses her research journey, the evolution of the citrus industry, and the personal and histori...

As Benjamin Franklin, once said, from adversity comes opportunity and that was certainly the case for Jenny Semmler from 919 Wines at Glossop. After the breakdown of her first marriage, the former pharmacist, then living in Victoria, threw herself into a wine making degree and then she met her now husband Eric. When a work opportunity in the Riverland presented itself to Eric, Jenny later followed...

  The Podcast Station   Life can be a funny thing; sometimes, circumstances lead you on a completely different journey than you expected. That was certainly the case for Karlene Maywald before she won the seat of Chaffey in the 1997 election. During her tenure, Karlene navigated the complexities of water management during one of the worst droughts in recorded history, playing a pivotal role in the...

In this week's episode, we meet Elise Howie. She's a clinical psychologist based in Renmark. As a teenager, Elise struggled with anorexia for six tough years. It was a difficult time that tested her in many ways, but she fought through it and eventually recovered. But Elise's challenges didn't stop there. After having her son, Charlie, she experienced postnatal depression with psychotic features....

In this episode of Riverland Women , we meet Jocie Cooper, a lifelong resident and volunteer in the Riverland community. Growing up near the now-famous Wilkadene Woolshed Brewery, Jocie has vivid memories of paddle steamers arriving at all hours of the day and night. Jocie moved to Renmark for school, living with her grandparents due to (what was considered back then) the long distance from Murtho...

Nicola Centofanti, a proud resident of Winkie, a skilled veterinarian, and a dedicated politician. Nicola has been the Leader of the Opposition in the South Australian Legislative Council since April 2022. She also serves as the Shadow Minister for Regional South Australia, Primary Industries, and Water Resources & the River Murray. Nicola grew up in Berri and pursued her veterinary studies at Mur...

Dr. Heather Neilly is an ecologist whose journey began in the mining industry in Queensland. Six years ago, she and her family moved to the Riverland, where she now works at Calperum Station near Renmark. Heather has recently been awarded a nearly half-million-dollar grant through The Australian Research Council to continue her vital research on restoring and protecting the Eucalyptus Mallee, home...

It's taken a couple of decades, a successful career in journalism and raising four children but Catherine Heuzenroeder from Berri has managed to rekindle her passion for music and has turned it into her new career. She is now a piano and violin teacher at Music Alive and she's inspiring the future generations of musicians in the Riverland.   The Podcast Station

In a time when many regional newspapers are shutting down across Australia, Sonia Fowler has defied the odds. From what began 18 months ago as a 16-page newsletter, Sonia is now publishing a fortnightly, tabloid newspaper, the Waikerie and District News and it continues to grow in popularity. Throughout her career in publishing and newspapers, she's moved around Australia, but Sonia says, the Rive...

In this episode of Riverland Women, we introduce you to Anne-Marie Reeks. If you grew up in the Riverland, chances are she might have been your kindergarten or primary school teacher. But in recent years, Anne-Marie's journey has taken her beyond the classroom and into an exploration of self-discovery. Along this path, she stumbled the healing power of sound. For the past six years, Anne-Marie has...

In this episode of Riverland Women, we hear the story of Jade Malinovski, a yoga teacher and dedicated yogi hailing from Renmark. Jade is on a mission to create a sanctuary for women in the whirlwind of modern motherhood, offering a much-needed oasis for self-discovery and renewal. Jade shares her vision for an online membership platform tailored specifically for women who find themselves caught u...

When a swarm of bees infested her outdoor area at Renmark West, Kerry Chambers started researching what to do about them..... and she soon became obsessed. It led to her starting her own bee-keeping business, producing honey, managing hives and educating the community about bees. This is Kerry's story about how she became an accidental apiarist.   The Podcast Station

The first few months of motherhood were far from what Britt Townsend expected. Shortly after son, Eddie's birth, he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, leading to a roller-coaster of emotions and uncertainties for Britt and her partner, Ben. Eddie spent many months at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, where his strength and resilience began to shine through. He's now a happy, healthy...

From travelling from Adelaide one day a week and consulting in a back room at a former health food shop to creating and growing a Natural Health Hub. Catherine Kenyon's business, Santosha Health and Wellbeing in Renmark, has grown significantly in recent years, and she's managed to do it, while raising two young children. There's been plenty of ups and downs over the past 12 years since she made t...

Abbey Richards, from Berri, is determined to cut through the noise around diet, training, and self-love. Balancing her roles as manager at Riverland Fitness Centre and founder of Real AF coaching, she's committed to helping others with nutrition, mindset, and training both online and in-person. Despite (quite literally) stumbling into the fitness industry, Abbey's personal journey has fuelled her...