The ConFab with Michael G

Send us Fan Mail You may have tuned into the local ABC breakfast program and heard Lish Fejer from 5:30 am during the week.  Tonight, Lish is my guest on the other side of the microphone. Lish has worked in the field of science communication as a presenter, speaker, writer and exhibition developer. She joined the ABC Radio Canberra team in 2010.  We talk about her passions and life story. Join me...

Send us Fan Mail Emma is an emerging ceramic artist from Canberra, creating jewelry and homewares. Emma trained in Silversmithing at the Canberra School of Art in 1999 before transitioning to a career in counselling and community education, working with young people experiencing barriers to participating fully in education and employment.  Emma kept up an art practice on the side as a hobby, inclu...

Send us Fan Mail Glenda is currently the interim general manager at Canberra-based not-for-profit Domestic Violence and Crisis Service (DVCS). Glenda was previously the President of ACTCOSS which is the peak body for community organisations and people experiencing disadvantage in the ACT.  Its vision is to live in a fair and equitable community that respects and values diversity, human rights and...

Send us Fan Mail Chris chose to be a flower man because it brings his two loves together, the land and people. His journey as a flower man began by selling flowers from the back of a truck on the side of the road. With time I was then able to establish my presence in key farmers markets around Sydney. Several years ago he started his own flower farm in Freemans Reach in NSW and got to experience d...

Send us Fan Mail I meet Lexxie during the recording of the Confab focusing on the masters in Forensic Medicine (the podcast was uploaded in July 2021). I meet Lexxie when recording the Podcast, she is instrumental in this program.  You will gain an understanding of the provision of medical and forensic care of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and in particular a understanding of the...

Send us Fan Mail ruce is a first nation (Aboriginal Australian) writer of literary fiction, non-fiction, poetry, essays and children's literature. As well as his own name, he has written under the pen names Murray Gray and Leopold Glass.  Since August 2020, he has been Enterprise Professor in Indigenous Agriculture at the University of Melbourne. Bruce is best known for his work Dark Emu: Bla...

Send us Fan Mail You may have seen a short story about Steve on our local ABC nightly news program about how the gift of music is changing the life of Canberra's school students.  Steve works with St Vincent de Paul by providing free music lessons.   For the best part of a decade, Steve has opened his door free-of-charge to kids on the margins, to share the "gift of music" with thos...

Send us Fan Mail Dan has presented the breakfast on ABC Radio Canberra and now is one of the 7pm News bulletin presenter on Canberra ABC TV. Dan grew up in the outback Northern Territory mining town of Tennant Creek and began reporting for the local newspaper when he was 14, going on to work for the NT News.  From 2010 he was with National Indigenous Television (NITV) in Sydney and Canberra We tal...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Annie, you may meet or heard Annie and the Armadillos who are known for their groove based music, a mixture of rhythm and blues, funk, bop, soul and jazz, the kind that’s intended to get people on their feet.  The group began in the mid 1990S as a trio doing cover versions of ballads and torch songs.  They became popular at local restaurants and had a regular gig at the forme...

Send us Fan Mail The Phoenix Kings band are a alt-rock pub band from Canberra.  Their music is fast-paced with an Australian feel.  They have been influenced by blues-rock bands of yesterday like Led Zep, ACDC, Angels, Screaming Jets but with a modern feel. The band comprises Dion (vocals/rhythm guitar, song writer), Andrew (lead guitar), Paul (bass) and Brett (drums). Their first album, ‘Yesterda...

Send us Fan Mail Michael is currently co-host of the ABC's breakfast program News Breakfast alongside Lisa Millar and is the ABC's senior network presenter. Michael was previously North America correspondent and during his posting covered stories including the election of Barack Obama as US President, the outbreak of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the Virginia Tech massacre and David...

Send us Fan Mail Caroline is a proud Ngunnawal woman who is dedicated to uniting people from all nations and walks of life. A true champion of Aboriginal Culture, Caroline’s efforts have enhanced and grown the capacity of the Yurauna Centre to meet the needs of the community – while ensuring that preserving cultural heritage remains the essence of the Centre’s work. As a member of the Aboriginal a...

Send us Fan Mail Nurgul is a Uyghur community leader based in Canberra.  Nurgul campaigns for Uyghurs to promote and advocate for the human rights and democratic freedoms for the Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan (referred to in China as “Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region”).   She has mobilizes individuals and the international community to build bridges to take action on behalf of...

Send us Fan Mail If you have visited the Fyshwick markets on the weekend you may have meet Walid inspiring the general public about the merits of mangos, or if you want expert advice on what to buy, he’s the man who you go to get his wise advice on what in season.  Tonight, we get to known his story, about his young life in war torn Lebanon, his journey to Australia and interest in marine life. Jo...

Send us Fan Mail A masters in Forensic Medicine provides the participants expertise and specialised knowledge enabling them to become highly sought after in the forensic medical, or science fields.  Building on their qualification in medicine and associated disciplines , they  will be able to apply your knowledge in the interests of justice.  Tonight you will meet two key people who are instrument...

Send us Fan Mail We will meet Dr Vanita Parekh OAM who is a senior staff specialist in sexual health and forensic medicine based in Canberra. Vanita is the director of the Clinical Forensic Medicine Services which includes the provision of medical and forensic care to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence funded under health.  Vanita established a clinical forensic medical service almost...

Send us Fan Mail Science journalist and broadcaster Robyn presents RN's The Science Show and Ockham's Razor. He has conducted countless interviews with scientists on ABC TV on programs such as Quantum and Catalyst, narrated the Nature of Australia series and appeared in World Safari with David Attenborough. Roybn was born in Buckinghamshire, England, and educated in Vienna and London.  H...

Send us Fan Mail   Meet Tiny who was the co-founder of The Green Shed.   Locals have purchased nearly 69 million items sold by the iconic Canberra business since it first opened its doors in 2010.  The enterprise has saved more than 65,000 tonnes of goods from going to landfill. And they’ve given away almost 3.4 million items of clothing. But the milestone they celebrated in March 2020 was making...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Mike and Ruthie the founding members and principal songwriters of the US band the Mammals.  The Mammals are a contemporary folk-rock band based in the Hudson Valley area of New York, in the United States. The Mammals sing and play in a style heavily influenced by traditional folk, soul, old-time, blues, Cajun, Celtic and rock and roll. Their lyrics sometimes address political...

Send us Fan Mail Reverend Bones is the moniker of Australian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and climate activist Michael John Bones.  Having grown up in a devout Pentecostal Christian community in the Aussie outback, Bones started deconstructing his faith in his early 20s. The songs from his debut album, Escape From Heaven, are inspired by his personal experience of the death of God, and...

Send us Fan Mail You will meet Nate a meteorologist, oceanographer, Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant and the weather presenter on the national broadcaster the ABC’s News Breakfast. When Nate Byrne left his job as a Naval Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy to present the weather on ABC’s News Breakfast it was a dream come true. In fact, it was the beginning of a surprising whole new chapter. S...

Send us Fan Mail Ashley is a leading philanthropist with a deep appreciation for performing and visual arts. She is currently a trustee of the Art Gallery of NSW, and has served as director of Opera Australia Capital Fund since 2014.  Over the last thirty years, Ashley has been a member of the board of Festival of Sydney, the National Art School, the National Gallery of Australia Council and Found...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Mim, an artist who used to reside in the Southern Highlands and is now a resident of the local area, who has exhibition in a local emporium. We hear her story about making the transition from the medical profession to a portrait artist with a unique style.  Her reasons for painting are simple. Through life’s journey, sentimentality never became part of her state of being. Thu...

Send us Fan Mail Gemma is an Australian Paralympic swimmer and medical doctor and a Reverend in the Anglican Church.  Gemma went on to win gold, silver and bronze medals at two Paralympic Games — in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.  Gemma was born in Canberra.  Gemma has an interest in music, playing the organ and cello and singing, and plays the cello with the Australian Doctors' Orchestr...

Send us Fan Mail Michael is currently Director of Diagnostic Haematology at the Canberra Hospital, ACT Pathology and Consultant Haematologist with responsibility for inpatients and outpatients.  He is actively involved in teaching and lecturing medical students at Australian National University, ANU Medical School, and participates as investigator and sub-investigator for clinical trials and resea...