True Blue Conversations Podcast

Welcome back to season 6 of True Blue Conversations podcast: On this week's podcast, I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment veteran Craig Ball. Craig passed Commando selection in 2000 as a reservist and went full-time in 2006. He deployed to Afghanistan as a signaller in the 2nd Commando Regiment in 2010 and 2012. Craig spoke about how veterans struggle with transition...

On this weeks podcast, I speak with NSW Rural Fire Service Area Commander Southwestern Chief Superintendent Kelwyn White. Kelwyn commenced her service with the NSW Rural Fire Service in 2002 and, since then has worked across NSW in District, State, and Area-based roles. Kelwyn has been both a salaried officer and a volunteer during her service. Kelwyn's commitment, especially in Community Risk...

On this weeks podcast, I spoke with Australian barrister & Public Prosecutor now defence lawyer Margaret Cunneen SC. For over four decades, Margaret Cunneen helped put away some of Australia's worst, as a crown prosecutor and, as her profile grew, so did the media attention, Margaret recalls the headline cases that helped establish her reputation, the controversies she became embroiled in. In...

On this week's episode I spoke with Colonel Kim "KC" Campbell DFC "Retd" served in the Air Force for 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. Kim is a keynote speaker sharing her story about a life changing combat experience while weaving in ideas and lessons about leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and decision making in stressful environments. Kim has flown 1,800 hours in the A-1...

On this week's episode I spoke with Western Australian Police Officer Kristi McVee, a former detective and specialist child interviewer, she spent years investigating child sexual abuse and prosecuting pedophiles. In this chat, she gets real about the scope of the problem and the challenges you face as a cop chasing down pedophiles. She spent 10 years in the police force before retiring from the f...

On this week's Episode 101:  I spoke with Rod Henderson former 3RAR Paratrooper & Army Aviation Loadmaster. Rod spent a total of 22 years within the Australian Defence Force both serving as a paratrooper with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, he was part of Operation Interfet, in 1999 the Australian-led International Force East Timor. Rod then transferred to Army Aviation, working with...

On this week's podcast Episode 100: Part 3 the Final part of a 20 years of service in the Special Forces. I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamburger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operati...

On this week's podcast Episode 100 part 2: I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamburger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one o...

On this week's podcast Episode 100: I spoke with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator Craig Hamberger who enlisted into the Australian Defence Force in 1999; and served his country proudly for 20+ years. During his posting to 4 Royal Australian Regiment as a Commando, Craig deployed on multiple operations, including Timor Leste, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During one of his d...

On this week's podcast, I speak with Television Journalist Amelia Adams. Amelia has been a journalist for more than 21 years; more than 14 of those with the 9 Network. Before joining the 60 Minutes team in 2022, she was Nine's Senior Foreign Correspondent in North America. Amelia's live reporting from the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection saw her win two Kennedy Awards and a Walkley nom...

On this week's podcast, I speak with a former Australian Army veteran serving in the Royal Australian Infantry 2RAR and Royal Australian Armoured Corps 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and 2nd Cavalry Regiment current Queensland Fire Service Station Officer Luke Smith.   Luke deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2011 he applied for the Queensland Fire Service for a position as a firefighter and was a...

Part 2 of our chat with former Australian SAS soldier and officer, Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar (Retd). Dan joined the Army at 17 years old as a private soldier and served for over 42 years before discharging for medical reasons. Between 1982-1992, Dan completed the SAS selection course three times (Yep wait for the story. He served in a Sabre Squadron for four years as an operator/gunslinge...

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian SAS soldier and officer, Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar (Retd).     Dan joined the Army at 17 years old as a private soldier and served for over 42 years before discharging for medical reasons. Between 1982-1992, Dan completed the SAS selection course three times (Yep wait for the story.. He served in a Sabre Squadron for four years as an...

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Royal Australian Navy veteran Jennifer Wittwer CSM.   Jennifer Wittwer joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1981 as a supply officer. She went on to have an international career as a thought leader, humanitarian, and advocate for women's rights, equality, and empowerment. Some of her roles in uniform have included being the first ADF Gender Advisor to NAT...

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment Commanding Officer Brigadier Ret Ian Langford DSC & Bars.   Ian served for 30 years as a senior officer in the Australian Defence Force, Ian had the challenge and opportunity of leading large and small teams in complex and ambiguous environments. Ian held a range of appointments in the Army and Special Forc...

On this week's podcast, I speak with former Australian Special Forces 2nd Commando Regiment operator John Dixon. John spent 16 years in the Australian Army. During his postings at 1RAR and 6RAR, he deployed to East Timor which gave him an introduction to military active deployments. After completing SF selection and the Commando reinforcement cycle, John was posted to Bravo Company 4RAR Commando n...

On this week's podcast, I sat down with Royal Australian Artillery Warrant Officer Class 2 Mark Henneberry. Mark served for 23 years in the RAA. Mark joined the Army at 17. We discussed his deployment to Cambodia in 1993 and the effects of deploying at a young age. Mark talked about what all veterans and first responders face when they discharge, finding purpose after service. Mark found that purp...

A momentous ANZAC Day 2024 with the launch of my interview with Matt Anderson PSM, an ADF veteran and the Director of the Australian War Memorial,   Matt discusses the current and future re-development of the war memorial, as well as what the memorial and the term 'remembrance" means him. I remain inspired to hear Matt speak about the essence of what makes the war memorial a humbling and meaningfu...

On this week's podcast, I sat down with Detective Superintendent (Ret) Deb Wallace NSW Police veteran serving for 36 years. Deb joined the NSW Police in 1983 and quickly found herself gaining notoriety early in her career when she was involved in the investigation into the murder of 26-year-old nurse Anita Cobby. From this, she was invited to undertake Detective training which led to an extensive...

On this week's podcast, I sat down with Detective Superintendent (Ret) Deb Wallace NSW Police veteran serving for 36 years. Deb joined the NSW Police in 1983 and quickly found herself gaining notoriety early in her career when she was involved in the investigation into the murder of 26-year-old nurse Anita Cobby. From this, she was invited to undertake Detective training which led to an extensive...

On this week's podcast I sat down with Television Personality Johanna Griggs AM  Before Johanna was on our television screens; she was a superstar Australian swimmer. We spoke about Joh's life growing up, representing Australia, and winning a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games. We spoke about Joh entering the world of television at such a young age and how hard it is in the media industry...

On this week's podcast I sat down with former NSW Police Officer Andrew "Panda" MacFarlane We spoke about his life and serving for 21 years in the NSW Police Force. The roller coaster ride in policing that stretched from being a general duties officer, then moving to undercover roles in various agencies including the NSW Crime Commission NSW Drug Enforcement Agency, Being a tactical operator (high...

On this week's podcast speak with former Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Warrant Officer from the 2nd Commando Regiment Michael "Slatts" Slattery. Slatt's enlisted in 1986 as a medic in the Australian Army serving 26years with multiple postings to different units. At the age of 36 Slatt's attempted and passed the Commando Selection Training Course then completing the demanding Commando reinfor...

On this week's podcast, I speak to 3 RAR / Current Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Station Officer Matthew Connelly Cavanagh. Matt was posted into 3 RAR and deployed to East Timor in 1999. In 2000, Matt then transferred to Army Fire Service. In 2004, Matt discharged from the Army and joined the ACT Fire Brigade until 2008. In that same year, Matt went on to join the Queensland Fire D...

On this week's podcast I speak to Mitch Parker former NSW Police officer former Superintendent NSW SES Command of the New England and Retained Fire Fighter with Fire and Rescue NSW.  Mitch spent 17 years within the NSW police and 17 years and counting as a retained fire fighter with NSW Fire and Rescue.  During his time within both roles Mitch has many stories from incidents that even led to recei...