West Gippsland Week

Our science correspondent Dr Jarrod McKenna discusses the possibility of using mitochondria to prevent aging effects on the brain.

Wayne Farnham is a newly elected member for the Victorian State seat of Narracan. He arrives in the middle of a dispute that has resulted in a fellow member being expelled from the Party. He talks about that background, but also about the upcoming budget and his preferred options, and about his experience of cross parliament cooperation.

Quantum Support Services is a social support organisation in Gippsland that, among other things, is working to provide a range of support programs for people vulnerable to homelessness. This includes young people who are at risk of long term housing difficulties, and women escaping domestic violence. Here we discuss the need with Nat McDonald CEO of Quantum services.

Dr Jarrod McKenna explains a new genetically engineered treatment possible for HIV, and on the way explains some of the possible risks in blood transfusion that you might not know about!

Russel Broadbent is the Liberal (Conservative) member for the Victorian electorate of Monash in the Australian Federal Parliament. He is a well known "moderate" and here discusses a couple of issues he has been recently prominent in presenting a dissenting view.

A little known means to raise and apply funds for local community development is the Community Development Foundation. Ruth ogan is the CEO of the Mirboo North Community Foundation, one of the most successful in the country, and explains how it works.

"Ask Issy" is a service which allows those in need to find services in their area using their smartphone or computer. It lists services from the large organisations like Lifeline, and statewide and antional services, but also covers small local services. David Sprigs is CEO of InfoXchange which runs the service, and as a result can give instights into the increase in demand for these ser...

Avian flu is widespread in Asia, but not so in Australia. But as the virus in endemic in wild bird populations it is a constant threat to domestic birds, and with the growth in people having chickens it is something that non-commercial flock owners need to be aware of. In this discussion Chief Vet for Agriculture Victoria Graeme Cook explains the danger and how to minimise it.

Matt Runnalls CEO of Mindful Australia, is the Baw Baw Shire Australia Day Ambassador. This is the speech he gave at the Awards / Citizenship Ceremony. In it he gives a moving background to his recovery from depression and suicide and the lessons he has learnt to improve his life and help others. 

We have introduced this massive offshore wind power project, a first in Australia. Although there have been offshore wind projects in Europe for many years, there are several different things here in Australia, not least the regulatory envirnment. We talk again the Erin Coldham, Development Manager, to catch up with the newest steps.

It seems that there has been something of an explosion in some insect populations, so we asked Dr David Yeats of the CSIRO Australian National Insect Collection to fill us in on what might be going on, and wondered if this fitted with the stories of world-wide insect decline.

In some parts of Europe waste has been used to create energy but it has not been applied in Australia. Here we discuss a proposal from Opal Paper Mills in Maryvale, Latrobe Valley, Victoria. What are the benefits, is it overall environmentally positive?

Old mattresses are clogging up our waste stream in both quantity and difficulty in handling. Here we discuss a proposed scheme to find ways to deal with what has been an almost impossible problem till now.

Tripple P is a website that has information that can help all parents worried about parenting which (according to a recent survey) is a substantial majority! Here Carol Markie-Dadds introduces us to some pactical ideas and what the website is designed to provide.

Donkeys are one of many domesticated animals that are in danger of extingtion, especially in Spain. Here Dr Jarrod McKenna walks us through the use of IVF in helping to save the species, and why it is different to human IVF.

There was much hype toward the end of 2022 about some long awaited success in producing Fusion energy (as opposed to Fission!). Dr Jarrod McKenna helps up undersatnd the basics, why this is an important breakthrough, and why the promised infinite energy source is still "10 years away"...

Milly Formby is a young woman who has become so engaged with our shorebirds and their incredible migration, and their imminent existential threats, that she has devised a unique way to highlight their story - flying an ultra light aircraft around the country, dropping in on schools and other places where she can share the journey. Her website can be found here .

Dr Amin Soltan has received a prestigious Victorian Government award to further his study of biological polimers which can be used to stabilize soils for roadmaking, which is cheaper and much more environmentally beneficial than the current use of lime. It may also wrk better in some soils. The process may also be beneficial in agriculture and other building situations.

Prof Mark Crosby from the Monash University Business School helps us understand the use of interest rates to manage inflation and the complications around that.

We've heard a fair bit about this MRNA in relation to the production of vaccines but what is it and can it make us into some new life-form? Dr Jarrod McKenna explains.

A technique of detecting dna in water has been used to confirm the presence of platypus in many rivers around Victoria. Here we discuss the process with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, and the role of volunteers. A couple of surprising places they were found is also discussed.

Hooded Plovers are a sweet little shore-bird around Southern Australia, especially in Victoria. Unfortunately they are not smart nest-builders, just using a scrape in the sand above the tide-line. This puts them at great risk from predators, and from dogs and humans who tend to use the same beaches for recreation. Here we discuss a program to protect these sweet but foolish birds.

A group in West Gippsland has built an apparently small idea into a community wide activity with multiple benefits. Meet Joanna and Molly from Foodshare.

Dr Jarrod McKenna explains what we are finding out about how Microbes respond to being in space, and reveals the toughest Microbe on earth (or space).

An interim report has recently been released from the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide in Australia. Here we explore some of the recommendations and some areas that maybe have been missed, with Warragul RSL President Ben Vahland.