WHAT I'VE LEARNT

Emerging from Kokoda in March, Jon says it changed both himself and his son Levi - They learnt a lot including, “War is hell! “ He also reflects on the Arts in Australia, and how this billion dollar industry and the arts community have been kicked to the curb. Jon is angry about it.  “Musicians give everything - they raise money for everything from the the floods to the fires with love and hope to...

Katie Noonan’s pure angelic voice makes her one of Australia’s most versatile and beloved vocalists.  A mother, singer, producer, songwriter, pianist and business woman, this ARIA award winning and platinum selling songstress, first received widespread praise as the angel-voiced songstress of indie-pop band George, and has since taken audiences on sublime excursions through Jazz, Pop and Classical...

Some interviews just move me.  Complex, creative and fragile, artist David Bromley works adorn everything from mall murals to surfboards, furniture to sarongs. Speaking to him in his big beautiful Daylesford farm shed, brimming with artworks, sculptures and ornaments, he is truly a force to be reckoned with. Passionate, articulate and honest about his addictions, his loves including wife Yuge and...

Ever creative and faced with the Armageddon of a global pandemic, the King and Queen of Melbourne events Bruce and wife Chyka, morphed from a crisis into creating one of Melbourne's largest outdoor dining venues, The Ormond Collective - an ode to big English and Parisian outdoor cafes, its brimming with hanging plants, vintage outdoor furniture and eclectic terraces, and spaces for every kind...

Dr Chantel Thornton is a specialist breast and oncoplastic surgeon, specialising in the surgical treatment of breast cancer and preventative breast cancer surgery.  She is passionate about enhancing the patient experience, and has a special interest in breast cancer surgery, which maximises cosmetic results for her patients.  She is also a strong supporter of immediate breast reconstruction after...

If there was ever a true living saint in this world, then her name would be Susan Barton. Susan is the founder of the Lighthouse Foundation, a hub for the homeless and especially neglected and abused children. With 6 Children of her own, Susan has still managed to foster hundreds of children, up to 20 a year, sheltering them from abuse, childhood marriage, domestic violence, and neglect. When she...

Critically acclaimed Emily Lubitz is at the helm of acclaimed indie folk band Tin Pan Orange.  Together with her brother Jesse, their stylised folk music is described by Rolling Stone magazine as “deep dives into heart sleeved honesty equally matched by the cinematic stretches of detailed string arrangements and brooding folk pop features”.  She also works closely with her husband Harry Angus of “...

“All your nerve endings have to be alive to life .. you have to be prepared to plumb your own history and experiences that are often difficult. It’s just what it takes. The gold is about very raw authentic feelings, that’s the key to writing interestingly.. only then will the audience come on the ride with you.”  Renowned playwright novelist and screenwriter Joanna Murray Smith is described as the...

Supporting legends Carole King and James Taylor on their Australian tour, singer songwriter Lior is humble but they did choose him!  It’s the same for the 100 years centenary in Gallipoli, Lior was invited as the solo artist to perform his original song because he’s just that good.  Talented and humble his songs speak to people.  Gentle and obsessively creative, he reflects on the past, present an...

Spending time with Alyce Platt her infectious laugh and warm smile makes her feel more like a friend than a guest. She has graced our television screens for decades with years on Sale of the Century, Sons and Daughters, then a regular on Neighbours as Olivia Bell- a role she is reprising this month as she goes back on a carefully Covid protected Neighbours Set. Open about the Armageddon the Covid...

Brimming with raw talent, beauty and a fierce intellect, the winner of the 2019 National Live Music Awards Living Legend, and edging close to 40 years in the music industry, singer songwriter Deborah Conway has created the soundtrack to many of our lives.  From Her massive success with the band Do Re Mi, supporting legends culture club, Simple Minds and UB40 in the 90s, to her Incredible 40 year p...

A diminutive figure arrives clicking her heels on my parquetry floor, furtive and fresh from shooting on the set of her award winning television series Wentworth, Sigrid Thornton is striking -  Sky high cheekbones big emerald eyes and a perfect pout.  When she speaks she is clear crisp sartorial with a theatrical lilt.  Sharp and witty as she reflects on the challenges of work and motherhood and s...

Warm and relaxed I loved interviewing Deb at home.  As she sunk into my white velvet couch surrounded by black and white floral silk cushions, she was so natural and unpretentious.  We nibbled on ribbon sandwiches sipped herbal tea and reflected on so much including the anxiety and mental health struggles rife in the Arts community, her life in New York with Hugh and the kids, and the overwhelming...

Rock legend Keith Urban, the iconic KD Lang, and the unforgettable Lionel Richie are just some of the names Deborah interviewed in the Melbourne Age column called, 'What I've Learnt.' Everyone has a story to tell, and a lesson to learn.  What I’ve Learnt is a brand new podcast from journalist Deborah Blashki- Marks.  "What I've Learnt' is a unique platform for Interna...