Pedder Unplugged: Recent Episodes
Tabatha Badger
Welcome to ‘Pedder Unplugged’, the podcast about all Tasmania’s Lake Pedder, told by the legendary Pedder people themselves. Episodes explore the wild adventures, humorous mishaps and heart break of visiting the original Lake in the heart of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area. Tangents elaborate on numerous environmental campaigns and the high profile global impact of the Pedder controversy, as work continues in the campaign to see the Australian national icon restored. If you would like to know more about Pedder, head to lakepedder.org. Presented by Tabatha Badger. Cover photography by Don Weston. Soundtrack, A Wander (instrumental) by Peter Crosby.Episodes are stories from individuals which may be distorted by time and memory making them factually inaccurate. No reasonability is taken erroneous stories as these episodes are a persons individual recollection, not historical facts.
A prolific bushwalker and campaigner, Bob Graham has been a fundamental part of the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, since day one. It was he and his late wife, Helen Gee, who were responsible for the protection of the Douglas Apsley National Park, on Tasmania’s East Coast. Bobs a tremendous story teller, and depicts Pedder in a way, even those of us who were never privileged enough to visit can feel as though we are standing on the pink quartzite beach ourselves.
LakePedder.org
[Host Tabatha Badger. Special guest Bob Graham. Cover art image, the original Lake Pedder by Don Weston. SoundTrack ‘Talking Trees’ from Max Kershaw. Greg French’s book Wild Heart is available at https://Malbena.com]
LakePedder.org
Former Chair of Bush Heritage Australia, Campaign Manager of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), and founder of WELA (Womens Environmental Leadership Australia), Karen Alexander is one of Australia’s leading environmental activists and inspirational mentor for young women. You’ve possibly caught sight of Karen, or heard her voice in the numerous Franklin River films and podcasts around in the past 12 months. She plays an integral role in saving the River through her crucial role as a lead campaign organiser and establishing the Victorian branch of the Wilderness Society. And, as Karen shares, the driving factor in stopping the dam proceeding, flowed from the loss of Lake Pedder.
LakePedder.org
[Host Tabatha Badger. Special guest Karen Alexander. Cover art image, the original Lake Pedder by Don Weston. SoundTrack ‘Talking Trees’ from Max Kershaw.]
LakePedder.org
David Neilson was a member of the first party to successfully climb Blade Ridge, on Federation Peak. The expedition concluded by walking out of the south west, via Lake Pedder. This was Davids first visit. He conceived the idea to publish a book with images of Lake Pedder to assist the campaign to save the natural wonder. South West Tasmania: A Land of the Wild highlighted the threatened wilderness in Tasmania, but by the time it went to print, Pedder has been inundated. Still, one of David's images is today playing a role in saving Lake Pedder! The photograph became an iconic poster for the Pedder 2000 campaign, and most recently was produced as a Puzzle through the water[shed] exhibition marathon, and its inspiring a young cohort to campaign for the restoration of Lake Pedder.
David’s latest book ‘Chasing the Mountain light’ is available here; https://www.snowgumpress.com.au/Chasing%203%20no%20PP.html
LakePedder.org
[Host Tabatha Badger. Special guest David Neilson. Cover art image, the original Lake Pedder by Don Weston. Sound Track ‘Pause” by PC-1 from the album ‘Wilderness’. Tasmanian native birds recorded at Lake St Clair.]
LakePedder.org
What is the value of wilderness? It's a complex and enthralling question that, practically and philosophically, Martin Hawes discusses in the context of Lake Pedder.
Martin is a researcher, wilderness consultant and photographer, who recalls his teenage trip to the original Lake Pedder, he explains why you won't see the Pedder Impoundment in his photographs, and we scratch the surface on the wilderness impacts and value of Pedder, impounded today and restored in the near future.
‘Unexplored’ is Martin’s new book. You can grab yourself a copy of the book and see some of Martin's work via his website; https://martinhawes.info/unexplored.html
LakePedder.org
[Host Tabatha Badger. Special guest Martin Hawes. Cover art image, the original Lake Pedder by Don Weston. Sound Track ‘Pause” by PC-1 from the album ‘Wilderness’. Tasmanian native birds recorded at Lake St Clair.]
LakePedder.org
In 1955 Stuart Lester landed a light aircraft on Lake Pedder's vast beach. He was one of the very early pilots to do so. Candidly, Stuart recalls flying into Tasmania's south west. At one stage he even flew the very Tiger Moth that activist Brenda Hean and pilot Max Price were to tragically disappear in, en route to Canberra in an attempt to save Lake Pedder from flooding.
LakePedder.org
Host Tabatha Badger. Special guest Stuart Lester. Cover art image, the original Lake Pedder by Don Weston. Sound Track ‘Pause” by PC-1 from the album ‘Wilderness’. Tasmanian native birds recorded at Lake St Clair.
LakePedder.org
Retired doctor Craig Brown is spending time defending Tassie’s precious forests. As a 16 years old, he and a few mates walked into Lake Pedder, unsupervised! But Craig's connection to Pedder and conservation extended to his wonderful family too, his Mother, Rosemary, was one of the United Tasmania Groups, very first candidates and was later arrested in the Franklin River blockade.
LakePedder.org
Launceston Walking Clubs Ian Ross, shares his memories of the original Lake Pedder, we discuss restoration, environmental destruction, and bushwalking adventures in Tasmania. This episode is another for those who love a yarn about quintessential Tassie scrub epics!
Host Tabatha Badger. Cover art image by Don Weston. Sound Track ‘Pause” by PC-1 from the album ‘Wilderness’. Native birds recorded at Lake St Clair.
LakePedder.org
Niece of legendary activist Brenda Hean, today’s guest is Celia Watchorn. Enjoy Celia’s dulcet tones reciting some of her writing on Pedder, sharing her precious stories of her aunt Brenda and the impact of her tragic disappearance for the family. Celia has been an integral part of ensuring the legacy of Brenda, and Pilot Max price, lives on and continues to inspire in perpetuity.
If you don't know the story of Brenda, or want to learn more, we recommend listening the Episode one with Richard Friend.
**We are stoked to bring you this podcast, but creating pod’s does come at a cost, so if you’re enjoying hearing the precious stories of the Pedder people please rate and share the Podcast and consider donating to the Lake Pedder Restoration Inc today.
LakePedder.org**
Geoff Mosley is a highly respected academic who has played major roles in all of the Federal enquiries into restoring Lake Pedder, he’s a wonderful protector of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area and the intrinsic, intangible wild values which characterise the ‘wilderness’ experience. We discuss how Geoff accidentally found out the Tasmanian government and HECs plan to flood Pedder 2 years prior to the public announcement, tells of when he flew over the flooding Pedder with Prince Phillip, and the academic history in the Pedder campaign.
Memories of bushwalking in Pedder, the Western Arthurs, adventures with Olegas Truchas and Tenzing Norgay, Carol and Richard tri-host this episode of Pedder Unplugged and its one for those who love a Tasmanian bushwalking tale!
A teacher and environmental activist, Paul, or Basil as we know him, walked into Lake Pedder as a uni student, an experience which in part shaped his involvement in the Tasmanian energy and dam’s debate, before he put his hand up to run for the Tasmanian parliament and was elected in 2010 for the seat of Braddon.
The United Tasmania Group (UTG) is globally recognised as the first ‘green’ values political party, formed by outraged community members in 1972 to counter the environmental and social injustice that was the flooding of Lake Pedder. Dr Geoff Holloway has been an activist within the UTG for years. This episode discusses the UTG, various Lake Pedder action groups, ecocentrism, tourism and of course, Lake Pedder.
Live recording of the Pedder Pub Talk 2.0 at the Fern Tree Tavern, September 29th 2021.
Christine Milne, Prof Ben Richardson and Tabatha Badger discuss politics, aesthetics and tourism - Why restore Lake Pedder?
Lindsay and his wife Sue, assisted the Launceston Walking Club in the 1970's attempting to save the Lake Pedder National Park. They walked into Pedder several times and today Lindsay uses his original photographs to build the growing public profile of the Restore Pedder campaign.
If you enjoy a good yarn about tramping around Tassie, this is an episode for you!
Convenor of the Pedder 2000 campaign, Hilary Bennell and friend, conservation legend Helen Gee, played a pivotal role in campaigning for Lake Pedder to be restored in the early 1990’s. Their efforts resulted in a Federal enquiry which concluded the restoration of Pedder was technically feasible, but a blatant greenwashing scandal brought the whole campaign undone.
**Episode one is with Richard Friend, who in the company of Pedder campaign stalwart, Brenda Hean, spent a night “in a boat, up a tree, on a lake’, in the final vigil as the impoundment waters rose, flooding Pedder.
Brenda Hean and pilot Max Price tragically disappeared on a flight to Canberra in 1972. They'd intended to sky write 'Save Lake Pedder' over the capital but not a trace of Brenda, Max or the aircraft has been uncovered since.
Today, September 8th, is the 49th anniversary of their mysterious departure. We are launching the Pedder Unplugged Podcast as a nod to Brenda and Max's legacy, to ensure the remarkable stories of the Pedder people are told and heard.
And as Brenda said, the campaign to restore Lake Pedder will not end “until the job is done”**