Over the Bonnet: Recent Episodes
overthebonnet
I sit down in the Marymark Media studio to chat with interesting people just like what happens over the bonnet of a car. An in-depth conversation with people from all walks of life who have remarkable stories and something thought-provoking to say.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet I get to chat with a man who has spent his life in the transport and construction industries.
Terry Mundey is has taken up writing during his retirement and has already written two books and has plans for a third.
In this episode of Over the bonnet I sit down with a lady who is one of the country’s most tattooed women.
Caz Smith has recently retired after a career as a tattoo artist and has appeared in newspaper, magazines and on television to promote her art.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I chat with an opera singer who has performed in front of audiences all over the world.
Kerri Eaton has played to crowds of up to 10 thousand people before coming home to teach the next generation of classical and contemporary performers.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with the CEO of a revolutionary program that delivers transformative rites of passage all over the world.
Arne Rubenstein built on his experience as a GP and emergency room doctor to develop courses that support the transition from teenager to adulthood to create wellbeing, resilience and belonging.
Plus Over the Bonnet listeners can have a free copy of the E-booklet 'How to parent teenagers', written by Arne Rubenstein. To access click on the link;
https://learn.ritesofpassageinstitute.org/how-to-parent-teenagers-free-download/
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to sit down with a Vietnam Veteran that fought in the infamous battle of Long Tan. Laurie Drinkwater was a section commander in D company, where 108 Australian soldiers defied the odds when faced with a regimental North Vietnamese force of up to 2,500 men.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with a lady that is a leading road safety advocate as CEO of the roadcraft defensive driving program.
Sharlene Makin has overcome being profoundly hearing impaired to take organisation from financial disaster to major government contractor.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with a circus performer who is living his dream working as an acrobat and magician.
Matt Casey began as a gymnast and has utilised those talents on stage while also performing a variety of close up and stage magic as well as being an accomplished mentalist and mind reader.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I sit down with a lady who is a prize winning author and bluegrass musician.
Marnie Walters-Burgess is rediscovering her passion for banjo and playing music after being stuck down with multiple sclerosis which left her unable to play for 15 years.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with one of Australia’s leading fiddle players.
Pixie Jenkins has been a part of the country’s music scene for nearly 50 years and has played on literally thousands of music recordings and shared stages with some of the big names in the industry.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I sit down with an audio expert who has worked in many aspects of the music industry.
After starting out as a performer in bands during some of the halcyon days of the Brisbane rock scene, Scott Mullane evolved to become one of the country’s leading sound engineers.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I sit down with a music artist lives by the motto of believe in yourself and never give up even if it doesn’t work out the way you planned.
After several years working to hone his craft since moving to Nashville, Matt McClure says you can only achieve your dreams if you put yourself out there in the first place and after 8 years may finally have the song to launch his career.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with a lady who has taken Feng Shui to a new level.
After initially practising Chinese Feng Shui, Roseline Deleu has now adopted a new approach to utilise what’s available in the local landscape to obtain harmony and balance in the home and in nature.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with a lady who is a director at the award winning public relations firm The Audacious Agency.
Annette Densham has the philosophy that you need to be willing to shine and succeed without compromising your values and ethics, and she’s hidden nothing in her gripping new autobiography.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I get to chat with a lady who moved to Australia from Croatia with her family in the early seventies without even knowing how to speak English.
Branka Starcevic assimilated quickly, but had to overcome the loss of her mother and escape domestic violence before going on to study to become a dentist and carve out a successful career.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I sit down with a man suffered who horrific injuries after an improvised explosive device he uncovered detonated while working for the Australian Army in Afghanistan.
Michael Lydiard has pushed through enormous physical and emotional challenges in his battle to recover and rebuild his life, and part of that process involved retraining to become an occupational therapist.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I chat with a man who more than 50 years after the assignation of JFK, is convinced there is a conspiracy to cover up the assassination.
Stephen Ricket has spent years investigating if Lee Harvey Oswald was a shooter, and did he do what is claimed.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I speak with a man who has had a fascinating career in the military working as an interrogating Al Qaeda prisoners during the Gulf War.
James Rosone has written about his experiences and gone on to become a prolific writer of military thrillers with a portfolio of 24 books with more in the pipeline and is one of Amazon’s top 100 authors.
In this episode of Over the Bonnet, I speak with a former winner of the grueling Coolangatta Gold surf race and the Uncle Toby’s super series who has also had a long and distinguished career as a surf coach.
Michael King overcame being raised in Gladstone in country Queensland where there is no surf and through determination and sheer hard work reached the pinnacle of his sport as an elite ironman
In this episode, I get to chat with a former Vietnam assault helicopter pilot who went on to command a battalion in the first gulf war in operation desert storm.
Matt Jackson enlisted as a Warrant officer and worked his worked through the ranks before retiring as a colonel, along the way, being decorated for his courage on the battlefield – writing about his exploits in three books – The "Undaunted Valor" series which is in the process of being turned into a movie.
In this episode, I get to chat with a man who is happy working behind the scenes in the glamour world of film and television.
Peter Daniell has been building and developing his camera crane for the last 17 years, and while demonstrating his product has been on the sidelines to some of the big sporting events around the world.
In this episode, I sit down with a kindergarten teacher who has defied the odds by beating stage 4 ovarian cancer.
Melanie Fitzgibbon has come out the other side with a new outlook on life, while continuing to work with her husband managing their farm Camelot Camels and running camel rides on Noosa's north shore.
In this episode, I get to chat with a piano bar singer who hit the big time in Europe scoring a number one hit song.
Annie Longmore was plucked from relative obscurity while singing in hotels on the circuit in Germany and was quickly dealing with the pitfalls of fame.
In this episode, I get to sit down to discuss the careers of a man who devoted almost half a century working as a road and bridge designer.
Dennis Tennant has left his mark on a number of big projects in Queensland before retiring as Regional Director of main roads.
With Anzac Day coming up, I’ve had the honour of sitting down to chat with a 97-year-old second world war veteran.
Frank McGreevy put up his age to join the army, despite working in a protected industry, and saw active duty in Papua New Guinea serving as a medic and was injured during combat operations and he is an inspiration that is part of the Anzac legend.
In this episode I get to chat with a man who is best known as a member of the Chaser productions CNNNN and the Chaser’s war on everything.
Charles Firth has made a career of pushing the boundaries of comedy satire and is now continuing to stay ahead of the media curve targeting a new generation of consumers - going completely online with chaser.com.au
In this episode I get to chat with a man who uses his uncanny likeness to carve out a living as a Freddie Mercury impersonator.
John Blunt fronts a band known as The Killer Queen experience and tours all over the world keeping the memory of the legendary Queen front man alive.
In this episode I get to chat with a man who grew up in north Queensland learning and practicing his aboriginal culture. while being raised by his Grand Parents. Joe McIvor is now teaching others how to live off the land and hunt as well as taking tours to sacred sites and sharing local customs.
In this episode I get to chat with a man who is australia’s most recorded song writer.
Allan Caswell has had more than 750 of his songs recorded by artists around the world and while he’s still performing an writing music, he’s passing on his craft to the next generation of artists.
In this episode I sit down with a woman who witnessed her father stab her mother to death at the age of 7, before enduring years of bullying and abuse in foster homes.
These days Donna Leigh Perfect is a beacon for people working to clear past trauma and limiting beliefs and works to empower others to flourish and inspire others to do the same.
In this episode I get to chat with a man who is a self-taught barefoot doctor and surgeon who devoted himself to the healthcare of peasants rural and remote areas of China.
Lizhe Sun is known as the cave doctor after beginning his practice in caves in performing more than 3000 operations in the Shaanxi province.
In this episode I speak with a lady who is an advocate of multi-level marketing and CBD oil for chronic pain and has never lost her quest for true freedom.
Ria Boustead runs 3 on line businesses and is keen to share her knowledge to help others to live in financial freedom, while also helping people who suffer from long-term pain.
In this episode I do my first Skype interview with a man who has been a tireless worker for blood cancer charities.
Neil Pennock has been described as one of St Vincent hospital’s greatest community supporters – raising close to a half a million dollars for the Haematology and bone marrow transplant unit while also supporting Nurses with post graduate education through the TLR foundation.
In this episode I get to chat to a retailer and promoter with a focus on energy and wellness.
While Dianne Woodstock’s primary focus in on her retail outlet, Magicality, she also runs lifestyle expos and retreats. Plus she’s an avid dinosaur hunter and history enthusiast.
In this episode I get to chat to one of the founders of Whiskey’s wish – an organisation involved in training service dogs for ADF and other frontline personnel facing PTSD. Scott Jackman has fought through his own trauma after serving in the Army in Afghanistan and was injured during the deployment causing him to be medically discharged, and it was his dog Whiskey that helped battle his own inner demons.
In this episode, I get to chat with John Knox – the man long considered one of the most talented of his time and the nice guy of Brisbane radio.
When he finally stepped away from full time work behind the microphone and hung up the headsets, he left behind a legacy of an inspirational media portfolio and played a part in launching a generation of radio and television personalities.
In this episode I sit down with the deputy speaker of Federal parliament and member for Wide Bay Llew Obrien.
After a 15 year career as a Queensland police officer Llew Obrien took over the seat vacated by Warren Truss, and has a rapid rise through the parliamentary ranks after backing a failed leadership spill to topple Michael McCormack in favour of Barnaby Joice. He then announced he would no longer sit in the nationals party room but remain in the LNP and support the government - and then was unexpectedly nominated by Labor for the deputy speakers position.
In this episode, I get to chat with Dr Jhao Fengrui, one of the world’s best thoracic surgeons and China’s leading lung transplant specialist. Dr Zhao also pioneered the development of Zhao’s artificial trachea and since his retirement he’s now hoping to pass on his knowledge of tracheal reconstruction.
In this episode I get to sit down with Dr Rod Day who is about to retire from General Practise after over 40 years in the profession and 4 decades in Gympie.
Dr Day has spent a lifetime in service to the medical profession and finally hangs up the stethoscope on the 17th of December.
In this episode, I get to chat with Toby Wilson – a former SAS special forces soldier who is saddened and sickened by the actions of a few members of the unit who have blackened the name of the SAS.
Toby is responding to the Brereton report where new SAS recruits have allegedly been forced to kill prisoners and unarmed men to get their first kill on the battlefield amongst other atrocities.
In this episode, I get to chat with Arthur Gorrie – a veteran journalist who is now enjoying semi-retirement - still working at the new Gympie Today newspaper in the print media while newspapers around the country are being closed down.
He’s also worked for the Daily Telegraph, The ABC and spent over 10 years with the Gympie Times before it was closed down - along with most regional newspapers around the country – and once again he’s helping to keep the printers rolling
In this episode, I get to chat with Bruce Woody Woodstock – a veteran of the transport industry ranging from an owner driver to driving tourist coaches.
After a number of years as a tour guide on Fraser island, he’s now putting the experience he’s learnt on the road as a driver education specialist
In this episode, I get to chat with Steve Kitney, owner of the B positive bee shop on the Sunshine Coast and mentor to many local amateur bee keepers. What started out as a hobby and secondary business to his motorcycle trailer manufacturing operation, has now expanded to be Steve’s main focus including manufacture of bee equipment and retail sales.
In this episode, I get to sit down with Brad Matthews, a builder and work health and safety consultant who specialises in risk management trying to merge safety with productivity and talk about the pitfalls of safety in the workplace. He’s also spent a lifetime as a martial arts exponent in Kyokushin Karate and Ju Jitsu.
In this episode, I get to chat with Billy Mitchell, the principal of Century 21 Real Estate in Gympie and Cooloola, who's rapid expansion has seen him become one of the largest real estate franchisees in the area. He began his life following the family business in the hotel industry before making the move to real estate and he's never looked back.
In this episode I get to chat with Paul McKeown who’s spent a lifetime pursuing an aviation dream as a pilot and instructor. Paul began his life in the air flying gliders at 16, before moving onto general aviation and realised his dream of becoming a commercial airline captain flying for several major national and international companies.
In this episode, I sit down with Tony Perrett, the Queensland shadow minister for Agriculture, industry, fisheries and forestry. After serving on the Kilkivan shire council and Gympie regional council, Tony made the step up to represent Gympie at state level for the LNP back in 2015, and with only weeks to go until the next election he’s leaving nothing to chance.
In this episode I get to chat with Tim Nolan, a former bomber and fighter pilot, who is also an accomplished aviation artist. After joining the British Air force, Tim flew Vulcan bombers during the cold war, and even led a squadron of Phantom F4 fighters during the war in the Falklands
In this episode, I catch up with a woman who is widely regarded as one of the most influencial people in the Gympie-Cooloola area.
After starting as a cadet reporter, Shelly Strachan has worked her way up the corporate ranks to become editor of the Gympie Times – which has had it’s challenges of late - especially as the paper is now only displayed on a digital platform.
In this episode, I get to chat to the daughter of a soldier who performed national service during the Vietnam war and her whole family is now heavily involved in assisting the rehabilitation of ex-military and front line service men and women. Prue Marshall is now working with her parents in running a retreat for these veterans as they transition back to civilian life and is in the process of setting up 'TVD', a new group to co-ordinate help for ex-service personnel.
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In this episode, I catch up with Jeff Erichsen, a former diesel fitter, who ventured into the world of infrared thermal imaging photography, designed to increase cost savings to mining companies though better preventative maintenance.
Also as a multiple Australian boxing champion, Jeff has turned the infrared technology on himself and others to document study into a neurological rehabilitation treatment known as neuro-physics.
In this episode I get to chat with a cattle grazier who has lived and worked on the same property for all of his 91 years.
Ian Fitzgerald still works on the farm and has seen some incredible changes in the world over his time on the planet.
In this episode, I get to speak with an ex-Army mechanic who is now working to provide a path to civilian life for other military veterans. Wayne Smith is developing a program called the Farmers Army where former defence personnel work in the rural sector utilising the unique skill set they develop in the armed forces.
In this episode, I get to sit down with the newly elected mayor of Gympie Regional Council, Glen Hartwig with his refreashing approach on how to how to turn the area's financial situation around, and find out about what makes him tick. He makes frank admissions about how he found out the true picture of financial mismanagement.
In this episode, I get to chat with a man who is a 3rd generation dairy farmer and is a firm believer that attitude brings altitude.
John Cochrane is an entrepreneur with involvement in real estate, and his latest project involves expansion into cheese and dairy production.
In this episode I get to chat with a tireless worker for charity who has been recognised with an O.A.M. for her efforts. When Marlene Owen is not raising money for chemotherapy and cancer treatment in Gympie, she's volunteering to help the local homeless community, and disadvantaged youth.
In this episode I get to chat to Ron Owen, who is the most charged, innocent man in Queensland. Charged with almost 3000 offices, the Gympie gun shop owner and justice of the peace says he's beaten them all in a long running battle with police over Australia tightly controlled gun laws.