West Aussie Greats: Recent Episodes
6PR Breakfast with Gareth Parker
Join Gareth Parker every Friday morning and listen to the stories of great West Australians who have helped shaped WA.
Jan Cooper has held just about every title you can imagine, including the Order of Australia and the first football manager in the AFLW and in WA.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Expert on all things ‘Dad’ spoke with 6PR Breakfast this morning about the national organisation teaching Australian dad’s how important they are to their children’s growth and development.
Dr Robinson started The Fathering Projectin WA back in 2013 with the aim of supporting fathers, and father figures, to be the best parent they can be so their children can thrive.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is Con Migro, a legend in Speedway and the voice behind the sport for decades in WA.
For more than 50 years, Migro has been the distinct voice on the PA system at Speedway events in WA.
Speaking to Gareth Parker, he said his aspirations began when he met international speedway rider Aubrey "Aub" Lawson.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is a 6PR favourite, Sue McDougall.
Sue is the director of the Western Australian Botanic Garden and joined Breakfast host Gareth Parker in the studio
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is Jamie Mercanti, better known in Perth entertainment circles as Slim Jim.
The legend of the local music scene told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast he didn't know he wanted to be a musician until his journalism degree took a back seat to the burgeoning local music scene.
He revealed his role incorporating music and footy shows in the 1990s and the challenges facing local musicians in the post-COVID world.
"Even with the lack of opportunities with hospitality being closed down so regularly, it was wonderful to see so many people coming out and seeing the local bands," he said of the recent closures during the pandemic here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is Jan Standen, president of the Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren WA and the 2022 WA Senior Australian of the Year.
She spoke about the work her organisation does in helping grandparents provide their grandchildren with positive outcomes, while encouraging them to participate in their lives, and provide a safe stable environment as well as administrative, counselling and legal support.
"Your heart sinks to the bottom of your feet when you're chosen against wonderful academics and chosen for a cause that you're very passionate about," she told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.
"Grandparents often get the kids when their children mess up, there isn't a choice... you could have four, five, six kids standing at the door with a police officer one night who says 'these children are in despair, they're in neglect, can you take them?' and you just look at them and say yes.
"The grandparents lose their friendship base, their superannuation and houses sometimes if they have to go court to get guardianship for the kids, if it's a very unfair situation.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is Darren McCauley, also known as the voice of racing in WA.
He spoke about his extensive career in racing and how he became a successful race caller.
"For people like me who are born and raised in racing, you have a strong emotional investment in it," he told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is fresh from the biggest triumph of his career.
Tennis player Matt Ebden, along with Max Purcell, dug deep last weekend to join some of the legends of Australian tennis as Wimbledon men’s doubles champions.
The pair are the first Australians to reign at the All England Club since Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge.
Ebden joined Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast to discuss the triumph and his long road on the grueling world tennis circuit.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is well-known in Perth circles after a heartwarming appearance as the Telethon child in 1997.
Georgia Lowry is Australia's youngest bone marrow recipient, and her cells have revolutionised cancer treatment for kids.
By donating her cells as an 8-week-old baby scientists have been able to create better outcomes for young cancer sufferers, including treatment options, taking the survival rate from 2% to almost 90%.
The 28-year-old's cells are now labeled "Rock Stars".
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great on 6PR Breakfast is Perth Glory legend Bobby Despotovski, a goal-scoring machine and one of the greatest imports to have played in the A-League.
"What a great club and what a great journey to have had with this club in WA, obviously a joy to the people," he tells Gareth Parker during an enthralling reflection on his career and life in WA.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Understanding and reconciliation is something 23-year-old Noongar-Yamatji man and police officer Cohen Taylor wants desperately for his community.
This week's West Aussie Great was last week crowned WA’s first Mr NAIDOC, an empowerment and leadership program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Perth aged between 18 and 30 years.
Constable Taylor told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast he grew up in Walpole, living next door to a a police officer, "a remarkable man" who changed his views on authority and respect.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ken Vidler grew up as one of five brothers living near Scarborough beach, leading him to the water, where he excelled and competed with great success as a lifesaver, later receiving the title of Legend of the Surf in WA, the highest honour in lifesaving, and winning 20 Australian titles, competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and retiring as Australia’s most-decorated surf lifesaving representative.
Vidler went on to start Cottesloe’s first surf shop Vidler’s, selling a range of surf brands clothing and equipment, before selling the iconic business some years ago.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kendall Whyte’s mission to spark more conversations about mental health started after she lost her brother Jayden to suicide in 2018.
It was at his funeral that her brother's prank of painting a tree blue was recounted, inspiring WA’s 2021 Young Australian of the Year to found the Blue Tree Project, which breaks down the stigma of mental health and paints blue hundreds of trees that are now seen across WA, and the world.
This week's 'West Aussie Great' told 6PR Breakfast host Gareth Parker how her role has helped raise difficult conversations around mental health.
"There are over 800 symbols of hope dotted around the nation and other parts of the world, a reminder for people to check on their loved ones who might be going through a rough time," Whyte told Parker.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This weeks West Aussie Great is a women who has made an enormous contribution to the island we all know and love in WA, Rottnest Island.
Patricia Barblett was the first women to achieve a position on the Island Authority Board and is a leader in environmental conservation.
She is a WA women's Hall of Famer and she just celebrated her 90th birthday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
UPDATE (25/8/22): David has unfortunately lost his battle with cancer.
Cancer survivor David Infirri has urged listeners to support this year's 'Biggest Morning Tea' fundraiser that helps people impacted by cancer.
The Passione Gourmet Deli owner is the Cancer Council of WA's 2022 ambassador for the charity event, after battling a shock diagnosis in March 2019 that is now being managed.
This week's West Aussie Great told 6PR Breakfast host Gareth Parker his diagnosis of stage 4 bowel cancer and a brain tumour had turned his and his family's life upside down but he was back working at their bustling gourmet deli in Kingsley.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is an inaugural West Coast Eagle who has brought football to his hometown this weekend, all in the name of charity.
Andrew Lockyer has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure the first WAFL match in his home town.
The Mid West town 52km north of Geraldton was devastated by cyclone Seroja a year ago, so Lockyer devised the idea of a festival of footy to raise funds for the community, with the inaugural WAFL fixture between East Fremantle and East Perth the highlight.
The weekend festival will feature former and current AFL players, including Eagles Josh Kennedy, Jamie Cripps and Michael Brennan, and Paul Hasleby, Michael Mitchell and Bryan Cousins.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is Professor Marcus Atlas, a world-renowned ear, hearing and skull base surgeon scientist based in Perth.
Professor Atlas has a worldwide reputation in ear and hearing surgery and disorders, and is one of few surgeons whose outcomes are published in international journals.
Caller Margaret, who used to be deaf, told Parker that Atlas had changed her life.
"He's not only a West Australian Great, he's actually my hero," she said.
"I was virtually deaf and went to see him, and I can now hear everything. I can hear the birds singing, I can hear my grandson, and he's amazing."
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week in West Aussie Greats, Mark Gibson chats to Russell James, the famed fashion and celebrity photographer who shoots the Victoria's Secret publications among other major fashion magazines such as Vogue and Sports Illustrated.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Greats is Daryl Foster OAM, who coached WA to a remarkable nine Sheffield Shield titles in two stints between 1975 and 1995.
An innovative cricket thinker, Foster championed better fielding, and revolutionised the way players trained.
A human movement lecturer at UWA, he was also pivotal in scientific analysis of bowling actions, famously helping Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah Muralidaran, the world's all-time leading Test wicket taker, with his unusual action at the height of his record-breaking career.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Broadcasting veteran Ted Bull has been a regular voice on many an airwave in Western Australia and across Australia.
He started his career in Sydney and befriended another radio legend, John Laws, before their partying ways saw him part ways with his employer and head west to 6PR in Perth.
He talks to Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast about his career and love for WA.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week's West Aussie Great is Stuart Henry, the former member for Hasluck and ex-CEO of the Master Plumbers Association.
Stuart worked closely with the World Health Organisation and the value of effective plumbing systems in our society.
Stuart spoke to 6PR Breakfast host Gareth Parker on World Plumbing Day on Friday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Mandurah community was left in shock in July 2020 after an eight-year-old boy was tragically killed while riding his bike just metres from his Mandurah primary school during morning drop off.
Mandurah father Jeremy Anderberg was one of the first paramedics on the scene and worked to try save the child’s life. They were able to get him to Peel Health Campus, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
The incident sparked a burning desire in Mr Anderberg, who has been a paramedic since 2012, to do something to improve students’ road safety awareness and reduce the chances of tragic accidents.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Recognising that poor nutrition was a key reason for health disadvantages, Caroline De Mori founded EON, which partners with Aboriginal communities and schools to create access to fresh and affordable fruit and vegetables through edible gardens.
She tells Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast other initiatives include nutrition education and training opportunities to build long-term, healthy lifestyle change.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.