Welcome to Newcastle Libraries REAL. This podcast is for everyone who loves brave and provocative stories, stimulating conversations and absorbing content. Whether you are interested in Newcastle stories, or you're searching for new ideas, REAL will inspire, inform and keep you connected to your community.
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Your Summer Stories 2022/23
Your Summer Stories includes a curated selection of 7 must read titles, a conversational podcast series and two very special events in October and February.
Episode One: Newcastle Libraries is happy to bring you another 7 sizzling summer reads. Skye, Karen and Pat have been reading through our exciting titles and are here to introduce you to this summer’s number 1 must-read list.
Episode Two: Jaye Ford chats to Chris Hammer about his stunning new thriller The Tilt. Listen at the link below or watch the video.
Episode Three: Karen Eastwood meets Stella Prize winning author Heather Rose to chat about her luminous and compelling memoir Nothing bad ever happens here.
Episode Four: Melanie Sargeant introduces us to one of her favourite authors Holly Throsby about her 3rd novel, the clever and captivating Clarke.
Episode Five: Kirsty Manning is the author of 6 best-selling books. Today she will be talking to Pat Annetts about her latest novel, The Paris Mystery, the first of a new series with reporter turned amateur sleuth Charlie James.
Episode Six: Garry Disher’s new novel Day's End, returns to the outback town of Tiverton, the rural beat of local cop Paul Hirschhausen where all is not as bucolic as you would expect. Dan Cox talks to Garry about Hirsch’s latest travails.
Episode Seven: Skye Jones and the charming Fleur McDonald chat about her new breathtaking novel of rural suspense Broad River Station.
Young Adult Your Summer Stories 2022/23
Load up with SPF7 (Spectacular Page-turning Fiction) this summer with seven exciting and diverse Young Adult books that will have you covered for your holiday reading. Find out more on our Your Summer Stories for Young Adults page. Hear more from the authors with our exclusive podcast series dropping through Summer:
Episode One: Welcome to the this is the first podcast in the YA Your Summer Stories series. Danni Hilliard chats with ABIA Award-shortlisted author Tobias Madden about love, online gaming and of course his recent novel, Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell.
Episode two: Welcome to the second podcast in the YA Your Summer Stories series. Danni Hilliard chats with multiple award-shortlisted author Nina Kenwood about love, Vampire Diaries and of course her recent novel, Unnecessary Drama.
Episode Three: Welcome to the third podcast in the YA Your Summer Stories series. Danni Hilliard Danni Hillard talks to award-winning author, Holden Sheppard about his latest novel, 'The Brink', playing Dungeons and Dragons and what Holden's reading this summer.
What's your drags-spiration?
In this standalone podcast, local drag icon Timberlina hosts a panel discussion with local performers. Discover where they pull their inspiration from and what it takes to hit the stage week in and week out. This is the perfect podcast for those with a mild curiosity or looking to start building their own drag queen empire!
Your Summer Stories 2021
Our Summer Stories Program provides members with a diverse selection of titles and experiences for their summer reading. This engaging podcast series will introduce you to this Summer's authors and their latest titles for your Summer Reading and listen pleasure.
Episode One: Join some of our well-read library staff as they discuss the 7 fabulous titles that are this Summer's must read books.
Episode Two: Matthew Reilly in conversation with Newcastle Library's Louise Riley. Matthew Reilly has sold over 7.5 million copies of his books worldwide. The One Impossible Labyrinth, the final book in Matthew Reilly's bestselling action-adventure series, finds former SAS specialist Jack West Jr. back for one last hurrah.
Episode Three: Chris Hammer is a leading Australian crime fiction novelist, author of international bestsellers Scrublands, Silver and Trust. Join us to learn about his new standalone novel, Treasure & Dirt.
Bonus Episode: Kay Kerr in conversation with Danielle Hilliard. Kay Kerr is an autistic author and journalist from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Join us to hear Kay discuss her new novel Social Queue.
Episode Four: Sarah Bailey in conversation with Karen Eastwood. One of the brightest talents in Australian Crime writing and author of the hugely successful Gemma Woodstock series, Melbourne based Sarah Bailey introduces her stand alone thriller The Housemate.
Episode Five: Michelle de Kretser in conversation with Karen Eastwood. Twice-winner of the Miles Franklin Award, Michelle de Krester shares her insights into Scary Monsters, her latest book which is a profound and darkly funny exploration into racism, misogyny and ageism.
Episode Six: Natasha Lester in conversation with Nola Wallace. The Riviera House is the latest book from New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Perth based Natasha Lester author of a host of historical fiction. Set in war time Paris and on the modern day Riviera this is a riveting tale of love and bravery.
Episode Seven: Joanna Nell in conversation with Nola Wallace. Joanna Nell is a Sydney-based writer, GP and accidental advocate for positive ageing. Her bestselling debut novel The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village was published in 2018 with rights sold internationally. The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital is her latest book.
Episode eight: Caroline Graham and Kylie Stevenson – in conversation with Skye Jones. A missing man, an eyeless croc and an outback town of 11 people who mostly hate each other. Whatever happened in Larrimah, it's strange and precious and surprisingly funny. Journalists Kylie Stevenson and Caroline Graham have spent years trying to pin it down - what happened to Paddy Moriarty and his dog, how they disappeared, how they might take the whole town and something even bigger with them.
Treasures From The Rare Book Room
Newcastle Library’s heritage collection contains more than 440,000 items in various formats, from mayoral portraits and Snowball’s plate glass negatives to the original Menzies' declaration and the Creer & Berkeley archive of subdivision maps. In these podcasts we explore Treasures from the Rare Book Room. A wide range of Newcastle’s stories have been digitised and can be found online at our Newcastle Collections Online website.
Episode One: In this episode, Kerrie Shaw our resident Digitisation Specialist is joined by Dr Anne Llewellyn and Vera Deacon to explore Australian Lepidoptera and their transformations drawn from the life and the Scott family who created this natural history work.
Episode Two: Join us in the this podcast as we discuss two topics many of us find close to our hearts, food, and cocktails. The two Newcastle Libraries treasures which inspire this chat are - The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, published in 1933 and 500 Sandwiches by Florence A Cowles, published in 1929 . Both books are part of the Roland Pope bequest of the library’s collection. Join Amorelle from Slow Foods and Carl Kenzler brewer and spirit maker as they discuss cocktails and sandwiches.
Episode Three: In 1922, Florence made her début with the British National Opera Company. At short notice, without stage or orchestral rehearsal, she replaced the lead singer as Brünnhilde in Wagner's The Valkyrie. She was an instant and lasting success. In 1952 she moved to Newcastle and took up a teaching position at the newly formed Newcastle branch of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music.
Episode Four: Bees for Dummies. In this podcast, Danielle Lloydd-Prichard of Time to Bee and Mark Page from the NSW Department of Primary Industries will discuss why the bees need help, what you need to know to get started on your bee journey and the action you can take in your own backyard to help keep our bees alive and well in the environment.
Australian Orchids podcast
Welcome to our Australian Orchids podcast as part of Treasures from The Rare Bookroom. A three-part mini-series on the 19th century publication Australian Orchids that put our native varieties of Orchidaceae on the international stage. You can explore this exquisite publication further over on our Treasures from the Rare Book Room page. This podcast mini-series is a part of Treasures from The Rare Bookroom podcast.
Episode One: This episode Sally Stewart, Library at the Royal Botanic Gardens (Melbourne), and Peter Weston, Honorary Research Associate at the National Herbarium of NSW (New South Wales) help us to explore the life and times of ‘Gentleman Botanist’ R.D. Fitzgerald and how his role as the Deputy General Surveyor for the NSW government supported the making of this collection.
Episode Two: This episode Lachlan Copeland from Ego Logical Australia, Doug Beckers from NSW (New South Wales) National Parks and Wildlife joins Peter Weston from the National Herbarium of NSW in explaining why our native orchids are so intrinsically linked to their pollinators. So, what does the world’s kinkiest orchids have to do with a book? Sally Stewart, Librarian from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria helps us dive deeper into the evolutionary research correspondence between Fitzgerald, Charles Darwin and Ferdinand von Mueller.
Episode Three: The final episode explores the diversity of landscapes within the Hunter Valley that are conducive to orchids. Lynda McPherson (author, botanical illustrator, and volunteer at the Hunter Region Botanic Garden) joins Lachlan Copeland (Eco Logical Australia) and Doug Beckers (NSW National Parks and Wildlife) to discuss surveys and conservation practices. Peter Weston (National Herbarium of NSW) and Sally Stewart (Librarian at the Royal Botanic Garden Victoria) discuss plant taxonomy and identification, whilst Tony Clark from the Australian Native Orchid Society offers a great community-based way to get involved and learn more.
Love Lambton podcast
Welcome to our Love Lambton Podcast series as part of Treasures from The Rare Bookroom. A three part series based on the published works by Local Historian Julie Keating in conversation style with Robert Watson from Love Lambton and Kerrie Shaw.
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Episode Two:
Episode Three:
Broken Chains
Get up close with the reality of Australia’s prison system. Former incarcerated person Damien Linnane interviews other people about their life both inside prison and after release. In this series Damien and his guests unpack topics such as modern slavery, life beyond prison, mental health and art behind bars in relation to people and prisons in Australia.
About the Host
Podcast host Damien Linnane is the author of the crime novel Scarred, the illustrator of the book This is Ear Hustle and the editor of Paper Chained, a journal posted free to inmates worldwide. He lives in Newcastle, Australia where he works primarily as an archivist.
Episode One: Modern Slavery Thousands of people are working in Australia for around a dollar an hour or less, and are not eligible for workers compensation, even if their supervisors are at fault and the accident results in permanent injury or death. Where is this possible in the 21st century? Only in the prison system, where incarcerated people are often expected to work in high-risk areas with training far below accepted Australian standards. Welcome to the first episode of Broken Chains: A Prison Podcast, where Courtney and I discuss prison labour, or as we prefer to think of it, modern slavery.
Episode 2: Beyond Prison Being incarcerated is challenging enough, but sometimes the real battle begins when you leave prison, only to find a world that now seems much smaller. How do you deal with the stigma of having been to prison? How easy is it to find employment with a criminal record? And how do you pick up the pieces of your life and try and fit back into society? Join former incarcerated persons Damien Linnane and Richard Brooking as they discuss life after prison.
Episode 3: Mental Health “The only thing we can do for your mental health is give you the phone number of a service to call once you’re released.” With prisons overcrowded with people suffering from mental health issues, many would assume there would be adequate therapy available. But not only are people denied the treatment that could help stop the cycle or re-offending, the isolation and restrictions in the prison system further exacerbate existing mental health conditions. So how do the incarcerated navigate a system that seems engineered to stop them from getting better? Join former incarcerated persons Damien Linnane and Jacob Little as they talk about the lack of mental health treatment in prison.
Episode 4: Art Behind Bars Sometimes creativity comes out of the darkest corners. On the last episode of Broken Chains for season one, Damien Linnane and Jayde Farrell talk about using prison as a place to develop artistic talents. Damien and Jayde are both former Australian soldiers as well as being formerly incarcerated. Jayde Farrell now works full-time as a multi-medium artist, while Broken Chains host Damien Linnane is now a part-time artist specialising in graphite photorealism and is the illustrator of the book This Is Ear Hustle.
Laughter and Tears - Living with Dementia
Dementia Action Week occurs in September each year. Hosted by ABC broadcast journalist, Dan Cox, the Laughter and Tears podcast series invites members of our community living with dementia to share their experiences of love, loss, courage and hope. It provides current information from medical experts and looks at dementia services available in the Hunter region and beyond.
Episode One: How do I know If I have Dementia? A diagnosis of dementia can be a frightening and overwhelming experience for the individual and their family. It can also provide relief. Australia’s pre-eminent researcher in the field, Professor Sue Kurrle will provide answers to many of the questions we have about dementia.
Episode Two: Dementia Australia: here for you. Dementia Australia represent the nearly half a million Australians living with dementia and the almost 1.6 million Australians involved in their care. It provides education, support and advocacy for every Australian impacted by dementia. Dementia support specialist, Gina Hayward joins Dan to discuss the array of services that are available to the Hunter community. Gina will be joined by Ian and Wilhelmina Chalmers who share their experiences of using Dementia Australia’s services.
Episode Three: The Memory Room – Your libraries and dementia. Libraries connect with community and this special dementia-focused program does just that! Join art therapist, Alice Ropata and Kay Pisel as they unlock the treasures of the Memory room and invite members of the program, Kevin and Catherine Claydon, to share their experiences as the program celebrates its first anniversary. Learn about a new dementia program, ‘Playing with Light’ about to be launched in our libraries.
Grow, Eat, Compost, Repeat
This series of mini podcasts explores the cycle from turning food waste into compost through to delicious meals on your plate. Each 15 minute episode looks at local initiatives across the Hunter.
Episode One: Home Composting Basics - Hear from City of Newcastle Waste Education and Program Coordinator Therese Davis about council’s new subsidised Home Composting Program that will help Newcastle residents divert food waste from landfill.
Episode Two: Growing Food’s Future by converting Food waste into Food - David Sivyer from Feedback Organic shares his passion for growing food’s future by converting food waste into food. Find out how composting can create a closed loop economy in your own backyard and start a revolution!
Episode Three: Converting Food Waste into Delicious Meals - Amorelle Dempster is the face of Maitland’s fresh food revolution, President of Slow Food Hunter and 2017 Maitland Citizen of the Year. Amorelle shares the incredible story behind her community food program which sees 200 meals created each week for the disadvantaged, converting food waste into delicious meals.
Episode Four: Meet Chris Arnold, an avid home gardener and community garden enthusiast who set himself a composting challenge that involved recording the amount of scraps his household composted over 1 year. Find out how he makes the most of his small suburban plot, turning food scraps into compost gold.
Your Summer Stories
Welcome to Your Summer Stories. This summer Newcastle Libraries introduces a diverse selection of books and experiences that will provide readers with a program that will surprise and delight, and encourage readers out of their comfort zone. An eclectic range of titles to suit a variety of preferences is available and readers can choose their own adventure – reading some or all of the titles.
Episode One: Join local ABC breakfast presenter Dan Cox and two of our well-read library staff as they discuss our sizzling Summer Stories!
Episode Two: Author podcast with Trent Dalton. All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton. A witty and wonderful odyssey of true love and danger set in Darwin, 1942.
Episode Three: Author podcast with Meg Mason. Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason. A tale both poignant and funny that will truly engulf you.
Episode Four: Author podcast with Michael Robotham. When She Was Good by Michael Robotham. The return of Cyrus and Evie, gripping and dangerous - heart stopping to the end.
Episode Five: Author podcast with Craig Silvey. Honeybee by Craig Silvey. ‘Find out who you are and live that life’ is the compelling premise of this tender and profoundly moving book.
Episode Six: Author podcast with Steven Conte. The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte. Astonishingly good, exploring humanity at its limits during wartime.
Episode Seven: Author podcast with Malcolm Knox. Bluebird by Malcolm Knox. A brilliantly written expose of what happens when communities glorify a dying culture in a fictional Australian coastal town.
Episode Eight: Author podcast with Tea Cooper. The Cartographer’s Secret by Tea Cooper. Set in the Hunter Valley this enthralling historical mystery unravels family secrets and journeys into the unknown.
Books Make the Best Christmas Gifts
We all know that books make the best Christmas gifts but it's often confusing deciding what to get loved ones. Join the experts from Newcastle Libraries as they take you on a wonderful exploration of kid's, young adult and adult books that should be on your Christmas list this year. You'll also hear about the most popular books from Newcastle's Libraries most borrowed list.
Episode One: Books make the best Christmas gifts for kids.
Episode Two: Books make the best Christmas gifts for young adults.
Epsidode Three: Books make the best Christmas gifts for adults.
Newcastle's First Storytellers: Always Was, Always Will Be
This podcast series explores how Newcastle’s Aboriginal communities share and tell stories. Always Was, Always Will Be, recognises that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first storytellers. Australia has the world’s oldest oral story telling culture and Newcastle has a rich collection of storytellers.
Episode One: Donna Meehan is a local author and member of the Stolen Generation. In this podcast Donna shares her thoughts on NAIDOC Week 2020. Donna has written several books and shares her story with grace and forgiveness. Her autobiography, 'It is no secret', tells the story or her sixteen hour train ride to Broadmeadow railway station, her life in Newcastle, and her reunion with her birth mother. Donna is an Aboriginal advocate and active member of the Newcastle community.
Episode Two: Saretta Fielding is an artist, entrepreneur and activist. A member of the Wonnarua Nation of the Hunter Valley Region in New South Wales, she is the founder of Saretta Art and Design and Malang Indigenous Corporation, a not-for-profit supporting the sustainable economic and social inclusion of Aboriginal people in the community. Saretta Art and Design is acclaimed for high-quality original artworks, innovative textiles, home-wares, and fashion lines.
Episode Three: John Maynard is a Worimi Aboriginal man and Professor of Indigenous Education and Research (Indigenous History) at the University of Newcastle. He has become one of the world's most respected voices on Indigenous history, and his books include the Aboriginal Soccer Tribe and the Fight for Liberty and Freedom which was shortlisted for the Victorian Premiers History Award.
Episode 4: Jake Ridgeway is a young Indigenous singer, songwriter, and performer based in Newcastle. Jake weaves genuine storylines with sweet R&B/Rock grooves and soul drenched vocals into a warm melody grounded by his Worimi and Kamilaroi roots. The musical inspirations Jake draws on include Troy Cassar-Daley, Justin Timberlake, Sam Hunt and Silverchair.
Episode 5: Ray Kelly Jnr comes from a local Indigenous family. The Kelly family is synonymous with the Aboriginal community of Newcastle. His father, Ray Kelly Snr is a respected Dhungutti culture and language Elder. Ray Kelly Jnr grew up in Newcastle and is a member of the Gattang language belt of east coast New South Wales. He's is a father of three daughters, an artist and an active member of Newcastle’s Aboriginal arts community.
Episode 6: William Smith, Wirrigan Aboriginal Elder, joins the series to tell us about his move to Newcastle and his extraordinary early years spent working alongside BHP building bridges between people and creating opportunities for many more. He talks beautifully about the way forward and shares stories of hope and inspiration from his and his ancestors journeys. He also explores the special place that Newcastle holds in his heart.
Tomorrow's Future Today - Youth Action for the Sustainable Development Goals
What are the Sustainable Development Goals? In this series we take an in depth look at how young change makers are challenging the status quo to create a better future today.
Episode One: Join us to learn about the impact of the Sustainable Development Goals and how they’re being put into action in Newcastle, Australia. We explore the ways local people and organisations are working towards a healthier planet. We find out how communities are coming together and building better relationships, de-stigmatising mental heath issues and creating a more equitable society. We talk to young entrepreneurs bringing environmental and socials impacts into their business. And we look at the how building relationships and working together with different organisations can have a huge impact in improving people’s lives and the environment.
Episode Two: We live in an age of increasing online connection, but at the same time we are seeing ever-growing social isolation. Join us this week as we chat to Jamie from the Youth Frontiers mentoring program and Byron from Headspace Newcastle. They explore the importance of talking about mental health & wellbeing, how building real-world social connections can have a massive positive impact, and how local groups and organisations are working to create a more inclusive, equitable community.
Episode Three: What are the ways that businesses can help address environmental and social issues? How can we earn a living as well as benefiting others? Social entrepreneurship is a hot topic right now and for good reason. In this episode we talk to Melissa McCabe, founder of CoreEthics, a country-spanning organisation working to bring about a sustainability revolution in in Indonesia’s tourism industry.
Episode Four: Environmental issues like climate change can seem huge & out of our reach, but there is an increasing groundswell of passionate young people stepping up to meet the challenges head on. Join us this week as we catch up with a Jo from the Hunter Community Environment Centre and Alexa from School Strike for Climate and hear how these inspiring young people have found purpose and community in the fight to save our planet.
Episode Five: Most of this series has looked at ways that people can make change from the ground up. In this episode we look at how organisations like the United Nations are working to deliver programs and build partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Join us as we talk with Dr. Temitope Egbelakin, director of CIFAL Newcastle about how her organisation is building partnerships and affecting change right here in Newcastle.
Episode Six: For our final episode we go full circle and head right back to SDG 1. Poverty alleviation is at the core of all action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Join us as we talk with Asha McNeil about her work volunteering with the Newcastle Poverty Action Alliance. Asha’s inspirational story demonstrates how young people can get involved and make a difference to the everyday lives of people in our community.
CHATS with Notable Newcastle Authors
Episode One: Features Dr. Wendy James, the author of 8 books including Out of the Silence, which won the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Crime fiction and was shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie Award for women's writing. Another of Wendy's novels The Lost Girls is set in Newcastle and has been chosen to be adapted into a Hollywood film. Wendy has lived in Cooks Hill for ten years with her husband and two of their four children, she is an avid reader and we're happy to say a regular visitor to Newcastle Libraries!
Episode Two: Newcastle author and playwright Grahame Cooper isn't one to follow the crowd. Graham’s trademark humour and wit deal with everyday issues such as relationships, social justice, mental health, and popular culture. Graham has written for theatre, radio, and television since the late 1980s. His numerous plays have all been described as funny, poignant, and thoughtful. They have been critically acclaimed in Newcastle and received numerous CONDA nominations.
Episode Three: Mayfield author Susan Francis talks about her debut memoir The Love That Remains. Susan’s extraordinary story is about love, lies, and loss. Susan devoted 20 years of her life searching for her biological parents. She decided to sell everything she owned and go on an adventure of a lifetime. She moved to Spain with the love of her life Wayne but suddenly Wayne died unexpectedly, leaving Susan to uncover a dreadful secret. Susan still lives and works in Newcastle. She loves books and reading, she has a passion for writing the truth and is currently working on her second book, a crime novel.
Episode Four: Meet local author and academic Dr. Elsa Licumba as she shares her personal story of her journey from Mozambique to Australia. Elsa’s emotional memoir explores the blending of African and Australian cultures. It is a journey driven by questions about identity and belonging. Elsa’s message is clear. Belonging is not just about place but what is in our hearts that gives us the freedom to belong.
Episode Five: Join Hunter based author Barry Maitland as he talks about his journey into his life as a crime writer. Barry moved to Newcastle in 1984 to take up a position of the head of architecture at the University of Newcastle. The 1989 Newcastle earthquake became the catalyst for his book The Marx Sisters the first book in Brock and Kolla Series. The second book in the Belltree Trilogy, Ash Island is set in and around Newcastle. The background of Ash Island provides an eerie backdrop to this atmospheric thriller.
Episode Six: Tea Cooper is an award-winning Australian author of historical fiction. Tea lives and works in the Hunter and has a passion for storytelling. She is the author of several novels, including The Horse Thief, The Cedar Cutter, The Currency Lass, The Naturalist's Daughter, The Woman in the Green Dress and The Girl in the Painting. Her next book The Cartographer's Secret is a mesmerising historical mystery set in the Hunter Valley. It is due for release later this year and is a book to look out for.
Know Your Rights!
Presented by Newcastle Libraries REAL, the Hunter Community Legal Centre and Community Disability Alliance Hunter. These podcasts aim to support people with disabilities and the broader community. Australian and New South Wales law is discussed.
Series One
Episode One: It is your right to feel safe and healthy with your support workers during times of COVID-19 and beyond. Become more aware of your rights and responsibilities as well as how to assert your rights.
Episode Two: It is your right to feel safe from fraudsters at your doorstep and online. Know more about how to recognise a fraud and report it.
Episode Three: It is your right to feel safe in your own home so get to know more about recognising early signs of problems in your family relationships and seeking legal assistance.
Series Two
Episode One: Learn more about neighbourhood disputes and where you can get help. Join in an enlightening conversation with Alexandra Craig, Solicitor at Ability Rights Centre (ARC), Dale Robinson: Co-educator at ARC, Nadine Farell, Team Leader at Justice Advocacy Centre (JAS) and host Duhita Lewis, Community Legal Education Co-ordinator, Hunter Community Legal Centre, to learn more.
Episode Two: Learn more about this tool to assist people with disability and their supporters to identify their legal problems. We catch up on an informative conversation with Toobah Choudhari Solicitor at Hunter Community Legal Centre, Cath Mahony Peer Worker at Community Disability Alliance Hunter, and host Duhita Lewis, Community Legal Education Co-ordinator at Hunter Community Legal Centre for some useful tips.
Episode Three: Learn about your rights as a tenant and how to get help on renting problems. Join this helpful conversation with Nicole Grgas: Manager, Hunter Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (HTAAS) Cath Mahony Peer Worker at Community Disability Alliance Hunter, and host Duhita Lewis, Community Legal Education Co-ordinator, Hunter Community Legal Centre to learn more.
Series Three: Anti-Poverty Week
In this Know your Rights series 3 - Anti-Poverty week , our host Dan Cox, Broadcast Journalist with the ABC based in Newcastle Australia, will be speaking with three eminent Australians regarding Poverty in Australia, and what actions we can take to reduce poverty in our society and communities.
Episode One: Join Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Elder Laurie Perry, for episode one as he provides some insights regarding how First Nations peoples are experiencing Poverty.
Episode Two: Emma Dawson will expand our understanding of gendered poverty. Emma is Executive Director of public policy think tank Per Capita. She has worked as a researcher at Monash University and the University of Melbourne; in policy and public affairs for SBS and Telstra; and as a senior policy adviser in the Rudd and Gillard Governments.
Episode Three: Rod Bower is an Anglican priest, the rector of Gosford, where he has served for more than 20 years. He’s also Archdeacon for Justice Ministries and Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Newcastle. Father Rod is a passionate advocate for a number of social justice and human rights issues. He uses his massive social media following, as well as the infamous roadside sign out the front of his church, to raise questions, spark debate, promote love.
CHATS with Fabulous Children's Authors and Illustrators!
We ask those in the know. Why is Newcastle such a hub of children’s book authors and illustrators? Can you offer any advice to kids who love writing and drawing and want to take their passion further? Do you prefer dogs or cats? Shining a spotlight on local children’s authors, illustrators and events, Newcastle Libraries asks the big questions to inspire your family on their reading journey.
Series One
Episode One: Lynn Jenkins. In this episode we chat to Lynn Jenkins, a practicing and experienced clinical psychologist, who has authored the Lessons of a LAC series alongside Illustrator Kirrili Lonergan. With the release of her latest book Tree, we ask her about storytelling as a way of teaching life skills to children and parents alike.
Episode Two: Deb Kelly. Deb comes in to tell us about her CBCA Notable Book 'The Thing about Oliver' and the inspiration behind this honest account of the impact that autism can have on siblings, sometimes known as glass children.
Episode Three: Jess Black. The Mr. Walker series has a dedicated following. Author, Jess Black, takes us through her fourth instalment, Mr. Walker and the Dessert Delight, letting us know where she finds inspiration for her range of characters and scenarios. This is also a 2020 CBCA Notable Book.
Episode Four: Nicola Bolton. Join Nicola as she goes through her creative process as an artist and illustrator. Telling us about her book You Can’t Catch Me, Nicola tells us what it was like to write her first picture book and fills us in on the canine inspiration behind the story.
Episode Five: Sami Bayly. Hear about Sami's stunning debut, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals, that has received several award nominations. Listen in as Sami tells us about her passion for natural history illustration and what is on the cards for the future.
Episode Six: Katrina McKelvey. Catch up with Katrina about her latest release, 'Isla’s Family Tree' and discover her inspiration for this story of a growing family. Hear about Katrina's journey as a writer here in Newcastle.
Bonus Episode: Children's Book Week Play. It’s Book Week! Wondering what all the fuss is about? Go behind the scenes with our Book Week experts, Jo Cashin from Newcastle Libraries and Karen Eastwood from Storyspot to find out why Book Week is so important for children, schools, libraries and the Australian Book Industry. You’ll also have a sneak peek at the famous Newcastle Libraries Book Week play, viewed and enjoyed by close to 2000 children each year.
Series Two
Episode One: Jenni Goodman. Local illustrator Jenni Goodman shares with us the process behind creating a board book series from the Australian Classic, 'Storm Boy'. Jenni also reveals how she came to draw medical illustrations and what her next publication is all about.
Episode Two: Leila Rudge. Local illustrator of ten books, Leila Rudge's work is a mixture of pencil, paint, and collage, and has been shortlisted for a number of national awards. Leila chats with us about what inspires her work, why she prefers broccoli to cauliflower and what she would really love to illustrate for a children's book.
Episode Three: Kirrili Lonergan. Local illustrator Kirrili Lonergan shares with us the importance of playing with ideas, why making mistakes is good, and the process behind creating the characters of Loppy and Curly from the Lessons of A Lac series.
Episode Four: Gwynneth Jones. Local illustrator Gwynneth Jones describes her favourite artistic practices including 'scribble style'. She shares with us why working with kids is great fun and also gives us a sneak preview into her upcoming publications.
Episode Five: Paul Russell. We meet teacher and author, Paul Russell. He shares with us the stories behind the stories of his books, 'Grandma Forgets' and 'My Storee' and treats us to a short excerpt of his latest book, 'The Incurable Imagination'.
Episode Six: Liz Anelli. Artist and map maker Liz Anelli shares with us the ways in which travel has influenced her work, the location of her favourite spot in the Port of Newcastle, and why the Chuppa Chup featured in her map of Madrid. She also gives us a sneak preview into her upcoming publications, 'Dry To Dry' and 'The Biscuit Maker'.