Spring was in the air and so were the stories. This Sept 28 episode took listeners from recycled timber and the call of East Arnhem Land to quirky island cars, sandstone “cities” hidden in the Top End, and a two-month escape from news and email. Along the way came bravery awards and hugs, vintage motocross, a long-fought medical milestone, the tough world of restaurants, youth brass bands, an Aussie in Nottingham, and wildflowers from Bendigo to “Ravey.” All stitched together with Macca’s banter, asides, and genuine curiosity — it was Australia, all over.
Danny Johnson — Forty-Two Years of Demolition, All Recycled
Danny Johnson’s voice carried the weight of four decades spent pulling down buildings — but also the joy of putting old timber and pressed metal to use again. He spoke to Macca from inside his restaurant, where nothing was new. “Every single thing in here is recycled,” he said proudly. “All of the timber, the doors, the windows, the lining boards… I’ve stripped the paint off, re-polished, re-varnished, re-shellacked. The whole place is a recycled establishment.”
It all began when his dad came home one day and suggested they help a widow whose house had to be demolished. “So dad and I pulled that old house down in Duncan Street, Warracknabeal. Two or three people started coming past, and they started to buy this lining boards and roofing iron and 4x2s and Oregon beams off me. And it was great. I said to dad, hey, gee, we could make a living out of this.” And they did, for 42 years.
Now retired from demolition but not from work, Danny lamented what he sees as over-regulation. “Health and safety has gone right over the top. We’re so overregulated in this wonderful country… all us ordinary guys and girls, who I call the productive people — for God’s sake, give us a go. Stop putting bloody hurdles in front of us.” Macca chimed in, “Too many rules, mate. Too many rules, too many laws, too many lawyers.” Danny agreed wholeheartedly.
What pains him most is the waste when old buildings are bulldozed. “Even in Warracknabeal, our beautiful hospital, 100 years old, smashed it down with a front end with an excavator, smashed it to bits. I nearly cried… that beautiful cowrie pine flooring and jarrah flooring, all just being smashed to bits.” He argued that governments should allow time for salvage teams before the machines roll in. “I’ll do it. I’ll come out of retirement,” he said. And then, with the kind of wisdom passed down through families, he quoted his father: “As long as you got three meals a day and a roof over your head, son, you’ll be right.”
Angie — Solo Run to East Arnhem Land
Angie rang in from Roma, cheerful and matter-of-fact about the long road ahead. She was on day two of an 11-day drive from her property near Nimbin all the way to Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land.
“Today, I’m driving to Longreach, and I’ll probably have a look at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and the Qantas Museum,” she said. From there the route stretched through Mount Isa and Katherine before the last leg — “670 kilometres of corrugated hell, apparently, to Mullenboy.”
She wasn’t travelling light. “I’ve joined the Central Arnhem Road Facebook group and getting lots of advice,” she explained. “I’ve got extra spare tyres, and yeah, I’m just by myself. My husband, he works full-time back home, so this is an adventure of a 12-month work contract I’ve got up there.”
Macca asked if she was in Nursing. “No, no, I’m in Tourism. I’ve been in tourism for about 150 years,” she laughed. Her speciality is fishing tourism, and she’s heading north to help develop “catch and cook” and other ventures, as Rio Tinto prepares to exit the region. “It’s a privilege to get up there and help some tourism and aerospace and aquaculture industries,” she said.
For now, though, it was just her, a “20-year-old Toyota packed to the rafters,” and the open road. “It’s a lovely thing to do, to go driving, especially when you see Australia,” Macca said. Angie agreed: “Beautiful day here, beautiful day. I’m heading out through the canola fields towards Longreach.”
Pete on Magnetic — International Moke Day
“Just hold on, I’ve got to sit down,” Macca laughed when Pete from Magnetic Island mentioned it was International Moke Day. Pete, calling after a sprinkle of morning rain, said the Men’s Shed had put together a small celebration. “We’ve managed to get about 14 people together. So we’ll have breakfast over at the Men’s Shed, maybe go for a bit of a drive and end up at the pub for lunch.”
Magnetic Island was once a haven for the quirky little cars. “In its heyday, they had 124 Mokes,” Pete said, “the second largest Moke hire company outside of Portugal.” Originally built by BMC for the army, they had ground clearance issues but became perfect runabouts. “Well, the old ones were getting a bit tired,” Pete admitted, “but beautiful little car.”
Retired from the Gold Coast, Pete now loves his island life. “We’re only 20 minutes by ferry off Townsville… it really is a beautiful, beautiful place,” he said. Macca added, “That’s what it’s about, isn’t it? Not the destination, the friends you’ve got around you.”
Tony Allen — The “Loft Cities,” Kimberley Skies and 10,000 Kilometres
Tony and his wife had just returned from a two-month, 10,000-kilometre trip that took them across northern Australia and back. They weren’t in a hurry, and that was the point. “We set that up for our camping trip and took off, went up to Townsville and then into Hughenden, then up on to the Savannah Way, up to Cobalt Gorge and on from there… and across some fairly abominable roads,” Tony told Macca.
On the road between Burketown and Borroloola they met a cyclist named Michael who had ridden from Adelaide. He convinced them to take a detour into Limmen National Park. “There’s the Southern Loft City and the Western Loft City… amazing columns of eroded sandstone all close together. It’s just the most stupendous place, Macca.”
Macca admitted he’d never heard of it. “Not that I should know everything, but I’ve never heard of that, the lost city,” he said. Tony replied, “Certainly worth visiting.” From there, they went on to Keep River National Park with its own sandstone formations, then on to Broome, where their daughter works with Magabala Books.
Temperatures tested them: “We’d have 13 degrees in the morning, and then 33 in the afternoon. It would just be… a big gradient.” Macca agreed: “That’s huge, isn’t it? But I suppose people in the north are used to that.” On the way home, they took the Tanami Track to Alice Springs, then the Plenty Highway to Boulia.
For Tony, the best part was the mental reset. “We didn’t listen to the news for two months. Didn’t check our emails.” Macca chuckled: “Shock horror!” Tony agreed: “That’s what everybody should do.”
Sally — Bravery, After the Headlines
At Burleigh Heads, Sally introduced herself brightly: “I’m the chief hugger of the Australian Bravery Association.” She explained how the group supports people who’ve risked their lives to save others. “Life after rescue can be quite challenging. We go into an emergency situation with no protective clothing, no training, no tools, no one to help us, no peer support. We just go in with a kind heart, just hoping we can help someone.”
Those rescues often leave scars. “We quite often suffer physical and emotional injuries as a result of our rescue attempt,” she said. Research backs that up — Dr Tom Voight’s study showed family members can also be traumatised, with impacts ranging from flashbacks to strained relationships. “I’m not saying that everyone gets PTSD,” Sally said, “but rescue events can be very traumatic.”
Bravery Awards, she reminded listeners, are open to public nomination: “Anyone in the community can nominate someone for a bravery award. That family might receive a life-changing medal, which becomes part of the family folklore.” The awards are announced on 1 September — Bravery Day — with ceremonies at Government Houses around the country.
The Australian Bravery Association, made up of award recipients themselves, also organises events. “We hold regional events… I just want to chat with you today about the campout we’ve got coming up on the Gold Coast at Ormo on October 25th,” Sally said. “If anyone’s got a bravery award, wants to hang out with other bravery award recipients and tell tall stories, and laugh and carry on, and have some fun — I’d like to invite them.”
Macca teased her about the “chief hugger” title. Sally laughed: “I’m so brave I can go and hug anyone. And a lot of the men can’t do that.” She added: “Anyone needs a hug, I’m available, okay? You need a hug, Macca?” He chuckled: “Well, everyone needs a hug and a cup of tea.”
Vaughan — A Century for the Brisbane Motorcycle Club
Vaughan’s call came from the road south of Ipswich. He and his mate were heading to Queensland Moto Park for a special celebration: the Brisbane Motorcycle Club turning 100. “They’re holding the National Vintage Motocross at Queensland Motor Park this weekend,” he explained.
His own pride was a pre-1970 Ossa 250. His mate was astride a BSA Gold Star in the pre-60 class. “Like a BSA Gold Star is probably maybe $20,000 worth,” Vaughan said. There’d be bikes from pre-60, pre-70, pre-75, and riders well into their eighties still taking to the track.
Sidecars, once a common sight in post-war Australia, were absent this time. “We couldn’t get a field of sidecars for this event, so we had to have a bit of a cry,” Vaughan admitted. Macca reminisced how tradesmen once threw tools into sidecars and rattled off to work. “Exactly,” Vaughan agreed. “That was how you got around.”
The event was free for spectators. Vaughan chuckled as he described himself — retired but still racing at 66. “We’ve got guys out in their 80s that are still racing motocross.” Macca was impressed: “More power to you, mate.”
Rod Martin — Rural Generalists Finally Recognised
From Armidale, Rod Martin brought news two decades in the making. As president of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, he announced that rural generalists were now formally recognised as medical specialists. “It’s 20 years in the baking the cake and six years to ice it,” he told Macca.
He explained the significance: doctors would now have a proper target to train for. “We expect people to be able to look after emergencies, look after people in hospital and look after them in the primary care settings,” Rod said. Training included the option to sub-specialise in anaesthetics, obstetrics, palliative care, paediatrics, and more — twelve pathways in all.
Rod also tackled a health rumour that had unsettled many pregnant women: whether paracetamol use caused autism. “Two and a half million Scandinavians got studied a year and a bit ago, and there was no evidence for it. It doesn’t cause it.” Macca sighed: “News organisations grab hold of anything. It does a lot of harm.”
Rod agreed: “It ends up taking up more time explaining things that are pretty simple and straightforward. When you get washed and washed with the same bit of story, it takes careful, deliberate discussion to correct it.”
Recognition for rural generalists, he said, would give leverage to secure more funding: “We’ve now got the very clear justification to say, we need to fix health outcomes… let’s get on with it.”
All Over News — Muriel Chen and The Taiwanese Table
The All Over News segment spotlighted chef and author Muriel Chen. She told Macca how her family migrated from Taiwan in the late 1980s. Her mother and father knew little English, but carried ambition and determination. Settling in Melbourne, they eventually returned to what they knew best: food.
Muriel now runs the Blue-Eyed Dragon in Pyrmont, Sydney. Her book, Food from the Isle of Formosa: The Taiwanese Table, weaves together family stories and recipes. “For me… this is Taiwanese. My mum cooked it this way. However you like to say it, this is Taiwanese.”
Business has been a rollercoaster. After relocating to a larger venue in 2010, things thrived. By 2019, trade had dipped. Then came COVID — and unexpected support. “The day before lockdown, a customer walked in and said, Muriel, I just want to take away for $300. Here is $500. Cook whatever you like,” she recalled. “And I even had a customer from the UK buy a gift voucher he would never use, just to support us.”
Muriel’s mother, who once ran a 1,000-seat restaurant in Taiwan, joined her in Sydney and helped train the staff. Many are still with her after nearly two decades — Sugi, who began washing dishes, is now head chef; her sister-in-law is the dumpling master; Anita has been sous chef since her teens.
On 30 September, the Blue-Eyed Dragon marks its 20th anniversary with a fundraiser for the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Muriel remains committed to her community too, supporting Pyrmont Cares, which furnishes homes for those starting over.
Fergus & Alex — Youth Brass on Tour
From a tour bus in New South Wales, Fergus and Alex gave a glimpse of life in the Victorian State Youth Brass Band. Fergus plays tuba — “the carpet that all the cornets sit on,” he said proudly. Alex, principal percussionist, laughed that he’d been hitting drums since he was three. “It’s the backbone. Playing anything that’s out the back, hitting stuff, it’s always fun.”
Macca joked about the shape of lips dictating which instrument you play. Fergus replied that while “embouchure” mattered, the real key was breath control: “The air is what creates the beautiful tone, having a really consistent support down at your diaphragm and your pelvis.”
With 50-plus members, the band was on its 2025 New South Wales tour. “It’s always the highlight of the year,” Alex said. For Macca, it was a chance to remind listeners of the dedication that goes into youth music.
Mick Gallis — Ange, Forest and a Six-Hour Bus
From Nottingham, Mick Gallis was buzzing. He’d flown over to see Ange Postecoglou coach Nottingham Forest. “I got to meet Ange pre-match,” he said, still pinching himself. “And even the owner, Mr Maranakis.” For Mick, an everyday bloke from Melbourne, it was a thrill to chat with figures most fans only see on TV.
Forest lost 1–0 to Sunderland, but Mick barely cared. “They rolled out the welcome mat,” he said. “I even got interviewed on the BBC.” The only sour note was the transport home. With trains booked out, he took a six-hour bus back to London. “It’s a long way from Nottingham to Melbourne, Australia, Macca,” he quipped.
Macca teased him about hotel showers. Mick confessed he couldn’t work out the taps at two different hotels. “I tried to have scones with the King, but he was busy at Balmoral,” he joked. His itinerary included the Cotswolds, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, the Somme — where he would honour a great-uncle who fell in World War I — and Paris. “I love overseas, but there’s no place like home,” he said warmly.
Mindy — Counsellor Between Two Systems
Mindy called from Bunbury, Western Australia, wrapping up a 10-day campervan trip with her husband and two teenagers. They’d visited Lucky Bay and Esperance, passed through Denmark, and were heading into Perth to catch a flight back to Melbourne.
Her story stretched further than the holiday. An American from Florida, she married a Sydney man after meeting him on a social service trip in Mount Druitt. “We just started emailing back and forth,” she said. Eventually, he moved to the US with her, and they built a life there. Now, two years into what was meant to be a short work stint in Melbourne, they’ve decided to stay.
Mindy works as a counsellor and psychotherapist. She still sees clients in the US via telehealth while trying to build a base here. “There are many, many clinicians out there, but no funding for it,” she explained. Medicare covers psychologists and social workers but not counsellors. “If Medicare could utilise these other clinicians, it could go a long way.”
She contrasted systems. “In the US, insurance is very pricey, but mental health coverage is included. Here, you’ve got well-trained people who can’t access the funding.” Macca sympathised: “All we hear about is mental health. Seems like you could never be out of work.” Mindy smiled at the irony: “It’s just the funding that comes to cover it, though.”
Sandy — Bendigo’s Native Flower Show
Sandy rang in from Bendigo, where the Australian Plants Society was holding its annual flower show. “All natives,” she said with pride. More than 400 varieties grown in members’ gardens were on display, alongside books, stalls, and community groups.
She had been busy all day introducing visitors to local mint bushes. “I’d make them just touch the leaves, squeeze them and smell them,” she laughed. “They’re fantastic. Aromatic plants — you walk past them and brush against them, and the aromas just hit you.”
Macca joined in, recalling how mint bushes in his own garden filled the air with purple blooms. Sandy added that Bendigo varieties also flowered scarlet and bright yellow. “The scent of lemon, of mint, of honey, of eucalyptus — it was just a delight walking in this morning.”
For her, the beauty of natives was their resilience. “In the bush, they don’t get pruned or watered or weeded. Just let them go,” she said. Even city dwellers, she reminded, could grow them in pots. “The garden just does it for me,” Macca agreed. “Whether it’s an insect or a bird or a smell or a sight… it restores the soul.”
Dan — First AFL Grand Final
Driving home past Ararat, Dan was still buzzing from the AFL Grand Final at the MCG. A Cats supporter, he’d finally seen his team in the big dance after 50 years of following them. “We come up short, but it was just an experience,” he said.
The official crowd was 100,022, “should have been 23, but the bloke next to me didn’t show up,” he laughed. Dan sat up in the “nosebleeds,” close enough to touch the roof, but loved every minute.
He makes wine in the Barossa Valley and had hosted a breakfast for local farmers before driving over — a casual get-together with bacon and eggs to check in on mates doing it tough. His wife works with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and was heading to Port Augusta as he drove home.
The day itself was a mix of football and showbiz. Dan wasn’t much fussed about the halftime act. “A lot of noise, not my cup of tea,” he admitted of Snoop Dogg’s performance. Macca chuckled: “Depends how old you are.” For Dan, the match itself was the main event, and it was one he’d never forget.
Justin Taylor — ACDC in Katanning, 50 Years On
Justin Taylor rang from Tambellup, WA, still energised by a community event in nearby Katanning. It was 50 years to the day since ACDC played there on their TNT tour. “We set about organising a bit of a reenactment of that Long Way to the Top video,” he told Macca.
Local musos filled in for the band, and they even found a bagpiper, Andy Davies from Alberton. “He blows a mean horn,” Justin laughed. They secured a truck, the shire’s blessing, and police support, then rolled through town blasting rock and roll. “It was fantastic, Macca. You would have loved it.”
Macca laughed along: “Rock and roll ain’t noise pollution.” For Justin and the community, it was proof that regional towns could still put on a show with heart.
Toby Ford — Rowing for Bush Wellbeing
Toby Ford introduced himself as part of Outback Rowing Australia. Next weekend, Longreach and Barcaldine would host regattas on the Thompson River and at the Barcaldine Water Sports Area. “We’re tapping into the rivalry between the two towns — one a squatter’s community, the other a shearer’s community,” Toby said.
But the real goal was health. “The further you live from the ocean in Australia, the shorter your lifespan,” Toby noted, citing Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data. The regatta was part of tackling well-being in the bush. “We spend about $86,000 per adult per year on illness, and only $86 on prevention.”
This year would also include the first bush kids’ rowing program, teaching life skills and resilience. “We’ve now got 10 towns in western Queensland that have started rowing,” Toby said proudly.
Macca reflected that bush kids often develop life skills early — feeding stock, pitching in on farms. Toby agreed, adding that safe decision-making was part of giving children “safe passage to adulthood.” For him, rowing was one way to encourage that.
Enid — Honeyeaters and Geraldton Wax
Enid rang from suburban Perth, delighted by the wildlife in her neighbour’s garden. Two baby New Holland honey eaters had just taken flight from a topiary bush under a veranda. “We’ve been watching them and protecting them for a while,” she said.
She encouraged gardeners to plant dense shrubs where small birds could shelter from larger predators. She also praised Geraldton Wax for drawing in bees. “I walk out my front door and I can hear all these bees.”
Macca admitted he’d struggled to grow the plant in his soil but remembered seeing it flowering in WA, “deep purple and pink along the railway line.” Enid assured him it could work in big pots with proper drainage. “It restores the garden with sound and colour,” she said.
Rhonda — Wildflowers at ‘Ravey’
Rhonda called while driving between Lake Grace and Lake King, heading home to Esperance. She wanted to give a plug for the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show, held every September. “The best wildflower show in the world, I’m told,” she said.
Locals simply call the town “Ravey.” This year’s show had been a triumph, with displays of the region’s spectacular biodiversity. “Anyone travelling Western Australia should plan to be in Ravensthorpe early September,” Rhonda urged.
Macca laughed: “You should’ve rung a couple of months ago.” But he promised to see her there next year. Rhonda, who runs a broadacre cropping farm with her son, said the season had been kind. “Crops are looking really good in our area, so very thankful for that.”
It’s a Wrap!
And with that, Macca signed off, promising that the full flavour of Australia could always be found on the airwaves each Sunday morning. From Warracknabeal salvage yards to Arnhem Land fishing, from Magnetic Mokes to lost cities of stone, the Sept 28 show carried listeners across landscapes, lives, and laughter.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Disclaimer: ‘Australia All Over’ is a program produced and broadcast by the ABC Local Radio Network and hosted by Ian McNamara. Brisbane Suburbs Online News has no affiliation with Ian McNamara, the ABC, or the ‘Australia All Over’ program. This weekly review is an independent summary based on publicly available podcast transcripts and episodes. All original content and recordings remain the property of the ABC. Our summaries are written in our own words and are intended for commentary and review purposes only. Readers can listen to the full episodes via the official ABC platforms.
