The Australian Bite
Archive for March, 2009
Fillies, birds and football
28 March 2009
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Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) photo by kookr (Flickr)
It’s fillies, birds and footy on this week’s Australian Bite. The AFL season has just kicked off, and we meet a team of very talented footballers from the Tiwi Islands, 80k north of Darwin, where its not all about winning – its as much about community. We also talk to one of the editors of a new book that looks at the relationship between Australian birds, people and environment. And we drop in on the small drought affected town of Ardlethan, which last weekend celebrated 5o years of its annual picnic races.
Bush survival & internet censorship
21 March 2009
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Survival expert Bob Cooper collects water from a gum tree
How would you survive if your car broke down deep in the Australian bush? On this week’s Australian Bite we get some great advice from survival expert Bob Cooper. We also look at controversial plan by the Australian government to censor the internet. And we hear why Darwin’s market gardens face an uncertain future.
Keeping cool without coal
14 March 2009
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"Sandpatch sunset" by Coastwatcher, Albany, Western Australia (ABC Contribute)
On this week’s Australian Bite, we look at the link between power blackouts and Australians’ increasing reliance on home air conditioning. At the end of a week in which the Australian Government released draft legislation for its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, we hear about some cutting edge Australian solar technology that has British backers excited. And we also meet author Paula Shaw, who recounts her two years teaching at a remote indigenous school on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula.
Fine fare for film lovers
7 March 2009
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Still from the short film "Birthday Girl" directed by Angie Black
A feast of film on this week’s Australian Bite. Actor Eric Bana talks about his new film “Love the Beast” which tells the story of his 25 year love affair with his 1973 XB Ford Falcon Coupe. We meet Simon Ford, the man behind Melbourne’s freshest new short film festival – Fedfest. And also one of the filmmakers – Angie Black – whose film “Birthday Girl” is maybe not quite what you’d expect!