The Australian Bite
Archive for June, 2009
Surfing, whales and a home underground
25 June 2009
Listen and download: MP3
This week on the Bite we join a whale-watching trip off the coast of Queensland, we take a look at the book that won this year’s Miles Franklin literary award – Tim Winton’s “Breath”, and we take a tour of an underground house in the opal mining town of White Cliffs, in north west New South Wales.
Swine flu calls for egg-stra eggs
18 June 2009
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Laboratories such as Australia's CSL rely on large supplies of chicken eggs for flu vaccine development
This week on the Bite, we find out how farmers are playing a role in the development of a vaccine for swine flu. We drop in on some soldiers having a blast of a time at the Australian Defence Force training range at Mt Bundy. And here’s a question for you. When renowned author HG Wells visited Australia in 1939 what did he say to annoy the heck out of the then Prime Minister Joseph Lyons? Listen in to the show for the answer to that question.
Inspiring young Australians to learn Asian languages
11 June 2009
Listen and download: MP3
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd may be known for his Chinese language skills, but unfortunately there’s been no visible trickle-down effect inspiring young Australians to take up studies of Asian languages and culture. But things may be about to change. Leading academics and business people, along with the Federal government, are all talking up the need for Australia to become a more Asia-literate country. Money has been promised, plans are being made, and we find out more about it on this week’s Australian Bite.
Organics, books & teaching in China
4 June 2009
Listen and download: MP3
Organic farmer Phil Jones at his property in Takone, Tasmania. Photo by Eliza Wood
On this week’s Bite, we meet some of the people behind Queensland-based indigenous publishing house Black Ink Press. Tasmanian diesel mechanic – and organic farming convert – Phil Jones, shows reporter Liz Wood around his impressive vegie patch, and we drop in on a young Australian woman working as a teacher in Chengdu, China.
