The Australian Bite

Endangered possums threatened by fires

28 February 2009

Listen and download: MP3

This week on The Australian Bite, we take a look at how the recent Victorian fires have affected the many animals that call the bush their home.  We meet Australian crime fiction author PD Martin, whose most recent novel has a gripping kung fu twist.  And we also hear about a new film documenting adventurer Andrew McAuley’s attempt to paddle a kayak from Australia to New Zealand – a journey which ended in tragedy.

Fires devastate native plants and animals

The bushfires which have ravaged Victoria over the last few weeks have not only devastated human lives and property. Native animals have also been affected, and the natural environment will take decades to recover. Richard Hughes is a project officer with the Wilderness Society, and he’s been working on a report looking at the impact of the fires on Victoria’s natural environment, and of course the animals that call the forests, rivers and coastal heathlands their home. He speaks with Heather Jarvis.

The report by the Wilderness Society on the impact of fire on native animals and the natural environment is now available on their website http://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/preliminary-report-2009-vic-bushfires?utm_source=apache&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=vicbushfires

Wildlife Victoria has been leading the way in rescuing and assisting fire affected native animals and birds.  They are currently running a bushfire appeal http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/

 ”Solo” tells tragic tale of Australian adventurer

In January 2007, Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley set off on an ambitious voyage, aiming to become the first person to paddle a kayak from Australia to New Zealand. It was a risky and difficult crossing, with a tragic ending, as just one day from reaching New Zealand, and in sight of land, Andrew McAuley drowned. A documentary film called “Solo” has been made about the attempt, and Madeline Genner talks to filmmaker Jennifer Peedom and McAuley’s widow, Vicki McAuley.

The Tasman Solo website tells you more about Andrew McAuley and his attempt to cross the Tasman sea in a kayak. 

More about the film and the filmmaker Jennifer Peedom at http://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/program/show/79 

Murder on Melbourne writer’s mind

Australians love a good book, and when it comes to the genre of crime fiction we’re are not just avid readers of a well penned whodunnit, we have some very fine writers as well. PD Martin is one of them. She has four novels to her name, a series of books featuring the Australian FBI profiler, Sophie Anderson. The latest one is called “The Killing Hands”, and PD Martin joined Heather Jarvis in the studio to talk about it, and about her interest in crime fiction more generally.

More about PD Martin and her Sophie Anderson series of books at  http://www.pdmartin.com.au/

Music (not in podcast)

The Cat Empire are one of Australia’s premier live acts, with 4 studio albums, and number of hit singles to their name. They’re got a brand new album called Live on Earth, which showcases their great live vibe.

Artist: The Cat Empire
Track: How to Explain
Album: Live on Earth