The Australian Bite

Melburnians trial shared bike scheme

21 May 2009

Listen and download: MP3

On this week’s Bite we take a look at a shared bicycle trial that’s taking place right now in Melbourne. We meet the author of a new book that documents the growth and development of Darwin in the decades following the Second World War.  And two young dancers from the Queensland Ballet tell us just what it takes to become a professional dancer – and I’m telling you its a long hard road!

Melburnians encouraged to get on shared bikes

In Melbourne, Victoria, a three week bike sharing trial – called Common Bike – is currently being run by Industrial Design students and staff from RMIT university.  Now a number of cities, particularly in Europe, have public bicycle sharing schemes where for a small fee, you can pick up a bike from one location, ride it around for as long as you need it, then return it to either the original pick up spot, or another drop off point in around the city. So how does this Melbourne-based initiative work?  I headed on down to the bike hub at Federation Square and met up with the Common Bike pilot’s Ben Landau and visiting Professor Ronald Haverman.

You can find out more about the Common Bike pilot here – http://www.commonbike.com/

 

Rebuilding Darwin after World War 2

If you’ve seen the recent Baz Luhrmann movie “Australia”, – particulary the scenes near the end when the Darwin is attacked by Japanese forces – you’d have some sense of how devastated the town was after the second world war. But while the place was in ruins, there was a determination to rebuild it into something even better, and to create a new and stronger community.  Well a new book called “A Better Place to Live” charts the rebuilding and development of Darwin, and the northern territory more generally, in the post war years. I spoke with the author, Diana Giese, whose parents played a pioneering role.

More details on the book are available here – http://freshwaterbaypress.com.au/betterPlace.shtml

Where exactly is Darwin?  Check it out here on Google maps

Dancing for a living

About three hundred and twenty thousand people take dance classes in Australia, but there are only about 200 full time professionals employed by dance companies. So what does it take to be an elite dancer? And do you have to have a particular type of body? We meet two dancers from the Queensland Ballet company – 22 year old company member Terri Crilley, and 19 year old Sarah Thompson, who is vying for one of the coveted dancing contracts.  Teri and Sarah spoke with Kaitlyn Sawrey from JJJ’s “Hack” program.

You can find out more about the Queensland Ballet at their website – http://www.queenslandballet.com.au/

Music (not in podcast)

Adelaide hip hop crew the Hilltop Hoods have been putting out great music since they formed back in 1991. Now five albums later, here’s “Chase that Feeling” from their forthcoming album State of the Art, to be released on the band’s new label, Golden Era records.

Artist: The Hilltop Hoods
Track: Chase that Feeling
Album: State of the Art (release date 12 June 2009)

Hilltop Hoods website: http://www.hilltophoods.com/hoods.htm