Sarah Konoski

And as I said, your mum has schizophrenia.

How young do you remember your mum not being well?

Was that always a part of the story or is it something that changed as you got older?

So her symptoms would come and go, Justin.

Is that what it was like, that there'd be periods where she was in that good, loving place that she so clearly was and would have wanted to stay in, and then periods where those difficult symptoms of schizophrenia would really come to the fore?

Was she getting any psychiatric help?

The way you describe it, it sounds really clear that she wasn't getting the support that she needed, but nor were you as her child.

Was there anyone that you confided in or could reach out to help?

You made a lot of cassette recordings of your family in your childhood.

What was that about?

How was it a survival technique, those cassettes?

Your Uncle Ken had an influence on you in terms of recording and music.

Tell me about him and how he helped kind of awaken your own songwriting.

What were your first songs about?

It stands up.

How did the audience respond at that talent quest?

How did a conversation with one of your teachers at high school change your plans for after school?

Were you keen to leave Burnie by that stage?

Like, were you thinking much about what the world outside of your hometown might be like?

You talk about the isolation of Burnie, particularly in that era.