EarthChat
Episodes
TREATY IS HERE IN VICTORIA - LET THE HEALING BEGIN! S25 Ep48
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the State of Victoria, Australia’s first Treaty has been negotiated, legislated, and signed by the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, the Victo...
Peter Lockyer is leaving EarthChat S25 Ep47
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's 10 years since the first program, and with EarthChat is in good health, Peter Lockyer is pulling up stumps. So this week, Peter shares how Earth...
Seeing rivers as living entities - Andrew Kelly's advocacy S25 Ep46
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's EarthChat, Jill and Tim talk with Andrew Kelly, a writer and waterways' advocate. As a writer, his focus is on children’s picture bo...
What Weed is That? S25 Ep45
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we are talking weeds starting with Serrated Tussock Grass. We will learn how to identify and control it. We will also chat about the severe...
How will the environment remember 2025 S25 Ep44
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Has it been a good year for the climate and our environment? Is the glass half-empty or half-full and is the water polluted in the glass anyway? Is t...
Australia’s Housing Crisis S25 Ep43
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve heard a lot over the past year or so about our housing crisis. The commentary has dominated governments, and yet the suburban sprawl continue...
Climate change - why worry S25 Ep42
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we will be exploring our wonderful planet and why we need to act to protect it. We will attempt to unravel the complexities of nature and w...
Exploring Othering S25 Ep41
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘Othering’ is the process of viewing and treating a person or a group as "other," because they seem different, alien, or inferior to us. This "us...
School aid for Madagascar S25 Ep40
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Marie chats with Paul Lloyd about their recent trip to Madagascar on a Rotary International project. The aim was to deliver aid to a very...
Here Comes the Sun S25 Ep39
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that renewables produced more electricity than coal across the world in the first half of 2025? What a huge shift in a short amount of t...
Treaty in Victoria S25 Ep38
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Legislation for Australia's first Treaty between the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Victorian Government has just been introduced in t...
Box trees and rural conservation successes S25 Ep37
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Peter Lockyer, Vanessa Malandrin and Janice Mentiplay-Smith in a great discussion around the value of old trees, hollows and understory - each...
Why caring for our oceans is so important S25 Ep36
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, listen in to Jill Grant exploring the importance of our oceans and chatting about some great organisations that are working to protect thi...
Four million birds and counting S25 Ep35
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Earth Chat our guest is Sean Dooley from Birdlife Australia. Sean has been involved with Birdlife Australia for many years and is an exp...
What might the circular economy look like? S25 Ep34
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's guest is the amazing Sally Quinn, who for over 20 years has been on the cutting edge of social enterprises in the circular economy. Sally...
Celebrating Nagambie’s Grey Box Grassy woodlands…under a shadow S25 Ep33
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nagambie locals and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority are celebrating 30 years of revegetation work with local native grey box trees gra...
Dr Karl gets excited about our ability to address climate change S25 Ep32
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Renewable Avenel Energy is hosting a half day expo on 22/8 “Take the heat out of climate change with home-based solutions & renewable energy“...
Making the fashion industry more sustainable S25 Ep31
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The fashion industry has been revealed as a major source of waste especially those fabrics which contain a high proportion of synthetic and plastic c...
Tracks and Trails in Mitchell Shire S25 Ep30
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we discuss the proposal to develop tracks and trails throughout Mitchell Shire. We chat about the possibilities of developing links with...
Straw bale houses in Australia and India S25 Ep29
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ravish Sran commissioned Peter Lockyer to build a straw bale house in his family village in Punjab, from 2016 to practical completion in 2020. Ravish...
The Environmental Damage of Military Conflict S25 Ep28
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Peter Lockyer and Marie Gerrard discuss the very serious long term and widespread damage being caused by military activity both in war and...
NAIDOC 2025, the Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy S25 Ep26
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NAIDOC Week this year marks a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, "Th...
Indigenous Protected Areas S25 Ep25
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are areas of land and sea Country managed by First Nations groups in accordance with Traditional Owners’ objectiv...
Are you ready for Plastic Free July S25 Ep24
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic Free July is only a few sleeps away! Now is the time to think about the small steps we can all take to reduce our use of harmful plastics. To...
News from the Euroa Arboretum, S25 Ep23
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are always interesting goings on at "the Arb", and, it’s always a joy to catch up with the passionate and innovative folk who work there. Rut...
Combining Art and Activism for the Sake of the Planet S25 Ep22
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Tim Budge talks with Alex Kelly, an artist, organiser and filmmaker based on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. Working across film, theatre, commun...
Repurposing surplus medical and educational goods S25 Ep21
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Marie Gerrard is chatting about a new group in our area. The group is currently setting up a store of donated medical and educational good...
Celebrating ‘Friends of the Earth’ S25 Ep20
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Friends of the Earth (FoE) is the largest grassroots federation of environmental activists in the world and currently active in more than 70 countrie...
Biodiversity - Nature's Insurance Policy for a Sustainable Future S25 Ep19
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Tim, Jill and guests will be discussing biodiversity. Biodiversity is a term that is used frequently today - but what does it really mean an...
Mitchell Shire's green space possibilities S25 Ep18
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Marie and Ruth chat with recently retired shire Councillor Rob Eldridge about some wonderful possibilities in Mitchell Shire for developing...
Post election challenges S25 Ep17
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Dutton and much of the Coalition voted out of parliament, we are saved from going down a fraught path of nuclear power, and the voters of Austra...
Nuclear facts and fictions S25 Ep16
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nuclear power and nuclear weapons are policy realities in this current federal election. Both major parties support them in one way or another. The L...
Birds: Why We Can’t Live Without Them…. S25 Ep15
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been struck by the song of a bird and immediately found your curiosity and wonder has led you beyond what it is to be human to another ...
EarthChat greets Sustainable House Day – lots of local action S25 Ep14
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sustainable House Day (SHD) is an Australian event showcasing (mostly) recently completed energy efficient houses. Be they owner-built or builder-bui...
The environment going forward S25 Ep13
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This EarthChat, Marie and Ruth chat with to Norbert Ryan (President, Wallan Environment Group) about what we hope to hear in the policies being put f...
Gaza, what narratives make sense? S25 Ep12
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who started the war in Gaza? When did it start, 7 October 2023, or much earlier? What is the fighting about and who is involved? Why should it matter...
Building Stronger Communities S25 Ep11
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Now more than ever is the need to foster and strengthen local social connections to create a sense of belonging and community, and to create easily a...
The Inland Rail Plans, especially in Broadford S25 Ep10
22 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Marie Gerrard and Ruth Yeatman interview Ian Dempsey about the plans to build the Inland Rail, especially through Broadford. Ian Dempsey is a local B...
Too Hot for Footy! S25 Ep9
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not many people may have heard about Footy for Climate, but it is a ground-breaking organisation. It was founded by two AFLM players, Tom Campbell (M...
Treaty Negotiations Commence in Victoria S25 Ep8
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join Ruth and Phil this week as they continue their Treaty conversation with First Peoples’ Assembly North East Representative, Levi Power, who ret...
Do the Right Bin S25 Ep7
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Four roadside bins to grace your kerbside. What is this, how will it work? Mitchell Shire begins the four-bin roadside collection system in March. A ...
A Rising Tide stops coal boats, S25 Ep6
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mitchell local and BEAM committee member Peter Gaffney is an organiser for Rising Tide and he joins EarthChat again to talk about this amazing moveme...
The Economic Costs of Climate Change S25 Ep5
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on EarthChat, Marie Gerrard and John Thompson explore the many and varied ways that our economic future will be affected by Climate Change....
Re-generative farming & racehorse industry opportunities S25 Ep4
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Horse studs are big around Seymour and indeed across all of Mitchell Shire. This is a big money industry. What are the opportunities to make this ind...
Save Our Strathbogie Forest S25 Ep3
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bertram Lobert, president of the Community Group, ‘Save Our Strathbogie Forest’ (SOSF), joins Nelly and Ruth on EarthChat Tuesday to tell us abou...
Violet Coco the Activist S25, Ep2
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You may not know the name Violet Coco, but you would have seen her on the news, arrested for protesting in different places, all to highlight the prec...
The Wonderful World of Whales S25 Ep1
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new year, a new podcast! On Earth Chat this week, Peter, Marie chats with Simon Millar who is the captain of a whale-watching boat that operates out...
2024 - The Year in Review S24, Ep 48
02 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a big year! Lots has happened; some good but not everything has contributed to making our planetary home a just and sustainable place to li...
Communications in First Nations community development, S24, Ep47
28 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's not Christmas week without EarthChat and this week before Christmas Peter Lockyer chats with Dr Jamie Mapelson about his work. Community radio f...
Back to basics explaining climate change S24 Ep45
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Marie Gerrard and Peter Lockyer will be interviewing Patricia Armstrong from ESRAG, the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group....
Why Treaty will benefit all of us in Victoria S24 Ep46
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ruth. Emma and Phil continue their conversation about the impacts of colonization in Australia. On Tuesday's program they will focus on why Treaty in...
An Efficient Electric Home - safe, cheap & reduces emissions, S24 Ep44
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Forcey has written a handbook that shows why, and how you can shift your home to being all electric. Good for your health, and your pocket, and g...
Why Indigenous Knowledge Matters
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Tim Budge and Ruth Yeatman chat with the Joshua Waters about Indigenous Knowledge. Joshua is a First Nations K/Gamilaroi man, PhD student a...
Euroa Arboretum - Growing Back the Bush for over 30 years!
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Euroa Arboretum workers, Bronte Haines, Charlotte Langman, and Nelly Watson join Ruth Yeatman to talk about the wonderful conservation work of the ‘...
Being a Friend of the Earth
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Tim Budge and Peter Lockyer chat with the legendary Cam Walker about forests, climate change, supporting Traditional Owners and his endurin...
Community Energy and Council energy - good electrification happenings in Mitchell Shire
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on EarthChat, John Thompson president of Mitchell Community Energy joins Narelle Liepa from Mitchell Shire Council on EarthChat to share som...
The Heart of Activism
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Tim Budge and Jessica Morrison as they chat about Jessica's involvement in peace and social justice issues. Jess has been a passionate advocate f...
Performing Arts Benefit Planetary Wellbeing, S24, Ep38
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ruth chats with creative team members of the Seymour Performers Workshop (SPW) to explore the far reaching benefits of the performing arts, along wit...
Managing growth, caring for the environment, S24, Ep37
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Listen in to this week's EarthChat where Marie Gerrard and Ruth Yeatman chat to Wallan environment advocate Claudia James about managing growth while ...
Good Coffee and Climate Action - S24, Ep36
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Budge and Peter Lockyer chat with Andrew Mahar, AM about taking practical steps to support climate action around the world. Andrew is an internat...
Birds in our region with local twitcher Peter Sawyer S 24, Ep 35
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Sawyer is a Seymour resident with a passion for watching birds. Birds in town, on the Goulburn River and recently at Borroloola in the Northern...
Treaty for Victoria Update S24, Ep34
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ruth and Phil welcome Levi Power and Jarvis Atkinson from the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria who bring us the latest Victorian Treaty news. Tr...
Granite to Goulburn group tackles landscape restoration
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's EarthChat, Vanessa and Ruth talk about landscape restoration and the pilot project Vanessa has coordinated this year with the Granite t...
Treaty for Victoria, S24, Ep32
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This program originally went to air on 8th December, 2023. however, there has been lots of further developments in relation to a Treaty for Victoria a...
Feeding the World's Children
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Marie and Tim talk to Una Hobday OAM from the Rotary organisation “Food Plant Solutions”. This group have developed a large data base o...
The art of growing and eating delicious, nutritious, local food! S24, Ep31
17 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this EarthChat, Chloe Fox, Brontë Haines, and Nelly Watson chat with Ruth of their passion, commitment and creativity in bringing yummy affordable...
Senator Janet Rice reflects on Gaza, climate action and other issues. S24, Ep30
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest on this week's EarthChat is the former Greens Senator, Janet Rice. For over 40 years, Janet has been a campaigner for people and the planet...
Taungurung Lands and Water Council proposes management of the Tallarook Forest as a Cultural Reserve S24, Ep29
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does this proposed Indigenous management mean now that the logging threat has subsided. Or has it? Is selective logging within this proposal? The...
Local Environment Activities, S24, Ep28
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Marie Gerrard and Peter Lockyer chat with Elyse Kelly, Mitchell Shire Council's Environment Coordinator about a range of plans to enhance t...
Handy Hints to Reduce Plastic S24, Ep27
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's now the middle of Plastic Free July and this week's EarthChat gives us a good opportunity to do a plastic-free stock take. How is the month goin...
Turtles in the Goulburn Valley S24, Ep26
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Turtles in the Goulburn Valley - ancient survivors under threat from foxes and vehicles. Ken Wallis lives on a property near 5 Mile Siding on the G...
Lessons from the Voice Referendum, S24, Ep25
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the recent referendum result the reconciliation journey continues - it is far from over as the need for recognition, justice, and healing is ...
Birdlife Australia - Save birds, save lives
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on EarthChat, Marie and Ruth chat with the Hon Kelvin Thompson about Birdlife Australia. The conversation is a great chance to learn about ...
A Rising Tide of activism against fossil fuels
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Rising Tide of community activism against the fossil fuel export industry has a local champion in Peter Gaffney. Rising Tide is an activist commu...
Plastic Free July - small steps, big difference
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Plastic Free July is coming and we have an amazing guest to help us plan individual and local community activities! On this week's EarthChat, Tim and...
Deep Ecology – igniting our passion for the living Earth S24, Ep21
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Ruth chat with Liz Downes about Deep Ecology. What is Deep Ecology? It is a way of life that supports conscious activism. It’s a sense of b...
The proposed Wollert waste to energy incinerator plant, S24, Ep20
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on EarthChat, Marie and Tim chat with Cath Rouse from the community group opposing the proposed Wollert waste to energy incinerator. They d...
Scoop - Natural Treasures Leaflet expanded! S 24, Ep 19
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Mitchell joins Ruth this Tuesday, May14 at noon to give listeners a sneak preview into the latest edition of the ‘Natural Treasures’ in Mit...
Healthy Soils, Hungry Soils S24, Ep 18
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vanessa and Ruth discuss the recent Landcare forum on soil health and sustainable farming, held at the Seymour Racecourse on the 2nd May, including...
Biochar: economically viable, long-term, carbon storage? S24, Ep17
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tony Richardson and his partner Rita have been growing trees on their two farms for 25 years. They invested their super (against advice at the time) ...
How the war in Gaza impacts on life and the environment
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over the last six months, the killing of over 30,000 people and the forced relocation of approximately 2 million people has brought global attention ...
Soldiering on with flies for the environment
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Marie and Tim talk to Phoebe Gardner from Bardee about their developments in using black soldier flies to transform very large amounts of food wast...
All Things Waste. S24, Ep14
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Ruth welcomes back Grace Davis-Williams who is our Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Education Officer in Mitchell Shire. This role is ...
Restoration - The Future of Forests. S24, Ep13
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The end of logging in native forests by VicForests raises the wonderful opportunity for us to think of future prospects for these tree communities in...
On the Ground - a Regenerative Farmer for 30 years and growing, S24, Ep12
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this week's show, Peter is joined by an old friend, Annemaree Docking. She's a hands-on, small-farm landholder who's been practising sustainable f...
Climate Safe Rooms – retrofitting to create refuges for heatwaves and extreme cold. S24, Ep3
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Climate Safe Rooms" is a Climate retrofitting project to create refuges in low-income households during heatwaves and extreme cold. As our weather b...
Getting people involved in environmental action. S24, Ep2
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are a powerful force for nature! How do we get people involved in environmental action? This week on EarthChat, Tim and Ruth talk to Don Vogt, a l...
Volunteering for the environment along Hughes Creek. S24, Ep1
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing the theme of the importance of volunteering for the environment, Vanessa and Tim will be talking about Vanessa's recent experience working...
A virtual tour of Mount Rothwell and the Western Treatment Plant, S24, Ep11
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vanessa and Ruth discuss Vanessa's recent adventure discovering two very different habitats for native animals. They discuss the largest feral predat...
The Mitchell Climate Emergency Action Plan – why it matters. S24, Ep10
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Marie and Tim chat to Brendan Garrett about Mitchell Shire Council's Climate Emergency Action Plan. We talk about how to reduce our carbon footprint a...
Is your super invested ethically for the future of people and the planet? S24, Ep9
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tim and Ruth talk to Dr Rosemary Kelly about superannuation investments, international treaties prohibiting weapons which cause indiscriminate civilia...
Good news from Mitchell Youth Services. S24, Ep8
03 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Seymour now has its own Youth Development Officer. Ryan Hutchison joins Ruth along with the 2 other Youth Development Officers for the Mitchell Shire,...
What does a river mean to you? S24, Ep7
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vanessa Malandrin talks about rivers and an interesting PhD research project. The research by Madeline Grupper from Melbourne Uni looks at how people ...
Becoming an Ecological Economist in the Environmental field. S24, Ep5
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ruth’s guest is Aeronwyn Schache, a face to face fundraiser’ with The Wilderness Society. This is a fascinating conversation on the path and valu...
Keeping Hope Alive. S24, Ep6
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As someone who cares about the environment, the impact of climate change, or other social justice issues, it is easy to be overwhelmed, to feel despai...