On the Couch, through the years
2019 – The Baker Family and the documentary ‘Solstice’ captured the stories of those who are daily on the frontline in the battle for better mental health care, the survivors of suicide.
2018 – Dr Karl Kruszelnicki A.M treated our On the Couch guests to a conversation like no other, starting with his journey to Australia (and his local connection), what’s important about Mongolia, where we will find life elsewhere in the solar system and the relationship between vampires, zombies and cockroaches.
2017 – David Kapay of Miss Amelie is a Wodonga local who spoke about the fateful plane flight to London which resulted in him walking into a job at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant/charity Fifteen, the cultures of high profile celebrity kitchens and his desire to put Albury Wodonga on the foodie map in a big way.
2016 – Suzanne Young is a Scot’s School Alumni and former CEO, who has led major change initiatives in some of our biggest companies including IAG, Qantas, the Commonwealth Bank and Unisys. Suzanne spoke of her motivation, determination and leadership; a wonderful example of our the locally grown talent.
2015 – Charles Waterstreet, an Australian author, barrister, filmmaker, theatre producer and newspaper columnist, Charles grew up in Albury and was the inspiration for the popular ABC TV series Rake, based loosely on his professional and personal life. Charles appeared as counsel in many difficult trials and appeals and appeared for many defendants in social security cases, murder trials, drug trials, rape cases and false memory trials.
2014 – Matina Jewell is a retired UN Peacekeeper and an extraordinary local. Her distinguished military career culminated with a coveted posting to serve as part of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East where she was caught in the crossfire when a full-scale war erupted between Israel and Lebanon in 2006. Matina lives locally in Wodonga and holds a number of distinguished Government and not for profit board positions.
2013 – Barrie Cassidy grew in Chiltern and started his career straight out of high school as a cadet journalist with the Border Mail. He went on the become one of Australia’s most experienced political commentators, having covered federal politics since the late 1970s. He covered 13 federal elections, two of them as senior adviser and press secretary to Prime Minister, Bob Hawke. He has worked as a foreign correspondent in political capitals, Washington and Brussels, has hosted the ABC’s 7.30 Report and Insiders, and is a successful author.
2012 – The Honorable Tim Fisher A.C spoke about his first 1,000 days as Australia’s inaugural Resident Ambassador to the Holy See in Rome. The conversation was an intimate and often quirky look at his time overseas. He spoke of the canonisation of Mary McKillop, the first journey of the Caritas Express from the Vatican’s own railway station, his journeys further afield to places such as Jerusalem and the incredible library stored underneath the Vatican.
