Been There Done That

20 Sep 2016

Gr Ocean Rd, Catherine Barrett, Seniors Festival, Otis, Peace Day

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Gr Ocean Rd, Catherine Barrett, Seniors Festival, Otis, Peace Day

Gordon, Phil and Colin are in this week with Chris ‘materialising’ via a pre-recorded interview with Catherine Barrett.

First topic is the Great Ocean Road which was built in the Depression and, unbeknownst to many, is a Memorial for the soldiers who fought in the Great War–or World War 1.

Lesbian Birthdays this week include twin Canadian indie singers Tegan and Sara born on 19 September and also English entertainer and writer Sue Perkins, who often appears on QI— born 22 September.

In a pre-recording, Chris and Gordon interview the amazing Catherine Barrett–a pioneer in aged-care, particularly in the LGBTI community. Research has been her main role in recent times but this year she’s branching out into a National program called Alice’s Garage which is about empowering LGBTI elders. Assisting her in this work are a group of ‘straight-shooting’ elders called the Executive or Exec. Catherine is from The Opal Institute and there is more info on their website too. Also, there is a Victorian Seniors Festival commencing 2 October and there are 5 events in it for LGBTI seniors. With Catherine in the pre-recording is artist Tristan Meecham from All The Queens Men who (with artist Bec Reid) is involved with the LGBTI dance events at the Seniors Festival.

On 20 September 1853, Elisha Graves Otis invented a stopping mechanism for lifts preventing them from falling if the cable snaps. So any movies showing lifts plunging to the ground are unrealistic!!

Also this week is International Peace Day!!! There is some scepticism around the studio about this. It’s a great concept but unlikely while mankind is on earth. This leads on to the topic of the necessity for gun control here; but especially in the USA. Mother Nature gets her revenge on mankind sometimes–wreaking havoc via natural disasters such as the huge dust storm in Sydney in 2009 and the recent floods in Victoria

It’s International Bisexuality Day this week too; which started in 1999. Our hosts discuss the fluidity of human nature.

It’s also the anniversary this week of the Maralinga Atomic bomb tests in the early 1950s–that were led by the English and conducted in outback Australia. Phil explains the workings of nuclear power plants and the problem of what to do with their waste.

Plus some trivia and mirth…