Welcome and thanks for stopping by The Covid Crossing webpage.
The Covid Crossing is a variety podcast from the Macedon Ranges for story loving, progressive thinking, community minded folk. It will comfort, entertain, support and challenge you in these extraordinary times.
It is about:
Art - language art: books and stories and poetry;
Heart - thoughts and feelings from ordinary people living through extraordinary times;
Hope - for a better future, for a more equal and earth allied society; and
Happiness - ideas, tips, stories and tools for being happy, whole and at ease in these strange times.
Season One of The Covid Crossing ran weekly from April through to June 2020. A second season of six episodes has been funded by the Macedon Ranges Shire Council and is being published fortnightly from September through to December 2020.
While the podcast arose out of Covid, the content is relevant at any time, as both a record of how it was, and as useful and interesting ideas and stories for any time.
You can subscribe and listen on iTunes, Spotify, and anywhere else you can listen to podcasts.
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The Covid Crossing is supported and broadcast by Central Highlands FM. You can listen to The Covid Crossing at 100.7 on your FM dial and stream from their website.
Episode Show Notes
This episode we have two interviews. The first is with Pat who lives in an aged care facility in Woodend and they have of course, been locked in for months. Then we hear from Bernadette who has a daughter with an intellectual disability, about how covid has unfolded in her world.
Linc Yow Yeh, Mt Macedon resident and Murri man, is our interview guest this episode, and we have a rich and wide ranging conversation.
Kyneton community stalwart, Eric Dearricott, is our interview guest this episode of The Covid Crossing. In Inside Life we take a look at the whole box and dice - happiness, suffering and meaning, drawing on the profound insight of Viktor Frankl. Ann Bolch is our local writer this episode with a beautiful reverie about the beloved Mount.
Variety is back at the The Covid Crossing. This episode we have a great interview with Carly Visscher, some wisdom for our inner lives, a story written by award winning local writer Sue Yardley, a look at changes to our local democracy and the sounds of owls, and more.
This episode features an interview with Vivien Philpotts, long term neighbourhood house coordinator from Lancefield. We hear a ripper story from local Romsey writer Christine Caley, and our history story is about the Ash Wednesday fires and what was happening for aboriginal people in 1982 and 83.
In this second part of the first episode we hear three new segments. The first, 'Writers Writing' brings us local writers Dee White and John Marsden reading a piece of their own writing, set in the Macedon Ranges. Then in Dancing with democracy we begin to explore the idea of participation in democracy and finally in the Noticing Nature sandwich we enter the wonderful world of local frogs.
Back with a new line up for a new season, we kick off what an interview with Woodend resident and central vic volunteer coordinator, Lisa Richards and we hear how the crisis has effected volunteering. We look at growth and fixed mindsets and how we can cultivate the more useful one. And in a new segment we start to excavate some of the stories from the history of the Macedon Ranges.
Just a brief check in to let you know where things are at with the The Covid Crossing.
In this episode we journey back through the last eleven episodes of The Covid Crossing, to get a sense of just how far we’ve come in just a few short months. And by popular demand, we have lots of pearls from the mouth of the teenage lad, Ainslie.
Christine shares the challenges and unexpected twists of long distant love in a time of Covid, we explore the concept of awe and the pinks of Epacris Impressa and better late than never, in Lets Flatten More Curves we explore IDAHOBIT DAY. In Seven Little Australians Meg digs a deep hole for herself.
Lise from Macedon shares her passion for baking sour dough bread as the newly minted baker at Trentham’s historic Redbeard Bakery, and gives us some high drama along the way. We mark Reconciliation Week by learning who are the traditional owners are in the Macedon Ranges. And we explore a new way of challenging stressful thoughts - The Work of Byron Katie. And of course the latest instalment of Seven Little Australians.
Episode Nine - Who Counts?
Gen, from the Macedon Ranges, tells us about her journey to leave a controlling and violent relationship. With great courage and wisdom she shares with us the steps she took and how much she appreciates Foodbank. We also hear the story of FAVI an amazing French company that for over thirsty years ran on trust, autonomy and self managed teams. And of course the latest instalment of Seven Little Australians.
Virologist and long time Macedon resident Aishah Aitken shares her experience working at the epicentre of the coronavirus family’s trip to Victoria. In 'Inside Life' Melvyn Cann shares a way he’s learned of dancing with trees. We explore the human need to live with autonomy, and the problems this causes work. And as usual we have State of the House and Seven Little Australians.
Gisborne resident Melvyn, has been busking at Woodend Coles while composing about Percy Grainger, Judy Brown shares her poem, and we hear why equality is better for everyone. Ainslie tells us about school of the net, Vicki’s house is clean and Mother’s Day carries a weighty history. And of course seven little Australian’s are in strife.
Born across the ditch in New Zealand, now ten years in Macedon, Helen Palmer shares her experience of a recent funeral she attended. There’s a message from a Foodbank recipient and an invitation to offer what you can and ask for what you need. The third quarter takes on a new meaning, and as always Ethel Turner’s book Seven Little Australians transports us to a far away time and place.
Berry picking becomes a metaphor, Paula from Gisborne shares her redundancy experience, there’s something to be learned from a Dutch community health care organisation and things go from bad to worse for seven little Australians.
Houses with good routines and bad bathrooms, tips for building habits, an interview with the wise and wonderful Macedon resident, Margo Field, ideas for more curves we can flatten, and, of course, the next instalment of Seven Little Australians.
Gardeners of Macedon come out, veggies head south and bikes carry the load. Blake and Phil are interviewed, Chapter Two of Seven Little Australians is wonderful, and the 'new usual' segments are all on offer.
Parcels are taking a toll at the Macedon Post Office, Bridget gives us an insight into rural Australia, and Ainslie's answer... make a list. We hear a story told at Melbourne Fringe, a poem from Rumi, and explore the call to Look Up.
John is worried, Jess is cooking bolognese, again, and Ainslie thinks it's all a waste of time. We'll hear the first chapter from the classic novel 'Seven Little Australians', as well as looking at some other curves we can flatten and some tips for getting into meditation.
In this second part of episode six we hear a beautiful, locally set story from writer Stephen Mitchell. Then we hear a poem from well know Australian author Henry Lawson, followed by an historical story of Annie Hutcheson who emigrated to Australia from Scotland in 1852.