Melbourne became a ghost town during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pubs and venues closed their doors, leaving many of the city’s artists and creatives without a stage to perform on or an audience to perform for.

Yet over successive lockdowns, it was the creative industries that kept communities strong, as we all adapted to unprecedented circumstances. 

In The Stage Goes Dark, four creatives share their struggles and victories during the pandemic and cry out for an overlooked community, calling for a lifeline.

Guests:

Eilish Gilligan

Brenton Harris

Neil Morris (DRMNGNOW)

Virginia Gay

Credits:

Producer: Erin Dick

Executive Producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman

Engineer: Tegan Nichols

Theme composer: Oliver Beard

Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knezevic

Made in co-operation with: SYN, Melbourne

This episode was made on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded. 

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four Emergency level bushfires burned over one weekend in Western Australia in February 2022. With roughly 30% of WA agricultural land, most farmers are prepared for fire at any time. But when one comes, they rely heavily on volunteer farmers and locals who form the  Bush Fire Brigade.

On February 6, 2022 near the small farming town of Narrogin, extreme wind and heat, coupled with a powerline spark in a dry pasture paddock, resulted in a massive fire. Only one house was lost but the impact on livestock and farmland will affect farmers years into the future.  

Content warning this feature contains stories of animals in distress

Guests:

Angus Armstrong

Mike Burges

Tammy Freestone

Michael Lange

Credits:

Producer: Leith Alexander

Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman

Engineering: Tegan Nicholls

Theme music: Oliver Beard

Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions

Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knezevic

Made in co-operation with: Harvey Community Radio, Western Australia

This episode was made on the Wiilman and Wadjuk Countries of the Nyoongar Nation and the lands of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative – and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day after day of intense rainfall fell across south east Queensland In February 2022, breaking riverbanks, swamping roads and flooding homes.

The city of Brisbane experienced one of the worst floods on record. In three days alone, Brisbane received 80 per cent of its annual rainfall as people scrambled to find higher ground to shelter.

As people recover and start to rebuild, questions are being raised over where to live and how to prepare for the future.

Guests:

Milena Cifali

Richard Hamernik

Carolyn Karafa

Councillor Johnathon Sri

Credits:

Producer: Maureen Mopio

Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman

Engineering: Tegan Nicholls

Theme music: Oliver Beard

Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions

Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knezevic

Made in co-operation with 4EB, Brisbane

This episode was made on the lands of the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and the land of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative – and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.