July 11, 2024 • 15 mins
A former police officer, who investigated more than 500 fatal crashes, calls for urgent highway upgrades.
The push to incorporate artificial intelligence in businesses.
A Cooloola Coast family owned supermarket to open in the Mary Valley.
And how locals could be part of the 2025 Academy Awards.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I have Wide Burnett.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
HI, and welcome to iHeart Wide Bay Burnette, your local
news fix. I'm Bruce Atkinson, joined by Taylor Larson.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
On today's show, the push to bring artificial intelligence into
our businesses and the chance for locals to be part
of the oscars.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Starting on a more serious note, a former Wide Bay
police officer who investigated more than five hundred fatal crashes
wants to see a major upgrade of a horror section
of the Bruce Highway. Four people have died on the
highway between Gimpi and Mirraborough since the start of last year.
Steve Webb was a forensic crash investigator for twenty six years.
He says there are a number of reasons behind fatal crashes.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
You look at the environment, which includes roads, road burniture.
Then you look at the vehicle and then you look
at the driver and their history as well, past history,
maybe driving history, or the history of them leading up
to the crash, how much sleep they'd had. You know,
you go into all those things. You've got to cover
(00:59):
them all, you know. Obviously we look at the road
and I used to work well with the main roads
there in Bunderberg and like they would ring me and say, Steve,
you've had a fatal last night on the highway. Yeah,
can we meet you there? Can we discuss any problems
and I would point things out for them, you know,
we would make recommendations to the coroner and relation of
(01:19):
maybe street signage or you know, I said, road furniture
or road surfaces or whatever.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
And there's been four deaths on the Bruce Highway between
Gimpy and Marraborough since the start of last year. What
are your initial thoughts on that.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Well, I'm not surprised, you know, Like I mean, I
did many in that stretch between Gimpy and Marraborough. The
best thing that's gone in well when it opens is
the bypass around Gimpy. Look, it's a fatigue three hours
from Brisbane and four hours from Rockampton. People tend to
push it. The number of crashes I did there is
that you could put down to fatigue. Well, there are
(01:54):
a few. Yes, the road definitely could deal with improvement,
but then again I always say few drives. In additions,
you'll get there at one piece. People do they No,
they don't, that's the problem, you know, Like I mean,
the majority of these fatals are a T or b
breaches of the traffic laws. It comes down to the
(02:15):
drivers behind the wheel.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
When continually though the drivers ignore or break the rules,
there needs to be something in place. So Luo O'Brien,
the federal member for White Bay, he wants to see
a separated highway, as in a barrier down the middle
or something like that. Would that be a good start.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Absolutely, You've got to remember that when you're designing something
a road, for example, you've got to take into account
the completingenuity of fools. They'll always find a way to
kill themselves, sadly, but yeah, definitely you've got to try
and make it as safe as you can, not only
for the fools but for other road use. And if
you can separate northbound and southbound absolutely makes a difference.
(02:55):
I mean you just have to look at that stretch
just south of IMPI. Since they did that, the number
of deaths they had dropped dramatically. So yes, I agree
they should separate the north and southbound lanes. I mean,
you've got vehicles traveling at one hundred klongs an hour
and they're separated by two painted white lines. In this
day and age, it's not real.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Good they government, federal government have done the upgrade of roads.
They might say, we couldn't do that. All the way
from gimp you to mirrabor or gimp you to cans
is too expensive. What would you say to taking costs
into account when you're talking about people's lives.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Well, how much does the fatality cost? Well over a
million dollars by the time you work it out, you
know the cost of society. It's got to be investigated.
There's insurance payouts, general expenses, you know all those sorts
of things. Well over a million dollars. I know that
breach fatality. What's the life work? They should be able
(03:49):
to drive for their destination and get there in one piece.
The government charges enough for registration. Where does that money go?
You cannot tell me. It's being poured into the roads.
They can spend money in the southeast area, but when
the regions come into it, they get neglected.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Steve, do you think there's other things, anything else that
could be done, whether it's by drivers, by governments, that
would make it safer apart from that separating the lanes, Well.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yes, drivers, drivers need to take more responsibility. Speed limits
there for a reason. It's not there so that the
police can pinue to drive fas it's there because because
of the road design, you know, stick to the road rules,
keep your eyes open, take rest periods. I've been the
fatal head on crashes. I sit there. I used to
(04:36):
stand there and shake my head and think, where was
this person looking? Why didn't they see this other vehicle
come across on the wrong side of the road. Some
people drive and they're looking ten feet in front of
their bonnets. They don't look ahead, they don't scan. You
must do that. On a highlight you must do that.
You must be scanning all the time, always looking. And
of course the government needs to step up to the
(04:58):
plate and look at the.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And despite the constant road safety warnings, some were still
choosing to ignore them. During the recent Operation Cold Snap
wide Bay Burnett police handed out more than five hundred fines,
Almost half of those were for speeding. An eighteen year
old south Side men was among those court He was
allegedly cocked at forty two k's over the speed limit
on the Old Bruce Highway. Police says license was suspended,
(05:22):
his car tires were bored, and he had alcohol in
his system.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
When you hear artificial intelligence what do you think of?
Is it a chat with Siri or Alexa or is
it more thoughts of robots taking over? Brook Fosse is
the chapter director for the AI Harbor in Bunderberg. She
says the technology isn't as scary as people may think.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
It will display some possible menial tasks, but I always
say please and thank you. Films there is an element
of scariness and associated with the terminator and those sort
of things, so I'm always light when I do ask
for I to do something. It just takes away the
medium tasks. So if I want to draft a really
tricky email, I can put it into AI and it
(06:06):
gives me a really good start. Doesn't know what I
need to say, but it gives you the great basis
of a first draft if you're doing a writing task,
or it takes away some of the common areas you
get when you transcribe numbers wrong in for picnic applications.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
And in all gural event is aiming to take the
guesswork out of AI and show business sow it's how
it can help them in their day to day activities
and mundane tasks.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
They've got so much on and they can't find stuff
Ali just takes that headache away.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Brook hopes the Bunderberg Region Futures Forum will encourage people
to boost their tech use and skills. She says, it
doesn't have to be difficult.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Taking a photo with your app and it uploads automatically
to zero and then prepopulates a lot of your tasks,
so you don't need to bring your receipts into the
office hope that they haven't all smeared with whatever food
or things bag. It's those sort of things and I
can pre code it so you will keepers have a
really simple job, or you as the business owner who's
(07:06):
typically your bookkeeper, has a really simple job of keeping
account of their transactions.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
See of Bunderberg Tourism, Katherine Reid says they're expecting around
two hundred people to attend. The goal is to chat
about opportunities in the region's future as well as how
to address them. And it's not just aimed at attracting
holidaymakers either.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
They're also business travelers, they're visiting friends and relatives, they're
coming here for medical There's so many different opportunities to attract.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Different audiences to the Bunderbeck region.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
So we're looking forward to getting a bunch of business
people in the room together to listen to our keynote
speakers and really map out.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
What that future looks like for the Bunderbeck region.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Those keynote speakers are futurist Chris Riddell, AI expert Alex
Ferguson and tech entrepreneur Hailey Brown.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
It is really important because we need to understand what's
happening outside of our region so that we can make
our region even better. So for us, it's about bringing
together the great minds that we see and the opportunities
that we see around the place so that we can
provide that information to the community.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
That's Bunderberg Mayor Helen Blackburn. Meantime, President of the local
Chamber of Commerce, him Sayer, says, the adaptation of new
technologies is essential for business owners to save time and
attract more customers.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
AI is one of the most important things that we
want to put into our businesses at the moment, and
it enables you to actually take away some of those
mundane tasks that you might have in your business. So
allows you to easily write copy about what needs you
up onto your website. It allows you to easily take
some of those processes that you have and streamline them
need the furthest So it's a great thing to having
(08:45):
any business and everybody should be looking at how they
implemented as soon as they can.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
The event is being held on July twenty fifth, after
the break.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
The family owned business expanding and bringing much needed jobs
to the Mary Valley.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
I heard White, I heard White.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You're listening to iheartweighted bay Burnette. I'm Taylor Larson, joined
by Bruce Atkinson.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
A family owned supermarket business is due to open in
the Mary Valley, west of Gimpei in September. It'll create
jobs for local residents and suppliers. The O'Connell retail group
started on the Sunshine Coast almost twenty years ago, but
the family was forced out when Woolies and Coals opened
stores nearby. They opened an IgA in Rainbow Beach in
two thousand and four and another at tin Can Bay
(09:34):
in twenty seventeen. In book, can expect a new store
in September, and Justin O'Connell says it's an untapped market.
Speaker 7 (09:40):
I just seen that there was an opportunity was there
with the current region not being serviced for the demand
a touristy kind of area, and it's the location that
I've seen plenty of opportunity in. I believe the market's
not really being serviced, and I believe that we'll be
able to come in and offer the community, you know,
and essential shopping need which is currently being lacked.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Justin says the proposed Barumba pumped hydro project nearby has
nothing to do with his decision.
Speaker 7 (10:09):
Barumba Hydro wasn't on the forefront of our minds. If
the dam goes ahead, well, it will provide a stimulus
to the business, But the Mary Valley as a whole,
or the Gimpi region as the majority of people aware,
is progressing and this area needs something now regardless of
whether the hydro goes ahead, and that could all change
(10:30):
depending on what political decision is made at that point
in time. You can't rely on political decisions to base
your business case on.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
The news store will provide job opportunities.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
The businesses will be looking for about thirty five employees
and we aim to employ as local as possible within
the community or within the surrounding communities. I think it's
a huge opportunity for the region or employment to boost
opportunities in the area. We got all departments available from
front counter to produce to Delhi to grocery. Feel We'll
(11:03):
be seeking all employees and will have an open speed
interview date sometime in August, which will be confirmed via Facebook.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Justin says things have improved for independent retailers since his
parents were forced to leave the Sunshine Coast due to
competition from the majors. However, there's still plenty of challenges,
including skyrocketing costs.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
Electricity is upsubstantially on twelve months ago. Elicit tobacco has
been a huge impacting factor across the supermarket from all
over Australia. I think the government has taken tobacco excise
for granted and it's really affecting small and medium sized
businesses that were heavy reliant on that as the driving
(11:47):
force for sales and getting employees is starting to ease,
but it's still an impacting factor.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Paintings inspired by White Bay locals could be handed to
next shears oscar winners and nominees. A month long road
trip down the Queensland Coast has brought an official artist
for the awards to Bunderberg. Tracy Eaton started her journey
up in Cans a couple of weeks ago and has
this week stopped in our region.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
That she painted a view from my motor home window
from the sides, from the side windows that I just
fell in love because the colors of so stance. It's
very blurry and very rainy, but quite quite a moody piece,
so very much everything that I've seen on the travel
so far.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
She's not just interested in our landscapes. Tracy has spent
a couple of days in town to interview people keen
to hear from those who have overcome hardships.
Speaker 8 (12:38):
Everyday Australian is just getting a sippet of their life
and those stories, along with stories from children who have
been rescued by Disney Rescue from a life of sexual
exploitation and trafficking. All of those interview stories will become
the inspiration for artworks that I will continue to complete
when I get back from the journey and we exhibit
(12:58):
those in the Gold Coast in novimb.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
The pieces will be auctioned off to raise money for
organization Destiny Rescue, which helps children affected by slavery and
sex trafficking.
Speaker 8 (13:08):
A lot of people say, well, you know, we're Australia
that doesn't happen here. It does, but where Western culture
is also very much the problem because we're creating the demand.
So places like Thailand and Philippines and all of those
types of places, people Australians will travel there to the
intention of sexual exploitation of children. So my thinking is,
I want an elegant way to open conversations to you know,
(13:31):
when I'm painting live, people always come and talk to you.
They're as interested in what you're creating in the process,
and it gives me a chance to share what Destiny
Riscue have achieved and how much they rescue and how
much they also help to gain evidence to prosecute perpetrators
in a way that people can be more comfortable about
(13:52):
hearing what's going on. So I've always believed that art
is a way to facilitate change, and this is my
way of helping to make that happen.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Tracy's aiming to raise one million dollars and after the auction,
some of the pieces will be copied and hand painted
again in sections before they're gifted to twenty twenty five
Oscar nominees.
Speaker 8 (14:11):
Six year coming up, and we'll be donating to the
best Actor and actress, the supporting actual actress, and best
Director primarily, and we're doing that in this coming year
with a private gifting lounge just prior to the Oscars,
in the beginning of an exhibition that we're doing of
all of the works that we're creating from these stories
and the inserrations I'm getting. We're going to do an
exhibition the week before the Oscars as well. So the
(14:33):
combination of all those things is really exciting and it's
been fantastic to know that, as I say that, Australia
is on the mark I guess in terms of creativity
and en showcased around the world for that.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Let's hope some locals make the cut.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
That's all for this week. If you want to hear
this episode again or search for previous ones, look up
iHeart Whired Baby Bernette on the iHeartRadio app or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
We're back again next week with more local, trusted and
free news.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
I Have Mad
I have Wide Burnett.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
HI, and welcome to iHeart Wide Bay Burnette, your local
news fix. I'm Bruce Atkinson, joined by Taylor Larson.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
On today's show, the push to bring artificial intelligence into
our businesses and the chance for locals to be part
of the oscars.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Starting on a more serious note, a former Wide Bay
police officer who investigated more than five hundred fatal crashes
wants to see a major upgrade of a horror section
of the Bruce Highway. Four people have died on the
highway between Gimpi and Mirraborough since the start of last year.
Steve Webb was a forensic crash investigator for twenty six years.
He says there are a number of reasons behind fatal crashes.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
You look at the environment, which includes roads, road burniture.
Then you look at the vehicle and then you look
at the driver and their history as well, past history,
maybe driving history, or the history of them leading up
to the crash, how much sleep they'd had. You know,
you go into all those things. You've got to cover
(00:59):
them all, you know. Obviously we look at the road
and I used to work well with the main roads
there in Bunderberg and like they would ring me and say, Steve,
you've had a fatal last night on the highway. Yeah,
can we meet you there? Can we discuss any problems
and I would point things out for them, you know,
we would make recommendations to the coroner and relation of
(01:19):
maybe street signage or you know, I said, road furniture
or road surfaces or whatever.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
And there's been four deaths on the Bruce Highway between
Gimpy and Marraborough since the start of last year. What
are your initial thoughts on that.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Well, I'm not surprised, you know, Like I mean, I
did many in that stretch between Gimpy and Marraborough. The
best thing that's gone in well when it opens is
the bypass around Gimpy. Look, it's a fatigue three hours
from Brisbane and four hours from Rockampton. People tend to
push it. The number of crashes I did there is
that you could put down to fatigue. Well, there are
(01:54):
a few. Yes, the road definitely could deal with improvement,
but then again I always say few drives. In additions,
you'll get there at one piece. People do they No,
they don't, that's the problem, you know, Like I mean,
the majority of these fatals are a T or b
breaches of the traffic laws. It comes down to the
(02:15):
drivers behind the wheel.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
When continually though the drivers ignore or break the rules,
there needs to be something in place. So Luo O'Brien,
the federal member for White Bay, he wants to see
a separated highway, as in a barrier down the middle
or something like that. Would that be a good start.
Speaker 4 (02:31):
Absolutely, You've got to remember that when you're designing something
a road, for example, you've got to take into account
the completingenuity of fools. They'll always find a way to
kill themselves, sadly, but yeah, definitely you've got to try
and make it as safe as you can, not only
for the fools but for other road use. And if
you can separate northbound and southbound absolutely makes a difference.
(02:55):
I mean you just have to look at that stretch
just south of IMPI. Since they did that, the number
of deaths they had dropped dramatically. So yes, I agree
they should separate the north and southbound lanes. I mean,
you've got vehicles traveling at one hundred klongs an hour
and they're separated by two painted white lines. In this
day and age, it's not real.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Good they government, federal government have done the upgrade of roads.
They might say, we couldn't do that. All the way
from gimp you to mirrabor or gimp you to cans
is too expensive. What would you say to taking costs
into account when you're talking about people's lives.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Well, how much does the fatality cost? Well over a
million dollars by the time you work it out, you
know the cost of society. It's got to be investigated.
There's insurance payouts, general expenses, you know all those sorts
of things. Well over a million dollars. I know that
breach fatality. What's the life work? They should be able
(03:49):
to drive for their destination and get there in one piece.
The government charges enough for registration. Where does that money go?
You cannot tell me. It's being poured into the roads.
They can spend money in the southeast area, but when
the regions come into it, they get neglected.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Steve, do you think there's other things, anything else that
could be done, whether it's by drivers, by governments, that
would make it safer apart from that separating the lanes, Well.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Yes, drivers, drivers need to take more responsibility. Speed limits
there for a reason. It's not there so that the
police can pinue to drive fas it's there because because
of the road design, you know, stick to the road rules,
keep your eyes open, take rest periods. I've been the
fatal head on crashes. I sit there. I used to
(04:36):
stand there and shake my head and think, where was
this person looking? Why didn't they see this other vehicle
come across on the wrong side of the road. Some
people drive and they're looking ten feet in front of
their bonnets. They don't look ahead, they don't scan. You
must do that. On a highlight you must do that.
You must be scanning all the time, always looking. And
of course the government needs to step up to the
(04:58):
plate and look at the.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And despite the constant road safety warnings, some were still
choosing to ignore them. During the recent Operation Cold Snap
wide Bay Burnett police handed out more than five hundred fines,
Almost half of those were for speeding. An eighteen year
old south Side men was among those court He was
allegedly cocked at forty two k's over the speed limit
on the Old Bruce Highway. Police says license was suspended,
(05:22):
his car tires were bored, and he had alcohol in
his system.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
When you hear artificial intelligence what do you think of?
Is it a chat with Siri or Alexa or is
it more thoughts of robots taking over? Brook Fosse is
the chapter director for the AI Harbor in Bunderberg. She
says the technology isn't as scary as people may think.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
It will display some possible menial tasks, but I always
say please and thank you. Films there is an element
of scariness and associated with the terminator and those sort
of things, so I'm always light when I do ask
for I to do something. It just takes away the
medium tasks. So if I want to draft a really
tricky email, I can put it into AI and it
(06:06):
gives me a really good start. Doesn't know what I
need to say, but it gives you the great basis
of a first draft if you're doing a writing task,
or it takes away some of the common areas you
get when you transcribe numbers wrong in for picnic applications.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
And in all gural event is aiming to take the
guesswork out of AI and show business sow it's how
it can help them in their day to day activities
and mundane tasks.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
They've got so much on and they can't find stuff
Ali just takes that headache away.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Brook hopes the Bunderberg Region Futures Forum will encourage people
to boost their tech use and skills. She says, it
doesn't have to be difficult.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Taking a photo with your app and it uploads automatically
to zero and then prepopulates a lot of your tasks,
so you don't need to bring your receipts into the
office hope that they haven't all smeared with whatever food
or things bag. It's those sort of things and I
can pre code it so you will keepers have a
really simple job, or you as the business owner who's
(07:06):
typically your bookkeeper, has a really simple job of keeping
account of their transactions.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
See of Bunderberg Tourism, Katherine Reid says they're expecting around
two hundred people to attend. The goal is to chat
about opportunities in the region's future as well as how
to address them. And it's not just aimed at attracting
holidaymakers either.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
They're also business travelers, they're visiting friends and relatives, they're
coming here for medical There's so many different opportunities to attract.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Different audiences to the Bunderbeck region.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
So we're looking forward to getting a bunch of business
people in the room together to listen to our keynote
speakers and really map out.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
What that future looks like for the Bunderbeck region.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Those keynote speakers are futurist Chris Riddell, AI expert Alex
Ferguson and tech entrepreneur Hailey Brown.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
It is really important because we need to understand what's
happening outside of our region so that we can make
our region even better. So for us, it's about bringing
together the great minds that we see and the opportunities
that we see around the place so that we can
provide that information to the community.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
That's Bunderberg Mayor Helen Blackburn. Meantime, President of the local
Chamber of Commerce, him Sayer, says, the adaptation of new
technologies is essential for business owners to save time and
attract more customers.
Speaker 6 (08:23):
AI is one of the most important things that we
want to put into our businesses at the moment, and
it enables you to actually take away some of those
mundane tasks that you might have in your business. So
allows you to easily write copy about what needs you
up onto your website. It allows you to easily take
some of those processes that you have and streamline them
need the furthest So it's a great thing to having
(08:45):
any business and everybody should be looking at how they
implemented as soon as they can.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
The event is being held on July twenty fifth, after
the break.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
The family owned business expanding and bringing much needed jobs
to the Mary Valley.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
I heard White, I heard White.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You're listening to iheartweighted bay Burnette. I'm Taylor Larson, joined
by Bruce Atkinson.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
A family owned supermarket business is due to open in
the Mary Valley, west of Gimpei in September. It'll create
jobs for local residents and suppliers. The O'Connell retail group
started on the Sunshine Coast almost twenty years ago, but
the family was forced out when Woolies and Coals opened
stores nearby. They opened an IgA in Rainbow Beach in
two thousand and four and another at tin Can Bay
(09:34):
in twenty seventeen. In book, can expect a new store
in September, and Justin O'Connell says it's an untapped market.
Speaker 7 (09:40):
I just seen that there was an opportunity was there
with the current region not being serviced for the demand
a touristy kind of area, and it's the location that
I've seen plenty of opportunity in. I believe the market's
not really being serviced, and I believe that we'll be
able to come in and offer the community, you know,
and essential shopping need which is currently being lacked.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Justin says the proposed Barumba pumped hydro project nearby has
nothing to do with his decision.
Speaker 7 (10:09):
Barumba Hydro wasn't on the forefront of our minds. If
the dam goes ahead, well, it will provide a stimulus
to the business, But the Mary Valley as a whole,
or the Gimpi region as the majority of people aware,
is progressing and this area needs something now regardless of
whether the hydro goes ahead, and that could all change
(10:30):
depending on what political decision is made at that point
in time. You can't rely on political decisions to base
your business case on.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
The news store will provide job opportunities.
Speaker 7 (10:40):
The businesses will be looking for about thirty five employees
and we aim to employ as local as possible within
the community or within the surrounding communities. I think it's
a huge opportunity for the region or employment to boost
opportunities in the area. We got all departments available from
front counter to produce to Delhi to grocery. Feel We'll
(11:03):
be seeking all employees and will have an open speed
interview date sometime in August, which will be confirmed via Facebook.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Justin says things have improved for independent retailers since his
parents were forced to leave the Sunshine Coast due to
competition from the majors. However, there's still plenty of challenges,
including skyrocketing costs.
Speaker 7 (11:24):
Electricity is upsubstantially on twelve months ago. Elicit tobacco has
been a huge impacting factor across the supermarket from all
over Australia. I think the government has taken tobacco excise
for granted and it's really affecting small and medium sized
businesses that were heavy reliant on that as the driving
(11:47):
force for sales and getting employees is starting to ease,
but it's still an impacting factor.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Paintings inspired by White Bay locals could be handed to
next shears oscar winners and nominees. A month long road
trip down the Queensland Coast has brought an official artist
for the awards to Bunderberg. Tracy Eaton started her journey
up in Cans a couple of weeks ago and has
this week stopped in our region.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
That she painted a view from my motor home window
from the sides, from the side windows that I just
fell in love because the colors of so stance. It's
very blurry and very rainy, but quite quite a moody piece,
so very much everything that I've seen on the travel
so far.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
She's not just interested in our landscapes. Tracy has spent
a couple of days in town to interview people keen
to hear from those who have overcome hardships.
Speaker 8 (12:38):
Everyday Australian is just getting a sippet of their life
and those stories, along with stories from children who have
been rescued by Disney Rescue from a life of sexual
exploitation and trafficking. All of those interview stories will become
the inspiration for artworks that I will continue to complete
when I get back from the journey and we exhibit
(12:58):
those in the Gold Coast in novimb.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
The pieces will be auctioned off to raise money for
organization Destiny Rescue, which helps children affected by slavery and
sex trafficking.
Speaker 8 (13:08):
A lot of people say, well, you know, we're Australia
that doesn't happen here. It does, but where Western culture
is also very much the problem because we're creating the demand.
So places like Thailand and Philippines and all of those
types of places, people Australians will travel there to the
intention of sexual exploitation of children. So my thinking is,
I want an elegant way to open conversations to you know,
(13:31):
when I'm painting live, people always come and talk to you.
They're as interested in what you're creating in the process,
and it gives me a chance to share what Destiny
Riscue have achieved and how much they rescue and how
much they also help to gain evidence to prosecute perpetrators
in a way that people can be more comfortable about
(13:52):
hearing what's going on. So I've always believed that art
is a way to facilitate change, and this is my
way of helping to make that happen.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Tracy's aiming to raise one million dollars and after the auction,
some of the pieces will be copied and hand painted
again in sections before they're gifted to twenty twenty five
Oscar nominees.
Speaker 8 (14:11):
Six year coming up, and we'll be donating to the
best Actor and actress, the supporting actual actress, and best
Director primarily, and we're doing that in this coming year
with a private gifting lounge just prior to the Oscars,
in the beginning of an exhibition that we're doing of
all of the works that we're creating from these stories
and the inserrations I'm getting. We're going to do an
exhibition the week before the Oscars as well. So the
(14:33):
combination of all those things is really exciting and it's
been fantastic to know that, as I say that, Australia
is on the mark I guess in terms of creativity
and en showcased around the world for that.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Let's hope some locals make the cut.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
That's all for this week. If you want to hear
this episode again or search for previous ones, look up
iHeart Whired Baby Bernette on the iHeartRadio app or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
We're back again next week with more local, trusted and
free news.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
I Have Mad
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