In this episode we chat to UOW student Catherine Solis Dyball about moving from a small country town to Wollongong. She shares about relationships, her writing journey and reads her poem: 'My Dense Body is made to Float in Water'.

Beetroots & Stardust

Episode 1: Meet our hosts!

Free verse hosts chat about lyricism and poetry and ask Paige Jenkins (one of our lovely hosts) about her writing process and the publishing of her second poetry collection 'Here I am Home'.

Here I am Home

In this episode we chat to UOW students Sabre Veitch and Angelina Sokolsky about the temporary limerence of poetry, rat girl summer and being at war with your audience. Tune in for some fun chats and incredible poetry!

Rat Girls & Limerence

In this episode, we catch up after the mid-session break, read some of our own poetry and chat to writer and UOW student Jess Dinning about the craft of writing and her upcoming release of ‘The Autumn Poem’!

You can find The Autumn Poem via Jess' instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theredhairedbooknerd?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Autumn Prelude

In this episode, we talk about some upcoming local poetry events,and read some works by First Nations poets in the lead-up to the referendum.

Voices in Poetry

In the midst of exam season, we set aside some time to laugh with Fletcher M-M, chat about his creative process, and the benefit of shucking repetitive ruts in pursuit of new experiences. Fletcher reads his poem 'Torrential Shallowness'.

Poetry in Perspective

Music is said to have a healing power and that is true for six-year-old Sophie who accessed music therapy during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. 
Now there is a push to better grow and support Music Therapy in Australia with the service one of the few allied health professions that is not covered by Medicare.

Calls to grow support for music therapy

In this episode, we chat with aspiring librarian and UOW student Genevieve Russo who imparts her creative wisdom and writing philosophy. From eyes in streetlights to home places, Genevieve finds colour in the world around her, which she makes beautifully clear in her poem 'I Knew Better Than This'.

Sitting in the absurd

Arts, Lifestyle and Culture


Music used: https://soundcloud.com/nicche_music/protest?in=nicche_music/sets/releases&si=239033f9e5834bf7a142a6554bb776c6&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Is vault.fm here to assist in supporting small local artists?

Professor Christine Morley lead the Australian Council of Heads of School of Social Work research team late last year and says students are choosing between buying the petrol they need to get to and from placement and food. 

"96% [of students] said they didn't have money for food or medications or basic other household necessities," Professor Morley says.

Placement Poverty: Australian university students could soon be paid for compulsory placement

In this episode, we are joined by UOW student, Lexie Gedge. Lexie's musical background and study of philosophy complement each other in the brilliantly complex stories that they present in simple moments. Lexie reads their poem 'End of a Century'.

Voice memos and cut-throat ducks

The University of Wollongong competed in the Adelaide Rover Challenge for the first time, being one of the nine teams to actually make it to Adelaide, when the competition started out with 18. 

First timers’ rovers typically don’t even start, whereas UOW’s rover “Screamah” did… Press play to hear how they went and what they’ll do differently next year.

UOW Rover Challenge

As a cost-of-living crisis continues to burden Australians, it has left many “luxury items” on the backburner.  
Gym Memberships were identified as one of the first things to go, consequently resulting in calls to make these fees tax deductable.

Tax Deductible Gym Memberships? Will this initiative relieve financial stress off of the community?

Jess Dinning is back on Episode 15 of Free Verse!!
She updates us on her novel's progress, reads us her poem Witching Hour and we have a chat about the inspiration that is Taylor Swift!

Tortured Poets

The Australian Festival Association (AFA) has called on the government to better fund music festivals with two in five events experiencing a major impact due to a lack of funding.

AFA Managing Director Mitch Wilson said ticket sales have decreased since the COVID-19 pandemic and there is an imminent need to increase funding to continue producing Australian music festivals.

The “Perfect Storm” facing the Australian Music Festival scene

In this episode, we chat to UOW student Kate Grimwood, whose written work extends beyond poetry to prose, playwriting and scriptwriting. Kate talks about inspiration found in public transport phone conversations and her passion to write about people and their experiences. Listen to hear her poem 'Are we friends in every universe?'

What Poetry has the Capacity to Be

UOW lecturer Dr Emma Darragh tells us about her recently published debut short story cycle "Thanks for having me". Listen in to Free Verse to hear her talk about the importance of 'play' in writing and finding curiosity in the everyday things we take for granted.

Thanks For Having Me

Violence against women

The government released photoshopped images last week of what an offshore wind farm would look like from the shores of Illawarra beaches, escalating the debate between locals about whether wind farms are environmentally friendly.

Reported by Angelina Sokolsky

Sound attribution:

Ocean waves Ale stenar 1.wav by Owl -- https://freesound.org/s/195293/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 

ship horn.wav by monotraum -- https://freesound.org/s/208714/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

metal shop hoist chain thick pull2.flac by kyles -- https://freesound.org/s/453381/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Illawarra offshore wind farm debate escalates

WUSA - HECS financial relief

Changing landscapes of the Australian music industry.

Radio U Week 10 12pm Bulletin

The Enchanted Forest is returning to Blackbutt Forest Reserve in Shellharbour, organised by Shellharbour City Council, Luna Light Journeys and Laser Vision.

The Enchanted Forest returns to Shellharbour

The Wollongong 'Bestie' inspiring the next generation through social media

Dive into the creative minds behind UOW's captivating Autumn Theatre Productions 'Fractured' and 'Saved' as they share insights, challenges, and the magic of bringing these compelling stories to life on stage.

UOW's Autumn Theatre Productions 'Fractured' and 'Saved': An Exclusive Peek Behind the Curtain!

Radio U Team C 2pm Bulletin

Week 12 Team C 12pm Radio

JNRL 303 AUDIO 22 MAY

Interview With Executive Director of the NSW BOCSAR Jackie Fitzgerald

A week of wild weather put a dampener on a father and son duo’s opportunity to re-write the Group 7 rugby league record books on Sunday.

Sixteen-year-old, Zac Blattner, was named at five-eighth for Nowra-Bomaderry Jets but would be made to wait another week before making his debut.

It’s likely that Blattner will be named this week against Port Kembla, where he will run onto field with his 41-year-old father, Michael, as the pair become the first father and son duo to play a Group 7 first grade match together.

UOWTV reporter Jordan Matthews spoke to the pair yesterday.

Like Father, Like Son

RadioU part of UOWTV at the University of Wollongong. It is a showcase of student journalism, storytelling and creativity. It is curated by UOW journalism students and staff.

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