It was about more than just about land, but about the future vision that one man had for his Island, culture, and community. But what does legacy mean 30 years after the historic case, and what’s the unfinished business that’s been lingering?

Hosted by Rhianna Patrick.

Featuring:
Gail Mabo – Daughter of Eddie and Bonita Mabo
Noel Zaro OAM – Former student of Eddie Mabo at Townsville Black Community School
Charles Passi – Son of co-plaintiff Rev. David Passi
Kevin Smith - Solicitor and CEO of Queensland South Native Title Services (QSNTS)
Karen Paterson (nee Dorante) - Former ABC Radio broadcaster
Greg McIntyre SC - Former solicitor for Eddie Mabo’s legal team for the 1992 case

Unfinished Business

His last name was all over the newspapers and on the lips of radio presenters, but what do you really know about Eddie Mabo before he was catapulted into the spotlight? How did this Torres Strait Island man come to find his voice?

Hosted by Rhianna Patrick. 

Featuring: 
Gail Mabo - Daughter of Eddie and Bonita Mabo

Eddie Koiki Mabo: Small in Stature, Big in Voice

Taking on governments is what the Torres Strait has been doing since the maritime strike in the 1930s. Most would be unaware of this history or have little idea about where this region is geographically. No fight has been more significant than the case that was decided in 1992. But what makes a man from a remote Island take on the State of Queensland?

Hosted by Rhianna Patrick. 

Featuring: 
Gail Mabo - Daughter of Eddie and Bonita Mabo
Charles Passi - Son of co-plaintiff, Rev. David Passi
Noel Zaro OAM – Former student of Eddie Mabo at Townsville Black Community School
Greg McIntyre SC – Former solicitor for Eddie Mabo’s legal team for the 1992 case

Pearls Dropped in the Ocean

How did Eddie Koiki Mabo, a barefoot boy from a tiny island bring about so much change — not only to Australian law, but to the countless people whose lives he touched along the way?

On the 30th anniversary of the High Court’s ruling on the Mabo Case, revisit what led to the decision and get to know the man behind the headlines.

Hi, I'm Eddie trailer

State Library's 2020 John Oxley Library Fellows, Kerrie Foxwell-Norton and Deb Anderson are researching women of the Great Barrier Reef.

During a meeting between iconic marine scientist, Terrie Ridgway and Alison Rickert, Alison brings along photos to share with Terrie, as reminders of their lives and where they were more than half a century ago. These are memories of their lives as young women in the southern islands of the Great Barrier Reef, their paths nearly crossing then and wonderfully crossing now.  Alison also brings a sound recording of the mutton birds on Heron Island, which she plays for Terrie.

The look of recognition on Terrie’s face when she hears that sound is a memory drawn from deep down. To the surface it brings that young powerful woman in her 20s, living her dream life, learning, exploring and certain of her path. 

And so on this day, with Alison and Terrie, regaling stories of these mutton birds, of people they have known, of islands and sites they had seen, of Reef waters and their encounters with the animals there. It is pure joy as they share memories of their experiences on the Reef.

Learn more about Kerrie and Deb's fellowship research project in their blog: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/memories-and-mutton-birds-women-great-barrier-reef

mutton birds on Heron Island

Cake the podcast trailer

How the realities of the tropics changed how we cook and may have led to an Australian icon: the Lamington. 

Jacinta Sutton from the Collections Team at State Library of Queensland dives into the archives to find the characters who changed the way we cook.

Featuring:

Jacinta Sutton from the Collections Team at State Library of Queensland dives into the archives to find the characters who changed the way we cook. 

Alison Alexander, author, foodie and radio commentator shares her Great Aunt’s bushman’s brownie recipe and talks about the struggles of cooking 100 years ago.  

Emeritus Professor Maurice French, author of The Lamington Enigma: A Survey of the Evidence reveals who he thinks really invented the Lamington. 

Host Kaitlyn Sawrey makes the original Lamington recipe published in 1900.

The Lamington – A Tropical Success Story?

Chances are if you're a Queenslander you're obsessed with pineapple, but how did the original foodie influencer get us to start putting pineapple in our cakes? 

Featuring:

Aunty Dale Chapman of My Dilly Bag talks about growing up in Western Queensland, and her memories of upside-down pineapple cake. 

Ann and Anne of The Pineapple Princesses blog (inspired by Ruby Borrowdale, featuring over 1000 pineapple recipes) share their tips/tricks for cooking with pineapple. 

A living relative of Ruby Borrowdale (of Golden Circle’s Tropical Cookbook fame) talks about what it was like having her come to Christmas lunch. 

Kaitlyn Sawrey’s 99-year-old grandmother shares the secret recipe behind her pineapple pie.

As Queensland as Pineapple Pie

From Australia’s first female company director to the woman-led mill that produced a family dynasty and revolutionised baking with pre-mix recipes, to the mum of four becoming an international cake mogul - we look at how three women of Queensland have shaped and been shaped by cakes.  

Featuring: 

Kate Atkinson (nee Maclurcan) - great-granddaughter of Hannah Maclurcan, author of Mrs Maclurcan's Cookery Book: A Collection of Practical Recipes, Specifically Suitable for Australia (Townsville, 1898) and company director of the Wentworth Hotel, reflects on her life.  

Ellen Morosini (nee O’Brien) - great-granddaughter of Ellen O’Brien, founder of Defiance Mill in Toowoomba, talks about how a widowed mother of ten ran the mill and created a dynasty. 

Cassie Watene - Founder of Cas Cakery talks about starting an internationally successful business from Emerald, in regional Queensland.

Check out Kaitlyn’s sad version of a heart-shaped cake, versus Cas’ beautiful one and her classes

A Woman’s Place is in the Boardroom

Doing a lot with a little - how the people of Cherbourg fell in love with fried scones and damper, despite the harsh memories of living off rations. We find strength and pride in the community and family through shared food.  

We meet some of the Aunties of the Many Threads sewing group (Shirley, Daisy, Janelle, Colleen) in the Domestic science building to learn about growing up in Cherbourg and how to make and eat fried scones and damper. 

We follow Bronwyn on a tour of the boy's dormitory, learning about the realities for the people who were brought to the Cherbourg mission and how they were able to take back the mission and persevere.  

We sit down with the Aunties for group lunch where they share personal stories of the realities and hardships they and their families have faced.

Fried Scones at the Ration Shed

Cake isn’t just fun and sprinkles; cake makes a difference. It's a light in dark times bringing people together when they need it most.  

We speak to: 

Liz Harfull - author of Tried, Tested and True, who researched over 1000 community cookbooks used for fundraising. Her book includes the very tasty Bert Hinkler recipe from the Bundaberg CWA cookbook.  

Alison Alexander, co-author of A Generous Helping: Treasured Recipes from the People of Queensland - made in conjunction with the ABC, to share precious recipes after people lost everything in the 2011 floods.  

Pearly Sprinkles - neurodivergent baker featured on Zumbo’s Just Desserts, who runs ‘mindful baking’ classes with children. If you’re struggling with your mental health, there’s always someone you can talk to at Beyond Blue, for eating disorder issues check out the Butterfly Foundation.

Baking A Difference

Through memory, tradition and celebration - cake can help you find home, no matter where you are. In this episode we speak to:  

Aunty Dale from My Dilly Bag shares how First Nations people have made cakes for thousands of years. 

Dimitria Athanasas and her daughter Sia share the meaning behind Koliva - an ancient traditional Greek funeral cake - after Dimitra made it for the Greek Orthodox Church in West End for 12 years.  

We learn how to make a Puerto Rican staple from Frank’s mum Jackie, and the only other Puerto Rican we could find in Australia - Will Sanchez aka Chef from The Hood.

Culture Through Cake

Queensland may be at the bottom of the world, but our cake skills span the globe. 

At the International Cake Show we meet the car-sized cake maker Daniel Greensill - it took him 6 months working out of his garage.  

Zumbo’s Just Desserts - internationally famous cake maker Adriano Zumbo speaks to us from his Noosaville kitchen, and talks about rebuilding after his company collapsed.  

By Aletoso - Camilo Murcia — one of the world’s top ten travelling cake makers (based in Brisbane) teaches us some tips and tricks to icing the perfect cake.

QLD on the World Stage

Academic, prolific blogger, activist and Australia’s first transgender priest. Is Rev Dr Jo Inkpin as controversial as she might sound? Holly spends an afternoon talking with Jo and Penny, her wife of 35 years at the intersection of gender, faith, religion and identity.

Episode 4: Reverend Dr Josephine Inkpin

Being the first woman to be registered as a doctor in Queensland is just one of Dr Lilian Cooper’s many accomplishments. Holly talks to Lilian expert and playwright Katy Forde about the life of Lilian and her equally impressive partner Josephine Bedford, and how these two women changed Brisbane forever.

Episode 3: Dr Lilian Cooper

Ivy Hassard embraced life whether it was on the ground or in the skies. A pioneering aviatrix, Ivy was also a fashion designer who opened the first frock shop and beauty salon on the Gold Coast. Ivy's daughter Laurene welcomes Holly into the elegant world of her high flying, fearless mother and the glitz and glam of the Gold Coast in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Episode 2: Ivy May Hassard

Travel to Goorathuntha/Mt Tabor Station in Western Queensland to see if Holly can keep up with Keelen Mailman, a Bidjara woman managing a 70,000 hectare cattle station on country.

Episode 1: Keelen Mailman OAM

Delve into the lives of five Queensland women who’ve challenged the status quo and inspired change. There’s no dry historical facts or yawn-worthy monologues; we’re getting wild. Join our host Holly Zwalf as she enters the world of some of the greatest Queensland women you’ve never heard of.

Dangerous Women trailer

What would you do if you discovered a monster in the pool? An inspiring picture book about overcoming fear.

In the Deep End

Finding quiet with football-playing possums, singing bats and dancing cicadas is very hard. Will they ever keep the noise down? A joyful, funny and heartfelt tale of bedtime sounds and adventure.

Shoosh

Meet Coloured Echidna. His quills can change to match the colours of the rainbow. But all he wants is to look like everyone else. So Coloured Echidna goes on a journey to the yellow and blue mountains to find out why he is so colourful. Along the way, Coloured Echidna meets all sorts of beautiful and unique animals.

The Coloured Echidna

Munching, slurping and nibbling! Looking for food is like searching for treasure for the little fruit bat. Can you guess where he lives, the land he loves to roam?
A follow-your-nose detective story showcasing the best of Queensland!

Once I Munched a Mango

A fun and fantastical alphabet book celebrating the unique animals and places of Queensland.

The Little Queenslanders Alphabet Book

Shaylah is five and she has a big, beautiful family. There are naughty little brothers and lots and lots of cousins. Shaylah wants you to meet her people. Who are your people?

My People

Matilda dreams of new places and things, away from her ordinary life on the farm. But she never expected to see them by being washed away in a flood! Based on a true story of a cow’s journey down the Brisbane River, this is a book about finding courage and being brave.

The Cow That Swam Out To Sea

Koalas like to sleep in trees.
Koalas like to eat gum leaves.
They also like to try on wigs.
And roll around in mud with pigs.

You will be surprised what these koalas get up to!

Koalas Like To

Benji is scared of bees. His big sister, Charlotte, wants to teach him all about how special bees are. Together, they make a plan that might just change Benji’s mind.

Hotel For Bees

Henry the Hermit crab is on a mission. He has found a small egg and must travel through the mudflats, the hot sand and the tall grass to find it a home. Where will it belong when it hatches?

Is This Your Egg?

The Great Barrier Reef is a remarkable place. Teeming with life, it provides food and shelter to millions of animals. Count from one to ten with this gentle, rhyming bedtime book, while learning about some of the reef’s most threatened creatures.

One Remarkable Reef

A farming family gets up to wet and muddy fun as the rain falls down. Celebrating farms, family and rainy-day play!

Up and Down on a Rainy Day

Can You See A Teddy Bear - song with lyrics

Written and performed by Nadia Sunde, inspired by the book "Once I munched a mango" written by Samantha Wheeler and illustrated by Shannon Horsfall.

Song by Nadia Sunde: Once I Munched A Mango

Written and performed by Nadia Sunde, inspired by "One remarkable reef" written by Kellie Byrnes and illustrated by Rachel Tribout.

Song by Nadia Sunde: One Remarkable Reef

Written and performed by Nadia Sunde, inspired by "Shoosh!" written and illustrated by Simon Howe.

Popular tracks by State Library of Queensland