Year in review | Podcasts 2024

The series takes a deeper look into news topics affecting the region whether it’s a local story of individual community members or a national story that affects the Goulburn Valley community through a localised lens.

The series was kickstarted with a generational reflection on ANZAC Day and ended for the year with a two part series looking at the childcare crisis in the Goulburn Valley.

The News looked at health topics such as breaking the stigmatisation of sexual health, the state of the GV’s cardio health outcomes, prevalence of dementia in the area and period poverty.

The News also did a ‘Czech’ in with St Anne’s College student Zoe van Maanenberg halfway through her student exchange program and spoke to long-serving volunteer Gary Gray after his win at the 2024 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards.

When chats of nuclear energy were prevalent, The News chatted with Shepparton’s Roy Robert’s who had experience working in the industry and was also affected by the Chernobyl explosion.

Also prevalent in the podcast series were topics on homelessness, intergenerational domestic violence and the programs that are set to help change this landscape.

There were also discussions on sustainable fashion with In My Closet founders Aline Davies and Hilary Grigg and Sam Spinks leading up to the closure of the GV Wardrobe.

The News also looked into the failed vote of the Voice to Parliament with a leading authority in reconciliation and chatted with Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group’s co-convenors about Reconciliation Week.

Other episodes included chats about Pride Month, guide dogs and disability accessibility, book week, ambulance union negotiations, and SES’ need for funding and volunteers.

Shepp Happens:

Shepp Happens was another new podcast project that launched in August 2024.

Hosted by The News’ Djembe Archibald and Nicola Ceccato, the fortnightly podcast is a fun light-hearted news and ‘Shepp’ talking series designed for the younger audience of The News.

From the frivolous to the important, Djembe and Nicola discuss all things happening in Greater Shepparton and in the Shepparton News office, chatting with various people from both the community and The News.

Episodes have included chats about terrible work trips, arguments over handball vs downball, what the name Harry elicits for people and what is ‘popping off’ in the comment section of The News’ Facebook.

Nicola and Djembe also interviewed Mooroopna Woolworth’s Julian Carrillo, Victoria’s young dairy parader Sienna Ross, teacher Chris Harris about his Movember journey and touring comedians Ray O’Leary and Lloyd Langford.

They learnt all about the language of Gen Alpha after chatting with teenager Beau Bryce, and chatted with St Mary of the Angels Secondary College journalism students about topics they were passionate about.

After The Jack:

The beginning of 2024 saw the end of the 2023/2024 bowls season and season four of The News’ premium podcast After The Jack in March and in October, bowls was back for its newest season and so was After The Jack.

Every week, The News’ editor Tyler Maher is joined by Ash Williamson and Brian Nisbet as they chat about all things bowls from reviews to interviews of the season’s action.

First episode of the season kicked off with guest Brent Reiner joining the panel in studio followed by Rick Orchard who talked about his Port Melbourne side - including the acquisition of four permit players from the Goulburn Valley Playing Area ranks.

Shepparton Park’s Brian Hall, Kyabram’s Boswood family Darren, Henry and Charlie and Nagambie coach Bradleigh Griffiths also featured in the first half of season five’s campaign.

The trio reviewed over the competitions so far as the halfway point of the season approached and coming up to the end of the year, discussed the lack of control governing bodies exert over their top-level competitions when rain put a halt to the competition across the region.

The team also chatted with Bowls Victoria president Pat Schram about all the bowls hot topics across the region and state.

The last episode of the year ended with an assessment of where the midweek and weekend pennant competitions sit heading into the holidays.

Urzila Carlson chats to The News:

Kiwi comedian Urzila Carlson visited Shepparton in July 2024 and News journalist Djembe Archibald sat down to have a chat with the comedian, actor and panellist to discuss all things comedy.

The Home Stretch:

In the lead up to football and netball grand finals across the region, The News’ Liam Nash, Marcus Beeck, Jesse Robertson-Torres and Tyler Maher sat down to discuss the lead up to grand finals for the GVL, MFNL, KDL, PDFNL and of course, GVL Data.

You can listen to episodes one and two of the home stretch on the website.

An interview with Emma Memma:

In mid 2024, children’s entertainer Emma Watkins (better known as Emma Memma) came to Shepparton as part of her tour across the country.

The News’ Georgia Tacey sat down to chat to her about her visit to Shepparton and the work she does for children’s education and entertainment.

Lisa McKenzie speaks on receiving OAM:

Shepparton’s Lisa McKenzie was one of the region’s community members to receive an Order of Australia for the King's Birthday Honours in 2024.

The News’ Grace Carter spoke with Lisa on the work she did leading up to receiving the OAM.