A Home in the Outback Katherine Waite

Broken Hill’s Heavy Metal band Firestorm have recently returned to Broken Hill after touring Australia and New Zealand with Canadian band Unleash the Archers.

I sat down with the four band members to chat about the tour, the history of heavy metal in Broken Hill and a new upcoming heavy metal music festival which will be held in Silverton in early October.

Listen to the 25-minute interview on my podcast or read the web story available on www.ahomeintheoutback.com

One of the stall holders at Agfair 2024 was Jaddan Bruhn who was selling Broken Hill and Silverton greeting cards and gifts using his original photography and artwork and archival images. Jaddan says his works are inspired by the landscape, buildings, textures and people of Broken Hill, in particular the unique building material and finishes in use around the town throughout its history. He likes to explore the idea of time, layering, heritage and reminiscence.  Jaddan was born in South Broken Hill and comes from the great Attard family – his great-randfather
Emanual Attard moved to Broken Hill in 1918 and worked at Central Mine. Jaddan lives in Sydney but regularly travels back to Broken Hill. I sat down with Jaddan to ask about his family history and his work as a photographer and artist.

Butcher Girl Alison Meagher was a special guest at Agfair 2024 providing four demonstrates over the two days on how to use the whole beast in butchery. On Saturday morning I attended the demonstration and up on stage with Alison was local school student Annabelle Smith from Scarsdale Station. I caught up with Annabelle afterwards to ask about her interest in butchery.

Agfair 2024 saw the launch of the book Pubs, Publicans and People of Broken Hill and the far west by local writer Emily McInerney. I caught up with Emily at the Broken Hill Book Company Stall to talk to her about the book. All books brought to Broken Hill were sold and more are on the way to Broken Hill soon

There’s a real buzz in Broken Hill at the moment with the biennial Agfair Show which is held at the race course. There’s stalls showcasing farming and agriculture equipment, clothing, art and crafts as well as entertainment and cooking demonstrations. I went along for the good old country catch up and met Lucy Gale, from Pincally Station north of Broken Hill, who was run off selling her hand made ceramic wares, Little L's Australia. I caught up with the 20 year old to ask her about her creative business.

On Thursday 2 May, Katherine Waite facilitated a discussion at Petrichor Bar in Broken Hill with podcast guests Lori Emment, Heather Pearce and Ben Clavel in front of a live audience.



As you can imagine, live events always have the special quality of the unexpected and sometimes the audio doesn't capture the magic of the event quite like attending in person.



*During the event, I asked a question in reference to the International Women's Breakfast happening at Palace. It actually happened at The Astra. The error was completely mine.



Thanks to Petrichor and Aimee Volkofsky.