Diorama

During 2024 I went on a holiday to Bali with my wife, Lisa, our son Sam, and our friend Helen.  We stayed on an Island off the coast of Bali called Nusa Lembongan.  This was a beautiful place.  The street photography possibilities for me were endless.  However, I was reminded that you never really know what is in front of you even on an island paradise.  This is my personal story of a minor personal disaster.  

I've always loved photography and since I've been about ten I've also had a fascination with tape recorders and sound recording.  I was a volunteer radio broadcaster in the 80's and the 90's.  I've recently tried my hand at podcasting and movie making.  My skills and knowledge about working with audio has gradually taken form.  

In 1963 my cousin, Dibbs Mather-Brown while working as a radio broadcaster in the UK happened to record one of the earliest audio interviews with the young Beatles.  They had been a sensation for the previous year in the UK and within two weeks after Dibbs's interview, they would explode into world fame.   This is Dibbs's story and the story of that historic interview.

In England just after the war this church set itself up in West Surry. Its members were former members of the British Union of Fascists before the war.  We meet a man who's father was a founding member of this extraordinary Hitler cult.  You couldn't make this stuff up! dioramastories@gmail.com The Mad Hatter is a novel by Canadian author Amanda Hale.  Present History Podcast.  https://www.presenthistory.co.uk/  There's a brilliant 5 part series on Present History titled Hitler's Kingdom Come.  More detail about this incredible story.

Bill has just reached the age of 87.  He contracted polio at age 2 and as a young man he developed a lifelong love affair with sport.  He represented Australia in the first Paralympic Games in 1960.  Bill is hard of hearing and on the day that we met to talk about his life, one of his hearing aids was on the blink.  Bill is an excellent story teller and he has led a fascinating life!  Comments and thoughts:  dioramastories@gmail.com.  

Three neighbours and three conversations.  In this episode, a story close to home.  I catch up with my six nearest neigbours.  We talk about a planned post COVID disco cruise in 2023, complaints about loud music, dog politics and reflections on being a neigbour.  

In this episode we speak with Issy, Tegan and Michael who help tell some stories of the unexplained in and around Perth.  Count how many times I use the word 'spooky' in this episode.  

I met with Colleen Smith a funeral celebrant who's recently guided her one thousandth funeral.  We talk about how she does it and the personal meaning that she's made of her profession.  I also lose myself in Perth's Karrakatta Cemetery in search of interesting and quirky graves and the interesting stories that they tell.  I loved making this show!

In this episode I share something from my own diorama.  An island holiday and a look at island life.  Reflections about my late dad, Fred McKrill and my indoor skydiving mini adventure.  Enjoy!

Dignity therapy is a different slant on story telling.  A structured and therapeutic form of story telling, dignity therapy aims to provide comfort and a sense of meaning for people at the end of their lives.  In this episode I speak with Sarah Lamb and Lisa Jones, social workers who  who practice dignity therapy.  

Nick Hunter talks about his transition from musician to stand up comedian.  He's recently started his own open mic comedy club and I visit for a night of raw comedy.  Nick is an old friend and its been great to share his story.  

Mark Schneider retired and moved to the small Western Australian town of Bridgetown.  He's recently set up a successful on line newspaper and talks with me about his journey into hyperlocal media and local journalism.  It was great to talk with Mark about his interesting project.  

Diorama is a show about story tellers, story telling and the stories of ordinary people.  I'm very excited about doing this program and seeing where it takes me.  Maybe we could hear your story.