In a Forgotten Corner

September 8, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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In our front yard there’s an unremarkable tree. Most of the year it looks like a bunch of sticks huddling together. There’s nothing beautiful about it throughout most of the year.

That tree sits in a forgotten corner. It’s not really on display. It isn’t a feature of the yard. It’s hidden off to the side near the garden tap and hose.

As we launch into spring the tree has launched into bloom. It looks beautiful. The tree is covered in tiny pink flowers. It’s doing what it was created to do and it’s a wonderful thing.

It might be in a forgotten corner and it’ll never be seen by many people but it has put a smile on my face and I know that anyone who does happen to look into that forgotten corner will appreciate its beauty.

I reckon there’s a lot of beauty hidden away in forgotten corners. Sometimes we just need to spend more time looking for it.



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And so it begins

November 13, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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We’re finally about to hit the road.

At midday today our team of cyclists and our trusty support crew will say goodbye to friends and family as we leave 98.5 Sonshine FM in Como to begin our ride for cancer. If you missed the details you can read all you might like to know at my previous post, Imagine a world without cancer.

There won’t be any cycling today. We’ll be packing our support bus and driving to Albany in preparation for our first day of riding on Monday. The ride of over 500 kilometres next week will be a tough road but I’m reminded that those who are facing cancer often travel a much harder road. I’m glad to be relatively healthy and happy to do what I can to help people facing some tough times.

If you haven’t had opportunity to donate so far, please follow this link. Your contribution will go directly to Cancer Council Western Australia and to the amazing work they do. Donations of $2 and above are tax deductible in Australia.

As I try to balance cycling and radio broadcasting over the next week I’m not sure how much opportunity I’ll have to update you during the trip. I’m hoping it’ll be often but I really don’t know if that will happen.

You can listen in each morning from 9 to 12, Monday to Friday, to hear more about the ride and the work that your donations will do through Cancer Council Western Australia. If you’re not in our broadcast area, you can listen online by going to the 98.5 Sonshine FM website. If you’re overseas you can use this great Time Zone Converter to work out when to listen. Just enter your location and Perth, Western Australia to check time differences.

Thanks for your support.



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Stan Walker Helps Radiothon 2010

August 17, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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One of our Radiothon guests on 98.5 Sonshine FM this year was Stan Walker who dropped into our studios and sang three songs for our morning tea guests.



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Street Law

August 3, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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National Homeless Persons’ Week 2010 is on now and runs until Sunday. It aims to raise awareness of homelessness in the community, celebrate and acknowledge current services being offered to homeless people, foster collaboration of services working with the homeless and attract more volunteers and financial support into the sector.

Everyday this week during my morning radio programme I’m speaking to people who serve Perth’s homeless community. Today’s guest was Tahnee Davies who is Board Member of Street Law.

Tahnee is a lawyer who is actively involved in helping to launch an independent free legal service for homeless people in Western Australia under the Street Law banner.

Street Law’s priorities over the last few years have been focused on obtaining seed funding for the centre. Finally late last year funding for the employment of a principal legal officer, an administrative officer and other administration expenses was secured from the WA Attorney-General.

Even prior to the funding grant, Street Law devoted a great deal of time to drafting administrative and legal manuals and creating partnerships with commercial law firms so that once funding was obtained, the service could be fully operational in a short period of time.

Street Law also entered into discussions with other homeless person’s service providers to determine appropriate locations for outreach legal services.

The Street Law service will be officially launched later this year.

To hear our discussion simply click the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR080310_1105.mp3]

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WASO to Infinity and Beyond

July 9, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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Western Australia certainly has an incredible symphony orchestra. I’ve experienced the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in various settings and they never fail to impress.

I’ve seen them supporting acts like Human Nature and Glen Campbell through to playing for the West Australian Ballet and much more. They’re always superb.

Tonight was certainly no exception. Our family headed to the Perth Concert Hall for an amazing musical experience as guests of the orchestra.

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra launched the audience on a journey to infinity and beyond with Space Classics.

They played classics such as Holst’s The Planets and the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey as well as John Williams’ music from Superman, the Thunderbirds theme, Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, The Return of the Jedi and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Conductor and presenter Anthony Inglis was superb with a wonderful mix of music and humour. I only wish that he was spending more time in Perth. I would have loved the opportunity to interview him on my morning radio programme.

I loved the mix of familiar movie music with some more unknown music (at least to me it was) like three movements from Holst’s The Planet’s Suite. One interesting side note was that while I was listening to Holst’s Jupiter from The Planets, I recognised part of the music. I had to think for a few seconds but then it hit me; it was Daddy Cool’s song Make Your Stash. (Ross Wilson was obviously influenced by Holst. Who would have guessed?)

I don’t know if tickets are still available for the Saturday night concert but if there are any left and in in Perth, grab some and get there.

Late last week I spoke with Marshall McGuire, Executive Manager, Artistic Planning with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM about the concerts. Click the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post to hear more about Space Classics and other concerts coming up with WASO.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR070510_1303.mp3]

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