Digging Deeper

Digging Deeper | A decade of pain exclusive to women

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:24:06 GMT

Shepparton's Nicola Villani was just 15 when she was diagnosed with endometriosis.

Now 25, she's on the brink of her sixth surgery in 10 years, yet still sees no end in sight to her pain, only periods of relief.

Aside from the physical agony she's endured, the chronic condition has interfered with every other aspect of her life, from school, work, study, social occasions, relationships, holidays and finances to her mental wellness.

Listen to her tell her story in this episode of Digging Deeper.

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Digging Deeper | Support for daughters without mums

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 03:14:49 GMT

Jess Evans was 32 when she lost her first role model, her best friend, her mum.

It was sudden and unexpected and left the only child in a world of grief with limited support.

Eventually she found Motherless Daughters Australia, and is now a community representative for the organisation.

On the latest episode of Digging Deeper, Jess tells her heartbreaking story of that fateful day and how she coped in the wake of her loss.

To learn more about Motherless Daughters Australia, visit www.motherlessdaughters.com.au

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Digging Deeper | Superannuation: How to check its pulse

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

Finance guru Jeremy Hall chats with News journalist Bree Harding on the latest episode of Digging Deeper to share some tips on how to make the most of your superannuation, and how to identify and avoid scams.

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Digging Deeper | Talking end of life with a death walker

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:26:22 GMT

"I very much believe that life is a journey and death is a part of that, or death is a journey and life is a part of that."

Nicole Cleave wears many hats, but perhaps her most fascinating role is as a death walker.

On this episode of Digging Deeper, Nicole chats with News journalist Bree Harding to explain what her job entails, why it's important and why a death walker is your friend.

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Digging Deeper | The moon and stars, motorcycles and cars

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Motorcycle Awareness Month is recognised in October, but riding is going to be even more dangerous than usual for this time of year heading into the warmer months and festive season.

Local motorcycle safety advocate Possum Green chats with The News' Bree Harding about how super moons can have significant environmental, wildlife, biological and social impacts when it comes to riding and driving on our roads.

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Digging Deeper | Hearing technology a game-changer

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:00:00 GMT

A new Cochlear technology was released earlier this year, completely changing the game for our hearing-impaired community.

It's the first major upgrade the Australian-made technology has had in two decades.

Goulburn Valley Hearing Clinic audiologist Elizabeth Webster joined us in the studio to explain what it means and how people can go about finding out if they're a suitable candidate for the procedure and device.

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Digging Deeper | Bomb blast was a rebirth

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Former Australian Army Major James Greenshields was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

He says the day it happened was the fourth-best day of his life, despite the resulting post-traumatic stress disorder it, among other incidents during his service, brought on.

Things got worse before they got better, but now, he helps communities and individuals heal from their own emotional trauma.

WARNING: This episode discusses military conflict, death, suicide and domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised.

Support numbers:

1300 MILVET (1300 645 838) - Veteran support

13 11 14 LIFELINE - Mental health support

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) - Domestic violence support

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Digging Deeper | New dairy strategy report

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Country News reporter Geoff Adams talks to Committee for Greater Shepparton CEO, Lindy Nieuwenhuizen about the new dairy strategy report for the Murray Darling Basin.

The report identifies five key strategies for the industry, and makes some surprising discoveries about dairy in the basin region.

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Digging Deeper | Sarah Barnbrook talks AI ethics

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

On the latest episode of Digging Deeper, the Seymour Telegraph's cadet journalist Billie Davern discusses all things AI with Sarah Barnbrook, founder of online harm prevention charity Away From Keyboard. Sarah, whose deep knowledge and personal experience inform her advocacy work, speaks on what to look out for when faced with this rapidly expanding technology, and what can and should be done to protect vulnerable people from harm.

Find Sarah by heading to afk.org.au

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Digging Deeper | Celia Adams on Homelessness Week

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

On the latest episode of Digging Deeper, Shepparton News journalist Bree Harding speaks with Beyond Housing CEO Celia Adams about the current homelessness crisis in the region.

Homelessness Week is recognised between August 4 and 10 this year.

If you or someone you know finds themselves homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, you can call 1800 825 955 to be connected with your closest Beyond Housing entry point.

For more information on Homelessness Week, visit www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au

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Digging Deeper | Giving the gift of life

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Content warning: This podcast contains themes of organ donation and voluntary-assisted dying that some listeners may find upsetting. Listener discretion is advised.

On the latest episode of Digging Deeper, Shepparton News journalist Bree Harding speaks to Dean Gladigau about his wife, Karen, who donated her organs after she died of motor neurone disease last year.

In order to donate her organs, Karen had to book in a date to die.

Four unknown recipients were the beneficiaries of her selfless gifts that saved lives at the end of hers.

Listen to the interview below

Lifeline: 13 11 14, www.lifeline.org.au

For more information on organ donation: www.donatelife.gov.au

For more information on motor neurone disease: www.mndaustralia.org.au

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Digging Deeper | Living with Type 1 Diabetes

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Shepparton News senior journalist Bree Harding spoke to Mooroopna's Jake Cooney about his journey with Type 1 Diabetes, from his diagnosis at 14, to now, as a 33-year-old married father of two.

Jake chats about the physical, emotional and stigmatic challenges associated with the disease.

Listen to the podcast here.

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Digging Deeper | Goulburn Vally's David Collier explores Afghanistan

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

It's not your usual holiday destination, but as Shepparton's David Collier says, his trip to Afghanistan wasn't just about travel; it was about getting out of his comfort zone.

He certainly achieved his goal, returning to Australia with many interesting tales to tell.

Listen to some of them here.

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Digging Deeper | How does the new Emergency Services and Volunteers fund affect you?

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 06:34:17 GMT

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Digging Deeper | Who are our federal candidates and what do they stand for?

Thu, 01 May 2025 20:00:00 GMT

As part of The News' 2025 Federal Election campaign, this episode of Digging Deeper looks at who each of the candidates for the Nicholls electorate are in the upcoming election. Each candidate had 90 seconds to answer the question: What are your main objectives if elected as the federal member for Nicholls?

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Running as One over 280km in the name of charity

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:58:16 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chats with local paramedic Shaun Moore about the upcoming Running as One event.

Running as One will see emergency service workers from around the region run and bike around the state in what will be over 280kms of track.

Nicola chatted with Shaun about how the event will work, where the idea came from, how people can get involved and what some of the challenges faced by emergency service workers can look like.

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Digging Deeper | Open, closed and gone: Why are we seeing fluctuations in the Shepparton business world?

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 19:00:00 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato looks into the world of Greater Shepparton businesses following on from a plethora of business closures over the past 12 months but also the welcome addition of new businesses and business owners. Nicola chats to Greater Shepparton Business Network President and business owner Stephen Schnieder about some of the patterns, both negative and positive, that he's seen within businesses in the region.

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Digging Deeper | Bird flu misinformation - how real is it?

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:16:39 GMT

In this episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato takes a deep dive into bird flu misinformation following on from the recent outbreaks of the virus on two Euora poultry farms. This episode is a slightly different episode where Nicola chats to three experts in the field including a farmer who was affected by last year's strain, a doctor who specialises in virus and immune systems and the CEO of a peak poultry body in Australia to try and break down some of the misinformation out there about the virus.

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Digging Deeper | Has the teacher shortage improved?

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato looks at the teacher shortage crisis and whether it's improved for schools like Greater Shepparton Secondary College in the past 12 months as they prepare to kickstart the new school year.

Nicola chatted with GSSC Executive Principal Barbara O'Brien on the various initiatives they've implemented, from state government support to their internal systems and how it's benefited the school in the past year.

She also chats with former GSSC student and school captain Bethany Gray who is getting ready to embark on the start of her teaching career in the region following her involvement in different programs to prepare her for the transition.

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Digging Deeper | What does it cost to die in the GV?

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:00:23 GMT

It's the new year and Digging Deeper is back for 2025. In this week's episode, The News' Nicola Ceccato starts off the new year on a cheery note by asking the question of what does it cost to die in the GV? She chats with local funeral director Garry Merritt who breaks down the cost of dying and what the burial and internment price hikes from last year mean for those wanting to bury their loved ones in the region.

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Digging Deeper | Part 2: The systemic struggles of childcare - an industry perspective

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 19:00:45 GMT

In this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chats with Goulburn Region Preschool Association CEO Ronni Druitt about the systemic issues that exist within the childcare sector that have a flow on effect to families trying to utilise the service. This episode is part 2 from last week's episode with parent Kate Walters who shared her perspective as a mother trying to access childcare.

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Digging Deeper | Part 1: The region's childcare crisis

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:00:11 GMT

In this week's episode, Nicola Ceccato chats with News journalist Kate Walters, who has been writing about the childcare crisis whilst also being in the middle of it as the mother of two young boys. She shares her insights on what she's reported about the crisis and what she has personally had to go through when it comes to finding available childcare for her kids.

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Digging Deeper | Fixing the bloody mess of period poverty one bag at a time

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 19:00:32 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper episode, the News chatted with Share the Dignity CEO and founder Rochelle Courtenay about their recent fundraising project, how Shepparton’s collection numbers fared in it, how period poverty can affect those in regional/rural areas, and the state rollout of period product machines.

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Digging Deeper | What's being done about Nicholls' concerning cardio health outcomes?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 19:00:27 GMT

Digging Deeper is back for another season! Following some concerning statistics released about cardiometabolic health outcomes in the Nicholls electorate, Nicola chatted with Dr Jennifer Coller, a GV Health consultant cardiologist and owner of Connected Cardiology in Shepparton about the outcomes she's seen in the Goulburn Valley and what she and her team are doing to improve these statistics.

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Digging Deeper | The program that will educate and bridge the gap left by intergenerational domestic violence

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 20:00:06 GMT

In this week’s episode of Digging Deeper, the News’ Nicola Ceccato sat down to chat with Greater Shepparton’s CEO of The Bridge Youth Service, Melinda Lawley to talk about an early intervention program that supports adolescent boys at risk of using family violence they are trialling following recent Federal Govenrment funding towards it.

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Digging Deeper | Talking about the taboo topic of sexual health

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 20:00:18 GMT

In this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chatted with GV Health's sexual health nurse consultant Katelouise Howard about all things sexual health for Sexual Health Awareness Month. Katelouise talked about what positive sexual health behaviour looks like, misconceptions about the topic, the history of the conversation people have had on sexual health, the stigma people have had about it growing up and how people can access help in the Goulburn Valley.

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Digging Deeper | Talking with Sam Spinks on GV Wardrobe journey and closure

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 06:38:32 GMT

In this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato talked with GV Wardrobe owner Sam Spinks about the business and her journey running it following her recent announcement of its closure.

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Digging Deeper | The prevalence, prevention and psychiatry of dementia

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:30:42 GMT

In this week’s episode of Digging Deeper, the News’ Nicola Ceccato sat down with Dr Ravi Bhat AM to chat about dementia, what it's about, it's misconceptions and why it's so common in the lead up to Dementia Action Week.

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Digging Deeper | Book Week and everything in between with GV Libraries CEO

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:15:02 GMT

As part of Book Week, the News’ Nicola Ceccato chatted with Goulburn Valley Libraries CEO Felicity Macchion about all things libraries.

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Digging Deeper | Homelessness - the issues faced by those living rough and those trying to fix it

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 20:30:34 GMT

In this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chatted with BeyondHousing CEO Celia Adams about homelessness and the struggles that are often faced by those struggling with it and those trying to fix the problem as well as what needs to be done to see improvements on the situation in the future.

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Digging Deeper | Zoe van Maanenberg's student exchange adventures in Czech

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:30:05 GMT

On this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato does a check-in with St Anne's College student Zoe van Maanenberg, who is halfway through her student exchange program in Czechoslovakia, to see what she's been up to this year so far.

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Digging Deeper | A discussion on public transport accessibility for guide dog users

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 20:30:43 GMT

On this week's Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chats with Shepparton local and disability advocate Peter O'Connor about his journey with guide dogs, what they're about and accessibility rights for guide dogs and their owners on public transportation.

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Digging Deeper | A discussion on sustainable fashion

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 20:30:56 GMT

In this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chatted with Shepparton's In My Closet's co-founders Aline Davies and Hilary Grigg about all things sustainable fashion and their upcoming winter In My Closet market.

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Digging Deeper | SES in need of funding and volunteers

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:30:23 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chats to Tatura SES unit controller Bec Gould about the struggles they face with funding and their need for volunteers.

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Digging Deeper | A check in with ambulance union negotiations and Shepparton's newest paramedic

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:30:29 GMT

On this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato discusses all things paramedic with two guests: Pete Geddes, one of Shepparton's newest paramedics on the block and Chloe Bell, the Ambulance Victoria organiser for the Victorian Ambulance Union.

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Digging Deeper | Nuclear energy, is it a viable future? A local's perspective

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:30:33 GMT

On this week's episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato chatted to Shepparton local Roy Roberts about his experience of being affected by radioactivity from the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Between his own personal experience, plenty of research into nuclear power plants, working in the chemical industry and now in his own landscape company, Roy is a proponent for agriculture and the environment, and he sat down with Nicola to chat about what he makes of the Coalition’s proposed nuclear future.

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Digging Deeper | Long-serving volunteer Gary Gray and his passion for giving a hand

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 20:30:41 GMT

In this week’s episode of Digging Deeper, the News' Nicola Ceccato spoke to long serving volunteer Gary Gray about his long-standing contributions to multiple men’s sheds in Greater Shepparton, and his passion for advocating for men’s health.

Last month, Gary won 2024 Long-Serving Volunteer at the 2024 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards, so the News sat down to chat to him about his work as a volunteer and what lead him to doing the work he does.

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Digging Deeper | A discussion on Pride Month, queer history and more

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 20:30:00 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper episode, Nicola Ceccato is joined by Goulburn Valley Pride president Deb Chumbley and Artistic Director for OutintheOpen festival artistic director Ruby Wyatt-Carter to talk about Pride Month, what GV Pride have been up to, some of the big project's Ruby's been involved in and more.

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Digging Deeper | Reconciliation Week and what it means

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:30:18 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper episode, Nicola Ceccato is joined by Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group co-convenors Uncle Bobby Nicholls and Deirdre Robertson to chat about Reconciliation Week, which took place across May 27 to June 3, to chat about what reconciliation means and where the path for it is going.

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Digging Deeper | A discussion on gendered and domestic violence

Thu, 09 May 2024 05:28:31 GMT

In this week's Digging Deeper episode, Nicola Ceccato is joined by News journalist Kady Hadjab and against gendered violence rally organiser Maddie Thorpe to discuss the issues that surround gendered and domestic violence especially for some of the community's most vulnerable.

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Digging Deeper | Reflections on the Voice - a chat with Professor Andrew Gunstone

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 07:52:31 GMT

The News’ Nicola Ceccato sat down to have a chat with Professor Andrew Gunstone, a leading authority in reconciliation about his latest book, 'Reflections on the Voice - during and after the campaign'.

Professor Gunstone has been touring around the state promoting his book, including Shepparton where he spoke to a crowd of people on Tuesday, April 23 about what happened during the Voice to Parliament campaign and what went wrong.

It is the first book to explore the Referendum and its aftermath and the implications for Australia’s ongoing national journey of reconciliation.

Professor Gunstone is the associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Indigenous Studies at Federation University where he leads all reconciliation matters, including the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice which he founded in February 2023.

He is also the co-chair of the Board of Directors at Reconciliation Victoria.

Listen below to what he had to say about his research.

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Digging Deeper | A generational reflection on ANZAC Day

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 08:45:27 GMT

The News' Nicola Ceccato spoke to Shepparton RSL President and Vietnam veteran Bob Wilkie and former Corporal Dan Gleeson who served in Timor East and Iraq about their experiences in the ADF and how it's influenced what ANZAC Day means for them.

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