Debbie and Josie speak with Ben Backhaus about his family business, Bush Pharmacy, where Ben distills essential oils grown and harvested on Flinders Island. You can almost smell the aromas as Ben describes the range of oils. Ben attributes the unique properties of the oils to the geographic isolation of the Island created by the separation of the land bridge to the Australian mainland. Ben sees the support of the Island community as instrumental in allowing his business to develop and b...

In this espisode, Josie and Debbie talk with Mel Telfer: dental assistant, ambulance service volunteer, school teacher, truck driver, and a maker and the driving force behind The Purple Swamphen, the makers' co-op on Flinders Island. To outsiders Mel's life might look daunting but for her, the multiple roles she fills provide opportunities to feel purpose, structure and function in her life. Mel talks about her connection to the Island community, and the honour she feels&nbs...

In this final episode of Season 1, Debbie and Josie speak with Wendy Jubb-Stoney who owns and operates Flinders Island Retreat. Wendy talks about her childhood on Flinders Island and her deep attachment to the Furneaux islands. Returning to Flinders Island after years away, Wendy brings together her experience in food and hospitality, and her strong connection to the Island, to create a special guesthouse and cooking school at Cooma House. You can almost taste the flavours as W...

Lois Ireland shares her unique family heritage on Flinders Island as a member of the third generation of the Bowman family owning and running the general store. Lois reflects on the "pull of the mutton bird" that has drawn her and others back to live on the Island in Bass Strait. Lois describes the sort of visitor she’d like to see on the Island,"people who come with a genuine interest in finding out about how the place ticks … someone who's got an inquiring mind and is interest...

Former Mayor of Flinders Council, educator and always the Scot, Annie Revie talks about the dark history of Flinders Island and her decision to make the beautiful small island her home. Annie talks about what a thriving Flinders Island would look like: "we're kind of living on the edge of sustainability. We're almost close to the stage where we may not have enough people to take us forward in a sustainable way." "The people here have a strong sense of belonging. And what I would reall...

Self-proclaimed contrarian, Peter Rhodes, was born on Flinders Island and returned 40 years later to live. Peter claims it's only the second best place in the world to live - he's still looking for the 1st. Peter talks with Debbie and Josie about growing up on Flinders Island, going mutton birding with his father and his purchase of the figurehead of the Farsund, shipwrecked in Bass Strait. Peter's love of maritime history has led him to develop plans for a Furneaux Maritime History Centre to...

Debbie and Josie speak with Dianne Dredge about the Islander Way regenerative tourism project on Flinders Is, Tasmania, Australia. Dianne explains the innovative, emergent, community-led approach to co-designing a visitor economy with the community that respects the community’s values, contributes to a resilient economy, and that takes responsibility for the impacts of tourism on the natural environment. "Let's do community consultation in a genuine way, and really experiment wi...