Dame Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba was one of the most celebrated opera singers of all time. She was the first Australian vocalist to achieve international stardom and her work was showcased at some of the most prominent opera houses of her time. But this wasn’t all she was known for. She was created Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her significant charitable work during World War I and she spent a great deal of her time teaching and investing in the lives of rising young vocalists. As much as she loved to perform, she also loved to give. Join us this week as we take a look at the remarkable life of Dame Nellie Melba and the contributions she made to both the arts and also the lives of those around her.
Sydney Convicts
It might be surprising to many but the first Europeans to settle in Australia were actually petty criminals or as they were known then, convicts. It may seem like a tragic beginning, but these prisoners actually took the opportunity of being exiled to a faraway land to start a new life. From a struggling and starving penal colony they began to build a nation. There are many stories of courage, resilience, and ingenuity that tell how people found a new life.
Love At The Taj
For thousands of years, the same yellow sun has risen over the vast collection of people that we have come to call India in the last century. The term country doesn’t seem to capture it. Twenty-eight states — more like Twenty-eight countries — with many traditions, languages, and styles stretching over a geography that varies from the soaring Himalayas to the steamy Bay of Bengal. And yet, within this riot of colour and culture, one building has come to represent India to the world — the Taj Mahal. Today, we will journey into this magnificent masterpiece and discover the magnificent lesson this great building contains. A lesson it shares with the greatest book the world has ever known.
The Man Who Reached for the Sky – Bert Hinkler
Bert Hinkler was a pioneering aviator, innovator, and designer. He is credited with being the first person to fly solo between England and Australia and was the recipient of numerous accolades. Hinkler’s passion was aviation.
Constantine the Great | GameChanger – Part 4: The Empire Strikes Back
This program is the fourth and final episode in a series of programs that compares and contrasts the lives and the legacies of Constantine the Great and Jesu…
Constantine the Great | GameChanger – Part 3: The Empire Betrayed
This program is the third episode in a series of programs that compares and contrasts the lives and the legacies of Constantine the Great and Jesus Christ, and how both have impacted the way we think and the way we live today. This episode will focus on how Constantine embraced Christianity for his political ends and brought about the union of church and state. It explores the consequences of this for subsequent church history and for our modern world. The episode concludes with a challenge to recognise threats to religious freedom and to be able to respond in the right way
Constantine the Great | GameChanger – Part 2: Empire Under Attack
This program is the second in a series of programs that compares and contrasts the lives and legacies of Constantine the Great and Jesus Christ and how both have impacted how we think and live today. This second program will focus on the persecution of the Christians and Constantine’s rise to power. The Diocletian persecution, a broken family, and political divisions within the Roman empire formed the background for Constantine’s education in what it meant to rule. When Constantine seized power in Rome, he credited the Christian God. This seismic shift was to define the world we live in today.
Constantine the Great | GameChanger – Part 1: The Birth of Two Empires
This program is the first in a series that compares and contrasts the lives and the legacies of Constantine the Great and Jesus Christ and how both have impacted the way we think and live today. This first programme will focus on their births and their childhoods. Starting with Constantine’s inauspicious birth, we will then consider that of Jesus and how, through his followers, he began to challenge the Empire with his teachings. This was a clash of empires that were to define our world today.
The Slave Trader – Amazing Grace (John Newton)
How many times have you heard the hymn “Amazing Grace?” It’s the most popular song in history, sung over 10 million times each year. Ever wondered where it came from? Hear the incredible story in our program, “The Slave Trader – Amazing Grace.” It was written by a notorious blasphemer, a rebellious shipman, a slave trader, who later became a church minister, and an abolitionist who fought publicly to end slavery. In this program, we’ll learn about John Newton and the history and meaning behind the best-loved hymn, Amazing Grace.
Silent Night – The Song that Stopped a War
On Christmas Eve each year in Austria, thousands of people in Salzburg and the surrounding areas gather together in churches. Their worship services end with the carol “Silent Night”, sung in its original German form. The simple charm of this centuries-old melody has made it a popular hymn for many years. Join Gary Kent as he pieces together the clues that tell us the mysterious origins of this beautiful song that, for a time, stopped a the First World War.
