Secretary of the Australian Association for Voice Artists (AAVA) Cecelia Ramsdale is a powerhouse in the Australian voice industry. This woman literally does it all. Cecelia talks about her experience in animation, audiobooks, podcasting and commercials and has a realistic, natural way of approaching the voice over industry.

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Stephen Crockford has spent 55 years in education, leading change and lifting expectations in Melbourne’s northwest. In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis talks with Stephen about his long career and his final weeks as principal of St Albans Meadows Primary School (www.samps.vic.edu.au). Together, they trace his journey from classroom teacher to community leader, shaped by humility, consistency, and a deep belief in children’s potential. The conversation offers a rare long view of how one principal can help transform a school over decades. It also reveals how culture, not quick fixes, keeps improvement alive.

Rather than start with test scores, Stephen focused first on joy, belonging, and pride. Sport became a powerful lever to get students turning up, trying hard, and seeing themselves as part of something bigger. Performing arts followed, with concerts, choirs, bands, and dance groups reshaping how the community saw the school. As a result, students who once felt behind began to stand tall on stage and on the field. Then explicit teaching and careful curriculum work ensured that high expectations in literacy and numeracy matched the growing confidence.

Technology was never a gimmick for Stephen. Instead, he backed a one-to-one laptop model in a low socio-economic context, using leasing and clear educational purpose to make devices accessible. At the same time, he kept pen and paper, rich experiences, and front-loaded vocabulary at the centre of learning. Behind the scenes, he built a leadership “pyramid”, with emerging and emerging-emerging leaders always ready to step up. Consequently, the school now has deep curriculum expertise and a strong bench of future principals.

Listeners will hear practical insights on building culture through consistency, calmness, and respect. They will also discover how a free parent gym, kitchen garden and clubs for chess, Lego, sport, writing and more help families feel welcome without turning parents into unpaid teachers. Whether you are a new principal, an aspiring leader, or a classroom teacher, this episode with Stephen Crockford will spark reflection on legacy, resilience, and what it means to stay a “teacher first”.

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Cath and Annie take a deep dive into the brilliant, celebrated and mysterious life of Elizabeth Harrower, author of the 1960s Australian classic “The Watch Tower”.

Cath first reviews Harrower’s most celebrated work and then Annie speaks to Harrower’s biographer, Susan Wyndham, about the enigmatic novelist's past to better understand the woman, her times, and why the career of this impressive writer of deep psychological dramas ended so suddenly.

Guests
Susan Wyndham, author of “The Woman in the Watchtower”

Other books that get a mention:

“Half of a Yellow Sun” by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“A Frightfully English Execution” by Shamini Flint

“Murder on North Terrace” and “The Death of Dora Black” by Lainie Anderson

“What We Can Know” by Ian McEwen

INSTAGRAM

@wyndhamsusan1
@newsouthpublishing

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