July 9, 2023
What is the Question – July
FOR July’s What is The Question, former classics teacher-turned apiarist Keith McCallum talks with Roland. What is your name? Keith McCallum. What is your occupation? I garden and...
July 2, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 2 July
Has the time arrived for household wood heaters to be banned? Research shows they are the largest source of air pollution in many Australian...
July 2, 2023
The Sound of Music continues to charm
BALLARAT Lyric Theatre has mounted an inspired production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music to mark the company’s sixtieth anniversary. It’s the same...
June 25, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 25 June
The anguish of losing your money to a scam is beyond compare. The obvious question is: how many times must we be told to...
June 18, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 18 June
The stage musical, The Rocky Horror Show, is a theatrical phenomenon. It has enjoyed the kind of success for which most dramatists would trade...
June 11, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 11 June
No-one should be abused for doing their job. While the temptation to ‘rattle someone’s cage’, or to lob a personal jibe in a blistering...
June 4, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 4 June
You watch; you listen; then shake your head, incredulously, asking of yourself: “Are the lunatics in charge of the asylum, or am I hallucinating?” ALWAYS,...
June 4, 2023
What is the Question – June
For June’s What is the Question award-winning actor Lisa McCune talked with Roland Rocchiccioli. What is your name? Lisa McCune. What is your occupation? Actor. What brought you to...
May 28, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 28 May
Once upon a time, in another life in another land, when the people of Victoria wanted to watch an event of national importance they...
May 21, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 21 May
If he cut a solitary figure at the coronation of his father, King Charles, Harry has no-one to blame but himself, and his wilful...
May 7, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 7 May
I remember the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II - 2 June, 1953, as if it were yesterday. It was broadcast live by the ABC,...
May 7, 2023
What is the Question – May
For May’s What is the Question owner and operator of The Farmgate Shop on the Midland Highway at Elaine Mark Dunne talked with Roland...
April 30, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 30 April
Comparisons are odious, especially between Melbourne and Sydney, which is tantamount to comparing apples and pears; or asking a parent to choose a favourite...
April 30, 2023
Barry Humphries was, indubitably, an international star
PARADOXICALLY, alcoholism proved to be the turning point of his career. In Melbourne, 1970, after a protracted drinking binge, Humphries was found bashed and lying...
April 23, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 23 April
It is said the Etruscans taught the Romans; they taught the French; and the French taught the rest of the world how to cook. MY...
April 16, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 16 April
It is Newton's Third Law of Motion: Action & Reaction: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. IN short: if object A...
April 9, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 9 April
Easter is one of the two most important dates in the Christian calendar. It marks the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Nazarene. He...
April 9, 2023
What is the Question – April
For April’s What is the Question Victoria Police Inspector Jason Templar talked with Roland Rocchiccioli. What is your name? Jason Templar What is your occupation? Inspector, local area...
April 2, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 2 April
It is time for Public Transport Victoria, or PTV, to stop ignoring the City of Ballarat. It is the elected voice of the people....
March 19, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 19 March
Is it hubris which causes some people to think they know best about other people’s creative endeavours?
THE late Jackie Collins sold some...
March 12, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 12 March
Platitudinous gobbledegook is a form is mis-and disinformation. In the absence of compelling evidence, why would you believe it?
IT was said, at...
March 12, 2023
What is the Question – March
For March’s What is the Question, Amie and Daniel Murphy, who own and operate Accent Framing and Fine Art supplies on Sturt...
March 5, 2023
From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 5 March
I never thought - but it has! Despite being cautious, and reading carefully the scant fine print, I have been conned in...
March 5, 2023
Classic whodunnit never been better
IT would be difficult to imagine a more perfect stage production of Agatha Christie’s thriller, The Mousetrap. Director, Robyn Nevin, has assembled a talented cast...
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