This will be my final appearance as a co-host of this podcast. For nearly 12 months, it has been a great pleasure for me to join Greg T Ross in this very important program. I'm sure Greg might have me back from time to time with the odd guest spot.

In the meantime, I've been working on creating my own podcast series which will launch soon. It's about recording and presenting numerous entertaining conversations with some of the most interesting singers, musicians, song writers, actors and performers, who over the years, have graced numerous theatre stages, dance halls, music venues, radio programs and film and television shows across Australia.

And I know that they will all have rip roaring stories to tell.

I'll talk to managers, promoters, investors - those behind the music business - how it was and what it's become.

There is much to be told about record companies -  music publishers - copyright control - how it was done back in the day - to how it is now.

I hope you'll join me in what will be a fascinating journey, profiling the past 70 years or so of fair dinkum, true blue Oz entertainment.

So, while Greg Ross is busy researching and preparing future podcast material for The Last Post, I have the pleasure to chat to my dear friend, a wonderful singer and great entertainer, Marcie Jones.

Enjoy. Thanks, Gary Mac.

Normie talks about his acting career in numerous television productions, his outstanding role as Jean Valjean in the magnificent Australian stage production of Les Miserables and his participation at the Dawn Service at Elephant Rock, Currumbin Beach in Queensland - ANZAC Day 2024.

The Service will be telecast live from 5am on the Seven Network.

This is an episode "not to be missed". Norm paints a graphic picture for younger generations to appreciate how what happened and how it was, during those days when so many young men and women faced a mysterious enemy in, what is now a beautiful country, Vietnam.

In our next podcast, Episode 9 will feature the third and final chapter of Gary Mac's conversation with Normie Rowe as we approach ANZAC Day, April 25th, 2024.

Our next episode will drop within the next few days as we approach ANZAC Day, 2024.

Episode 8 will feature Part 2 of the interview with Normie Rowe which will include details about his call-up and Tour of Duty in Vietnam during the late 1960's. We'll discuss his passionate support for all veterans who have participated in the theater of war. And the Sacred importance of ANZAC Day. Norm has always attended the Dawn Service. Be sure to join us, when Normie will tell you about his plans and a song he will feature at this years Service at Elephant Rock on Currumbin Beach in Queensland. This Dawn Service will be televised on the Seven Networks 'Sunrise' program. Until next time... thank you for listening.

For Greg and Claire, it was also a trip of enlightenment and relaxation in a truly beautiful country with it's rich history, magnificent beaches, wonderful countryside, fine food and most of all it's welcoming peoples.

It's an entertaining "fire side" chat about her successful time in the media and her life as an author and psychologist.

In future Last Post episodes, Muriel will join Greg and Gary with some timely, interesting and helpful information we can all use, in a segment entitled, "Mental Health Matters"

Gregg T Ross talks to Geoff Rowe, Ben Fordham and Stuart O'Neil.

Geoff Rowe - CEO of ADA Australia.

Geoff Rowe is passionate about human rights, social justice and inclusion. Geoff has a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Queensland. He is the CEO of Aged & Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia) an aged care and disability advocacy and rights service based in Queensland.

Ben Fordham - Veteran and Director of the Open Door.

Ben is the Director of the Open Door: Understanding and Supporting Service Personnel and their Families research initiative in the College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work. Open Door is an Australasian research hub that brings together veterans, scholars, and practitioners together around key research, service provision, and policy/legislation initiatives. Open Door is connected to other veteran research hubs across the five-eye nations.

As a Veteran, Ben's research is focused on the health and wellbeing of serving personnel and Veterans. He conducts sociological and criminological research on the ADF and DVA including institutional abuse in the ADF, veteran suicide, and veteran transition into higher education. Ben also researches men's violence prevention. His expertise on men and masculinities underpins this research.

Stuart O'Neil - Author of "Just One Reason".

Raised in Melbourne Australia, Stuart’s mostly self-employed life has provided its fair share of highs and lows. His life story in the book easily resonates. Stuart first became an Australian Surf Lifesaver in the 1980’s. It is a passion that he still fulfills to this day. His desire to save lives now includes this book. The "Just One Reason" suicide prevention toolkit is the product of his out of the box thinking and willingness to help others. Stuart takes pride in putting others first and bares his soul publicly about his personal battle with suicidal thoughts and depression. This book reveals Stuart’s own strategy for beating your inner demons and offers a powerful and very easy solution to a world problem that is getting worse, not better.

Cherisa commenced her Army career at the Royal Military College in July 1994 and graduated into the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, but later transferred to the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. 

Cherisa’s postings have included 1st Recruit Training Battalion, 5th Aviation Regiment, HQ 9 Brigade, and 3rd Combat Service Support Battalion. She also conducted three operational deployments to East Timor in 1999, 2000 and 2006-07. 

Cherisa is now enjoying new opportunities at the southern end of the Gold Coast.  She is a Board Member of the Currumbin Palm Beach Sub Branch.  During her free time, Cherisa enjoys the beach for a surf and you can find her there during rain, hail or shine!

Greg also chats with Heath Smith.

Heath has an impeccable reputation for delivering targeted business outcomes. He brings deep expertise in management consulting, leadership, engineering, airworthiness, military

operations, capability management and transformational change. Combining technical expertise with an engaging, genuine and cooperative style, Heath builds capability within the client organisation so that success endures and compounds well after his engagements are delivered.

As Heath says "Partnering with RSL Queensland has been an incredible blessing and enabled us as a charity to support hundreds of veterans and families across Australia. Together we are leading the way in addressing moral injury and PTSD through peer supported programs that work.

And finally, a mouth watering recipe from renowned French Chef Christophe Gregoria - TUFFLE OMELETTE. Yumo!