WELCOME TO SEASON TWO!
RED DUST TAPES
RED DUST TAPES
Over 55 years ago multi-award-winning journalist John Francis interviewed ageing Australian Outback characters, before their voices were lost in the red dust.This is unique Aussie history.
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RED DUST TAPES

Over 55 years ago multi-award-winning journalist John Francis interviewed ageing Australian Outback characters, before their voices were lost in the red dust. This is unique Aussie oral history

Recent Episodes

Our Andy's Gone With Cattle: The story of the Drovers
March 28, 2026

Our Andy's Gone With Cattle: The story of the Drovers

Hop on your horse, let's go. And be warned: your bottom will be rubbed raw after just one a day in the saddle. And you could be heaving and swaying up there for several months. I have some fascinating people to introduce you ...

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They're shouting GOLD all over, Downunder
March 15, 2026

They're shouting GOLD all over, Downunder

In this chapter: The convict who tried a ‘fool’s gold’ trick – twice; The real gold rushes and the birth of the swaggie; The arrival of the Chinese goes off like fireworks, so here comes the White Australia Policy; Grog and m...

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The White Flood Descends
Feb. 27, 2026

The White Flood Descends

Now Red Dust listeners, I have no interviews to present to you this episode. Rather, let’s head back in time, to before recording devices were invented. Australia, as with the rest of the world, right now is in the midst of t...

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Three Dames of the Australian Bush
Feb. 15, 2026

Three Dames of the Australian Bush

Two States, one Territory. Three isolated women, each with totally different backgrounds and motivations, tell tales about goats and ghosts and tin mines, that go back to early 20th Century Outback Australia.

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Aboriginals, Looking to The Future ... In 1972
Jan. 31, 2026

Aboriginals, Looking to The Future ... In 1972

Now I want to present to you a time capsule. It’s a radio documentary I prepared in 1972, for the ABC. Back then it’s title was, ‘The Urban Aborigine’ , and you’ll find the word 'aborigine' features strongly thoughout For ma...

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Maudie, Alice, and the Flower Well Mob: Brief Voices of First Australians, Deserts Apart
Jan. 19, 2026

Maudie, Alice, and the Flower Well Mob: Brief Voices of First Austral…

This episode has everything: A road trip. (Well, on mainly dusty tracks) across three quarters of Australia. Memorable encounters with remnants of Aboriginal tribes – two of whom were the last speakers of a number of ancient ...

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