In this episode of Riverland Women, Kerrie Lush speaks with Suzi Evans from Mantung — a passionate advocate for mental fitness.

After the devastating loss of her only son to suicide, and supporting her husband Mick through a life-threatening illness, Suzi found purpose in helping others. She shares how studying positive psychology, training in mental health first aid, and developing her own program, Workbench for the Mind, became tools for both her own healing and for supporting her community.

Suzi opens up about:

• Navigating grief and trauma

• Supporting a loved one through illness

• How mental fitness differs from mental health

• Simple strategies to build resilience every day

• The importance of accessible tools between "zero to psychologist"

Her story is one of strength, determination, and finding purpose after tragedy.

Resources & Links:
Follow Suzi on Instagram: @suzi_evans
Find out more about Suzi's workshops, book, and podcast here

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Website: The Podcast Station

Imagine discovering you had hundreds of siblings you had never met…

In this episode of Riverland Women, I sit down with Kat Dawson. After learning she was conceived through anonymous sperm donation, she began searching for her biological connections. What she never expected was the sheer scale—she could have up to 700 siblings… maybe even more.

Now, Kat is on a mission to track down as many of them as possible—not just to connect, but to share crucial information about significant mental and physical health concerns that could impact them all.

Before we get into that, we talk about Kat Dawson, the person—her love for music, life growing up in the Riverland, and what drives her passion for uncovering the truth.

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🌐 Visit www.thepodcaststation.com.au to learn more about podcast production, coaching workshops, one-on-one sessions, and family history recordings.

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In this episode of Riverland Women, Kerrie Lush sits down with Caroline Phillips, the dynamic Mayor of Karoonda East Murray. Caroline shares her story, from growing up on her family's farm in Wynarka to studying abroad in Norway, dressing up as a Caramello Koala in Rundle Mall and eventually becoming a driving force behind some of the most exciting projects in her local community.

Caroline talks about the inspiration behind the iconic Karoonda silo art project, how she helped create the town's first childcare and afterschool care facility, and her commitment to upgrading local infrastructure to benefit both residents and tourists alike. We also dive into her earlier career in tourism and marketing, her passion for giving back, and what it's like to balance leadership with family life.

Topics Covered:

• Caroline's upbringing on the farm and her journey back to the Riverland after studying and working in Adelaide and Norway
• The Karoonda silo art project and how it's putting the town on the map
• Caroline's work to develop the first childcare and afterschool care facility in Karoonda
• Key upgrades to community infrastructure, including caravan parks, playgrounds, and sporting facilities
• Her transition from marketing and tourism to local government leadership
• Caroline's volunteer roles and her passion for the Riverland and Murraylands communities.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on your podcast platform and following Riverland Women for more inspiring stories from our incredible community. You can also connect with us on social media to stay up-to-date on future episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

The Podcast Station