A few words about us

PASSIONATE, INSPIRING AND POSITIVE

Our growing team (currently over 50 professional adults and students) at Wonderful World Media Network is passionate about producing and presenting inspiring, positive and informative shows that focus on all the GOOD NEWS that is so often ignored by mainstream media. Our music is eclectic and upbeat – our interviews in depth, educational and entertaining. If you feel it is time to unplug from all the negative hype, then tune into the wonderful world that is already here waiting for you! After all the more of us who focus on what is wonderful about our world, the more rapidly we create a wonderful future!

We have long known the secret that “As I think, so I create” … and we think to ourselves ‘What a Wonderful World’!

VISION AND HISTORY

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD WINS ITS FIRST AWARD – the first of many!

mini-award-jpeg-100-dpi-web.jpg
When something is this good, it doesn’t take long for the word to get around. After only 6 months of broadcasting, our flagship show ‘What a Wonderful World’ won its first award. Nominated in the ‘Innovations’ category of the inaugural Whitehorse Sustainable Living Festival, WWW won the Mayor’s Choice – Whitehorse Sustainability Award 2006

What a Wonderful World won its second award on March 5th 2007 – the CBOnline ‘Toot Your Own Horn’ and in April 07, Wonderful World Media Network was also acknowledged for its contribution at the Premier’s Sustainability Awards. In June 2007 WWMN / ‘What a Wonderful World’ was chosen as a finalist in Australia’s most prestigious environmental awards – The Banksia Environmental Awards. The following year Wonderful World Media Network won the Mayor’s Choice – Whitehorse Sustainability Award 2008 for the second year in a row and WWMN was also highly commended in the Community Category and a finalist in the Overall Winner Award. The team was also commended for its commitment, innovation and achievements by Sustainability Victoria / Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2008. In April 2009 our Your Planet Needs You! team won the Whitehorse Sustainable Young Achiever Award for their contribution to sustainability, continuing WWMN’s annual award winning status and WWMN also won ‘Toot Your Own Horn’.

In 2010 YPNY team leader Zac Benton won the Whitehorse Sustainable Young Achiever Award and WWMN founder and executive producer, Viarnne Mischon, was awarded the Whitehorse Sustainable Ambassador Award – Communication for her leadership role in promoting sustainability .

Our Vision: Co-creators in the new paradigm of positive media.

The current media paradigm of predominately engaging audience interest through sensationalist and negative news story reporting is rapidly becoming outmoded. Wonderful World Media Network is at the forefront of the new paradigm of positive media for we believe our environmental and social challenges simply seem too overwhelming in the way that they are currently portrayed by the mainstream media. By highlighting the successful and positive stories of organizations and individuals who are making a difference in our world, Wonderful World Media Network is encouraging our community to re-engage with wonder – to remember what it feels like to wake up in the morning and feel passionate and empowered. Then finally, to provide our listeners with information and motivation about how they can join forces and support local and global projects and organizations to create an even more wonderful future. “As I think, so I create”

VIARNNE MISCHON

Founder, Executive Producer and Presenter, Wonderful World Media Network

Viarnne is the Founder/Executive Producer of World Media Network (WWMN), Founder/Public Officer of the School Broadcasting Network Inc (SBN) and Founder / President of the Positive World Media Network Inc (PWMN).  She is an author, publisher, motivational speaker and educator with over 20 years experience in Public Relations and media. Viarnne produces and presents What a Wonderful World, co-produces and presents The Good Earth and Our Earth Our Future and co-produces Primary Perspectives.  She also conceived and instigated 9 of WWMN’s current 11 programs broadcast on 3WBC 94.1FM.

“My commitment is to research, share and implement viable strategies for rapidly creating a sociologically, economically and ecologically sustainable and equitable future for our planet and humanity. Wonderful World Media Network has been established as a part of this vision. WWMN is committed to producing innovative programs dedicated to providing positive, informative and uplifting multimedia at all times. It is my absolute privilege to work along side such a fabulous ever growing production team of passionate people who share a similar vision.”

Wonderful World Media Network is well aligned with the current needs of our local and global community for both providing education and inspiring hope and motivation for creating a sustainable future, through the medium of quality entertainment.

And wow – what a wonderful team we have!

JOHN & VIVIENNE BENTON

Producers / Presenters  – Live the Good Life

John and Vivienne Benton are Environmental Scientists, and John is additionally qualified in environmental design and renewable energy technology. For forty years John and Viv were high profile entertainers with John starring in such early Australian television series such as Division 4, Homicide, Number 96, Over There, and Certain Women. He is probably best know for his role as Mr Lyle QC in Australia’s best loved movie, The Castle.

Producer – Your Planet Needs You!

Vivienne played the role of Miranda, wife to Aboriginal actor Bob Maza in Bellbird, Maria in Long Arm, and most recently Sal Coffin in the international remake of Moby Dick, opposite Henry Thomas. Viv is also a published poet and an academic researcher.

MARLI DRAPER

Producer / Presenter – Sustainable Gardening

In a hammock under an almond tree, she decided what to ʻbeʼ!
Marli Draper is a horticulturist and freelance photojournalist. She taught organic agriculture and herb production at NMIT for almost fifteen years. Growing up in a chefʼs garden, produce and cooking were naturally connected. Farming in Gippsland, her family grow beef cattle, garlic and peonies.

On the fourth Monday of each month she joyfully presents sustainable gardening. Her enthusiasm and experience encourages and inspires others to nurture their own patch, large or small.

NARELLE EDGAR

Producer / Presenter – Living By Design

Now co-hosting What a Wonderful World with Kay Watts on the 2nd Monday of each month, Narelle joined Wonderful World in July 2010 soon after appearing as a guest on ‘Living by Design’. As an architect and mother, she was excited by the unexpected opportunity to share her passion and design knowledge, and to explore with a variety of guests better options for living to ensure our earth is protected for future generations.

Narelle has a varied experience in architectural practice, working in London and Melbourne before establishing her own practice in 1999. More recently she became co-founder of the ‘Green Box Studio’ (www.greenboxstudio.com.au), a collective of architectural and building businesses focused on sustainable design, and minimising the carbon footprint of the construction process. She is passionate about protecting and re-engaging with the environment, and has a commitment to living an intentional and sustainable lifestyle.

JESSICA HARRISON

Producer / Presenter GM Cropwatch

Catch Jessica for the GM Cropwatch Report bi-monthly on What a Wonderful World.

Jessica Harrison has been monitoring GM crops since 2005. This photo shows wind-blown GM canola which had spread along a roadside near Horsham in 2008, the first GM harvest in Victoria. Test strips can identify whether a roadside plant is GM or not in 3-5 minutes. GM Cropwatch aims to identify and eradicate GM weeds wherever outbreaks occur, and agitate so thorough clean-ups are undertaken by the authorities and laws are in place to protect non-GM farmers.

GM Cropwatch is part of the Gene Ethics Network.

DR TRICIA HILEY

Researcher – What a Wonderful World

Tricia joined Wonderful World Media after being a guest on the show in early 2007. She is a life long learner and the director of Potential Space, a micro-business which fosters learning practices for living and working in our complex and dynamic world. Tricia is a founding member of the Academic Board of OASES Graduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, a unique post graduate centre for learning, which offers programs that explore personal, social and global well-being

BEVERLY JOCOBSON-SCHLER

Producer / Presenter – Our Earth, Our Future

Beverly is a Producer with both Shared Visions Films and Schler Productions. She is also called the “Media Maven” at Four Years Go with whom she has been affiliated with since early, 2011.In this exciting new show, both Viarnne and Beverly spotlight transformative work being done by the global society through conversations with guests from around the world.
Beverly has a heartfelt commitment to humanitarian, social, environmental and cultural causes. She has produced several short videos in the last year about environmental and social issues. She is passionate about our global community, and demonstrates that through her storytelling, artistic, cultural, philanthropic achievements.

TANJA LEE JONES

Producer/Presenter – Studio Soul

Mother, author, publisher, creative director, senior event producer and massage lover, Tanja Lee Jones is mad about creative communication.With a belief that you should do what gives you goose bumps Tanja loves connecting with and interviewing diverse and interesting people and organisations.

Showcasing new talent and bringing global beats to the airwaves brings her great joy, she will be the one dancing and “Whoo-Hooing” in the studio when an artist is performing live.

Tanja is very proud to be associated with multi award winning media network Wonderful World Media and is keen to ensure that Studio Soul enables positive media to permeate the planet.

MARIA MILLERS

Producer / Presenter – Food for Thought

Maria is a food writer and editor with a background in broadcasting and magazine publishing. She has always cooked for her large extended family and has a passion for growing and cooking organic vegetables and fruit. She loves to create her own recipes that are flavoured with many cultural influences and that take into consideration seasonal eating and food kilometres.

ANDY MOORE

Producer / Presenter – Follow the Money

Occasional Co-Host of What a Wonderful World

Andy Moore

Andy joined Wonderful World Media on the 1st of January 2008. With a long history of music production and sound engineering, he was looking to diversify into the field of radio. Stumbling across Viarnne via her Permaculture series, he quickly joined 3WBC and the rest is history.

Andy edits and produces several of the podcasts for the webpage and joins Tricia and Viarnne on air for Sustainable Options once in a while. He works as a Sustainability Manager for an international lighting company and is doing further studies in Sustainability at Swinburne this year.

MARK NUNIS

Producer/Presenter – Monday Live

Besides hosting the half hour monthly segment of Monday Live, Mark Nunis works as a Performing Arts Teacher, Chaplain, and Musician. Influenced by a wide range of musical genres, Mark regularly performs with his own band, the MN Combo, The Australian Dueling Piano Show, and can also be seen filling in with other bands whether it be for live performances or recording projects. His instrument of choice is the piano and he has also had the opportunity to showcase his smooth vocals both locally and overseas.

‘Mark’s Myspace’ (www.myspace.com/marknunis)

MICHAEL O’CONNELL

Producer / Presenter

Sustainable Gardening – The Good Earth

Part-time Webmaster of WWMN

Michael O’Connell been involved in the IT, Building, Communications and Sustainability industries for over 25 years. For the last 10 years he has run his own energy and sustainabliity consulting and training service with a strong focus on sustainable technology and practices. He is the immediate past president of The Alternative Technology Association, is still an active member and an active volunteer in East Timor. He is a qualified trainer and has taught a wide range of subjects, including Renewable Energy Technology in Australia and oversees. After appearing on ‘What a Wonderful World’ talking about sustainability and his passion for permaculture several times, he was invited to host ‘The Good Earth’ and that’s where you’ll find him on the first Saturday of every month. He is also an occasional co-host and presenter on ‘What a Wonderful World’.

In addition he manages the website and provides technical training and support for the team at ‘Wonderful World Media’.

If you want to make a difference, visit the Alternative Technology Association at www.ata.org.au.

JAMES PADLEY

Producer / Presenter – Sunday Studio Live

Sunday Studio Live is a monthly music program that presents all of the latest music news, interviews and performances live in the studio. For the past three years it has been hosted by James Padley, a musical theatre student at the Victorian College of the Arts, who was later joined by his best mate Tom Lewis, future pilot and fellow music enthusiast. James and Toms’ goal for Sunday Studio Live is to support upcoming Australian artists and give them the opportunity to showcase their talent and have their music heard over the airwaves.

SUZIE PLAKSON

Producer / Presenter – Something A-Muse-ing

Choosing the muse in your life.

Suzie Plakson is an actress, sculptor, singer, songwriter, writer of short stories and solo shows and such, with a lifetime passion for all expressions of creativity, and the uplifting, healing effects thereof.  While she began her career as a theater actress she’s known for her work in American sitcoms like Love and War, Mad About You, Everybody Loves Raymond, How I Met Your Mother, films like Wag the Dog.   Her alternative country rock album spawned the recent release of her zany YouTube video “DidnWannaDoIt!”, the title track.  She’s pleased as punch to be chatting it up with Viarnne and Peter about the ins, outs, ups and downs, truths and myths of life as an artistic type.  She’ll also be very glad to stop speaking about herself in the third person.

JAMES PORTEOUS

Producer / Presenter

Green Tick-it Eco Tourism – What a Wonderful World

James Porteous is a committed environmental communicator. As a former marine scientist-turned-journalist, he worked in London for the international research journal Nature for 5 years before returning to Melbourne in 2002, via lowland gorilla conservation work in Gabon, West Africa. Recently (2007) he worked in Sri Lanka for WWF US reporting on post-tsunami reconstruction initiatives. James works to the credo that all issues can be framed in a positive, motivating way – and that there are always solutions waiting.

PRUE SIMMONS

Producer / Presenter – Travelling the Airwaves

Prue Simmons is a passionate Wildlife Ecologist, Environmental Educator, Fruit Bat Foster Mum and Global Wanderer! Prue has spent a number of years exploring, learning and travelling to a variety of exotic locations in her quest for what makes this planet tick! Journeying from the ever-changing landscape of Victoria to the sweltering interior of Australia and then to places as far reaching and exotic as Borneo, Africa, Egypt, Europe and Japan, Prue has discovered a myriad of amazing travel and volunteering opportunities. Recognising the importance of inspiring individuals to learn more about this amazing world, wildlife and environmental sustainability, Prue aims to empower individuals to explore their own backyard, country and precious planet with a ‘lighter footprint’ approach on her show, Travelling the Airwaves.

Join Prue and her guests on the second Sunday of each month from 3-5pm for Travelling the Airwaves, as they delve into the far-flung places of our fair country, share adventures from exotic locations and a grassroots, traveller’s perspective on destinations and experiences.!

ANGELA SMITH

Presenter – Healthy Alternatives

Angela has been practicing Naturopathy for the last 7 years. She is very passionate about fusing bio medical science and diagnostic testing with nature’s herbs and nutrients to restore health and wellness to the body. Angela loves to cook using food as medicine, educating clients on how to eat and exercise for wellness yet still maintain the joy and satisfaction that we love about food and living.

Angela Specialises in

  • Fertility, PCOS, Endometriosis, PMS, Menopause
  • Gastrointestinal disorders – parasitic infections, food sensitivities, fructose malabsorption, IBS and Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease and gluten intolerance
  • Weight loss and body composition support
  • Stress, insomnia, anxiety and mood imbalances
  • Detoxification and toxicity
  • Immune disorders and fatigue
  • Headaches, arthritis

PETER STEWART

Co-host – What a Wonderful World


Peter is the editor of Eco Voice online magazine and the Carbon Market portal and is a regular co-host on What a Wonderful World. Somewhat irreverent (in the nicest way!) Peter brings a great sense of humour to the show with his ‘down to earth kind of bloke’ style.

GRAZ VAN EGMOND

Presenter – Banksia Benchmarks

Join Graz van Egmond, Executive Director of the Banksia Foundation on the 1st Monday of every month from 6.10-6.45pm for Banksia Benchmarks. An excellent line up of special guests who are creating benchmarks in sustainability… around Australia and around the world!

TIM WATSON

Co-Producer/Presenter/Programmer – Studio Soul

Tim Watson is best known as a singer/songwriter having fronted bands such as the successful Taxiride and the cutting edge Friends Of Mine.

Tim has appeared on Radio and Television throughout Australia including Rove, Hey Hey It’s Saturday and The Panel, and is currently the Movie Reviewer for The Night Show with Andy Grace on Gold FM.

He has written and produced songs for Australian Idol, had Club hits under various guises and worked with some of Australia’s finest musicians.

Tim’s also won an ARIA award, had a number 1 album and played Wembley Stadium (twice!). He’s a Gemini and likes long moonlit strolls on deserted beaches with winsome ladies; the wind in his hair and a bottle of fine Shiraz with 2 straws in it; but mostly what keeps the fire in his belly is his hunger and passion for music whether making or listening to it.

KAY WATTS

Producer / Presenter

Healthy Alternatives for Kids – What a Wonderful World

Kay was introduced to Wonderful World Media through being a guest on Healthy Alternatives for Kids. She enthusiastically joined the team in 2010, and as a homeopath Kay brings a wealth of knowledge about natural health care for children to the Healthy Alternatives for Kids segment each month. Kay also host What a Wonderful World on the second Monday of each month, with co-host Narelle Edgar.

TAMARA WESTON

News Reporter / Presenter – What a Wonderful World and Social Media Editor WWMN

After completing a bachelor or Business and Communications degree at RMIT, Tamara spent two years at International law firm, Allens Arthur Robinson as a Marketing and Events Coordinator. After a 7 month working stint in London, Tamara is now at Chrysler Jeep working as a Communications Coordinator focusing on social media and assisting with PR and sponsorship. With a passion for media, this is Tamara’s first gig in the industry, and where better to start than at a program that’s all about looking after the wonderful world we live in.

LINDA WILLIAMS

Producer / Co-Presenter  – The Power Surge Show

Linda Williams ran her own employment agency and PR company in Sydney for 30yrs. She took the plunge back into marriage to her Colonel and is currently living in Melbourne acting as an Agent for International publishers New Holland Publishing; her brief being celebrities, restaurants and chefs. Linda is an inventor with a couple of successful world wide inventions under her belt and has spent many years helping mentor others in the invention world. She has long wanted to address baby boomer issues as she believes the changes, achievements, inventions and mind sets of this age make for an amazing history! Linda’s many years of empathy, socializing and business add to a lot of laughs and insight to The Power Surge Show.

DR DAVIDICUS WONG

DR DAVIDICUS WONG – POSITIVE POTENTIAL MEDICINE

Dr. Davidicus Wong was born in Vancouver, Canada where he continues to work as a family physician, integrating meditation, hypnosis, acupuncture and cognitive therapy in his medical practice. He received his M.D. from the University of British Columbia. At Burnaby Hospital, where he continues to deliver babies, he chaired the Ethical Resources Committee from 1992 to 2007 and did ethics consultations from 1997 to 2007, he was Head of the Department of Family Practice from 2003 to 2010, and he chaired the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee from 2006 to 2007. He was the Chair of the Fraser Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee from 2008 to 2010.

Since February 2009, he has been the Provincial Family Practice Champion of the BCMA’s Practice Support Program. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine at U.B.C.

Since 1991, he has written a regular medical column published in the Vancouver Courier, Burnaby Now, Royal City Record and associated community newspapers in the Lower Mainland. His Positive Potential Medicine radio program is on the internet at http://pwrnradio.com and his Positive Potential Medicine blog is at http://davidicuswong.wordpress.com.