Reflecting on Reconciliation Week

View from Gunnadoo Farm.  You can just see the ocean in the background.

Reconciliation week is one of great importance, for both Indigenous (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) and non-Indigenous Australians.   The biggest milestone for reconciliation was the 1967 referendum, where an overwhelming amount of the non-Indigenous population voted ‘Yes’ to  the end of official discrimination and the promise of full and equal citizenship.  This was a significant change from “fauna and flora”, as Indigenous Australians were previously recognised. One of our volunteers distinctly recalls these times, and the negative impact it caused.

Discrimination towards Indigenous people was rife, the massacre of at least 20 000 Indigenous people occurred from European settlement in 1780’s until 1928.  Although Indigenous people were meant to be protected under British Law, this was often not the case, with mistreatment towards Indigenous people deemed “justified”.  Many Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families due to various policies, the main one adapted by all states was known as “assimilation”, in an attempt to “breed out the Indigenous culture”, which to this day continues to affect Indigenous communities.

Since the 1967 referendum, reconciliation has continued to grow stronger with the 1992 Mabo decision, where Indigenous people were finally recognised as the first occupants of Australia, followed later by  Kevin Rudd’s National Apology in 2008.  However, there is still a long way to go.  One of the elders in Carnarvon said to us that often people will say that “it’s in the past, and Aboriginal people need to look to the future”.  However, the elder made a very strong point that “WW1 and WW2 are in the past too, but Australians still remember on ANZAC Day”.  It’s important to learn from history to move forward, and a lot of the history of Indigenous people has still not been recorded.

There were a range of events in Geraldton that signified reconciliation, and how far Australia has come and where we can work together to continue reconciliation into the future.  One of the events was at Gunnadoo Farm (about 30 minutes east of Geraldton), where schools from Geraldton and Mullewa came to showcase their dance groups, ranging from traditional dance, to cheerleading, and jazz.  It was a fantastic day, where everyone got involved and helped out.  I managed to have a chat with some of the children about why they love dancing, have a listen to the link below to hear their responses. 

I also had the opportunity to discuss with people ‘what reconciliation means to them?’.   This is one of the most powerful recordings I have done.  There is so much that could be said about the endurance and forgiveness of the Indigenous population, but the community voice gives it more justice than I ever could.  Listen to the recording and tell us what you think. 

I know that this recording has given me hope that one day we can all say we are proud Australians that can work together as one, learn from one another, and put an end to discrimination.

Tune back in time to the wireless

By Celeste Larkins

Did you listen to the radio when you were a child?  If so, what did you listen to?  Did you tune in for the music, or was it the dramas, or sports coverage?

Dane and I had the privilege of being taken back to a time where radio in Australia was the main form of information and entertainment, although back then it was called the ‘wireless’.  Recently we attended a Yarning Circle at the Geraldton foreshore organised by Bundiyarra Aboriginal Corporation.  There we had the opportunity to speak with Yamaji Elder, Rob Ronan.  The stories he shared with us of his childhood and growing up in Geraldton were enthralling, covering topics of environment, pastimes, and the impact of segregation laws on Aboriginal people.  The interview we recorded was used as part of the Yamaji Yarning Project, which HCR are working on in partnership with Radio MAMA.  The aim of the project is to record stories of the Yamaji people, and share them via radio broadcast to promote preservation of these stories for future generations.

Rob shared how the ‘wireless’ was an influential part of his childhood, in particular at night time when he would listen to drama serials, as there was no television.  He emphasised how he would use his imagination to picture the scene in his favourite serials such as Green Bottle, Biggles, and Hagen’s Circus.  Dane and I soaked up every word he spoke.  Not only were we able to picture what life was like in Geraldton back then, we also learned how significant radio was throughout Rob's childhood.

It was incredible to record Rob Ronan’s story and to continue to share his story through radio to the present and future Mid West communities.  Hopefully, people will be able to paint a picture of his childhood in their mind when they listen in, the same way Rob did when he was a child tuning in to Green Bottle.

If you would like to share in Rob Ronan's story of his childhood and his favourite wireless serials, listen in by clicking below.

To listen to the full interview click below.

Bipolar: A lived experience from diagnosis to recovery

By Celeste Larkins 

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is estimated that 45% of Australians will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime.  In any one year, around one million Australian adults have depression, and over two million have anxiety.

The odds are high that during our lifetime we will be affected by mental illness, either through friends and family, or by experiencing it ourselves.

Research shows that there are similar rates of mental health issues in rural and remote areas of Australia, when compared with metropolitan areas.  However, the availability of mental health services in rural/remote areas and the ability for people living in those areas to access these services differs significantly from metropolitan areas.

HCR and partner Radio MAMA in Geraldton, Western Australia, have been working on a grass-roots project with the Mid West community to reduce stigma and break down barriers to seeking professional mental help.  HCR has been recording the stories of community members who have a lived experience of managing and recovering from mental illness.  These stories are broadcast on Radio MAMA, throughout the Mid West, aimed at connecting with listeners and giving them a greater understanding of the complexities of mental illness.

Listen to this inspiring interview with Cathy, who shares her story of living with bipolar and her journey to recovery.  It is by sharing these candid stories and encouraging an honest dialogue about mental health that community radio can give hope to those touched by mental illness.

If you think that you or any of your friends/family are experiencing symptoms of mental illness, please seek professional medical advice from your doctor.  For more information on mental health, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or visit their website: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Sources:

1.Beyond Blue (2015).  The facts: Depression and Anxiety are Common Conditions.  Retrieved from, http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts

2.The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (2013). Mental Health in Rural Areas.  Retrieved from, https://www.ranzcp.org/Publications/Rural-psychiatry/Mental-health-in-rural-areas.aspx

Papua New Guinea to Perth

By Celeste Larkins

For a week in February, HCR had the greatest pleasure of training a lovely young gentleman, Sidney, from the Tari province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.  Sidney has been involved in the set-up of the community radio station Hela FM, under the guidance of HCR Board Member, Martin Gould.  Finally, after much preparation, the radio is very close to being on air. Sidney traveled all the way to Perth to continue his training with HCR to be ready as a community broadcaster.

Celeste (right), Sidney (centre) and Dane (left) in the office.

Radio Hela will be established as a community-centred radio station to help the community of Tari to address health and social issues.  While the station is yet to air, Sidney has already been spending time in the villages connecting community and service providers, as well as recording people’s stories, with thousands of files on the database all ready for when the station begins broadcast.  The week of training in Perth with Sidney further developed his fast-progressing radio skills. Topics covered through the week of training in Perth included the role of community-centred media and developing programs and techniques to engage with community using radio.

Sidney has dedicated a lot of time and hard-work to generate interest in the villages of Tari province, and has been able to commit this time with the support of the local church.  The HCR team were very impressed at Sidney’s eagerness and enthusiasm to learn as much as possible to further help his community.  The week Sidney arrived, Martin purchased him a laptop, which was his first own laptop and his face said it all about how appreciative he was.  He had such joy and excitement.  In comparison to many of us who have all that we need and want at our fingertips, Sidney is so willing to give, even while having minimal commodities available to him.

Sidney told us of his community and how he walks hours to get to each village.  He explained that communities rely on generators for electricity, that there is no running water, how they eat what they grow or find food in the bush, and he spoke of the impact malaria has in the province.  When asked what he does on the weekend his response was that he often goes hunting…with bow and arrow.  It is incredible how different his lifestyle is to ours, and how we often take for granted simple things like having clean water from a tap.

Words cannot describe how inspiring Sidney is and we are grateful that he is a member of our HCR team. Watch this space, because he is going to continue to do great things! 

Radio MAMA provides emergency information for Carnarvon community affected by Cyclone Olwyn

Tropical Cyclone Olwyn has decimated many banana plantations in Carnarvon, WA (Picture: ABC News, Doriana Mangili)

Last Friday the 13th of March, people living in Perth, Western Australia were bracing for strong weather warnings predicted over the weekend caused by Cyclone Olwyn.  Geraldton was on Yellow Alert Friday evening after the cyclone tore through Exmouth causing severe destruction.  However, the Category Three Cyclone changed direction at the last minute leaving Geraldton and Perth with only a sprinkle of rain, and people thinking “What a fizzle that cyclone was!”

This light plane was damaged in Carnarvon during the cyclone. (Picture: ABC News, Robert Koenig-Luck)

Carnarvon however, wasn't so lucky.  At 11am on Friday 13th the Cyclone hit, uprooting big trees, pushing electrical poles over, and tearing roof sheeting from homes. Many reported  the wind was so strong that the rain was horizontal.  HCR's Geraldton-based staff work closely with Radio MAMA Carnarvon, an Aboriginal community radio station.

Today,  staff spoke with Radio MAMA volunteers Carmel and Antonio to discuss the aftermath of the cyclone.  Here’s what announcer Carmel, had to say:

It was really scary being by myself at home. I was stuck inside with just a candle for my only light, it made me feel dread.  I couldn’t wait until the next morning so there was light.  I heard a banging sound and thought it was damage being done to the neighbour’s house, but it was my front fence swinging in the wind.  I went outside to try close it and could hardly walk from the force of the storm.  The next morning before the sun even came up I went outside to see the damage.  There was debris everywhere and flooding.  At my daughters house a tree had been blown over by the wind the night before, and in the morning when she awoke it was back up.  The wind had changed direction and forced it up again. I got my electricity back Saturday evening, but some places only got there’s back yesterday.  Having no electricity affected so much including critical services like the hospital.  We couldn't access money for food or phone credit.  Luckily, services have set up at the Wool Shed, and we have been able to get food and make phone calls.

Volunteer Antonio was also affected by the cyclone:

My dad works on one of the banana plantations.  There has been 100% damage to the 48 plantations in Carnarvon.  My dad’s house on the plantation had a tin roof, which was completely ripped off.  There were services around to help, but because of the damage to other houses exposing asbestos, there were precautions in place for the workers.  It was hard to explain that it was just a tin roof.  However, we did get some tape and my dad and I were able to fit it.  My house in town was damaged as well.

Carmel and Antonio said that the Carnarvon community are doing well now and have united together, with everyone doing what they can to get the town back up and running.  Carmel expressed how great it was that Radio MAMA broadcast up to date information of the cyclone warnings, and then what to do in the aftermath.  Although, power was lost, Radio MAMA was the first station back on air, providing emergency coverage for the Carnarvon community.  Radio is often the only available source of vital information and warnings when a cyclone hits. It is wonderful to see a community station like Radio MAMA providing this much needed emergency information to the Carnarvon community.