Aboriginal programming at radio 3CR
There has been over a decade of Koori programming at Melbourne's community radio 3CR, with Not Another Koori Show (Mondays, 2-4pm) and the Koori Survival Show (Tuesdays, 9-11am).
Lisa Bellear, Destiny Deacon, Janina Harding and more recently Kimba Thompson have informed, entertained and politicised 3CR listeners with their analyses of media portrayals of Aboriginal people and the achievements of many Aboriginal women working in education, social justice and media/performance.
The Koori Survival Show has been an institution at 3CR. Listeners have tuned in every Tuesday to get their fix of Bob Dylan and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, and to hear the anarchy-fuelled rantings and political incisiveness of the Cosmic Avenger.
With the ever increasing "press release journalism" of the mainstream media, shows like these become even more valuable for telling it like it is.
Gilla McGuiness, one of 3CR's first Koori programmers, beginning 13 years ago, is returning to the Koori Survival Show, which he was involved in establishing.
The Marngrook Show is one of the newer programs at 3CR. It was created by Grant Hansen, who will be familiar to many 3CR listeners as one of the voices of Songlines Aboriginal Music Show (Thursdays at 2pm). Marngrook is a local Wurundjeri word for football, a game that Aboriginal people have played all over Australia for thousands of years.
The program presents an Aboriginal perspective on AFL football. It features updates about different players and the progress of teams, with reports from Derek Kickett, Michael McLean, Robbie Ahmat and Gilbert McAdam. Alan Thorpe, a former Sydney/Footscray/Carlton goal sneak, co-presents the program, which goes to air every Thursday at 3pm.
It is replayed on Friday mornings via the National Indigenous Media Association's satellite service to isolated communities.
There are 11 primary stations using the service, including in Kimberley, Perth metro region, Port Augusta, Alice Springs, Darwin, Cairns and Townsville, plus 109 small stations in remote communities.
KPA Blackvine is the newest Aboriginal program on 3CR. It began in July and is produced by Illbijerri Aboriginal Theatre Cooperative, established in 1990.
The program is presented by Tammy Anderson and Kylie Belling, with Anthony Sinnott from the Aboriginal Program Exchange behind the panel.
Anthony has been working at the Tape Exchange for three years, dubbing programs to send out to more than 150 radio stations around Australia. The programs and interviews feature current affairs, news, arts and cultural stories sourced from stations like ABC Radio National and 3CR's Women on the Line.
Both Tammy and Kylie are actors. Kylie graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1985 and has been working in theatre and around the fringes of radio since. Tammy has just graduated from the John Bolton Theatre School and has been working most recently with Circus Oz.
Tammy, originally from Tasmania, is hoping to raise the profile of Palawa performers and artists on the mainland. Both expressed the desire to connect and network with Aboriginal theatre companies in other states and provide a forum for visual and performing artists, as well as musicians, in Victoria.
As well as providing a weekly round-up of what's on around town and on the telly, there will be segments called "Kooris in the Kitchen" and "What's up ya Moom?" The program goes to air on Wednesdays from 12 noon.
[Abridged from 3CR's Cram Guide, August issue.]