Perth’s only Aboriginal radio station won the not for profit category and Hip Hop Show presenters, The Two Norty Bros – Sam Pilot-Kickett and Jamahl Ryder – jointly won the best artist category.

“The Perth NAIDOC Awards are a solid reflection of just how far Noongar Radio has come in its first year on the airwaves of Perth,” said Station Manager, Michelle White. “It’s also great recognition of the talent of our volunteer presenters.”

The awards were presented at the Perth NAIDOC Opening Ceremony in Wellington Street on Sunday the 4th of July.

“Noongar Radio will continue to thrive and grow and improve with the strong support of the Noongar community.” said Noongar Radio Chair Carol Dowling, who collected the not for profit award on behalf of the station.

The awards come almost one year to the day after Noongar Radio was officially launched at the same event last year. Since launching, 100.9fm has grown from an automated playlist to fourteen regular programs and more than 20 dedicated broadcasters and volunteers.

Even before an episode of the radio drama, Kasa Por Yarn, had been aired, it already has a huge following with about 800 fans on Facebook; thus showing positive signs that it will be a big hit.

The radio drama hit the airwaves in the Torres Strait when it was launched at the Torres Strait Islander Media Association’s radio station, 4MW, on Thursday Island on April 15. (The number at April 23 was more than 1700.)

The 12-part series, focusing on youth and relationships, went to air in front of a live audience and live broadcast hosted by Radio 4MW.

Before airing the first episode, Bishop Saibo Mabo gave the Opening Prayer and Mayor Pedro Stephen gave the Welcome, however, Kaurareg Elder Joseph Wasaga sent his apology for not being able to do the Welcome to Country due to cultural commitments.

Aaron Fa’aoso, who plays the role of Billy, as well as, being the creative and cultural consultant of Kasa Por Yarn. was guest speaker and spoke about having strong community ties.

He said: “If there are strong families then they makes strong communities.

“The internet and today’s technology has a strong impact on our youths and it’s alarming what they are facing.”

Fa’aoso acknowledged the Youth and Relationships Network (YARN) committees on NPA and Thursday Island, as well as, students input and the material used for stories.

“Students workshops were informative on what’s happening in their world, and. once you hear it on radio, you’ll then realise the magnitude of such a radio drama.”

Mau Power, along with Danny Boy, performed a couple of songs including the theme song Kasa Por Yarn which was written in just two days.

Radio interviews were conducted with cast members and others including Director/Writer Simon Luckhurst, who felt it was a privilege to work on this project.

“When people put their hearts into it, you walk away remembering such a project.

“I hope you like the play because it’s a good drama and culturally appropriate.”

When Kasa Por Yarn was being played, outside the TSIMA/4MW offices on Douglas Street, the interest by the audience was great and they showed their appreciation by clapping at the end of the first episode.

Just a day before the radio drama was launched at Bamaga with NPA cast members, Simon Luckhurst and Queensland Health representatives.

Apart from having a Facebook page Kasa Por Yarn also has a Bebo page.

Source: Torres News

Analysis produced as part of the Song Cycles research project – undertaken jointly by the Australia Council for the Arts and the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) – indicates that indigenous performances made up only 0.14 per cent of all music played on commercial radio stations in 2008, with the proportion dropping as low as 0.05 per cent back in 2005.

The research found that “with the exception of Western Australia, every state and territory indicated a decline in the actual number of indigenous performances on Australian commercial radio for the period under review”.

Joan Warner, the chief executive of Commercial Radio Australia, told TSR in response to the report that commercial radio was “a great supporter of Australian music”, identifying Emma Donovan – an indigenous singer-songwriter and a winner at last year’s New Artists 2 Radio competition – as an example of an Aboriginal artist who “received airplay on a number of stations”.

On ABC radio stations, 1.37 per cent of music played in 2008 was from Aboriginal artists. By contrast, indigenous music constituted 4 per cent of the performances played on community stations, bolstered by high proportions on dedicated indigenous broadcasters.

“We’ll need to work with broadcasters to open the airwaves to more quality indigenous content,” said Mark Bin Bakar, the chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board.

The grim broadcasting findings were mirrored across the review, which also covered challenges faced by Aboriginal artists with respect to live performance and recording opportunities, education and training, and public funding for indigenous music. The report’s author, Sally Howland, stated:

“The Song Cycles research indicates that Indigenous musicians are disenfranchised at every stage: training up, playing live, recording, airplay, distribution and touring.

“No wonder people feel locked out.”

Source: The Spy Report

“We want communities to be better equipped to understand how current and possible future exploration and mining technologies may or may not affect the land,”CSIRO’s Minerals Down Under Flagship Director Dr Peter Lilly said.

“We hope that this will help during bilateral negotiations about land use”.

“Once the first set of interviews with CSIRO scientists has been disseminated through the NIRS network and web site, we will look for feedback from listeners to see what additional information they would like us to provide.”

CSIRO identified the NIRS as an effective way to reach remote communities through about 160 Indigenous radio stations throughout Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.

Full Story http://www.csiro.au/news/Mining-with-remote-communities.html

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned and operated media is a critical tool in communicating to a diverse, and geographically dispersed, Indigenous population.

The unique strengths of Indigenous radio make it the single most effective medium to reach Indigenous Australians.

* Bridging vast distances – instantly

* A continuous soundtrack to everyday life

* Seamless Indigenous content

* Radio, as a spoken word medium, is more effective for this audience, who on average have lower literacy levels than other Australians

*The only medium to broadcast in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages

* Radio, as a free medium is highly effective for this audience who, on average have lower income levels than other Australians

* Spoken word medium suits the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tradition of oral history and storytelling

For more information: www.spotsandspace.com.au