Radical Australia

This week's show is Part One in our interview series with Melbourne GP, health innovator and activist, Percy Rogers. Percy was a kindly GP to many people over many decades in Coburg and beyond, specialising in maternity health, but he started life in Western Australia in 1927. Percy grew up in Australia's experience of the Depression and the Second World War. He remembers how much it cost to pay lodgings whilst also trying to put yourself through college as a working-class boy. Percy was a maths whizz and was turned onto socialism at a young age whilst perusing books down a little alleyway in Perth many moons ago. He stumbled on some books talking about Marxism and he resonated with that view of the world. We are very much looking forward to learning where Percy's journey will lead us next when he returns to the studio next week! Tune in then.

Sash Gillies-Lekakis is a bright young PhD candidate and 3CR broadcaster who loves everything Latin America. He's been to Cuba a few times already in his young life and decided to learn Spanish at university, even though he comes from a family of Crimean Russians and Greeks. It's a family joke. Sasha has always loved modern history and produces Latin American Update, a long-running Sunday morning show on 3CR. Sasha's PhD is exploring Cuba's cooperation with the Pacific Islands, including training doctors for poor Pacific countries. He and his family have been communists for ever. Sasha will be co-hosting the event at the West Papua office in Docklands, Sunday 17 September, also featuring last week's popular guest, Robert Wolfgramm. There will be music, talks from Cuba and Fiji, and an auction! 838 Collins St, Docklands. Thanks for joining us this week, Sasha! Latin American Update, Sundays, 10:30am - 11amTickets for the West Papua event: dfait.federalrepublicofwestpapua.org/document/cuba-fiji-for-west-papua/

We are all phantoms. So introduces us to this week's very interesting guest, Robert Wolfgramm. Robert has done nearly everything you can pack into doing with a life: from lecturing in philosophical anthropology and sociology, to running a newspaper in Fiji during the military coup in the 00's. Robert has an interesting family background and was born in the 'village in the clouds' in Fiji before coming to Australia at age 11 when his world changed as he opened up to classical music and a bigger cosmos. It was broken down in a truck in Young NSW that changed Robert's life trajectory through a book that turned him onto sociology. He went on to lecture for 24 years. Robert says he has been blessed with meeting good people in his life, people that gave him a break. He's a pretty good bloke himself and sports a most majestic white beard. Robert will be giving a presentation at the West Papua Office in Docklands on Sunday September 17 on what the Pacific needs to do in relation to West Papua. Thank-you for joining u

Marisol Salinas from 3CR's Mujeres Latinoamericanas joins us on the show this week for our second special commemorating the 1973 coup in her homeland of Chile. Marisol hails from the far south of Chile on an island called Chiloe. Her people are the Mapuche and Marisol shares with us the trauma of her mother's life being a first nations woman and living in fear. Marisol is good at maths and physics and came to Australia when she was 23 years old when her political conscience began to grow. She has produced Mujeres Latinoamericanas for close to 30 years on 3CR, Thursdays 7pm - 8pm. Marisol invites everyone to the 'Chile 50 Years' commemoration, a full day of images and sounds at Trades Hall on Monday September 11, from 9:30am, at 54 Lygon St, Carlton. Thank-you for joinign us the show this week, Marisol.3cr.org.au/mujereshttps://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/chile-50-years-of-solidarity-struggle-tickets-684606776297 

3CR Chairperson, Pilar Aguilera, joins us this week to talk about the day that changed Chile forever and her personal family story that was swept up in it: September 11, 1973. The day of a militiary coup when Chile's democratically-elected, progressive government was taken over, a day that began the routine of storming houses and instilling fear among the populace. Pilar was just two years old. In the early days of the coup, thousands of people disappeared, were tortured and killed. We learn of Pilar's family exile from their homeland and we make time for the promotion of the 50th anniversary of that fateful day: Chile - 50 Years of Solidarity and Struggle. A full day commemoration of music, poetry, activities and empanada. Hosted by Trades Hall and organised with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union as an international solidarity initiative. See Eventbrite for further details. Thank-you for sharing you story with us, Pilar, and for being a steady presence as the 3CR Chair.https://www.eventbrite.com.au/

Use the time. Don't let the time use you. Arthur says this was the best piece of advice he received during his 8 year stint in the netherworld of Pentridge Prison and other gaols for armed robbery when he was a young, confused man. He received another piece of wisdom during his time that he says encapsulated all the study he did in his Masters of Criminology. Arthur has dedicated a lot of his life to helping prisoners transition from gaol into the community and serves as a mentor to many. He has been on a long healing journey, too. In Part Two of our special with Arthur, we come to learn how prisons and prisoners have changed over the last 40 years and what Arthur belives true rehabilitation means. It's been great having Arthur on our show the past month. Thanks for all the work you've done over the years helping others, Arthur. You have been a great guest.arthurbolkas.com.au

We were delighted to welcome Indonesian anti-corruption activist and teacher, Todung Mulya Lubis, online from Indonesia, onto the show this week. For many decades, Todung has committed his life to talking about the truth, in his idealistic and fearless way, about corruption in his homeland of Indonesia. Todung studied law and human rights at university and worked for Indonesian Legal Aid. In this conversation we learn some things about the modern political history of Indonesia, including the role of the military, political parties and the 32-year Suharto regime. We come to understand Todung's analysis of Indonesia's political system as a dynasty of cronies and what corruption means there. Todung identifies two forms of corruption: grand and state-capture. Both affect the way contracts are organised and are both an abuse and misuse of power. In this environment, what are Todung's hopes for Indonesia's future? Be sure to take a look at Todung's recently published book War on Corruption. An Indonesian Experience

We've been waiting to welcome Lana Woolf onto Radical Australia for some time. We first became aware of Lana's work with storytelling at a homelessness forum organised by then named Moreland Council a number of years ago. Lana is now part of the 3CR family, joining the team on PX Whanau Radio, Australia's first and only queer pacifica program, broadcasting every Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm. Lana has had a full working life working with undermargianlised communities in Australia and overseas, as well as in deinstitutionalisation. Lana is well-known internationally for her work in LGBT research and is a mother to three kids. Lana has a lot of experience and skills to share with the 3CR community. Thanks so much for joining us on the show this week, Lana.PX Whanau Radio, Saturdays, 1:30pm - 2pmcommunitypoweredresponses.com@LanaWoolf (X)

We've got another guest on the blower from Queensland this week: Ian Curr. Ian was born in a private hospital and nearly died! Lucky for his Italian doctor, the only one in the state. Ian has got up to all sorts of activist mischief in his life, including preventing freeways. Check out 'The Battle for Bowen Hills' on Vimeo. Ian was a lifelong unionist during his working life, including at the Australian Tax Office where he worked for many years and took the Murdoch family to court. He was eventually fired during the Howard government over a cartoon he circulated in the office. Ian was also dismissed from community radio station 4ZZZ after 10 years on 'The Paradigm Shift'. Ian is a free thinker, that's for sure. He has just completed a virtual ride from Canberra to Cuba, raising money, and produces podcasts at '4PR Voice of the People', the original Brisbane pirate radio since 1978. It is a podcast show about class, culture and country. He is prolific. Thanks for being our guest this week, Ian, and keep up you

We had so much fun listening to this week's guest, Arthur Bolkas, who kept us on the edge of our seats with his tale of his armed robbing stint back in the day. Arthur was born in Carlton to parents from Lemnos, Greece, and was a top athlete in school, throwing javlin, and becoming both dux and school captain. He enrolled in Arts and Law at Melbourne University and the pressure started to mount. What happened next? This is the first of a two-part special with Arthur. We hope you enjoy the episode.

"What is the best use of me for the world?" So aks Jiselle Hanna from 3CR's Asia Pacific Currents, broadcasting every Saturday morning, who joins us this week and shares some of her life journey so far, from a childhood growing up in Coburg, where she and her sisters ruled the local pool, to a high school on the other side of town that changed her life. Jiselle has been on a healing journey for a little while. She tells us that she has been through some big political changes since the 1990s, where she felt her political perspective had become too narrow and where she broadened her view to encompass all those who suffer under capitalism. These days, Jiselle is a great Aunty, a public servant in the justice department, socialist and member of Australia Asia Worker Links. Thanks so much for sharing some of your life with us this week, Jiselle.Asia Pacific Currents, Saturdays, 9am - 9:30amAustralia Asia Worker Links: aawl.org.au

We were delighted to welcome 3CR legend, Robbie Thorpe, to the show this week for NAIDOC celebrations. It was a rare opportunity to hear some things about Robbie's life away from the mic and we learnt a few things about the great man. Robbie intended to be a sportsman and was a keen footballer and boxer before a trip to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy changed his life trajectory when he was sixteen years old. He felt he couldn't be a sportsman in a land on which his people were suffering, and the rest is history. Robbie shares his thoughts on 3CR's broadcast series Beyond The Bars and we also hear some of his reflections on loss. Robbie currenly helms three programs on 3CR, including The Black Block, Bunjil's Fire and Blak n Deadly. Be sure to catch Robbie on one of his shows for some sharp, sovereign analysis, great phone calls and cool music. Thanks a bunch for all you do, Robbie.The Black Block, Mondays, 11am - 12pmBunjil's Fire, Wednesdays, 11am - 2pmBlak n Deadly, Fridays, 11am - 12pm

We are delighted to welcome Brett Collins to this week's episode of Radical Australia. Brett has done some staunch work over the years campaigning for prisoner rights. These days that takes the form of rights to digital technology and communications. Brett heads up Justice Action, which grew out of a prisoner's action group, upon release from over 9 years' served in New South Wales penitentiaries in the 1970s. Brett learnt a lot about how to cope at a most basic level during his time inside, with many moments spent in isolation, some of that in black cells where he read the Bible in the sliver of light coming under the cell door. Justice Action hit its straps during the Hilton bombing campaign and it remains busy today staying connected to people though letter writing, getting people's voices out and campaigning for prisoner access to e-technology, in keeping with today's times. Hear about Justice Action's recent trip to Nairobi and Brett's views on the prison system today. We thank Brett so much for joining

This week's guest on Radical Australia is a well-known and well-loved progressive activist who gets himself around the land quite a bit: Andy Paine. Andy says he has a restless soul and it has recently taken him to northern Iraq to witness some inspiring political action. A far cry from Mudgee, New South Wales, where Andy grew up with a bunch of other brothers and where radio was a link to a bigger world. Andy now finds himself at 4ZZZ in Brissie where he has been for 10 years and produces a show on Fridays called The Paradigm Shift, a show that envisions other possibilities. Andy got his activist straps during the Adani campaign where they lived a communal life on property near the site and disrupted works while modelling other kinds of community life, figuring out how they could work. Andy says he has had a good life full of adventures and has done many remote recordings along the way to capture them. Keep up the great work, Andy, and thanks very much for being our guest this weekThe Paradigm Shift I Friday

This week's guest, Donna Stolzenberg, has done some amazing things for Melbourne's homeless community. Donna began the Melbourne Homeless Support Group, organising the collection of blankets and sleeping bags across 80 drop-off points. She can tell you a thing or two about 'shit people give to the homeless'. Donna also began the Melbourne Period Project, orgnanising period packs through donations from organisations and individuals. Donna has learnt a lot in this journey about period poverty and how menstruation is still not a safe experience for all women in Australia. The Melbourne Period Project currently has 180 drop-off points. Back in time, Donna opened The Kala Space, an op-shop employing people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. She is the Managing Director of the National Homeless Collective and has raised 5 boys. Donna hails from Kalgoorlie. In 2021, she won the Victorian of the Year. She is a bit of a legend and a lovely person to boot. Thank-you so much for joining us this week, Donna, an

Our show notes tell us that this week's guest, Su Robertson, has done an enormous amount with her life in the community law sphere and elsewhere. Su began her working life as a flight attendant where she roamed the skies for over 19 years. During this time she was the State Secretary for the Flight Attendant's Union which she got involved in after living and working through the Pilot's Dispiute in 1989. This was a dispute over wages and conditions and pilots resigned en masse. Since then, Su has been a committed community lawyer, getting her articles of clerkship after uni at Fitzroy Legal Service before progressing on to the Environmental Defenders Office, various other community legal centres and now at the Consumer Action Law Centre who run programs like the National Help Debtline. Su keeps 3CR broadcasters safely within the borders of media law and is a well-loved trainer. Thanks for joining us once again, Su, and keep up your great work and passion for the grassroots.Done By Law, Tuesdays 6pm - 6:30pm Au

Self-described sports nuffy, Patrick Morrow, is our latest guest on Radical Australia and we are so glad he could join us! Patrick was born in 1999, a Millenium baby, 3 months premature. Pat has certainly made up for that, rising now to a height well over 6 feet. Patrick is a producer on 3CR's Wednesday Breakfast and Talkback With Attitude when he isn't doing footy voiceover work in Geelong and calling games for the Essendon District Football League. With his love of both geography and sport, Patrick is soon heading over to Greece with his buddies to check out the origin site of the Olympics. Be sure to send us a postcard, Pat, and thanks so much for being our guest this week.3cr.org.au/wednesday-breakfast3cr.org.au/talkback

Our guest on Radical Australia this week is a lovely artist and activist who called in from beautiful Gympie, Queensland. Zela grew up in the gorgeous surrounds of Hervey Bay and was into progressive grassroots organising and activism from a young age. Zela was a member of the Self Management Group, a libertarian communist organisation and was a part of the 1970s Right to March movement. She created the Sisters of Mary performance trio who buoyed the activists during gatherings against the damning of the Mary River in 2007. An incredible popular front arose in that campaign during the Millenium Drought. Zela has a Masters of Environmental Education and is a potter. Make sure to check out some of Zela's beautiful artworks on her website. Thank-you for being our guest this week, Zela.zela.com.auSisters of Mary l-r Zela, Glenda Pickersgill, Joolie GibbsScenes from a Right to March protest, Brisbane 1977 c/o The GuardianZela with former Self Management group members who turned out for the Mary River protest 2007

We are joined in the studio this week by one of our charming receptioninsts, Grace Kelly. Grace has only been living in Australia and Melbourne for 18 months and has already found her way to 3CR. We're looking forward to seeing her 3CR journey. We thank Grace for sharing some of her life with us this week, including tales of many travels around the world and many interesting experiences. Grace is currenly halfway through the 3CR Introduction to Broadcasting course. We expect she'll be on the decks at some stage. Thanks, Grace!

This week's special guest, Margaret Kelly, is holding out on being evicted from her home on the Barack Beacon estate in Port Melbourne while the Andrews Labor government seeks to knock it down from under her feet. Margaret has lived on the estate for 25 years and says it is the friendliest place she's ever lived. The buildings are structurally sound and the rooms are spacious. This is nothing but the unnecessary destruction of a community, dispersed to the winds, and the sale of a public asset from under our feet.  Margaret urges you to join her on the steps of Parliament House on Thursday May 11, 11:30am where she will hold a press conference before walking down to the housing minister's office, Colin Brooks. Dress in your Sunday best!In this episode, we learn about Margaret's life journey as an early IT worker in the early 80s, her lifelong post-viral illness, her early life in New Zealand and her time at Imperial College, England.For more information about Margaret's media conference visit: facebook.com/Pu