Radical Australia

On this week's show we welcome Prue Licht, a Grandmothers for Refugees activist who spent 25 years and many long hours working in the welfare system, predominantly with women and families. Prue originally hails from England but has lived here in the Dandenongs ever since she arrived on these shores in the 1970s. Prue was involved in the amazing No Macca's in Tecoma campaign a few years back and is now very passionate about the rights of refugees here in Australia. Prue's advice for life is to 'be critical' but also 'be kind'. We like it. Thank-you for sharing some of your life with us, Prue. Keep up the good fight.grandmothersforrefugees.comCasey Grandmothers for Refugees will be at the office of Tony Smith, Federal member for Casey, on Friday 10th December, International Human RIghts Day, 1 Eastridge Drive, Chirnside Park, 2pm Refugee Action Collective will be at the Park Hotel, Lincoln Square, Carlton on the same day at 6:30pm 

'Question everything'. That's the motto this week's special guest, Maria Millers, has lived by ever since she was turned onto philosophy many moons ago. Maria was born in Harbin in 1937, a Russian city in the far north-east of China, to a family of Russian intellectuals in a time of Japanese occupation and has lived in Australia since she was a babe. Maria is an extraordinary person who has lived a full life rasing seven children whilst pursuing a life of communication - from writing, editing, teaching and radio broadcasting to founding the Woorilla Poetry Prize in the Dandenong Ranges. It was a treat to have Maria as our guest this week and we are sure you will enjoy her story. Thank-you, Maria.woorilla.org.au

On this week's show we have a soulful conversation with journalist, radio broadcaster and sound engineer, Kirstyn Lindsay, currently working with First Nations Media. KIrstyn hails from Logan City, Brisbane, and got her early learnings in listening at Musgrave Park among its Murray elders. Spending time in Sydney's anarchist, punk and feminist circles before living and learning in Melbourne for 20 years, KIrstyn has recently returned home on her long healing journey. She encourages everyone to find their magic, what they are good at. Not bad advice for a former 'bad apple'! It was a treat having Kirstyn on the program this week. We hope you enjoy the episode. Thank-you so much, Kirstyn.

John Lawrance was our special guest this week on Radical Australia. John has been a musician and theatre actor for many years in and around St Kilda and he shared with us the story of how he became an orphan at the tender age of six for the next ten years of his life. John told us how it was a crystal set radio that eventually saved his life after many years of not wanting to live and how he has made his life a life of music and creativity. It was an honour to hear John's story and we thank him greatly for being our guest this week.Listen to John talking about his latest album on Planet X: 3cr.org.au/planetx

On this week's show we welcome the charming Sasja Sydek, co-host of 3CR's Behind Closed Doors, a show which explores the world of sex work. Sasja is a trans woman of colour hailing from Singapore who has been jailed many times for simply being who she is. She is the co-founder of Trans Sisters United and Trans Pride March Melbourne as well as turning her hand to short film production of late. Sasja is a total fashion tragic and speaks four languages. One sassy, smart cookie right here. We thank Sasja for being our lovely guest this week. Here are some links to her activities:Behind Closed Doors, Thursdays 6:00pm - 6:30pm, 3CR 855AMA love letter to my mother, a short film, November 13 - November 27, smallwonderarts.org

This week we learn more about (and unmask!) the mysterious Innez Tulloch, who is currently filling the shoes of the Volunteer and Training Coordinator here at 3CR. Her snake-filled upbringing in Rockhampton comprised a bookish childhood and some rebellious teenage years, always driven by her natural propensity for music, where playing at their various live venues earned comments such as "chicks with guitars...don't tell my daughter!". Ditching Rockhampton halfway through her BA, she moved to the bright lights of Brisbane, landing smack bang in the middle of their DIY live music scene. Around this time of active grassroots community-building, she began (as many of us do) volunteering as a receptionist at a community radio station - Brisbane's 4ZZZ, eventually with a brief stint as acting station manager. Meanwhile, the musical side of life continued within the small but diverse and supportive Brisbane music scene, leading to live mixing gigs and international tours with her band to the US, Europe and Japan. Fi

Early busker, wannabe photographer, musician and faithful Melbournite - what doesn't this week's guest, Dean Lombard, not do? Born into a family of Queensland Italian cane cutters, Dean was a sensitive young person who liked writing and became a busker in 1980s Melbourne, entertaining the punters after hours. Learning a lot about people and the world during this time lead Dean to eventually get social work qualifications and he has been a policy advisor tackling structural disadvantage for numerous not-for-profits. Dean is currently busy playing in three bands, being a Dad to two kids and generally being an awesome guy. He's also really looking forward to some post-lockdown gigs.We thank him for being our guest this week.https://deanlombard.com.au/http://deanlombard.bandcamp.comhttp://deanlombard.bandcamp.com

What an amazing gal our guest this week, Fiona McWhirter, is. Fiona was diagnosed with a rare blood disease last year and is extraordinarily busy living her life to the full for herself, her family and community up in Rocky. What doesn't she do?!  An activist in the political, health and environmental spheres, Fiona is a champion person and was recently awarded the Courage Award from the MDS Foundation in the US. It basically means she's a legend. So much so that Joe will nominate Fiona for a Eureka Australia Medal this year, the first time he has announced such an honour on the show. We thank Fiona for being our wonderful guest this week and to her partner, Craig, for putting her up. Here are some links to Fiona's activities: healthyfutures.net.aumds-foundation.org

On this week's show we were treated to a few poems from poet and writer, Rob Wallis, a lifelong teacher who grew up in 50s Australia, a time when being queer was taboo and hardly any positive representations abounded. Rob was a bonded teacher before breaking out into adult teaching for many years, teaching many different subjects to all kinds of people. He is a bona fide teacher's teacher. These days Rob spends his days in Castlemaine writing poetry and sometimes pottering around his garden. Rob's sixth book is a poetic history of the gay male experience in Australia, focussing in on particular instances and people, titled 'Down Rainbow Road', published by Clouds of Magellan Press. We thank Rob very much for being our wonderful guest this week.robwallispoetry.com

This week's guest, Clovis Mwamba, was a human rights activist kidnapped and tortured under the dictatorship of Mobutu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after it gained freedom from Belgian colonisation in 1960. Clovis grew up in what he describes as an apartheid system in the mineral-rich, eastern Katanga province in a free-thinking household from where he went on to study psychology and other disciplines to come. In this episode, Clovis paints a picture of what it was like on that day back in 1960 when the people chanted 'Vive le Lumumba' for its indepenence leader, Patrice Lumumba. Clovis came to Australia in 2007 as a political refugee with his wife and seven children. We thank him for being our guest this week and we will have him back in the not-too-distant-future as there is more to know about Clovis' life. Thank-you, Clovis.

On this week's show we were thoroughly entertained by the co-producer of 3CRs slick current affairs program Uprise Radio, Jackson McInerney. Jackson was born in the old Jessie McPherson hospital where the skate park used to be in the city. Then the family moved to Yuendumu before returning to Melbourne. Jackson has been telling porkies from an early age and has loved the arts for about as long. These days he disseminates early-morning poetry to his colleagues in his IT job, is busy raising a two-year-old babe and really misses dinner parties where he can be found engaging in those frank discussions others try to avoid. We like it! Jackson was a very entertaining guest and we thank him for being on the show this week.Check out Uprise Radio, every Wednesday fortnight at 5:30pm - 6pm.3cr.org.au/upriseradio 

On this week's show we revisit a conversation from late in 2019 with legendary Australian filmmaker, David Bradbury. David is a self-taught documentary filmmaker with a swag of films and awards under his belt in a career spanning 40+ years. Check out David's film archive at frontlinefilms.com.au We are certain Radical Australia and 3CR listeners alike will find something they like. On this week's show, David and Joe have a sprightly conversation because they are both old baby boomer hippies and we are treated to a few stories and anecdotes from David's life. Thanks once again, David. frontlinefilms.com.au

On this week's Radical Australia we spoke with Ajan, a 3CR brekkie stalwart, trainer and producer of Diaspora Blues, a 2020 show that focuses on black and CALD people and stories. Ayan understands a thing or two about borders and boundaries and knows what it's like to feel alone, having grown up as an African Muslim in Australia. She speaks eloquently about trying to find her place in the world and what it was like as a child back in her mother's homeland of Somalia when she didn't have to think about her colour. These days Ayan has found her passion at 3CR and does whatever she can to make others feel at home, having runs on the board producing both Tuesday Brekkie and Women on the Line. A definite 3CR keeper. Thank you so much for gracing us with your loveliness this week, Ayan, and congratulations for nursing your new show remotely through the pandemic. A great effort. Diaspora Blues: Mondays, 2:30pm - 3:00pm 

This week's guest is Dr. Greg Poulgrain, a well-known lecturer on Southeast Asian history and friend to the West Papua Office in Docklands, Melbourne. On this show we find Greg in conversation about his new book, 'JFK vs Allen Dulles: Battleground Indonesia'. Thank you for joining us, Greg.

We are delighted to welcome 4ZZZ community radio stalwart Blair Martin onto the show this week. Blair is a Shakespearean thespian from Rockhampton who has loved the theatre since he was a teenager and he has a beautiful voice. Blair wears many hats at 4ZZZ from coordinator of its niche digital program grid to trainer and producer/host of 'Queer Radio', the world's longest running radio program of its kind, right there in Brisbane. Check it out. Thanks for tickling our ears with your rounded vowels, Blair, and for keeping up the faith in Queensland. It was a pleasure having you as our guest this week.4zzz.org.au/program/queer-radio4zzz.org.au/grid/ZDBlair as Hagrid from Harry Potter

Calling in from the dead centre of Melbourne, on this week's show we welcome the intriguing and disarming Barbara Hall. Barb is a member of the West Papuan Rent Collective in Melbourne and grew up roaming the streets and waterways of Williamstown. In this conversation, Barbara muses on her early life with her parents as well as her time as a teacher. She extends a warm welcome to one and all to the West Papua Office Open Day in Docklands, Sunday 19th Septermber 1pm - 4pm, for the launch of Greg Poulgrain's new book 'JFK vs Allen Dulles, Battleground Indonesia'. Be sure not to miss it. Thank-you, Barb, for being our guest this week.dfait.federalrepublicofwestpapua.org

This week we're delighted to welcome Brian Laver onto the show. Brian is a long-standing anti-war activist and anarchist from 1960s UQ. He is the Director of the Institute for Social Ecology and has been a part of the fabric of Brissie's radical community for a very long time. In this conversation we find Brian reflecting on his time in Prague '68 and as an international tennis coach, just down the road from Trumpy's place. What a life. Our words don't do him justice - best let Brian speak for himself. Thanks for coming on the show, Brian, and we look forward to you gracing us again once your autobiography is complete. Cheers, mate!

On this week's show we are delighted to have Sally join us from the bush. Growing up in a politicised family, Sally was an early debater and once stopped Pauline Hanson's election bus at the school gates. That was her first taste of the rush of direct action. Sally is a trained educator and has taught both in Australia and in Europe. She knows the value of care for self and others in the struggles of political activism and her insights have lead her to train as a hypnotherapist. Sally has tapped into her own self-power and healing and currently enjoys paddle boarding on the Murray. We thank Sally for sharing some of her life with us this week and being a gracious guest.

Compulsive artist, musician, storyteller, raconteur, poet: welcome to this week's episode of Radical Australia featuring second-time guest, Mr. Tony Millman. A honey-voiced wordsmith, on this week's show you'll find Tony and Joe engaged in a free-wheeling conversation about everything from art, modern society to living free. Tony also brought in his guitar and treated us to two live numbers: an original inspired by last week's NAIDOC guest, Jack Charles, and the other a rendition of Bonnie Parker's 'Billy the Kid'. Be sure to have a listen. Tony is a prolific musician and will premiere a folk-opera based on Bonnie & Clyde at the end of this month in Richmond. Check out all the links for further details. Thanks for entertaining us today, Tony. It was a treat. tonymillman.com