The CRAM Guide is made with the generous contributions of volunteer writers, photographers and 3CR programmers.
2018 CRAM Editors Juliet Fox, Aodhan Madden
2018 Projects Sub Committee Design and Layout Aysha Tufa
2018 Contributors Pilar Aguilera, Jacob Andrewartha, Sally Goldner, Juliet Fox, Thanh Hang Pham, Emma Hart, Geoff Hoy, Rachel Kirby, Pat Khor, Katia Lallo, Hope Mathumbu, Leanne McLean, Melissa McMullen, Kate Reid, Suzy Steininge,r Michaela Stubbs.
3CR is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, traditional owners of the land from which we transmit people powered radio.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following pages contain names and images of people who have passed.
3CR Staff Management 2018
3CR Staff
Station Manager Rachel Kirby Program Coordinator Michaela Stubbs Volunteers and Training Coordinator Leanne McLean Office and Finance Coordinator Loretta O’Brien Current Affairs Coordinator Gabrielle Reade Projects Coordinator Juliet Fox Technical Coordinator Greg Segal Technical Assistant Riah Williams I.T. Worker Luke Neeson Music Coordinator Joe Malignaggi
3CR Committee
Chairperson Pat Khor, Vice Chairperson Helen Gwilliam, Vice Chairperson Joe Malignaggi, Secretary Therese Virtue, Treasurer Senthooran Perambalam, Directors Pilar Aguilera Andy Britt Aoife Cooke Jacob Grech Emma Hart Emma Kefford Beth King Vivian Malo Michele Vescio Joe Wally
Station Report 2018
Author: Rachel Kirby, Station Manager
Before I took on my current role, I was the volunteer coordinator at 3CR for seven years. Over that time I met with over 800 new volunteers and told each and every one of them the story of how 3CR started.
Our early committees and volunteers made some tough decisions. They committed themselves and a growing community of listeners to back their vision of owning our station, including the building, technology and transmitter to give 3CR a broadcast path controlled by our community. They did this by fundraising brick by brick, with working bees, door knocking and on-air drives. It is with the surety of this ownership that 3CR survives today. But their most enduring gift has been our purpose, a deeply informed and radical philosophy of what radio and community media can be.
We are still that early version of 3CR with programs that have been on air for decades, remaining as relevant today as they were when they started. But we are also evolving and growing with the challenges of our times, driven by the energy, politics and passion of our volunteers who turn up and do the work, week in week out.
Our challenges though, are not behind us.
We are still fighting for every dollar we need to resource our community of volunteer broadcasters and we are still striving for media diversity in 2018. Despite all that we know about the importance of representation, it is still a revolutionary act to put a mic in the hand of someone denied a voice and more than four decades later, 3CR is still here doing just that. A
cross the following pages you will hear from members of our community—old and new—from youth justice to jazz music, from trans awareness to criminalising journalism, with each programmer, project and volunteer helping to write the continuing story of 3CR. The drive and determination that created 3CR is needed today more than ever.
I hope you will join us this Radiothon and support our continuing work to fight for your mic!
Communities of sound
Author: Thanh Hang Pham, broadcaster and coordinator
Over the summer period I was Acting Projects Coordinator and Communities of Sound was one the projects I managed. Inspired by our radical radio programs, I curated the event to highlight some of our talented volunteer broadcasters. Without them 3CR would not be the radical community it is today. Chances are that we only meet a fraction of our listeners, so Communities of Sound was an opportunity for people to unplug from their listening devices and head down to the Fairfield Amphitheatre to see live performances by some of our broadcasters.
" Sweet Dreams reeled the audience into the amphitheatre "
The event was MC’d by Pilar Aguilera from 3CR’s Completada Bailable—a grassroots, edgy and fun weekly Spanish language program of analysis, arts, music and poetry.
The event kicked off with a DJ set from 3CR’s Sweet Dreams crew. Sweet Dreams reeled the audience into the amphitheatre with tunes by women and queer musicians across electronic, noise, experimental, pop and punk in Australia and New Zealand. Slowly audience members settled into the beautiful amphitheatre with their families, picnic rugs and appetite for live music.
At one point Robbie spoke about the platypus, and how once you could find them abundant in the Yarra river but colonisation changed this drastically. Whilst Robbie yarned about treaty on stolen land, Viv Malo strummed along on her guitar to set the atmosphere. The audience then danced to the West Papuan Band, was serenaded by the vocals of June Jones, Dani Sib and Thando, and was rattled by the poetics of Manisha Anjali.
To top it all off, Kutcha Edwards graced the stage with his powerful lyrics and songs of his journey and thatof his people. A long-time friend and broadcaster at 3CR, Kutcha is loved amongst many 3CR listeners and broadcasters. With his charismatic persona, Kutcha no doubt managed to get all 250 audience members to stand up and sing along to his songs. He even managed to call up members of the West Papuan Band and Dani Sib to join him on stage.
Together, their powerful voices captivated the audience with one last song before the sun set behind the Yarra river. As a 3CR broadcaster, formerly for Queering the Air and now for Women on the Line, my experience at the station has mostly been on a broadcast level. During my time as Acting Projects Coordinator, I learnt a lot about 3CR and the opportunity to manage Communities of Sound was both a fun and memorable experience.
" this event highlighted for me the dedication and respect that volunteers and listeners have for the station "
Organising this event highlighted for me the dedication and respect that volunteers and listeners have for the station. I could not have pulled off the event without the support of staff and volunteers.
Thanks to the City of Yarra for funding us to be part of the ‘Fairfield in Feb’ series; Hope Mathumbu, former Tuesday Breakfast broadcaster, for stage managing the event; the tech team, Corey Green and Michael Smith for managing the sound on the day; volunteers Joe Malignaggi, Nicky Stott, and many others for setting up the venue; and thanks to staff for organising and selling food and drinks.
The samosas, halloumi sliders and Vietnamese iced coffee were a perfect addition to a stellar lineup of performances. 3CR is certainly a community to many and I hope that our next event will be just as fantastic as Communities of Sound.
Image 1: Lucius Itlay, Dani Sib and Kutcha Edwards. Live set with Thando
Image 2: Dani Sib plays for the crowd
Image 3: Live at the Fairfield amphitheatre
What the hell is a Completo Anyway?
Author: Marta, Gabriela, Grace and Pilar Completada Bailable presenters/producers
Welcome to Completada Bailable, a program that is a little bit in English and mostly in Spanish. The name of our program loosely translated means Danceable Feast. A completo is a hot dog in Chile that is eaten with other ingredients and a completada is an event where you sell completos, generally as a fundraiser.
The term bailable means danceable. The name is part of the popular lexicon and fits our program very well. The idea is that it is an event that takes place in the evening, it gathers people, it is about community, it is festive but can also be serious. It is grassroots. The name can also be a play on words to mean something that is complete. In terms of the pronunciation, it’s Com-play-yah-da Bye-larb-leh.
The ingredients for our completo are: analysis, arts and culture, poetry and local music. We have been on air since July 2017 and promote local talent, mainly drawing on the community of Latin American artists, including musicians, poets, dancers, and artists.
We only play local music and feature local and international issues. We have featured international guests such as Eulalia Corbella, governor from the Barcelona en Comú Party in Spain, who discussed the details of governing as a minority and the transition from activist to politician; and Manuel Guerrero, Assistant Professor in Bioethics and son of murdered Communist Party member in Chile during the dictatorship. He was in Australia promoting a new documentary called ‘Guerrero’ which highlights the story of him as a boy and his journey through pain and rage that concludes in an act of healing in which his life takes on new meaning.
We spoke to local activists Ricardo Fredes and Diane Atkinson about their visit to Manus Island, in a very moving interview. We have also followed the extradition campaign of Chilean torturer Adriana Rivas.
We’ve featured varied topics such as women’s alternative health, artists’ creative practices, issues of social justice and Latin American social and political struggles, such as the Ni Una Mas campaign, which is the Latin American version of the #MeToo campaign. Our discussions are lively, relaxed and sometimes controversial. We feature a regular poetry segment that is enriched by live recordings from the A Voz Limpia group who gather once a month to read poetry, as well as our resident poet Grace Amigo who often reads her own work. We also feature Timber Music Box, an audio-visual production that documents the local music landscape.
A few months after beginning the program Carla Ottone, one of the original members of the team, had to leave Australia due to changes to the 457 visa, and so she is often a long distance correspondent on the show!
It is a revolutionary act to put a microphone in front of someone who is voiceless, and 3CR does that all the time. We aim to bring out these voices in Spanish, English and sometimes Spanglish.
LISTEN: Completada Bailable Wednesday 6.30-7.30pm
Caption: L-R Gabriela, Marta, Grace, Pilar and Carla enjoying a completo feast. Photo courtesy of Gabriela Gonzalez.
We need more African Voices On Radio
Authors: Hope Mathumbu, volunteer broadcaster
Black women doing radio is a very personal and powerful thing for volunteer Ayan Shirwa. ‘We need more African voices on radio. In-language programmes have a purpose and they’re excellent, but sadly there aren’t that many of us doing radio and there’s plenty of space for all of us. Plus, when we do get opportunities to appear on radio it’s by pimping out trauma stories (to quote a friend). You don’t usually hear stories of us flourishing, or doing basic stuff. It has to be some ‘refugee makes good by assimilating’ narrative - and that’s not all there is to us. We are vibrant and I like to bring that vibrancy out.’
I certainly couldn’t juggle all those jobs and I guess that’s why I’m always in awe of her.’It’s obvious that Ayan has inherited some of this vibrancy from the most powerful and important blackwoman in her life, her hooyo (mum), Khadija Musse, who did radio for years on both SBS and 3ZZZ whilst working full-time and volunteering in the local Somali community. Ayan is unwavering in her praise and admiration for her hooyo, a woman who in many ways was ahead of her time. ‘It was very rare for a Somali woman to have her own radio show— playing music, bantering with her listeners. She was a hard worker. She’d leave her job at 5pm, hop on public transport, do her show, edit and then come home to cook for us.
Since joining 3CR as a volunteer, the possibilities have been endless for Ayan. As well as being a presenter on Tuesday Breakfast, she also volunteers at reception and community events. ‘As you know we get all sorts of people doing radio—or helping out behind the scenes at 3CR. There’s no one type of volunteer, and I’d dare someone to say so! Being around people who are very different to you, but all share the same interest in promoting social justice issues is important, because it shows there isn’t one way to be an activist. It’s good to be around folks who have been doing radio for decades and STILL love what they do. That’s my goal. Longevity.’
Ayan’s unique voice, sharp mind and vibrancy have made invaluable contributions to the sound of 3CR—especially on key special broadcasts including International Women’s Day 2017 and 2018. With all these unique contributions, Ayan is humble and recognises the beautiful black female collective whose history she is a part of shaping. ‘I don’t think we in the community often acknowledge those who came before us. We always wanna be the first, pretending like we did it without the support and guidance of our ancestors. That’s why it’s super important to tip your hat to the folks who made your journey easier.
So, I wanna give a shout-out to Areej, Hope, Namila, Sista Zai, Aziza from Nile Show and DJ Abyss who hosts Hip Sista Hop.’
Speaking out against the criminalisation of journalism
Author: Jacob Andrewartha, Green Left Weekly Radio producer/presenter
As a community radio station that emphasises the stories of the oppressed over the powerful and privileged, many of our programs aren’t afraid to challenge political power. Whether it’s our government’s treatment of indigenous people through the Northern Territory intervention, the off-shore detention regime or our coverage of protests such as the Stolenwealth games, 3CR has a proud history of standing up for the rights of the oppressed and asserting our democratic right to do so, even when the cause is unpopular.
In our program Green Left Weekly, we are committed to fighting for an ecologically sustainable world, as well as a world free of oppression and exploitation.
It is for this reason, that we are not afraid to report on stories around institutional corruption— whether it’s police brutality, evasion of taxes or government accountability.
" they could face prosecution for simply doing their jobs "
Consequently, our team at Green Left Weekly are deeply concerned about the implications of the federal government’s recent attempt to criminalise journalism. The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code Act of 1995 would make it impossible for media organisationsto accurately report on what the government does behind closed doors, especially in the cases of confidential information leaked to the media.
The pretence for this recent legislative proposal, which was tabled in the federal parliament at the end of last year, is to respond to the growing threat of foreign states trying to influence Australia’s political landscape. Or at least that is what the Turnbull government maintains. Although apparently inspired by a recent scandal related to Labor Party politician Sam Dastyari and his alleged links to the Chinese government, I would argue that all of this is merely a smoke screen to attack our democratic rights and to restrict our right to hold governments to account.
The proposed bill is the sixty-seventh piece of national security legislation since September 11, 2001, of which 54 pieces have passed. This contributes to a consistent pattern of attacking our civil liberties and drumming up Islamophobia. 3CR has always challenged and spoken out against this.
These proposed changes to Australia’s national security laws have serious implications for journalists and reporters alike. As the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) notes, under these new laws we could see journalists and whistle-blowers who ‘receive’ or ‘handle’ top secret documents get jailed for twenty years—‘even if they never broadcast or publish a story’. That is, they could face prosecution for simply doing their jobs.
The bill would go beyond Section 70 of the Commonwealth Crimes Act which relates to the disclosure of information by public servants. According to media specialist Johan Lidberg in his article for The Conversation, it could be ‘a crime, punishable of maximum two-years in prison, for public servants to communicate or supply information to anyone outside government without permissions.’ Other aspects of the bill would undermine the ability of journalists to protect their sources on important news stories.
A good example is the ABC’s reporting of ‘The Cabinet Files’—the infamous set of locked filing cabinets filled with highly classified documents which were bought at a second-hand shop in Canberra. As we reported on Green Left Weekly Radio, if those laws were already in place, the ABC journalists behind the story could have easily faced prosecution.
It is not hard to see how these amendments to the law could have a negative impact on community broadcasting at 3CR. For the team at Green Left Weekly Radio it could severely impact our ability to report on stories related to leaked confidential government information, particularly in relation to government corruption. Indeed this could affect not only us but any program that reports or comments on such information. There have also been criticisms about the broad scope of the bill which applies to information of any kind, whether it is true or false, whether in a material form or not, or whether its opinion or even part of a conversation.
A broad range of media organisations such as the MEAA, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Law Centre, Human Rights Commission and many major media companies, including the ABC, have expressed concerns about these proposed laws. The MEAA has released an online petition that states, ‘In the name of press freedom and government accountability, we call on the Turnbull government to withdraw the Bill until it is rewritten to protect journalists from criminal prosecution.’
We highly encourage you to sign and support the petition. For us, as community radio broadcasters, it is imperative that we speak out against the government’s attempts to criminalise journalism.
It is important to remember that the democratic rights we enjoy today were not given to us voluntarily by governments, rather throughout history they have always been fought for through the power of mobilisation and people power.
" It is this power of mobilisation and community that can stop these current attacks on the rights of journalists from getting through "
In 1978, 3CR was condemned as the ‘voice of terrorism’ because of its support for the Palestinian struggle, and its commitment to giving voice to their views. This was further defended by thousands of listeners and supporters who backed 3CR’s position in fighting for the right to voice the opinion of the Palestinian struggle.
It is this power of mobilisation and community that can stop these current attacks on the rights of journalists from getting through. At 3CR we should be dedicated towards telling those stories of struggle and speaking truth to power.
This year’s Radiothon theme is ‘Fight For Your Mic’, an appropriate theme for this political climate in which we have to continue the fight to make sure our voices are heard. We must challenge the unaccountable power of politicians and governments around the world, especially by tackling these recent attempts to criminalise journalists just for doing their jobs.
ACTION: Sign the petition meaa.org/campaigns/press-freedom
LISTEN: Green Left Weekly Friday 7am-8.30am
Deadly airwaves with blak betty
Author: Emma Hart
After two decades producing and broadcasting for mainstream radio, Blaknoise Radio producer and presenter Kerri-Lee Harding AKA Blak Betty brings a wealth of experience to 3CR. ‘It’s so important that I broadcast Blaknoise out of 3CR because 3CR is a fiercely independent radio station. I feel like I’ve come back home to broadcast in a sense, as I started here 20 something years ago, and now I feel like I’ve come full circle.’
" I wanted to produce an Aboriginal radio program that gave my mob a voice "
Kerri-Lee’s radio journey began in the late 90s with a show about grunge music as part of test broadcasts for 3KND Radio, broadcast live out of 3CR’s Studio Three. This was followed by time at JOY FM guesting on a show about technology and the internet. With community radio experience under her belt, Kerri-Lee’s twenty year stint at the ABC started with an eighteen month Aboriginal broadcaster cadetship at what is now ABC Melbourne but was then known as 3LO. Kerri-Lee recalls that her mum faxed her through the job application from where she was working in outback Queensland and encouraged her to apply.
‘I knew I loved people, I loved music, so radio seemed like the perfect fit for me. And growing up a blakfella in this country, I grew up not seeing really any media identities that I could relate to. I didn’t have any role models that I could look up to as a young girl, so when I grew up I just wanted to work in the media because my people weren’t represented.’
Describing the concept behind Blaknoise Radio, Kerri-Lee explains, ‘I wanted to produce an Aboriginal radio program that gave my mob a voice. I only see myself as a conduit to get the information out there, so it’s not about me, it’s not about my voice, Blaknoise is about getting the voices heard of our people, us blakfellas.’
‘I just love what I do on Blaknoise Radio, I like to get people exposed on the radio who may not have been picked up by other media outlets. I like to make sure that their voice gets heard, and their stories are heard on their terms—the way they want to hear it, not the way that the mainstream may report on issues.’
Arts and music are especially important to Blaknoise. ‘I mainly focus on the arts due to my experience over the years, I seem to gravitate towards Aboriginal arts,’ says Kerri-Lee. ‘As a young girl as well, my mother was an art dealer and owned an Aboriginal art gallery in Albury, NSW—she was way ahead of her time, it was 1985! So I grew up being taken on art buying trips throughout Australia, taken out of my school in the country and next minute we were off in Alice Springs or we were up in Jabiru, or in Western Desert country, we might be up Tiwi way. But that education my mother provided me, I would not be able to do the job I do today on Blaknoise without that experience.’
As well as a focus on Aboriginal arts, Kerri-Lee only plays music by blak artists on the show. ‘I think music particularly is important because we’ve never properly had the recognition in this country for our Aboriginal artists—those old fellas from Coloured Stone, No Fixed Address, Warumpi Band, they weren’t given the proper recognition. They’re our grandfathers of our rock‘n’roll.’
Looking into the future at 3CR, Kerri-Lee says ‘it’s really nice to come full circle in my radio career, and I hope that I can continue to work hard for my mob, and continue to keep my finger on the pulse to make sure that our very important stories are heard, whether it be about health or education or the arts or politics, or our children.’
‘I like to hope that things will change if we keep talking, and I think that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about conversation isn’t it, with anything—if you wanna move forward you’ve got to talk with one another, and keep talking, and that’s what we need to keep doing on Aboriginal radio.’
And her radio name, Blak Betty? ‘It comes from that old Spiderbait cover from the nineties, my mum would sing it to us kids in the car, you know the words as well—Black Betty had a child (Bam-ba-Lam)The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-Lam) my mum would sing that. So that’s where it comes from. And I got really sick of saying my own name, “Hello it’s Kerri- Lee,” for years! I got sick of it and I just wanted a radio name, so Blak Betty was born. Thanks Spiderbait!’
LISTEN: Blaknoise Radio Thursday 2-3pm
Seafarers on the airwaves
Author: Geoff Hoy, MUA Radio presenter
When elected as an official for the Maritime Union in 2015, I was handed the role to host the MUA Radio show. At the time, I set about a plan to modernise the show to attract listeners both inside and outside of our industry. The plan was to have a quirky mix of fairly modern music complimenting the stories of the day, be they relating to industry matters or in the general media more broadly.
Based on a theory that ordinary people may be driving into work between the hours of 6.30am and 7am on a Thursday morning, we have a hope that Joe Public may be channel-surfing like the rest of us, and might accidently land on our show. We’re pushing for the Steve Bradbury approach to victory. We want the public to be singing in their cars to I Never Loved You Anyway by The Corrs, as we discuss why Bronwyn Bishop never voted for Tony Abbott.
We want them to sing to Shaggy’s It Wasn’t Me, if we are talking about Barnaby Joyce and his recent paternity issues. At some point we played a Nickelback song, and I deeply regret that happened, although even good people can make mistakes. It’s fair to say, I’m a little differently wired than most, and that would appear to be rubbing off on my fellow Sagittarius co-host Melissa McMullen. Melissa was one of my earlier guests in 2015 along with two other comrades.
Melissa has worked as a seafarer for the past eight years in the maritime industry. Three years later and she is now the Victorian National Youth Delegate, co-host of our show, and is one of our most committed activists. On International Women’s Day this year, Melissa hosted her first solo show, and was joined by Mich-Elle Myers, the National MUA Women’s Liaison Officer.
All relationships in life be it personal or work-related, are based on trust and communication and this can be achieved with some employers. Unfortunately, there will always be the belligerent employer who has control issues, and a fondness for a more conservative way of life. It’s an area we struggle through to try and find some type of functioning relationship with these employers that are in the best interests of our members. Our program is a mix of serious issues and light hearted views on life, so strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.
LISTEN: MUA Radio Thursday (fortnightly) 6.30-7am
Podcast Preoccupation
Authors: Juliet Fox, Projects Coordinator, and Leanne McLean, Volunteer and Training Coordinator
It’s fair to say that Australians are obsessed by their podcasts. Here at 3CR, we’ve watched with some fascination as the ‘industry’ has boomed, and where critiquing the latest podcast has become the hip thing to discuss. What we see, is that a podcast is just a digital means of delivering a piece of audio. Audio that we call radio. Don’t misunderstand us, we’re certainly keen to deliver our great content in a range of ways—live on 855AM, 3CR Digital, webstreaming, audio on demand, and podcasting. Whether it’s a short series, or an ongoing half hour national show, sure, we’re keen to podcast it. But first and foremost we call it radio—community radio.
3CR started podcasting in 2006, and it’s clear that delivery platforms and the profile of the format have greatly improved over the last decade. What we now find is that we’re in a strong position to assist others who are new to the art of making radio (oh, we mean ‘podcasts’). Over the last year we’ve refined our training and services that specifically cater to the needs of new podcasters, whether they’re individuals or community groups.
Recently we trained a group of young Muslim women, in collaboration with the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights. ‘The project itself was not completely about producing podcasts. It was also about getting a bunch of creative and passionate young Muslim women together to discuss issues and ideas that impact and interest them,’ says 3CR broadcaster and trainer Areej Nur. ‘Once we brought out the equipment and began discussing story arcs, editing, scripting and all the other elements involved in producing a podcast, the young women realised they could use this platform to share their ideas and stories in a creative way.’
The Peer Programs Coordinator at Banyule Community Health, Rachel Paterson, approached the station last year for assistance and support with their podcast project. ‘We’re producing eight podcasts on gambling harm and recovery, mostly from the perspective of people who have had a lived experience of gambling harm. Our presenter and interviewer had a sports gambling problem for a number of years and our podcasts cover a range of topics from inspiring stories of hope and recovery, getting help, managing urges and triggers, the effects of drugs and alcohol on gambling, young men and sports betting, the pokies and others affected by gambling,’ explains Rachel.
‘We’ve had a fantastic experience producing our podcasts at 3CR. It was very easy to get started, as we were given a number of options with regard to how much support we needed. We chose to hire the studio with a technician which has made the production very easy as we didn’t have the technical skills. Nicky our technician has been both warm and welcoming, offering a wealth of knowledge and experience in radio and podcast production,’ says Rachel.
For us the art of the podcast is still about community, politics and great content. We welcome the opportunity to work with like-minded community groups and individuals on their next podcast project.
CONTACT: 3cr.org.au/podcastservices
For all podcast services and training enquiries contact the station on 03 9419 8377.
Caption: Podcast project participants Hamdi and Maimuna.
A future beyond rigid binaries: Fight for your inclusive mic
Author: Sally Goldner, Out of the Pan presenter
3CR has always been beyond the cutting edge of queer progress. Across the station’s history, great programs like Dykes on Mics and In Ya face Friday asked thoughtful queer questions while other people were thinking gay rights meant downloading dance remixes. Right now is a critical time where 3CR can lead in queer progress that lessens either/or (binary) thinking on gender and relationship orientation and goes on to including all genders and relationship styles—a philosophy that goes right to the heart and soul of the station.
Trans and gender diverse (TGD) issues have been at the forefront of ‘mainstream’ debate for the last five to six years. Happily, bisexual issues have now begun to receive more prominence. Mainstream media unfortunately does not always treat aspects of diversity with sensitivity and respect; rating points, clickbait and advertising revenues are often put first. It seems that when an issue emerges and is less understood, the dark side of the mainstream media can be quick to pop up its ugly head.
3CR, with its core values of inclusivity and respect, and its closeness to the grassroots of community, is perfectly poised to assist in promoting bi and TGD issues, while countering any mainstream media folly. We can tap into what happened at the Equality Project’s ‘Better Together’ conference in January, where it was incredibly positive to see both bi and TGD, first separately, then together, realise how
much common ground there was and how vital it is to work together. 3CR can definitely play a prominent part in advancing this binary-busting synergy through proactively supporting bi and TGD people. One way is to remember days such as Trans Day of Visibility on 31 March, Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day on 24 May, and Celebrate Bisexuality Day on 23 September to discuss how awesome life beyond binaries can be.
Since the dark depths of the same-sex marriage postal survey, there has been a little bit of dust settling in relation to the horrific levels of transphobia and to some extent, biphobia, experienced during the campaign. This is, of course, no reason for complacency: we are seeing the farce of the ‘religious freedom’ enquiry try to lock in inequality and injustice against queers. Queer voices on 3CR are a vital part of not only turning back the tide of nastiness but ensuring that the full kaleidoscope of diversity is valued and celebrated, including diversity regarding gender and relationship orientation.
LISTEN:
Out of the Pan Sunday 12-1pm
Queering The Air Sunday 3-4pm
In Ya face Friday 4-5pm
CONTACT: Bisexual Alliance Victoria bi-alliance.org and Transgender Victoria transgendervictoria.com
When hearing feels more important than breathing
Authors: Kate Reid and Suzy Steininger, Lazy Wednesday Afternoon presenters
We love songs. The ties that bind us all are woven into every tune ever written. They say the song circle began around the same time as fire, when folks had to sit around together and wait for their meal to cook. Recipes become stories become rhymes become folklore becomes pop.
Lazy Wednesday Afternoon started out much the same. Both of us grew up with a transistor under our pillow and songs seeping in all night long. We’ve spent most of our lives with arms around shoulders and songs pouring out of our heads as we stagger towards the spinning lights of the nearest turntable. To be in the company of your favourite song is often the sparkle that makes days shine. Whether it’s a tune from your mum’s well-loved musicals or your older siblings rock‘n’roll collection, they sneak in, wrap themselves around your heart and from that moment on you’re spellbound and caught in the web of their magic.
And Melbourne, dear Melbourne. To grow up in this city with music as your life and hobby, is to be blessed beyond words. From suburban barns to small corner bars, festivals, backyard barbies, record stores and radios. From being a 16-year-old idiot scaling fences to hear your idol play at the pool or live bands at the ice rinks out east, saving hard for a ticket to the international gig of the year or that new record we all had to have. We’ve spent more time and money on music in this town than anything else (well maybe not as much as on our shitbox Holdens, to be honest).
But radio has been a constant, an incredibly important tool in the glove box of inner city living. Finding community radio stations when you moved to Fitzroy was some kind of revelation. You would hear about a gig or go to the gig, hear a track, and go and buy the record around the corner. And becoming informed! Enter 3CR!
“ radio has been a constant, an incredibly important tool "
Our dear friend Sarah Carroll had for ten years been doing a music program that we always listened to for our rockin’ roots education, and when she decided to move on, she gave us a call to see if we wanted to jump in the chair. We really didn’t think we’d last a week but here we sit fifteen years and eighteen thousand hand-picked songs later, backed by all the love and support you could ever wish for in a workplace, to play tracks for you every Lazy Wednesday Afternoon. 2-4pm on the mighty 3CR.
LISTEN: Lazy Wednesday Afternoon Wednesday 2-4pm
YOUTH BEHIND BARS SPEAK OUT
Authors: Katia Lallo, Youth Transforming Justice, co-facilitator
It is apt that this year’s Radiothon theme is ‘Fight for Your Mic’ as young people in our community are often spoken to, spoken for, and in the case of incarcerated young people, spoken against.
For six weeks over September and October 2017, 3CR and the Abolitionist and Transformative Justice Centre (ATJC) worked together to run a media project inside the Parkville and Malmsbury youth detention centres. The ATJC is an abolitionist organisation that works to eliminate the root causes of inequality, violence, and oppression in our communities so that prisons become obsolete.
Following the negative, harmful and racist media storm about the young people on remand and to teach the participants about podcasting, interviewing skills, editing and media law. Each weekly session worked with 10 to 15 young participants. It was important for the 3CR team to create a youth-led space, where trust was built between the young people and trainers so that both could share intimate stories, learn new skills and have fun recording content. Music was the main theme running throughout the whole project. For many of the participants it was a chance to share their own music and record themselves with the hope of being broadcast. sentenced in Victoria’s prisons, Youth Transforming Justice was conceived to create a space for the voices of those young people to be heard. The “Youth Justice project" aimed to counter the public narrative that labeled young people in prison as ‘thugs’ and to bring to light the participants’ experiences of incarceration and disadvantage.
During one interview, a participant was asked, ‘Do you think that people on the outside understand who you guys really are?’ They responded, ‘No one knows us until they get to know us. They read us off a file and judge us’.
The project was initiated by Juliet Fox, Emily Hurley and myself, Katia Lallo. Trainers Areej Nur, Michele Vescio and Kerri-Lee Harding joined
" the team Transforming team is planning to continue to fight for these young voices to be heard ”
Kutcha Edwards made three appearances at Parkville and Malmsbury, entertaining, educating and sharing stories with the participants. One highlight for the young men at Malmsbury was writing, performing and recording a song with Kutcha.
The young men sung about life on the inside, missing their families and the boredom of being confined. Whilst music dominated the sessions at Malmsbury the participants at Parkville delved into interviewing. They spoke openly, with great care and thoughtfulness, about life on the outside and on the inside. Participants interviewed each other about family and friends, sport, school, music, sleeping rough and couch surfing, the feeling of being institutionalised, being paroled to homelessness, experiencing family violence, and having to steal to survive.
“ both participants and trainers were challenged to think differently "
Often topics were difficult and emotional, and both participants and trainers were challenged to think differently and be open about their experiences and the experiences of others. The young people involved explored contemporary debates about marriage equality, issues affecting queer and trans young people, politics, poverty, racism, and for some, the fear of ongoing incarceration into adult life. The six weeks closed with a listening party held at both Parkville and Malmsbury. Our broadcast proposal was rejected by the relevant institutions and government departments, so unfortunately none of the audio has been aired on 3CR. This is yet another example of the way that the prison industrial complex and state institutions silence the voices of young incarcerated people. In 2018 the Youth Transforming Justice team is planning to continue to fight for these young voices to be heard. Over the next year the team plans to work with existing participants exiting prison, and hopefully some new participants, to grow their broadcast skills, encourage participation and bring the project’s content to the airwaves. What started as a project to get the voices of incarcerated young people out into the public sphere has ended up being the beginning of an ongoing project to connect with young people who have been criminalised and to have their voices heard on community radio.
Caption:L-R Youth Transforming Justice project workers Katia Lallo, Kerri-Lee Harding, Emily Hurley, Michele Vescio and Areej Nur.
Vale Gilla Mcguinness
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Gilla McGuinness on Tuesday 9 January 2018. Gilla was a well-loved and respected 3CR broadcaster and will be greatly missed at the station by programmers, volunteers and staff. We offer our heart-felt condolences to Johnny Mac and family.
Gilla made an enormous contribution to broadcasting at the station. In the Aboriginal community of Melbourne, if you had something to say, Gilla would help you say it by giving you a voice on radio. A poignant example of this was told by the great singer/songwriter Archie Roach at Gilla’s funeral. Archie recounted that back in the day, it was Gilla at 3CR that encouraged him to come on air and play his music, and with that encouragement he went on to launch an international career. Gilla always tackled the issues and struggles of his community head-on, while maintaining integrity and respect. He was the longest serving Aboriginal broadcaster on 3CR and at 41 years on air perhaps even in Australia.
Gilla presented Precious Memories community and country music program on Wednesdays, but before that he was a long-term presenter on other shows incuding the Koori Survival Show. Gilla was a founding producer and presenter on the Beyond the Bars prison project and conceived, developed and produced the Yarra Elders Precious Memories project, recording and broadcasting elders’ stories and histories, struggles, survival, celebrations, achievements and concerns.
Gilla produced and presented countless important community events, including broadcasts from the Tent Embassy in Canberra, the Stolenwealth Games protests, the National Apology in Canberra, Survival Day concerts, Land Rights protests, Sorry Day ceremonies and rallies, NAIDOC week broadcasts from Aboriginal community organisations including the Aboriginal Health Service and the MAYSAR Aboriginal gym.
The 3CR community mourns Gilla’s loss, he was definitely one of a kind, and the station will not be the same without his fighting spirit. We love you Gilla.
Vale Elizabeth Kourtis
Elizabeth Kourtis passed away on Tuesday 9 January 2018 in Moe aged 86. Elizabeth, or Betty as she was known to many, was a long-time volunteer at the station and was the ‘listener sponsor’ coordinator, regular receptionist and programmer, up until her retirement in 2011. Elizabeth presented the program Calling All Women, one of the earliest programs on the 3CR grid.
As the station’s ‘listener sponsor’ coordinator in the 1980s, Elizabeth would spend a full day each week processing the station’s membership. In the days before computers this meant tirelessly entering all their details on catalogue cards, processing renewals right throughout the year and handwriting individual letters.
Elizabeth was a member of the Union of Australian Women, the Australian USSR Friendship Society and the Australian Bulgarian Friendship Society. Her work for the Union of Australian Women included coordinating numerous breakfast fundraisers that raised much needed funds for a range of different women’s causes. Along with women’s rights, Elizabeth also advocated for Aboriginal rights, the protection of the environment, peace and animal rights. During her many years on air, she used the airwaves to give voice to these causes.
As a committed socialist, Elizabeth, along with many others, was at the vanguard of the movement calling for peace after the Second World War. She encouraged friendship between western countries and those from the Soviet bloc, and inspired many Australians to travel to those countries to promote world peace and nuclear non-proliferation.
As the Secretary of the Australian Bulgarian Friendship Society she was proud to present the Georgi Dimitrov medal in Australia, named in honour of the former Bulgarian president and a hero of the Bulgarian people in the fight against the fascist government of Germany.
Through her work with the Australian USSR Friendship Society, Elizabeth organised a significant financial contribution to the station, funds that will go towards replacing our roof. Elizabeth was passionate about the station owning and maintaining its own premises, and knew the power that comes from independent community fundraising. Over her many years as a volunteer and member of 3CR, Elizabeth’s contributions to our organisation made her a valued and important member of our community.
Our sincere condolences to her family, as well as her many friends and comrades across many organisations.
A passion for jazz
Jazz on a Saturday first went to air from the station’s original premises off High Street in Armadale back in 1976. Amazingly, the show, and some of its first presenters, continue to grace the airwaves each Saturday afternoon to a growing listenership that maintains a passion for jazz music.
This remarkable presence on the Melbourne airwaves has been supported from the beginning by the Victorian Jazz Club (VJC). Vice President Warren Denmead says that the show helps ‘ensure the future of live jazz and its performers throughout Melbourne, Victoria and Australia,’ as well as promoting the activities of the VJC.
" Together they hold a wealth of experience and knowledge unsurpassed by other jazz radio shows "
‘Due to 3CR’s online development Jazz on a Saturday has an increasing local, national and overseas listener base,’ explains Warren. This helps Jazz on a Saturday to keep Melbourne the home of live music in Australia, as well as to establish local performers, promote young rising musicians and to support existing local performers.’
Unlike back in 1976, the program is now available as a live stream via the station’s website, or via audio on demand after the show, as well as on digital radio and of course via the trusty AM band. Importantly Warren points out that this level of access ‘also brings jazz into the homes of people who are unable to attend live jazz.’
The Jazz on a Saturday team consists of Roger Beilby and John Smyth—who were part of the very first broadcast— together with John Trudinger and Geoff Tobin. Together they hold a wealth of experience and knowledge unsurpassed by other jazz radio shows, along with an outstanding commitment to community broadcasting.
After 42 years of continuous programming, Jazz on a Saturday is still as vibrant and dynamic as it was at the outset. The team members endeavour to keep the listeners up to date on the introduction of new artists, bands and recorded material, along with current gigs and live music recordings. And with a growing audience and an ever-committed team of presenters, there’s good reason to believe that the show will continue to thrive well into the future.
LISTEN: Jazz on a Saturday Saturday 4-5:30pm
Caption: L-R John Smyth, Roger Beilby, John Trudinger and Geoff Tobin.
Programming Updates 2018
The flow of unique, cutting-edge radio shows continues apace at the station, with a host of new programs hitting the airwaves. From Palestine to the local billabong, and from invisible illness to the social security net, there’s plenty of food for thought, and inspiration for action, across a wealth of community radio shows.
New programs
Anaa Min Hunaak Monday 10-11pm
Voice of the Palestinian diaspora. Bringing news, views, and stories about the lives of Palestinian refugees in Australia and around the world in Arabic. The show’s name translates to ‘I Am From There’ and also highlights the beauty and richness of Palestinian and Arab music, literature and culture. The program is produced and presented by a team of three Palestinian refugees.
A Friday Rave Friday 5-5.30pm
Each Friday, Jacob and a guest co-host take a ‘kitchen table analysis’ approach to an event of the week. In the studio they relentlessly pull it apart with a slant you won’t find anywhere else. Billabong Beats Tuesday 11am-12pm Billabong Beats is modelled on a traditional ‘camp’, and our philosophy of respect is based on the sacred fire that is the cornerstone of our production. The sacred fire opens a porthole to the dreamtime and connects the listener to the lore of the land, and to the spirit of the land. Chronically Chilled first Wednesday of the month 6-6.30pm A program providing a platform for those living with chronic and invisible illness to explore topics that impact upon our daily lives.
Completada Bailable Wednesday 6.30-7.30pm
Weekly Spanish language program of analysis, arts and culture, and music and poetry presented by Pilar, Marta, Grace, Gabriela and Carla. The focus is on content from the local Latin American community of artists, musicians and poets. Grassroots, edgy and fun.
Over The Wall Monday at 7.50am
Informing people of changes within government services that impact upon the social safety net, and how to better deal with bureaucracy and protect your rights. Over the Wall offers simple tools to fight back and defend yourself against a system that penalises people already disadvantaged by poverty and significant health conditions.
Unemployed Workers Fight second Friday in the month 5.30-6.30pm
Our social security system is being purposefully defunded, privatised and dismantled; the poor and vulnerable are being criminalised and trampled upon. The Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union’s brings the latest news and views on Australia’s employment crisis, along with in-depth interviews with key figures and change agents in the welfare sector.
What the Basque? first Friday of the month 5.30-6.30pm
Produced at Radio Hala Bedi, What The Basque? brings you news and interviews about the Basque Country and the powerful and innovative social movements that rule the streets.
Still to come in 2018
NAIDOC Week Beyond the Bars Prison Broadcasts: 9-13 July 2018
‘Because of her we can’ is this year’s NAIDOC focus and our team of presenters will be working with inmates to prepare content on the theme alongside the regular mix of cheerios, conversation, story and song broadcast live from inside six Victorian prisons.
Departing Shows
We said farewell to the following programs: Afghan Radio, Blue Tommorowz, Intersections, Kornucopia, Macedonian and Progressive Beats. Thanks to all the presenters for their programming.
Time Slot Changes
Arts Express now airs at 9.30am on Thursday.
Nile Show has moved to a one hour show from 7.30-8.30pm on Tuesdays.
Shindig! is broadcasting from 6-7pm on Sunday
Talkback with Attitude is taking your calls between 10-11am Thursday.
Tamil Voice is now broadcasting from 7.30-8.30pm on Wednesday.
Awards
This year 3CR won a Community Broadcasting Association of Australia’s award for Excellence in Music Programming for our Sisters Akoustmatica broadcast of a sound walk led by Radio Queens Julia Drouhin and Pip Stafford.
Developed through Next Wave’s Emerging Curators Program, Sisters Akoustmatica was a partnership with Liquid Architecture for Next Wave Festival that involved seven sound artists, seven hours and seven locations around the Yarra River.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/sistersakousmatica
Now on sale - Radical Radio: Celebrating 40 Years of 3CR
Radical Radio Celebrating 40 Years of 3CR tells the story of 3CR’s contribution to Australian cultural and political life. When 3CR Community Radio hit Melbourne’s airwaves in 1976 it was Australia’s first community-owned and community-run grassroots radio station.
Outspoken and independent, the station still gives voice to issues that would otherwise go unheard, and to people striving for political and social justice.
A collective and collaborative writing project, Radical Radio celebrates these ongoing achievements, and highlights the diversity and dynamism of the programs and people that over 40 years have won 3CR its place in our hearts and on our radio dials.
$30+ postage
Buy online here Radical Radio Celebrating 40 Years of 3CR
21 Smith Street, Fitzroy 03 9419 8377
Special Broadcasts
Did you miss out? Listen back anytime
May Day: 1 May each year
On International Workers’ Day, communities around the world celebrate the achievements of the labour movement and show solidarity with the continued struggle for labour rights everywhere. We broadcast perspectives of women, LGBTQI, First Nations and community activists on issues of stolen wages, transparency in government and business, access to work, and people power!
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/mayday
International Day of People with Disability: 3 December 2017
Our ‘Disability Pride’ broadcast presented 12 hours of programming covering many topics from discrimination and violence against people with disability, to education and employment, benefits, wages and equal pay, communication and relationships, arts and music.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/disabilityday2017
Tunnerminnerwait Maulboyheener: 20 January 2018
This year marked 176 years since the execution of the two Freedom Fighters: Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner at a site on corner of Franklin and Victoria Streets. 3CR broadcast live from the public ceremony held annually to honour all aboriginal people who, during the colonisation process, have been killed for protecting their lands, families and culture.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/freedomfighters
Invasion Day: 26 January 2018
The 26th of January marks the start of a genocide that Aboriginal people continue to face, and the resistance that continues the fight for sovereignty and self-determination. Our Invasion Day programming included a live cross to the rally speeches on the steps of Victorian Parliament followed by an afternoon of deadly music, First Nations voices and updates from around the country.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/invasionday2018
Stolenwealth Games Protests: 4-15 April 2018
3CR reported on Camp Freedom and the Commonwealth Games protests across breakfast and on other shows during the week.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/stolenwealth
Summer Programming: December 2016 - January 2017
We brought you a feast of shorts, docos and features and special music programs from 3CR broadcasters.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/summerspecials
International Women’s Day: 8 March 2018
We celebrated International Women’s Day with 24 hours of women and gender diverse voices. 30 programs covered current affairs, music, talkback, union news, arts, science, panel discussions, a live broadcast of speeches at the IWD rally, community languages and so much more.
LISTEN: 3cr.org.au/iwd2018
3CR SHOP
T-shirts, books, CO's, kufiyas, hoodies, tote bags and more.
Visit the 3CR web shop, all funds go towards keeping 3CR Radical Radio on air!
Caption: Mural on the sidewall at the station by Sydney artist Ms Saffaa and Molly Crabbapple