Ted the RIBS Roving Reporter and I left Elliot early on the 15^th to drive to Alpurrurulam,  nd luck was on our side at Tennant Creek, when we called into the Police Station for a road report the Austral Downs Road was open, so being able to go through the Barkly, down Austral Downs & just a few kilometres east on the Sandover Highway cut our recommended travel time by up to 5 hours, excellent from our point of view.  Ted & I were travelling with the Tobacco Education Officer for the Barkly Region, and so with company it was a much easier trip to undertake.

We arrived at Alpurrurulam at about 3:45 of the 15^th, and spent about an hour with the SSM there Jeff Iversen, who introduced us to the town, explained who did what, and showed us the very impressive Community Centre they are putting together over there, including the Internet Café in the afternoon … this is where the RIBS Studio is and so I was able to get a good look at that and check the equipment for any faults.

I had a great talk with the senior teachers at the Alpurrurulam School about a Youth Radio program as well, so later in the year we’re going to really work on getting that up and running as well.

Alpurrurulam (20°58′S 137°55′E / 20.967°S 137.917°E / -20.967; 137.917), is also known as Lake Nash, is a small town located in the Northern Territory, Australia, 600 km east of Tennant Creek and 20 km from the NT-Queensland border. The 2006 Census counts 343 residents, with nearly 94% of them Aboriginal. The town is located at the end of the Sandover Highway, which floods each year during the wet season and cuts all road access to the community.

The Alpurrurulam town is of the Barkly Shire, and boasts the only school in the area, as well as an Australian Rules Football club.

Confusion exists as to whether the town is called Alpurrurulam or Lake Nash. Essentially the town is referred to as “Lake Nash” in everyday speaking and for mail delivery (via Mount Isa) and “Alpurrurulam” for all official matters, such as a census. Alpurrurulam was established in the early 1980s as a 1,000-acre (4.0 km²) excision from the 3-million-acre (12,000 km²) Lake Nash Station. The main language group in the area is Alyawarre.

I look forward to further visits to both Alpurrurulam and Lake Nash, especially as they now tell me there are small fish in the Lake. It’s all good news for CAAMA and Alpurrurulam RIBS Radio!!!!

RIBS Rocket-On The Road to Elliot …

The drive to Elliot was without incident on the 13^th  February for the RIBS Rocket and Ted, The RIBS Roving Reporter… traffic was steady & driving quite safe. Elliot Studio is in the North Camp at Elliot … Gurungu Radio … and Jason is currently providing local broadcasts from 7:30 through to midday. I was able to present him with  the TCBL licences to place on the wall, and some new & fresh posters which brightens the place even more.

Jason is able to promote events in the community and visits by service  providers and he, like all RIBS Broadcasters, is available to help local members understand things that are happening by having interviews and discussions with visitors to their communities during the programs.

Broadcasting from such a remote region has its own particular issues, including musical content … its very expensive to go to the community store to buy cd’s yet there is no other choice, for both the broadcaster and other individuals, yet they do, and they pay a fairly hefty price for them, much greater than we do in the larger centres.

Jason is well supported by his family & the Community … Excellent stuff Jason, you’re doing a great job!!!

Nabhtali, Victor, Jonothan, Frankie, Lloyd, Kaleb, Aaron & Kelly from UTJU Band were in the CAAMA Studio’s laying down tracks for there up and coming album..

• The CEO of a major community controlled health organisation in Central Australia says future funding for the continuation of programs instigated under the Northern Territory Intervention is now in a risky and critical position with no certainty that the funding will continue under the proposed Stronger Futures legislation.
• Public hearings into the proposed Stronger Futures legislation, the legislation which will replace regulations imposed under the Northern Territory intervention are taking place in Alice Springs today.
• Sport.

 am 21-02

• Veteran Aboriginal rights campaigner Michael Anderson, is about to begin his quest to form a national unity Government which will then challenge British sovereignty over Aboriginal people across the country.
• Public hearings on the Gillard Labor Government’s proposed Stronger Futures legislation for Northern Territory Aboriginal communities will be held in just five Territory centre’s from Monday the 20th February through to Friday 24^th February.
• Sport.

am 20-02

• The Gillard Labor Governments proposed Stronger Futures legislation for Northern Territory Aboriginal communities has come under renewed scrutiny after two of the country’s most distinguished legal minds labeled the legislation racist and discriminatory.
• An Aboriginal child advocacy group has also challenged the Stronger Futures legislation and says that it needs to be redeveloped in accordance with International Human Rights Laws.
• The former boss of the NT intervention Sue Gordon says that she is happy with how Government agencies are dealing with Aboriginal families in regards to violence and abuse.
• Sport.

am 17-02

• The head of a peak Aboriginal Land council in the Northern Territory says all Governments have to come to terms with the fact that Aboriginal  people must be involved in decision making processes that impact on their lives.
• Prime Minister Julia Gillard has delivered the annual close the gap report to parliament and conceded there is still more work to do with Government on track with just two of the six targets for closing the disadvantage gap.
• Sport.

 am 16-02

Speaking on CAAMA Radio….Mr Ross says that their are people  in Canberra and Darwin who sit within Parliaments and  bureaucracies who with the stroke of a pen have  removed the ability  for Aboriginal people to make decisions and to  run their own affairs.

He  says  that under a Labor government in the Northern Territory  which had  introduced the Shires …. Aboriginal people had seen  their authorty and ability  to   participate in  day to day decision making  taken away….leaving them well and truly done over..despite their longstanding support of the party.

Download audio file (15-02-David-Ross-pt-1.mp3)
Download audio file (19-01-David-Ross.-part-2.mp3)
15-02 David Ross pt 1

19-01 David Ross. part 2

The audit was conducted for the National Stroke Foundation in 2009… and found that Aboriginal people aged between 18 and 64 were three times as  likely to die or be dependent after being discharged from hospital following stroke.

It found that Aboriginal people are 30 per cent less likely to be treated in the specialist area of a hospital  and are  less likely to receive aspirin within 48 hours..And  of the 80 Aboriginal patients in the study… none had been given clot-busting medication.

Florey Neuroscience Institutes Director Professor Geoffrey Donnan spoke to Nerida Currey on Strong Voices…explaining what this means on a grassroots level, and shares his professional opinion and views.

15.02 Professor Geoffrey Donnan – Stroke

Professor Donnan says there are vast differences between the care that is being administered to Aboriginal people than non-Indigenous patients… and what it means on a grassroots level is that it seems Aboriginal patients are coming in later to hospital…and not getting the same sort of care…

Professor Donnan says a stroke is something that affects the brain very suddenly due to a blockage or bursting of a blood vessel… and produces symptoms such as sudden weakness or numbness down one side of the body…trouble with vision….dizziness..and .trouble with speech …He  says anyone experiencing these  symptoms should treat it as a medical emergency and get to hospital immediately.

Yawuru Elder  and Sydney Peace Prize winner Patrick Dodson  has questioned the  ongoning involvement of  Federal government bureaucrats in  Northern Territory Aboriginal  communities and says that  there has to be a rational approach…… without  people having to suffer….. to prove that there is a way to improve and deliver  public policy.

Mr Dodson,  a  co- chair of the expert panel  on constitutional recognition for Aborignal  and Torres Strait Islander  people in the Australian  constitution,  raised  the  issue when  delivering the the inaugural  Mahatma Ghandi Oration .

Speaking on CAAMA RADIO  Mr Dodson says the constant factor in the lives of his l people has been the role of the public  service from the first native protectors to  the welfare agents  and   all sorts of bureaucratic agencies  that now run and manage or interfere going ino the Northern territory intervention..

Mr Dodson  says the lives of Aborignal people is  now dominated by bureaucrats …and that  this interface has to be changed …or removed !

13-02 patrick dodson on reform

Download audio file (13-02-patrick-dodson-on-reform.mp3)

It’s always great to have Federal Ministers pop into the CAAMA studios while they are in town.

Federal Minister for Indigenous Health and Federal Minister for Mental Health and Aging Mark Butler caught up with the crew at CAAMA earlier this month.

They were in town for a local forum on aging in Alice Springs, as part of a national discussion.

Earlier this month the Federal Minister for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon and Federal Minister for Mental Health and Aging Mark Butler were in Alice Springs for a local forum on aging as part of a national discussion.

The forum heard  the community’s views and concern about care and support for older Australians.

Minister Snowdon dropped into the CAAMA Studios just after the forum. He spoke to Pam Reilly on Strong Voices.

02.02.12 Warren Snowden on Ageing Forumn EDITED

A National discussion on healthy and positive aging has shown the Northern Territory often has the same issues as the rest of the country…but they are more pronounced.

Federal Minister for Mental Health And Aging Mark Butler and Federal Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon met with local Alice Springs seniors earlier this month, for one of many forums across the country, to hear  the community’s views about care and support for older Australians…and the challenges they face.

Minister Butler says the main difference in the Northern Territory is that it is much harder to get workers into the aged care system and to keep them there.

Minister Butler dropped into the CAAMA studios the day after the forum. He spoke to Nerida Currey on Strong Voices.

2.2.12 Minister Mark Butler

Minister Butler says the main issue voiced by Aboriginal people in the Territory …particularly in  remote areas is how to deliver care and support to people living in remote communities… a challenge also faced in the area of mental health.

He says he has also had some really good discussions in Alice Springs beyond the forum…with a range of providers, town camps and frontier services…who have had some good ideas about  addressing the issues…including how to encourage young aboriginal people into aged care…training and support and how to keep them in aged care.

The feedback from the forums will help inform the Gillard Labour Government’s response to the Productivity Commision’s Final Report…Caring For Older Australians.

CAAMA on-line Producer Curtis Marriott giving CAAMA CEO a lession in microphone techniques…