Radical Australia

Don Sun is a proud Sunshine boy from the 50s and has been around the community radio scene for decades. He penned the Admin Watch column in Farrago, University of Melbourne's student magazine, back in the day when he studied political philosophy and saw student unionism up close. He roadied for Lou Richards at Channel 7 and turned the quarter lights on at Waverley when the TV broadcasts resumed after the ads. Don's first encounter with 3CR was back in '77. He had a show called Local and Live with friend Marion Cincotta, but prior to that he had a show going on PBS called Lunchtime Legends. Don was obviously into celebrating local music and had a venue called 1C1. He has had a guerilla garden in Carlton since 1988 and was a numeracy, literacy and maths teacher at TAFE. He shared some advice about playing the lotto. Thank-you for bringing the lemons, Don, and for joining us on the show this week.

What are they like - these two muggins. These oafs. These silly sausages. Diggaling deep, shovelling the cash, doing what they can for their beloved 3CR. A hold-tight-to-your-seats thrill ride as these two oompalompas freestyle for your heartfelt pledge to keep the door open to anyone and everyone who has ever done anything good for the wider world. For those that take a political stand for justice, for peace, for care of our natural world. June is a special time to show your love and appreciation of 3CR. Staunchly grassroots, indepenent and radical for 47 years. Donate what you can now as every dollar makes a difference. Make a point of supporting 3CR. Follow the prompts at 3cr.org.au/donate or call the station and speak to our Radiothon angels on 03) 9419 8377. Thanks for your staunch support. 

Sue Bolton is almost peerless when it comes to having clear working memory and deep knowledge of Australian politics the last 40 years. She can tell you the details of so many leftist campaigns, what the issues were that were being caused by government and business, and key decisions that were made. Her knowledge is really quite astounding. We return to Sue this week for our second chat. We take up her story when she first came to Melbourne and was active with the Democratic Socialist Party and publication Green Left Weekly. This was in the early-90s during the school occupations to stop closures, nuclear testing in the Pacific, native forest logging, the election of the Howard government and the election of Pauline Hanson. This period began a certain era of refugee politics and policy in the country. Sue was a national trade union organiser for a few years beginning in 2003 and was the lead arrestee in the Max Brenner case. She was elected to Merri-Bek council in 2012 and bases all her work listening to her

Rowland G Schultz entertains us muchly this week with his poetry and one of his flamenco guitar tracks. He called in on the phone from Sydney and entertained us with many poems. Rowland acquired a brain inury through a transport accident some years ago and this precipitated a very difficult period of his life. We talk about what it is like to lose everything, to be affected by a traumatic injury, and to lose someone you love. Since his accident, Rowland's poetry talent has emerged and we begin the show with Disabled or PTSstabled. He says he was on fire with that one. Rowland was a very successful guitarist in Melbourne for many years, playing flamenco guitar and in bands such as the Bossa Nova outfit, A Train and The Gypsy Crims, a cover band. He frequented venues such as Open Studio. Rowland is now thinking of dedicating some time to the oud. He was born in '79 in Sydney and went to Newtown Performing Arts High School where all the other cool kids were. Rowland was a fab guest and we thank him greatly for j

These days, this week's guest, Ron Guy, is an artist activist for the cause of Western Sahara, the last colony of Africa. Earlier, he supported the cause of East Timor before it gained independence. Ron has been a union delegate for the AWU and was the OH&S officer at Dow Chemicals. He has had a long interest in the trade union movement, starting when he had to endure living with plenty of mice in property he lived in when he was a young fruit picker. Ron was born in Bacchus Marsh in '57 and was a miracle baby. He had an interest in painting from an early age. His father was a Rat of Tobruk. Ron was a lovely guest and we thank him so much for joining us this week. awsa.org.au

Arborist and life-long rock star. That's this week's guest, Andrew Matters, calling in from Adelaide. Andrew has been shaping, saving, planting and assessing trees for over 20 years. He loves planning and planting gardens and is currently crushing on the Crepe Myrtle tree. He spent his young adulthood in Sydney with a panel van and a band - Neptune Lolly Shoppe. The spectre of illness hung over his life for a long time, as Andrew was really ill when he was young. We talk about his time in and out of hospitals and the illness he survived. We had a really great time talking with Andrew and we thank him for sharing some of his life with us. Thanks, Andrew. Keep up your great work.@tree_matters@WilliamStreetStrikers@neptunelollyshoppe back in the day.. 

Jeannie Erceg was one of 5 residents who resisted the demolition of their homes on the Barack Beacon public housing estate in Port Melbourne just a little while ago and says 'They can't make me disappear. I can say what I want'. Jeannie says the estate had a 'friendly feeling' and it was a 'wonderful community'. Like every resident on the estate, Jeannie found out her home was due to be demolished just 2 weeks prior to Christmas by a knock at the door by a couple of government representatives. There was no community consultation whatsoever about the most recent estate to come under the instrument that is the Big Build. Jeannie makes it quite apparent that the public has been shortchanged in the plans for the new dwellings, with thousands of people waiting ever longer on the public housing list.Jeannie grew up in Caufield and is a '71 baby. She is the mother to 7 children. When young, she was enthusiastic about being a choirgirl and went on to get married in the Carnegie church. Prior to her removal from Barac

Greg returns on the blower from Queensland to the Radical Australia studio talking about this new research on West Papua and its shady colonial history. Definitely one for the enthusiasts and for anyone wanting to enlighten themselves about colonial wars on the doorstep of our nearest neighbour. Freedom for West Papua.

I want to lead the way in having difficult conversations says this week's guest, Ruth Clare. Ruth is perhaps best known either for her acting job in a genital herpes commercial or for her memoir about growing up with her returned serviceman father. One lighthearted and one serious fact about Ruth and we straddle both ends in our conversation with her this week. Ruth is a Rocky girl and went to Rockhampton High which was 'a bit rough' but at which she was 'a total nerd' who loved performing. She eventually figured out that she could follow her dreams as a career and forayed into acting after her move to Melbourne. Ruth's memoir, ENEMY, won the final Asher Award in 2017 and she is now a motivational speaker, engaging highschool students in conversations she wished she had at their age. Ruth is a mother to two children and was born in '74. She has a great smile and a personality to match. Thank-you, Ruth, for joining us on the show this week.Cover of Ruth's book, ENEMY.A young Ruth.

Pauline Klemm is the woman behind the social media juggernaut, The Baba Desi Story, on Facebook, where she has taken some stunning pictures of Belgrave wizard, Baba Desi. She has been taking pictures for the last 6 years after coming to care for her brother's camera when it came into her possession. It was a sliding door moment and Pauline learnt there is another life in front of the camera. It has changed her life. The Baba Desi Story has opened up the Hills community to her. Pauline is still a nurse, however, working in theatre in anaesthetics recovery. She grew up in North Balwyn, down the creek looking for tadpoles. Pauline is a '64 baby. Her photos are gorgeous and we thank Pauline so much for joining us this week.facebook.com/belgraveswizard3cr.org.au/radicalaustralia/episode/baba-desiinstagram.com/slidingdoorphotography

Antoinette Pitt used to roadie for 73 Bob Bob and was Australia's first female wrestling referee. She is a woman of many surprises. Antoinette is a nurse and an executive for Australian Progressives who have 6 pillars of E's: Ethics + Empathy + Evidence + Equality + Engagement + Empowerment. Learn all about Antoinette's goth phase in Lilydale and her time as an apprective spray painter. Antoinette is a '77 baby. Thanks for being our lovely guest, Antoinette!progressives.org.auAntoinette chatting in studio 1 at 3CR.

This week's guest, Ribke Ovide, is a volunteer at the the West Papua Office in Docklands. She has been living in Australia for the last couple of years, coming here on a scholarship to further her studies in aviation mechanics. Ribke hails from Timika in West Papua and speaks 4 languages. She was born in 200. Her faith is very important to her, as is her family, along with her dream to become an aviation aircraft mechanic. She has been working hard at it. Ribke has a moving story to tell and we were so pleased to meet her this week. Thank-you, Ribke. With your hard work and tenacity, you are sure to succeed. We wish you all the best.Join Ribke and friends at the West Papua Open Day on Sunday 14 April // 211/838 Collins St, Docklands // 1pm Lunch // 2pm Dr Jacob Rumbiak // 3pm Joe's Auctionwww.facebook.com/dfait.federalrepublicofwestpapuawww.instagram.com/westpapuawomensofficeLouise Byrne, Joe Toscano, Ribke Ovide and Tommy Latupeirissa in Studio One at 3CR.

This week's guest, Tim Hollo, is kind of like Green royalty in Australia. He heads The Green Institute, a think tank focussed on transformative issues in the green space, he founded Green Music Australia, he was the communications director for Christine Milne, and he has been at the environmental game since university in the 90's. His first love, however, was the violin. He's been playing it since he was a child and was in the Australian Youth Orchestra, attending the Atlanta Olympics. Tim's parents are refugees from Hungary and China. He grew up with a brother who also plays music. Tim is a member of Four Play, a string quartet. He has a book titled 'Living Democracy'. It was a treat having Tim on the blower from Canberra. Thanks, Tim! Keep up the great work!greeninstitute.org.augreenmusic.org.aufourplay.com.auTim signing his book, Living DemocracyTim at an AAPP protest

In case you missed it - here is the second part to our talk with Kutcha Edwards. Kutcha is a legend of 3CR, steering our annual Beyond the Bars NAIDOC prison broadcasts for many a year. In this chat, we are taken on a trip down the memory lane of aboriginal Fitzroy of the 1990s. From the MAYSAR/ Fitzroy Stars Youth Club gymnasium and Uncle Herbert Jock Austin, to singing opera while on homebrew ouzo among the gardens of the high rises, to band time with fellow 3CR legend, Uncle Robbie Thorpe. We are lucky to hear Kutcha's reflection on life in sobriety, his approach to performance and Beyond the Bars with Gilla and Johnnie Mac. Such a treat to have Kutcha in the studio and we hope you enjoy this conversation. Thanks so much, Kutcha.kutcha-edwards.com Kutcha and Uncle Archie Roach RIP in an episode of Kutcha's Koorioke kutchaskoorioke.com

We are thrilled to broadcast a couple of chats we recently had with the mighty Kutcha Edwards. This week, we learn the origins of Kutcha's name and some things about his early life. Kutcha tells us that he was born before The Referendum and politics has played a big part in his life. Kutcha went to high school in Taralgon before moving to the city to be with brothers and sisters. He went to Koori College and knew his place as an aboriginal man in the city. He worked at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and learned to yarn with the patients. Kutcha is a loyal family man and we were honoured he shared some of his intimate memories with us. We are looking forward to next week's episode and we hope you enjoy this special with him.kutcha-edwards.comkutchaskoorioke.com

A life full of mentors and a-ha moments. That has been the story of this week's guest, Rob Brown, a big tall Scotsman indeed. Rob was born in 1960 in the Gorbals, tenement housing in Glasgow, sharing one toilet among five families. That's just how things were. Rob's mother scrubbed the steps of the school on her hands and knees with a brush. That's where he says he probably got his work ethic from. Rob has gone on to have a very successful career around the world. He's good at leading people and understanding the processes of big companies. Rob now heads up Fruit2Work, a social enterprise hiring people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. They deliver fruit and milk to businesses around Melbourne. Fruit2Work has had a 0% recidivism rate among its employees and now hires over 100 people. Rob also recently began Recycle4Change, a container deposit scheme in North Geelong hiring women and youth affected by the criminal justice system. He's a big fella with a big, warm personality and it was a pl

We spoke with this week's guest, University of Sydney Professor of Law, Simon Butt, on Indonesia's Presidential Election Day. Simon came on to talk about some of the legal infrastructure in Indonesia, during the pre-1998 Suharto era and now. On paper, Indonesians have more legal rights than Australians, but corruption runs right through the system. Simon did a big job researching this during COVID and has released a book titled 'Judicial Dysfunction in Indonesia'. It was interesting to learn about the legal institutions in Indonesia, from a Constitutional Court, Islamic Courts and an Anti-Corruption Commission. Indonesia is a sprawling multi-ethnic, socially and economically diverse nation and Simon has been learning about it since high school. We had a great time talking with him. Thanks so much for joining us this week, Simon.mup.com.au/books/judicial-dysfunction-in-indonesia-paperback-softbacksydney.edu.au/law/about/our-people/academic-staff/simon-butt.htmlImage courtesy of Tim Lindsey

The only left-winger in the family. That's Sue Bolton, well-known to many in Melbourne's left and socialist communities, long-standing councillor at Merri-Bek. Sue is always standing up for what is right, for people's rights, in her community. Sue hails from Western Queensland and says the class divide was really vivid in the bush. After boarding school she went and studied psychology for a little bit, then went fruit picking around the country before turning onto the revolutionary movements in Latin America. Sue eventually joined the Socialist Worker's Party and both during that time and before she drove buses and trucks. Sue moved to Melbourne in the early 90's and began full-time organising at the Resistance Centre, getting involved in the student movement, including organising a school walk-off against Pauline Hanson, industrial struggles, anti-nuclear testing, anti-logging and the East Timor struggle. Sue has a good memory of all her activities and what was going on politically in Australia throughout th

This week's guests, Mecedes Zanker and Joe Lorback, are members of the Renegade Solidarity Audio Force crew who have been involved in all kinds of local radical activism, from #freeassange, to Melbourne's Palestinian motorcades, the Park Hotel protest actions and every Sunday Palestine rally to date. Joe joined us from his weekend at the Women's tennis finals where he delivered a pro-Palestine verbal bomb during a heightened moment of the match and from finishing his first day returning to teaching. Joe tells us he was radicalised during the S11 protests in Melbourne and we learn about his experience in collectives. Mercedes is a 3CR broadcaster on Uprise Radio.  It was great having them both in the studio this week. Thanks so much, Mercedes and Joe.renegadeactivists.org/renegade-solidarity-audio-forcefacebook.com/solidaritysoundsysteminstagram.com/solidaritysoundsystemfacebook.com/HARDOUTBARinstagram.com/hardout___

This week's guest, Alexandra, has had an interesting life so far, most of that spent in England with radical collectives. She is a dancer who grew up in Canberra. Alexandra is currently our Wednesday afternoon reception volunteer and has an interesting story to tell. Thanks for being with us, Alex.